《Global Beast Mastery: Only I Can See the Hints》 Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Transmigration to the Beast Mastery World - I Can See the Hints. "That''s all for the knowledge about Beast Mastery for now. Next, the teacher will add a bit of physiology knowledge for you~" Charles opened his eyes. He found himself sitting in a chair, with sunlight streaming through the gaps in the curtains, casting a somewhat dazzling glow on his face. "Where am I, and... who are you?" Charles noticed a woman in front of him, perfectly shaped with delicate features. At this moment, her professional dress was mostly removed, revealing a generous expanse of snowy white that was even more dazzling than the sunlight outside. As his gaze fell upon the woman, several lines of hint information shed before him. [Name]: Lily [Age]: 25 [Height]: 172 cm [Measurements]: 97/55/78 [upation]: Lsengard Senior High SchoolLecturer Beast MasterRank: Level One ... The woman gave a soft smile, ced a finger over Charles''s mouth, and whispered in his ear, "Who am I? Where is this? It''s already thiste and you''re still joking with your teacher..." The soft andfortable touch of the trantor made Charles'' brain immediately shut down! Before he could react, the plump and attractive pair of snow-white lips had already stuck to his face. Inexplicably, he arrived in apletely unfamiliar ce, and a beautiful female teacher was giving him a ''physiology lesson'' while naked. This scene only happened in Charles'' dreams. "I must not have woken up yet..." Charles said to himself. After realizing that this was a dream, Charles became bold and pushed the beautiful woman named Lily down on the desk. His hands wandered down, then lifted her skirt and guided himself, his ''mighty dragon'', precisely in. Under Charles''s actions, Lily''s face quickly flushed red, and moans began to escape her lips: "You... slow down... Ah, Ah, Ah... It would be bad if someone heard us..." "Hmph, it was clearly you who seduced me first, so why are you begging for mercy now?" The woman''s intense reactions only fueled Charles''s interest further. Since this was a dream, Charles had no reservations. Seeing her pale, soft breasts rhythmically trembling up and down made Charles even harder, unable to resist speeding up once more... It was unclear how much time had passed, but the woman''s moans gradually turned into pleas for mercy, even sounding like cries of agony, until atst, her eyes rolled back. Charles then released everything inside without spilling a drop. Settling back into his chair, Charles let out a sigh, his face wearing a satisfied smile. A spring dream is momentarily delightful, but theundry that follows is troublesome. Having released so much, he guessed that upon waking, his underwear and bed would be thoroughly soaked. But... why hasn''t he woken up yet? After drinking a ss of water, Charles suddenly found that everything around him looked incredibly sharp, not at all like he was in a dream. Moreover, on the bookshelf nearby, there were some odd and unusual books... Encyclopedia of Ferocious Beasts Emergency Defense Measures Against Ferocious Beast Attacks in the Wild How to Enhance Intimacy with Contracted Ferocious Beasts Beast Mastery? Wait... What is this? Why would such strange things intrude into a dream? Charles took out one of the books titled "Introduction to Beast Master" and flipped through it casually. "A hundred years ago, all creatures on Earth underwent a mutation, including humans." "A small number of people gained the ability to form contracts with ferocious beasts, and we call them ''Beast Master''." "Since then, the world''s order was rewritten. Beast Mastersbecame a distinct ss of beings. With the powerful abilities of Beast Mastery, they could traverse the skies and seas, disappear into thin air, and aplish anything imaginable." "A high-level Beast Master''sbat power could easily match that of a heavily armed enhancer!" "..." "In addition to ordinary wild beasts, the mutation awakening brought forth numerous ancient divine beasts possessing the power to destroy worlds." "Beast Masterswill be humanity''s sole defense." ... Charles wanted to continue reading, but suddenly, the book in his hands was snatched away. Lily had woken up at some point, gently wrapping her arms around Charles, and an intense feeling of suffocation hit him instantly. "Miss Lily, what are you doing? Are you trying to murder a student?" Charles struggled hard and finally broke free from her overwhelming embrace, gasping for air in shock. "You bastard! You''re feeling great, while I''m in pain down here. Don''t you have a single word offort for me?" Lily said angrily through clenched teeth, suddenly noticing the extra book in her hand, and her face lit up with interest. "Huh... since when did you, Charles, start getting interested in all this tamer knowledge?" "You used to say that these theory sses were useless and you never studied them, right?" Charles got up and dressed, waving off Lily''sment: "Not really, I was just flipping through." Suddenly, Lily nced at her watch, her face turned pale, and she quickly started dressing in a panic: "Oh no! The bell for ss is going to ring in 5 minutes!" She had just wanted to spend some time with Charles in the office during the lunch break, but who knew this guy had so much stamina, going four rounds without stopping? "I''m heading to ss first, you better hurry up too!" Without waiting for a response from Charles, Lily, holding her stomach and supporting herself against the wall, left the office. Watching Lily''s retreating figure, Charles was puzzled: Why did all this seem so terrifyingly real, not at all like a dream? With a try-and-see attitude, Charles pinched his thigh hard... The pain was immediate. "Ouch~" "Wow, that really hurts!" Cold sweat broke out on Charles''s back. He had just been out to a dinner party, slightly drunk, and went to bed at home. How did he wake up in a different world, one filled with ferocious beasts and filled with danger? "Never mind that for now, I need to get to ss first, then ask around to see if I can find any clues." Shaking his head to clear the muddled thoughts, Charles left the office. The dizziness just now seemed to be the merging of memories from his past life. Although it was his first time at a ce called Lsengard Senior High School, Charles felt incredibly familiar with it and effortlessly found his ssroom. Click. He quietly opened the back door of the ssroom. Although he tried to open the door quietly, beingte inevitably drew attention. "Isn''t that Charles, the top student? Howe he''ste again today? Why isn''t Miss Lily doing anything about it?" "She did something, alrightshe had a private session with him in her office over lunch!" "Man, I''m also handsome; howe when I was half a minutetest time, Miss Lily kicked me out..." Charles ignored the surrounding murmurs and found a seat at the back near the window. The teacher at the podium was none other than Lily, who had been quite charming in the office just before. Now, however, she was dressed in a professional ck suit, looking dignified and elegant. This stark contrast excited Charles. Seeing Charles, Lily''s face flushed. She coughed lightly topose herself. She picked up a piece of chalk and briskly wrote "Beast MasterAwakening Ceremony" on the ckboard. Then, scanning the ssroom, she announced, "Today is everyone''sst day of sses at Lsengard Senior High School. After three years of study, I believe everyone has gained a considerable understanding of the theoretical knowledge surrounding Beast Mastery." "Shortly, we will all gather in front of the tamer za to conduct the Beast MasterAwakening Ceremony." "If you can sessfully form a contract with a ferocious beast, you could be a Beast Master, just like me!" Lily''s announcement sparked a flurry of chatter in the previously quiet ssroom. "Will I finally get my own pet? I''m so excited!" "Did you hear about my neighbor John? He was just a poor loser. Who knew he''d have a stroke of luck and be a Guardian Beast? Now, matchmakers practically break down his door!" "Ahem! Don''t dream too bigdo you really think bing a Beast Masteris that easy?" "I heard that of the 1000 students who graduated from Lsengard Senior Highst year, fewer than 50 managed to bind a contract. Is that true?" "What? Less than 5%? Are the odds really that low?!" "May the heavens help us! Today will decide if we can change our fate against all odds!" "..." From the back of the room by the window, Charles listened to his ssmates'' discussions with a look of amazement. Combining this with what he had read earlier in the "Beast Master''s Beginner''s Guide," he gradually realized he was in a world utterly different from his previous life! What is this ''Beast Master''? It seems to be a very high-level profession! The odds seemed incredibly low, less than 5%, almost as tough as getting into a top university in his former life. However, it also appeared to be a fantastic opportunity to defy destiny and leap across social sses! As Charles pondered this... A girl not far from him suddenly spoke with a sob in her voice: "I must seed in forming a contract and be a Beast Master!" "My mother was eaten by a spectral wolf three days ago on the outskirts of the city... I need to avenge her!" Her words caused a stir in the ssroom. "People cannot be brought back to life, Fatima, ept this with grace!" "Isn''t the spectral wolf a Level 5 ferocious beast? How did it appear in Lsengard?" "Right! Doesn''t Lsengard have a defense squad and a Beast Masterguild? How could such an ident still happen?" "..." Hearing his ssmate''s misfortune, Charles couldn''t help but feel sympathy. The world of Beast Mastery he had originally imagined was one of tranquility, much like in anime, but clearly, this world was not like that. Charles sighed softly: "It seems that thew of the survival of the fittest applies in any world." In his original world, ''the survival of the fittest'' meant academicpetition in schools, power struggles in the workce, and deceit in politics. But here, ''the survival of the fittest'' was the bloody reality of predation and being preyed upon! With this in mind, Charles clenched his fists. Before finding a way back to his original world, he had a more urgent taskto survive in this dangerous world! After a long silence, Lily finally spoke from the podium: "Alright, students, pull yourselves together. Today is a very important day for you... Let''s head to the tamer za now to participate in the Beast MasterAwakening Ceremony." "Whether you can be a Beast Masterdepends on your performance today!" Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Beast Master Awakening Ceremony 14:00. Right on time, the whole of Lsengard Senior High School was buzzing with excitement. On the way to the za, the surrounding students were all thrilled, looking forward to today''s Beast MasterAwakening Ceremony. Among a crowd of senior high boys and girls, Charles felt a surreal sense of returning to his own senior high school days. He also wondered what kind of pet he might find today. In this Beast Mastery world, personal ability is directly linked to the strength of one''s pet. If the spectral wolf mentioned by that girl in the ssroom were to attack them now, Charles was sure he would be powerless to fight back. To survive in this dangerous world, he must be a Beast Master! "Chirp" "Roar! Roar! Roar!!" From a distance, ferocious roars tore through the air as the group reached the center of Lsengard, an expansive open area. The za, spanning hundreds of thousands of square meters, was impressively vast and filled with various ferocious beasts, resembling a giant pet market. Under Lily''s guidance, the group reached the edge of the za. A white tiger with two pairs of wings, standing three meters tall, roared as Charles passed by. It seemed as if it might break its chains at any moment and tear them to shreds, causing the surrounding students to retreat in fear. There was also a pink fox with peach blossom eyes resembling a human''s, its every furrow and smile seeming like a woman making coy advances. One male student suddenly broke from the group, drawn by its gaze, only to be kicked back by Lily just as the fox was about to snap its jaws. At this point, the za was filled with up to a thousand ferocious beasts, restrained by thick iron chains. Their forms varied wildly, many of which Charles could not name, including some mutant nts that caught his attention. The so-called Beast MasterAwakening Ceremony was more akin to the college entrance exams of his previous life. After the vice president of the Beast MasterGuild had finished his long and tedious speech, the ceremony finally moved on to its main event Forming contracts with the tamers of choice! At the front of the line, Lily wore a captivating smile, her eyes fixed on Charles throughout: "Alright, students, everyone may now choose their preferred pet within the za! ce a drop of your blood from the palm of your right hand onto the forehead of a ferocious beast. If the ferocious beast chooses to submit, the contract isplete." "However, I must remind everyone that forming a contract can be dangerous, so please measure your capabilities..." Looking around at the myriad ferocious beasts, Charles furrowed his brow slightly. For this Beast MasterAwakening Ceremony, the Beast MasterGuild had captured thousands of ferocious beasts six months in advance. Creatures that flew in the sky, swam in the water, ran on the ground, and even nts rooted in the soil were included. How could one ensure the selection of a powerful pet? This posed a challenge for Charles. This method of selection, akin to a blind cat catching a dead rat by chance, was no different from opening a blind box. What if he ended up choosing a weak fighter? In battle, not only would it fail to protect its master, but it might not even be able to protect itself. Would he not be doomed then? Before his journey here, Charles had yed many gacha games. With his notoriously bad luck, he never pulled an SSR in 100 tries. Who could guarantee that today he would miraculously pull off a sessful single draw? As Charles scanned the ferocious beasts scattered across the za, a few lines of text suddenly shed before his eyes. [The Double Sword Praying Mantis] [Attribute]: Metal [Level]: 1 [Quality]: Bronze Division [Skills]: Bronze Division, Fierce Gnawing [Emotion]: Hatred [Health]: Leg injury [View treatment options] [Evolution]: 4 paths [Description]: This is a Double Sword Praying Mantis, whose metal attribute endows it with unparalleledbat abilities. Its ws are sharper than steel des. Although its talent is ordinary, it possesses four evolutionary paths, allowing you to train it ording to your needs. It has huge potential. Upon reading these lines, Charles halted. The Double Sword Praying Mantis instantly raised its de-sharp ws, its emerald eyes staring at Charles warily. Charles rubbed his eyes and, upon confirming he wasn''t seeing things, felt a surge of excitement. It seemed the screen was giving him information prompts, simr to what he recalled seeing when he met Lily in the office earlier. With these screen prompts, he could finally avoid the gamble of a blind box! However, amidst his excitement, Charles also felt a bit of concern. If these attributes were visible to everyone, wouldn''t the high-quality pets be frantically snatched up? How could he possibly get a chance? Realizing this, Charles wandered around the za, choosing his preferred pet while observing the reactions of those around him. Ahead, a crowd had gathered, seemingly embroiled in a dispute. "Fatty, are you looking for trouble? I got here first, I should be the one to form the contract!" a skinny boy shouted, grabbing the cor of a person next to him. The other person, clearly not backing down, scuffled with the skinny boy: "Dare call me fatty? Looking for a fight? I saw that white tiger first!" Charles moved closer. The Four-Winged Tiger he had seen earlier had attracted dozens of people, appearing to be in high demand, with students even arguing over contracting it. "Just as I thought, when everyone can see the attributes, the good quality ones naturally be hotmodities." Charles sighed softly, then nced at the white tiger. [The Four-Winged Tiger] [Attribute]: Wind [Level]: 1 [Quality]: ck Iron [Skills]: None [Emotion]: Fear [Health]: Good [Evolution]: None [Description]: This is a Four-Winged Tiger, which looks majestic and possesses astoundingbat power, but in reality, it is a coward. If you unfortunately form a pact with it, in battle, it is likely to abandon you and slip away. o.0 ? Just from one look, Charles stumbled, nearly losing his bnce. ck Iron, Bronze Division, Silver, Gold... This Four-Winged Tiger was of ck Iron quality, among the lowest in pet quality,cking anybat skills and incapable of evolving. A definite weak fighter! If it weren''t for the system prompts, Charles might have been fooled by its intimidating appearance! Yet such abat-incapable pet had be a hotmodity, with dozens of people vying for ita sight so absurd that Charles couldn''t help but chuckle to himself. This also confirmed something for Charles: it seemed that only he could see these prompts. "So, I have a cheat that allows me to see the attributes of ferocious beasts?" "Hahaha!" "I knew it! In the novels I''ve read, the protagonists always have various cheats after they travel to another world. How could I possibly be without one?" The gloom in Charles''s heart cleared away, and he felt great. His gaze quickly settled on a pet at the very edge of the perimeter. [Borrow-Arms Monkey] [Attribute]: Wind [Level]: 2 [Quality]: Bronze Division [Skills]: Iron Fist, Steel Palm, Feces Project [Emotion]: Excited [Health]: Good [Evolution]: 2 paths [Description]: This is a Borrow-Arms Monkey, with strong, agile arms capable of immense strength. Against stronger opponents, it can even strangle them to death with its arms, achieving victory against higher-ranked adversaries. In dire situations, it can unleash its ultimate move! This Borrow-Arms Monkey is of Bronze Division quality. Among the hundreds of ferocious beasts on the outskirts, fewer than ten are of this quality. It is also at Level 2. With each level increase, a pet''sbat power rises significantly. Charles had seen all the pets on the periphery of the tamer za, and none were more outstanding than this one. It might not look impressive, butpared to the weak fighter like ''the four-winged tiger,'' it was far strongernot by just a little bit! However, when Charles saw that one of its skills was "feces project," he couldn''t hold back! He remembered what Lily had said in ss: once a contract is formed with a ferocious beast, the Beast Mastermight randomly acquire one of its skills. If it were [Iron Fist, Steel Palm], that would be fine, but if it were [Feces Project]... the thought was too horrifying for Charles to even imagine! He didn''t know if it was strong, but Charles knew that if he acquired that skill, he might never lift his head high in the Beast Mastemunity again... Although there was only a 50% chance of getting [Feces Project], as someone who''s perennially unlucky, Charles didn''t dare to take that risk! Having quickly looked over the pets on the outskirts, Charles turned his gaze towards the central area of the za. There were some more powerful ferocious beasts there, but the Beast MasterGuildconsidered them too dangerous for Senior High School students'' awakening. "It wouldn''t hurt to take a look. If there''s nothing suitable, I might as well settle for that Double Sword Praying Mantis!" entered the central area of Beast Mastery Square. Just seeing the first ferocious beast, his eyes lit up. [Subus Sheep Spirit]! If the pet was a little subus, maybe itsbat strength didn''t really matter? ... Two hours had passed, and students from Lsengard Senior High School were gradually leaving the Beast Mastery Square. Most of them looked disheartened, and some even bore wounds, clearly indicating that the contract formation process had not gone smoothly. Of course, there were also a few lucky ones who had sessfully formed contracts with ferocious beasts, bing honored Beast Masters! They were now proudly showing off the pets they had subdued to those around them. "What''s going on, hasn''t Charlese out yet?" Lily furrowed her brows slightly, ncing at the timeit was already 16:05 in the afternoon. She couldn''t help but worryhad the vigorous session in the office earlier exhausted Charles too much, causing some ident during his contract formation? Just then, a female student hurriedly approached Lily, her face etched with concern: "Miss Lily, I saw Charles heading towards the center of the za!" "Fatima, what did you say!" "Charles went to the center of the za?!!" The process of forming a contract was extremely dangerous; the slightest misstep could lead to idents! The central za housed numerous ferocious beasts of Level 3 and above; even she wasn''t sure of handling them. What was Charles thinking? With immense anxiety, Lily quickly left the crowd and dashed toward the central area of the za... Chapter 3: Chapter 3: The Fire of Extreme Cold The closer he got to the center of the za, the more ferocious the beasts became. Not only were they chained with bucket-thick iron links, but they were also caged. Just passing by them, Charles could feel the chilling and ominous aura emanating from them. The inner defense was even more stringent than the outer perimeter of the za, guarded not only by fully armed Lsengard defense squad members but also by several people in dark uniforms. From the badges on their uniforms, Charles deduced that they must be from the Beast MasterGuild. One of the members, an elderly man with white hair and beard, was discussing something with a younger colleague, asionally stroking his beard: "This year''s senior high students really have some talent, huh? In just these two hours, I''ve seen no less than 100 awaken to their Beast Mastery abilities!" "Yes, indeed! Especially from Lsengard Senior High School, I heard a student managed to form a contract with a Level 2, Bronze Division quality ferocious beast!" "Level 2, Bronze Division quality, and just a senior high student! Did I hear that right? Such talent, "It has been about ten years since Lsengard has seen such a talent," said the vice president. "Absolutely! A talent like this must be recruited into our Beast MasterGuild. We can''t afford to let the hostile forces snatch them away!" "Of course... wait, you are..." The old man paused, his voice trailing off as he suddenly noticed Charles nearby. He sized up Charles, then approached him politely: "Young man, the creatures confined here are not ordinary ferocious beasts." "You are a student from Lsengard Senior High School, right? The level of these ferocious beasts might be too challenging for you. Perhaps you should look for something more suitable in the outer area!" Charles stopped, reluctantly ncing behind the old man. He shouldn''t have looked. Silver quality! There was a Silver quality ferocious beast right there! [Bluevine] [Attribute]: Wood [Level]: 2 [Quality]: Silver [Skills]: Vines Entwine, Paralytic Toxin [Emotion]: Hatred [Health]: Good [Evolution]: One path [Description]: What looks like amon roadside weed actually possesses tremendous control abilities. Both its rapid reproduction and its innate toxin make it a formidable opponent in battle. What appeared to be an ordinary weed, now locked in chains, presented a somewhat eerie sight. However, from the old man''s cautious demeanor, it must have cost them greatly to capture this Bluevine initially. Most students had subdued pets of the ck Iron level, and it seemed that only one had managed to obtain a Bronze Division beast. "It has been about ten years since Lsengard has seen such a talent." This was the first time Charles had seen a Silver quality ferocious beast! Moreover, both of its skills were area of effect (AoE) attacks, which could be very effective in limiting arge group of enemies. However, there were also clear drawbacks. Its abilities were more supportive/restrictive; it wouldn''t perform well in solo fights and would need to be paired with a pet who had stronger attack capabilities to be fully effective. This clearly did not suit Charles''s personality! Especially since he was alone in this strange world, not truly trusting anyone but himself. How could he possibly rely on someone else for his safety? Just the sight of a Silver ferocious beast had piqued Charles''s curiosity. He unconsciously took a few more steps inside. "Hold on, young man, you can''t go any further. If you really want to try, you''ll need to sign this document first," the old man said, handing Charles a document. Charles nced over it quickly; it was a sort of ''Life-and-Death Pledge''if Charles insisted on proceeding and anything happened, the Beast MasterGuild would not be responsible. Without much thought, Charles signed the document. After all, he could see the attributes of the ferocious beasts. If none were suitable, he could always go back to the outer area. Just as he left, he heard a cold snort from the old man behind him: "Arrogant youth, likely to pay a price for his ignorance!" But Charles did not heed this. The number of pets in the center of the Beast Mastery Square was notrge, and from what Charles could see, most were high-level but of poor quality ferocious beasts. This meant that these ferocious beasts had a low potential for growth. Charles felt somewhat disappointed. From what he could see, the highest quality ferocious beast in the entire za was the [Bluevine] he had just seen, unfortunately, it was more supportive. A pet more suited to hisbat style would likely be the[Double Sword Praying Mantis]. Just as Charles was about to turn away, a seemingly inconspicuous small iron cage in the corner caught his eye, presenting him with a surprise. [The Frost Wolf] [Attribute]: Ice, Fire [Level]: 5 [Quality]: Gold [Skills]: Bone-achingly Cold, Ice Pick Throwing [Emotion]: Hatred, Fear [Condition]: Extremely Weak [Severe internal and external injuries, may not survive the night without treatment] [View treatment methods] [Evolution]: 4 paths [Description]: This is a Frost Wolf, a rare ferocious beast with dual attributes of ice and fire. These opposing attributes coexist peacefully within it, but if the bnce is disrupted, it can unleash terrifying energy! "This is a Gold quality ferocious beast!" Despite the excitement in his heart, Charles remained outwardly calm. Having lived two lives, he understood the importance of not unting one''s wealth. He had entered just to take a look, with a try-and-see attitude, but unexpectedly stumbled upon a great deal! Forming a contract with a ferocious beast is a very dangerous affair, especially with a beast of such quality and level, which was not something Charles could currently handle. But it was in a state of extreme weakness, presenting a good opportunity to approach. "I want to form a contract with it!" Hearing this, two staff members stepped forward, opened the cage that held the Frost Wolf, and then unlocked the chains. As the man unlocked it, he advised Charles: "Just to let you know, we found this Frost Wolf in the valley already severely injured, and it''s likely not long for this world." "Moreover, this Frost Wolf is rather small and lean, and itsbat capabilities are not strong." "Beast Mastershave a 100% sess rate taming their first pet, which is a very rare opportunity. To waste such a precious chance on a nearly dead creature..." "Are you sure you''ve thought this through?" Charles nodded without hesitation. He had interned at a pet hospital in his previous life, and the screen had already provided a treatment n. He was confident he could heal this little frost wolf. Despite Charles''s insistence, the man sighed, a look of pity on his face, and then walked away. After the man left, Charles pricked his left palm with a knife. A drop of blood welled up and then slid down between his fingers. As the bloodnded on the frost wolf''s forehead, a golden hexagram appeared beneath them. [Ding! You have sessfully formed a contract with the frost wolf [Female, Lv5, Gold quality].] [You have acquired the skill of the frost wolf: bone-achingly cold.] "It''s strange, it''s a frost wolf, but why does it use the power of fire?" Curious, Charles stretched out his hand to try out his newly acquired skill. A pale me burst forth from his palm! The pale me danced between Charles''s fingers, emitting a strange glow. Despite the me burning in his hand, Charles felt no warmth. What was even more bizarre, though it was summer, the ground around him began to frost over! "So this is ''bone-achingly cold,'' my first skill..." After deactivating the skill, Charles noticed that his screen, under the tabs for [Personal Info] and [Pet], now disyed a little red dot. He shifted his gaze to [Personal Info], and the screen quickly popped up a panel. [Charles] [Level]: Lv1 [Pet]: the frost wolf [Items]: None [Skills]: bone-achingly cold [Emotion]: Excited [Health]: Good After taming the frost wolf, Charles''s personal information was updated. He then clicked on the nearby [Pet] tab. [The Frost Wolf] [Name]: None [Attribute]: Ice, Fire [Quality]: Gold [Weaknesses]: Abdomen, Neck [Likes]: Honey soy zed meat [Emotion]: Hatred, Fear [Condition]: Extremely Weak [Severe internal and external injuries, may not survive the night without treatment] [View treatment methods] [Loyalty]: 60 (Below 60, the pet may flee duringbat) [Evolution]: 4 paths [Description]: A newly tamed female frost wolf, still wary of humans, loyal only to its master. Severely injured, requiring immediate medical attention. Seeing the text on the screen, Charles''s lips curved into a smile. In thispletely unfamiliar world, Charles had finally be a Beast Master, with a reliablepanion. Now, if attacked by a ferocious beast, he also had a means to defend himself! After reading the text on the screen, Charles sincerely praised the system''s capabilities. After taming the pet, more information about it was unlocked, even detailing its dietary preferences. The system was also incredibly thoughtful,ying out four potential evolutionary paths for the frost wolf, allowing Charles to simply refer to the panel for guidance. However, more pressing than this, Charles was concerned about the frost wolf''s health. "You''re so badly hurt; you''re lucky to have met me!" "I just wonder if there''s a pet hospital in this world?" Gently picking up the frost wolf, Charles quickly headed towards the outskirts of the za... Chapter 4: Chapter 4: The Ferocious Beast Enters the City A few minutester, Charles arrived at an old apartmentplex. Theplex he rented had seen better days. The flowerbeds were overgrown with weeds, andrge patches of the exterior walls were peeling off. Charles''s family wasn''t wealthy. His parents were long-haul truck drivers who lived and ate in their truck. Despite this, the money they earned was barely enough to cover their expenses. Pushing open the rusty iron gate, Charles ced the frost wolf on the bed and, feeling a bit excited, pulled out his phone. If he told his parents that he had sessfully awakened today and be a Beast Master, they would surely be very happy, right? Just as Charles was about to dial the number, the little frost wolf let out a soft murmur, its body trembling slightly and appearing to be in great pain. Seeing this, Charles quickly put away his phone. Better not make the call yet; he should treat the frost wolf''s injuries first. Charles opened the "Pet" information tab on his light screen and selected "Diagnosis and Treatment," bringing up a panel. Diagnosis Result: Previously injured by a bone-breaking ant, both hind legs are broken, and the body has been injected with toxins. If not treated promptly, the internal organs will rot. Treatment n: Surgical treatment for the leg injuries; use one fire-element beast core to remove the remaining toxins; three spirit roots, five snake galldders, and thirty cryolite tablets for recuperation. The frost wolf will recover within a week. "With my previous experience interning at a pet hospital, treating external injuries isn''t difficult..." Charles first cleaned the frost wolf''s wounds, then opened his medical kit and began treating the frost wolf. During the surgery, Charles inadvertently noticed that the frost wolf was female. Her fur was white with a hint of light blue, her eyshes pure white, and a touch of pink at the center of her brow. He had to admit, she was a very beautiful little frost wolf. A fluffy tail trailed behind her. If she weren''t so severely injured, Charles would have already been tempted to reach out and give it a rub. Half an Hour Later, the Surgery Was a Sess Charles wiped the sweat from his forehead and, without stopping, left home to purchase the necessary recuperative materials. ... By the time he returned to the apartmentplex, it was already evening. "Damn it! These merchants are such rip-offs. An ungraded fire-element beast core, selling for 1000 copper coins. And those snake galldders and spirit roots, all of them substandard, and they still charged me 500 copper coins?" "No wonder those Beast Masters are so wealthy; this is practically daylight robbery." Carrying the heavy bag of medicinal materials back to his ce, Charles couldn''t help but berate the situation. These materials had nearly drained his half-year''s worth of living expenses. However,ints aside, to obtain these precious medicinal materials, one must venture into the ferocious beast mountains to hunt ferocious beasts. Such dangerous tasks could only bepleted by Beast Masters, so the high prices were naturally justified. "Now that I have the materials, how should I use them?" Charles opened the system''s light screen, which conveniently provided instructions on how to use the materials. For low-grade materials like these, simply boiling them with water would suffice. However, higher-grade materials seemed to require something called an alchemyb. Following the system''s instructions, Charles spoon-fed the boiled medicinal liquid to the frost wolf. As the liquid entered its body, a faint green glow enveloped the frost wolf, and its furrowed brow rxed, looking less pained. Half an hourter, under Charles''s anxious gaze, the frost wolf slowly opened its eyes, its deep blue eyes meeting Charles''s gaze. Momentster, the frost wolf suddenly leaped into Charles''s arms, its fluffy little head rubbing left and right against his chest, as if being affectionate. [Ding! You have healed your pet''s injuries. It is grateful for your life-saving grace. Loyalty +5.] "Huh? Loyalty has increased?" Charles recalled that the system had mentioned that close interactions with the pet or making it feel grateful could increase loyalty. Knowing it was its master who saved it, the frost wolf seemed very happy. Plop! The frost wolf jumped to the ground and started circling around Charles, asionally leaping onto him and licking his face with its tongue. Charles had initially thought it would be a very aloof little she-wolf, but the more he looked, the more it seemed like a clingy little fox. The frost wolf radiated cold air, and its little tongue felt cool on his face. Charles thought that cuddling with it on hot summer nights could save him a lot on air conditioning! "Alright, alright, stop messing around... Hey, you don''t have a name yet!" Charles pped his forehead. "Since you''re a frost wolf, how about we call you Max from now on?" "Sigh!" Hearing Max''s joyful bark, Charles smiled with relief. It seemed to like the name. [Ding! You have given your pet a name. It likes it very much. Loyalty +3.] "Loyalty increased again?" Charles had only named it for convenience, but unexpectedly, it had boosted loyalty! Feeling a bit excited, Charles checked Max''s panel again. [Frost Wolf] [Name: Max] [Attributes: Ice, Fire] [Quality: Gold] [Skills: Ice Pick Throwing: A long-range ice attribute attack that condenses elemental energy into spears to throw at and injure enemies.Bone-Achingly Cold: A close-range attack with both ice and fire attributes. It burns with extremely cold mes, causing enemies to disintegrate between extreme cold and extreme heat. In extreme cases, the chaotic ice and fire energy can cause explosions.] [Weak Points: Neck, abdomen/toxic attribute] [Preferences: Honey soy zed meat] [Mood: Happy] [Health: Injured (Recovering...)] [Loyalty: 68] [Evolution: Four routes] [Description: Having just awakened from aa, Max is not only healed but also sees its owner. It is very happy now. However, it hasn''t eaten in a while and is feeling a bit hungry.] "In extreme cases, [Bone-Achingly Cold] has a second release method?" After reading the updated "Pet" panel, Charles increasingly felt that he had found a treasure! Gurgle~~ Charles wanted to y with Max a bit longer, but his stomach suddenly growled. He looked at Max with some embarrassment, "You''re hungry too, right? Let''s go get something delicious!" Charles gently picked up Max and headed out. Max''s favorite food was grilled meat, and there happened to be a barbecue restaurant on the snack street not far from the apartmentplex. ... "Hey? Strange... why is the snack street so deserted today?" On the snack street, Charles looked around curiously. It was now 10 PM, the usual bustling time for the snack street, but the once lively street was now almost empty. The few people he did see were fully armed Beast Masters, looking as if they were facing a formidable enemy. Knock, knock, knock Standing at the door of the burger shop he often visited, Charles knocked on the door. "Who''s there? We''re closed for the day." A shuffling sound of slippers could be heard. The window opened, and a middle-aged man poked his head out. Upon seeing that it was Charles, his expression became tense. "It''s you, Charles. We''re not doing business these days. You''d better go home quickly to avoid any danger!" "Danger? What''s happening, Mr.Bard?" Although he had a vague idea, Charles didn''t mind getting more information. "I heard the northern defense line was breached, and ferocious beasts have entered Lsengard!" Mr.Bardsighed, clearly terrified. "For decades, we''ve lived in peace with the ferocious beast mountains, with Larktown as the boundary." "But recently, the ferocious beasts have suddenly be agitated, asionally harassing Lsengard. I heard that some Beast Masters have already sacrificed themselves at the front lines." "The northern defense line has a breach because of this, and ferocious beasts have entered Lsengard!" As he said this, Mr.Bardshivered and waved his hand at Charles. "With such a big issue, staying safe is more important than doing business. You should go home quickly too!" Mr.Bardpulled his head back in, and the window of the burger shop mmed shut. On the deserted street, Charles was once again alone. Ferocious beast riots, front lines copsing, Beast Masters dying... The once peaceful Lsengard now had all the signs of an impending disaster. "With ferocious beasts appearing even in the city, my parents being out there driving trucks is even more dangerous, isn''t it?" Charles quickly pulled out his phone and opened the contact list. Buzz [Sorry, the number you are calling is temporarily unavable. Please try againter!] Buzz [Sorry, the number you are calling is temporarily unavable. Please try againter!] No one answered several calls in a row. Worried that something had happened to his parents, Charles was anxious. They weren''t his real parents, but from his memories, they treated his predecessor quite well. ck, ck, ck! As Charles dialed again, a clear metallic sound hitting the ground came from behind him. Already on edge, Charles instantly went intobat mode, spinning around sharply! Chapter 5: Chapter 5: The Attacked Alchemist "Hey, what are you doing wandering around sote? Haven''t you seen the recent news?" A burly man in armor shouted at Charles. It turned out to be a member of the defense squad, causing Charles to sigh in relief. Charles lowered his guard and curiously approached the man. "Excuse me, sir, can you tell me what''s happening in the north of the city?" The man looked at Charles, paused for a moment, and then waved his hand impatiently. "Some things are ssified, and I can''t divulge them to you. Just know that staying inside the city doesn''t guarantee your safety." The man bowed his head slightly, looking a bit ashamed, but soon shed a bright smile. "But don''t worry, the defense squad is here to protect Lsengard. Even if it costs me my life, I will ensure everyone''s safety." "Go home and get some sleep!" Waving goodbye to Charles, the defense squad member quickly moved on to patrol the next block. Charles didn''t rush home. Instead, he opened a social media app on his phone and searched for news about Lsengard. As expected, ferocious beast attacks were bing more frequent. There had been several fatal incidents today alone, including two of his ssmates who had just attended the awakening ceremony with him! ording to witnesses, a newly awakened Beast Masterand his pet were devoured by apletely greenrge wolf, and another person was bitten in half, dying a horrible death. There were even rumors that ferocious beasts had blocked the main highway connecting Lsengard to the outside world, leading to an imminent shortage of supplies in the city. The information online, mixed with truth and falsehood, served as a reminder to Charles: the danger in this world might far exceed his expectations! Here, humans were no longer at the top of the food chain but could be prey to ferocious beasts at any moment. Moreover, Lsengard''s defense squad couldn''t guarantee the city''s absolute safety. Seeing the devastation in the news, Charles put away his phone and sighed lightly: "Whether for long-term nning or just to survive right now, I need to quickly improve thebat abilities of both Max and myself!" Bang!!! Before Charles could react, a man in a gray robe fell from the sky, crashing through a tree on the sidewalk and hitting the ground heavily, blood constantly flowing from the corners of his mouth. The sudden turn of events jolted Charles. Max jumped out of his arms and assumed a battle stance. "Roar!" A spectral wolf, about three meters tall and entirely green, burst through the window of a nearby residential building, its gaping maw dripping with blood, and reeking of a pungent, bloody scent. [The Spectral Wolf] [Attribute]: Poison [Level]: 3 [Quality]: ck Iron [Skills]: Death Dive, Poisoned ws [Mood]: Excited [Health]: Minor injuries [Weakness]: Back/fire attribute "The spectral wolf, isn''t this the type of ferocious beast that devoured Fatima''s mother?" As soon as the ferocious beast appeared, the system''s light screen provided all the information about it! Facing a dangerous ferocious beast for the first time, especially one as towering and ruthless as the three-meter-tall spectral wolf, it was impossible for Charles not to feel any fear. However, he knew very well that with the spectral wolf''s terrifying speed, running away was not an option. It was either defeat it or be eaten! Seeing Charles, the spectral wolf became extremely agitated, and with a swoosh of wind, it lunged at Charles. This was the spectral wolf''s skill, Death Dive! Holding Max, Charles swiftly dodged the spectral wolf''s attack by a hair''s breadth. Turning back, he saw the spot where he had just been standing. A tree as thick as a bowl had been cleanly severed by the spectral wolf and was now crashing onto the road with a series of loud cracks. Seeing the smooth, mirror-like cut, Charles swallowed hard. If he hadn''t reacted quickly, he would have been sliced in half by the spectral wolf''s ws. "Strange... How did my reflexes get so fast?" Charles was puzzled. Could it be that after bonding with his pet, his own attributes had also improved? "Roar!" Frustrated that its powerful attack had been easily dodged by Charles, the spectral wolf let out a series of angry howls. ck energy gathered at its front paws, causing its ws to extend until they were 30 centimeters long! The steel-like ws emitted a faint ck mist, and the light screen kept warning Charles that they were poisoned! The spectral wolf was using its second skill, Poisoned ws! While Charles was thinking about how to counter the attack, Max had already stepped in front of him. Despite the huge size difference between it and the spectral wolf, Max showed no fear. Charles was worried about Max''s injuries, but then he remembered that Max was a level 5 Gold-quality tamer! Even injured, it should be able to handle this level 3 ck Iron-quality spectral wolf. Besides, the situation was dire, and as a Beast Master, he knew he couldn''t defeat this ferocious beast on his own! Blocked by the small figure, the spectral wolf grew even more furious, its eyes shing with malice as it lunged forward, ws bared. "Max! Activate skill "ice pick throwing" and engage in battle with the spectral wolf!" A cold sh streaked through the air, and a clear sound of impact echoed throughout the street. When the spectral wolf was ten meters away from Charles, Maxunched its Ice Pick Throwingskill. An ice spear shot towards the spectral wolf, intercepting its attack! "Swish! Swish! Swish!" More ice spears formed in the air, then flew towards the spectral wolf. Although it dodged the first one, the sky soon filled with countless ice spears, raining down like a torrential storm! "Roar! Roar! Roar!!!!" The spectral wolf roared furiously as ice spears pierced its skin. It continually tried to fend off the spears with its ws, but under the relentless assault, it quickly began to falter. The heat in the air dissipated, and the sun-baked ground rapidly became covered in ayer of frost. Unable to withstand Max''s relentless ice spear attacks, the spectral wolf started to lose its defense. Max seized upon a critical mistake,unching an ice spear from the wolf''s blind spot towards its back. "Whoosh!" The sound of the spear cutting through the air was followed by a sharp, fleshy impact. The ice spear pierced through the spectral wolf''s heart, and then a barrage of ice spears rained down, turning it into a porcupine. After confirming that the spectral wolf was dead, Max rxed its battle stance. The surrounding frost dissipated instantly, leaving the spectral wolf''s perforated body in a pool of blood. At that moment, Max leapt into Charles''s arms, itsrge tail brushing against his chest, looking up at him expectantly for praise, a stark contrast to its previous ferocity. Ding! You have defeated the ferocious beast [Spectral Wolf] (Lv3Bronze Division quality). Your bond with your pet has increased! Pet loyalty +2! Pet experience +30! "Well done, Max! You defeated such a strong spectral wolf!" Charles smiled, gently stroking Max''s head. Max was not only powerful but also incredibly smart. Without any prompting, it had identified the spectral wolf''s weakness. This was Charles''s first victory against a ferocious beast, and it was a towering three-meter-tall wolf. He was ecstatic. Carefully, he approached the spectral wolf''s body. The body of a ferocious beast was a treasure trove! The spectral wolf''s ws, teeth, and fur were all valuable materials that could fetch a good price. Additionally, the meat of ferocious beasts could enhance the strength of pets and Beast Masters alike. Charles pulled out a small knife and began to carefully skin the wolf, then separated the usable materials, storing them in his system''s storage space. Obtained spectral wolf pelt (damaged) x1! Obtained spectral wolf canines x4! Obtained spectral wolf steel ws x6! Obtained beast core (poison attribute) x1! Obtained wolf meat x100kg! Seeing the system''s [Items] tab filled to the brim with spoils, Charles smiled contentedly. Tomorrow, he could sell them at the Beast MasterGuild, which would temporarily solve his financial crisis! What surprised him even more was that there was a beast core inside the spectral wolf''s body! Beast cores are extremely rare materials. When embedded in weapons or equipment, they provide corresponding enhancements. Not only that, but they are also indispensable for pet evolution. A high-grade beast core is invaluable and sometimes cannot be bought even with money. Although this one was the lowest grade, with no ranking at all, it was still worth thousands of copper coins! As Charles was pondering how to sell these materials, he suddenly remembered there was someone waiting for him to save! He picked up the man in gray robes and carried him home. First, he treated the man''s external injuries, then brewed some herbal medicine for him. "Cough! Cough, cough!" After a few sips of the medicine, the man coughed violently, spat out a mouthful of ck blood, and slowly opened his eyes. "Ugh, what is this bitter stuff? What did you make me drink?" Charles felt a bit displeased. So what if it''s bitter? It saved your life. If you can''t handle the taste, don''t drink it. The man wiped the dirty blood from his mouth, then took another small sip from the bowl, shaking his head with a sigh. "Such good spirit root, what a waste of materials!" "Fine! Since you saved my life, I''ll teach you something." Struggling to his feet, the man conjured a small pot with a 30-centimeter diameter from his bag, made of grade bronze, adorned with some inscriptions that Charles couldn''t quite understand. Charles scratched his head. "Your bronze pot looks quite unique. Are you going to teach me how to cook?" Hearing this, the man almost spat out another mouthful of blood, his eyebrows shooting up in anger. "What do you mean bronze pot? This is my alchemyb!" Alchemy? Hearing this word, Charles''s interest was instantly piqued. Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Unbearable Wealth He remembered that in the system''s light screen, besides [Personal Information], [Pets], and [Storage Space], there were some cursors that had yet to be unlocked, including [Alchemy]. He had never quite understood what alchemy was for, and the system didn''t provide much exnation. "Watch closely!" the man extended his palm, and a wisp of orange me ''red'' up in his hand. He ced the spirit root into it, and the spirit root quickly turned to ash, leaving behind a small glob of pale golden liquid. As the me continued to burn, the golden liquid bubbled and trembled. A few minutester, only a thumb-sized bead remained. The man repeated this process, throwing the Hemostatic nt, Feverfew, and other materials from his bag into the me, burning them all into medicinal liquid. "Is alchemy just burning herbs into medicinal liquid?" Charles watched the man intently, finding this novel technique quite fascinating. "Not even close." The man was fully focused on controlling the me and barely acknowledged Charles. Once all the herbs had turned to liquid, the man transferred the liquids into the grade bronze pot, which he referred to as his ''alchemyb,'' and continued to heat it with the orange me. The entire process took about an hour. During this time, the man didn''t let his attention waver for a moment and didn''t say a word, which made Charles feel a bit sleepy. "It''s done!" The man eximed softly, then lifted the lid of the bronze pot. A small gray pill slowly rose and finallynded in the man''s palm. "It''s...it''s done?" Charles''s gaze shifted to his system''s light screen, where several lines of prompts appeared. Hemostatic Powder Grade: Basic Alchemy Elixir Description: The lowest grade of alchemical potion, used for external wound hemostasis. Effective for all but severe arterial hemorrhage. Seeing these lines, Charles frowned slightly. He didn''t know much about alchemists, but he knew a lot about elixirs. They could not only treat ailments of Beast Masters and their pets but some could also significantly enhance a pet''sbat abilities! It was said that the process of making them was veryplicated, and even the lowest-grade elixir could fetch a high price of several thousand copper coins! So this was how it was done? The man popped the gray pill into his mouth, took a sip of water, and swallowed. A thinyer of energy enveloped him, and in the blink of an eye, the bleeding from his wounds stopped. Even an amateur like Charles could see that this pill was extraordinary! "The recipe for this Hemostatic Powder is something I bought for a hefty price back in the day. You''ve saved my life today, and I have nothing else to thank you with, so I''ll give you this recipe." The man scribbled a few lines on a piece of paper, then quickly got dressed and prepared to leave. Seeing that he was determined to go, Charles didn''t insist on him staying. Suddenly, he remembered something: "Wait, you''ve given me such a precious recipe, but I don''t even know your name!" The man had already donned his armor and waved at Charles. "I''m just passing through Lsengard. We''re strangers who happened to meet; there''s no need to know each other''s names. If fate allows, we will meet again." After the man left, Charles picked up the piece of paper he had left behind. Ding! Obtained Basic Alchemy Elixir Recipe 1! Seeing the system prompt, Charles noticed that the alchemy function in his system had been unlocked. He moved his gaze to the [Alchemy] cursor, and a page unfolded. [Hemostatic Powder] [Grade]: Basic Alchemy Elixir [Form]: 1 Spirit Root, 5 Hemostatic nts, 5 Feverfew, 5 Rebirth of Lotus Roots, 300g Cryolite, ... [Do you want to open the alchemyb?] "Open the alchemyb!" As soon as Charles spoke, a long metal table appeared before him, covered with various metal containers. The only one he recognized was therge three-neck sk. Compared to the copper pot the man had used, this setup was far more luxurious! A wave of dizziness hit him as a vast amount of alchemy knowledge poured into his mind. System Prompt: The key elements of alchemy are materials, the alchemyb, and the me. The most important and crucial element is the me. The lower the me''s temperature, the better it is to maintain the activity of the alchemy ingredients... When Charles opened his eyes again, the alchemy equipment that he couldn''t name earlier now looked incredibly familiar. "The lower the temperature of the me, the better... What if my me has no temperature at all?" Recalling the alchemy principles, Charles activated his skill Bone-Achingly Cold, and a pale me rose in his palm. As Charles remembered the injured man''s alchemy process, he began experimenting with the alchemyb. He failed countless times. Fortunately, the alchemist had forgotten to take his material bag when he left, providing Charles with plenty of resources to experiment with. "I did it... I really did it!" Charles had lost count of how many attempts he had made. Late into the night, when a gray pill finally formed sessfully in the alchemyb, Charles felt a profound sense of aplishment. He wanted to share his joy with Max, only to find that it had already fallen asleep. "Yawn! Let''s sleep for now; I still need to go to the Beast MasterGuild tomorrow." Charles was utterly exhausted. He sleepily picked up Max''s fluffy tail, which was soft andfortable, perfect as a pillow. He quickly drifted off to sleep. ... Beep beep!! Beep beep!!! Charles was jolted awake by the urgent ringing of his phone. Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he saw over 99 missed calls, all from Lily. "Charles, what happened to you? We had a ss dinnerst night, and you just left without a word! It''s so dangerous right now, do you know how worried I was..." As soon as he answered the phone, Lily''s voice came through, scolding him non-stop. After she finished venting, her tone suddenly softened, as if she realized her outburst. "Charles, still in bed? The Beast MasterGuild is organizing a training expedition to the ferocious beast mountains for all new Beast Masters next week." "That''s a very dangerous ce. Would you like toe to my ce for some guidance beforehand?" "No need, Lily.I have things to do." "Hey, you..." Click! Charles hung up the phone decisively and headed out. Lily didn''t want to give him guidance; she wanted to drain him dry first thing in the morning! Charles had only been here for less than a day and had already sensed that this woman named Lily had an unusual rtionship with his predecessor, one that had long crossed the line of teacher-student boundaries. Although he was tempted to squeeze Lily''s soft, white breasts, he had more important matters to attend to. In two months, the admissions office of the three major academies in the imperial capital woulde to Lsengard for their entrance examinations. The three major academies gathered the elite of the entire Genosha, with even the most casual lecturer being a level 4 or 5 Beast Master. It was rumored that the headmaster''s Beast Masterlevel exceeded level 6! It could be said that all Beast Masters in the Genoshatook pride in entering the three major academies for further studies. However, the admission requirements for the three academies were extremely stringent. It was said that only six spots were allotted for Lsengard this year, and all young Beast Masters aged 18-25 in Lsengard would bepeting for those spots, making thepetition fierce. "The three major academies gather the elite of the Genosha. The quality of the girls there must be... cough cough, I mean, I''ll be able to learn more there. I am determined to get one of those spots!" Charles resolved silently in his heart. Whether to experience a more exciting world or to have the opportunity to return to Earth in the future, Charles had to secure one of those spots! ... There were few people on the streets, but as Charles caught sight of the spire of the Beast MasterGuild building, the number of pedestrians gradually increased. Charles nned to sell all the materials from the spectral wolf he hunted yesterday. Next week, he would be heading to the ferocious beast mountains for two months of hellish training. With ferocious beasts rampant there, good equipment was a must! "Wow! This ce is incredible! Is this gold falling from the sky?" Though Lsengard''s guild was just a branch, the luxury of the Beast MasterGuild left Charles in awe. The gleaming marble floor mirrored the opulent crystal chandelier above; in the center of the hall, there was even a three-meter diameter golden guild emblem! Prominently disyed in the hall were oil paintings of the guild''s previous presidents, seemingly telling their glorious stories. Suppressing his excitement, Charles firstpleted his Beast Masterregistration in the hall. He then filled out the pricing form and handed over all the materials to the guild staff for sale. The receptionist was clearly astonished when she saw the spectral wolf materials in Charles''s bag. She hadn''t expected such valuable materials to be brought in by such a young Beast Master! "Alright, sir, please wait a moment! I will arrange this for you right away!" Charles was invited to the guild''s VIP lounge. As he was about to browse his phone, an advertisement shed across the big screen: [Latest Spectral Wolf Materials Avable, First Come First Serve!] [Spectral Wolf Canines x4, 300 Copper Coins Each!] [Spectral Wolf Steel ws x6, 500 Copper Coins Each!] [Spectral Wolf Pelt (Damaged) x1, 500 Copper Coins!] [Spectral Wolf Meat 100kg, 10 Copper Coins per Kilogram!] [Spectral Wolf Beast Core (Poison Attribute, Ungraded), 2000 Copper Coins!] Seeing the ad scrolling across the hall screen, Charles felt a warm sense of satisfaction as he calcted how much money he would make. If all the materials were sessfully sold, he could earn about 7000 copper coins. At the exchange rate of 1 silver coin for 1000 copper coins, seven silver coins should be enough to craft a set of entry-level Beast Masterequipment! "Being a Beast Mastersure is lucrative. This amount of money was unimaginable before!" Charles sighed with genuine amazement. His monthly living expenses at Lsengard High School were 300 copper coins, which wasn''t even enough to buy a single wolf tooth. However, he understood why the materials sold for such high prices. Before encountering him, that spectral wolf had probably killed numerous Beast Masters. If it weren''t for the system''s prompt and his lucky bond with Max, the powerful pet, he might have ended up as the spectral wolf''s meal. Many people in the hall noticed the advertisement at this point. "Spectral wolf? Isn''t that the ferocious beast that''s been causing havoc in the city recently? d it''s dead!" "10 copper coins per kilogram for spectral wolf meat? Where is it? I''ll buy it all! I heard it can boost virility for ordinary people!" "My son is going to the ferocious beast mountains for training next week. These steel ws will be perfect for forging a handy long sword. I''ll take one!" "These wolf teeth are nice too. A ne made from them would enhance my poison attribute tamer''s power." "This spectral wolf even has a beast core? I bet it cost a lot to hunt it down. Someone might have even died!" "What? There''s a beast core for just 2000 copper coins! That''s a steal!" "My son''s pet needs a beast core to evolve and strengthen its power. I''ll buy it!" "Hey, what are you doing? I saw it first! You want to start something? I''ll pay 3000 copper coins for it!" The quiet guild hall quickly became chaotic. The demand for the spectral wolf''s materials far exceeded Charles''s expectations, and he couldn''t help but feel a bit regretful. Had he set the prices too low? Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Divine Scale Armor Inside the bustling hall of the Beast Master Guild, a long queue formed as people mored to purchase materials from Charles''s spectral wolf. The materials were in short supply, and the demand was high. Those at the end of the line, realizing they had no chance to make a purchase, shamelessly rushed to the front to cut in line. The hall quickly descended into chaos. Seatedfortably in the VIP section, Charles stretched leisurely as his phone vibrated continuously. [Dear customer, your ount ending in 9527 has received 2700 copper coins. Current bnce: 0 gold coins, 3 silver coins, 100 copper coins.] [Dear customer, your ount ending in 9527 has received 1800 copper coins. Current bnce: 0 gold coins, 4 silver coins, 900 copper coins.] [...] In less than half an hour, Charles sold the spectral wolf''s beast core for a high price of 3000 copper coins. After the Beast Master Guild took their 10% cut, he pocketed 2700 copper coins. Seeing the money roll in, a broad smile spread across Charles''s face. However, selling materials took some time, so Charles didn''t n to stay much longer; he needed to select a suitable set of equipment. As he was about to leave the hall, someone tapped him on the shoulder. "Isn''t that Charles? What a coincidence seeing you here at the Beast Master Guild!" Charles turned around to face a pale, rail-thin young man. Upon recollection, Charles remembered his name was Robert, a former ssmate who had frequently troubled him in high school, leveraging his family''s influence. Not a pleasant character. Robert''s eyes widened in surprise upon seeing Charles''s guild emblem. "You''ve be a Beast Master too? That''s truly eye-opening. I just contracted a top-tier pet yesterday. Let me broaden your horizons!" With a smug smile, Robert snapped his fingers. A six-pointed star array materialized in front of him, and a white tiger stepped out from it. Charles stared in recognitionit was the four-winged tiger he had dismissed just days before. [The Four-Winged Tiger] [Attribute:]Wind [Level:]1 [Quality:]ck Iron [Skills:]None [Mood:]Fearful [Health:] Good [Evolution:]None [Description]:This is a four-winged tiger that looks majestic and has astoundingbat potential. However, it is actually a coward. If you unfortunately make a pact with it, and encounter a battle, it''s likely to abandon you and flee. Seeing the smile on Robert''s face, Charles realized that he was just here to show off... But Robert was mistaking garbage for treasure! "Robert, are we close friends? Stop brown-nosing!" Charles gave no quarter, brushing Robert''s hand off his shoulder with a sharp motion. In his eyes, Robert was as good as dead to him. Heading into the ferocious beast mountains wasn''t a child''s y. With the pathetic attributes of the four-winged tiger, it likely wouldn''t survive the first night. "sigh..." Sensing Charles''s disdain for Robert, the usually docile Max suddenly lunged in front of the four-winged tiger, ready to fight. The four-winged tiger, bold on the outside but timid at heart, was immediately scared witless, hiding behind Robert and trembling with fear... The tiger''s urine had a pungent smell that quickly spread, causing the people around to cover their noses and dodge amidstughter. A creature over three meters tall was frightened into wetting itself by Charles''s frost wolf. Robert''s face twitched in embarrassment. "Ah... about that, it had a stomach issue yesterday and isn''t feeling well! I need to go and buy some spectral wolf meat, so I''ll catch up with youter!" Recalling his pet, Robert swiftly darted into the nearby crowd, then shot Charles a vicious re. "Enjoy your few days of pride! Too poor to even feed yourself, and you think you can afford a Beast Mastery?" "Ferocious beast meat can boost a pet''s strength. I''ll feed my four-winged tiger dozens of pounds, and soon it will easily overpower your pathetic frost wolf!" Bang! Robert hadn''t even finished his rant when someone kicked him out, sending him crashing to the ground. A man raised his fist angrily, "Young and already picking up bad habits, cutting in line? You want spectral wolf meat too? Get to the back!" Robert scrambled up, his jaw nearly dropping at the sight of the long, twisting linehe''d driven straight here after seeing online that spectral wolf meat was for sale. How could there be so many people already? ... After leaving the Beast Master Guild, Charles decided to check out some equipment on the next street. From a distance, he heard a loud hawking voice: "This spear, forged from the finest ck iron, can pierce through anything in the world! Only 500 copper coins!" Charles looked over to see a crowded equipment shop. A middle-aged man with a bushy beard was energetically pitching his wares: "And this mystic crystal armor, the breastte made from a single piece of mystic crystal turtle shellutterly indestructible. Not just ordinary weapons, even ferocious beasts can''t scratch you! And it''s only for one silver coin! Don''t miss out!" Charles chuckled, "What if I used your indestructible spear to pierce your indestructible mystic crystal armor, would it go through?" "Ah... that... that..." The bearded man was momentarily stumped, "Young man, are you trying to pull my leg?" "Ha, no sir, that''s not it. I''m heading into the ferocious beast mountains for training next week and came to see if you have any suitable equipment. Don''t try to fob me off with cheap goods; I need real protection against ferocious beast attacks." "Training next week... You''re a new Beast Master, right? Follow me!" The bearded man motioned to a shop assistant to take over the sales pitch and then led Charles upstairs. Charles casually nced at the surrounding weapons and armor, and the system quickly popped up notifications. [Hexaragram Spear [Tone Reproduction]:[ A conventional weapon, forged from six rare alloys. Average market price: 3 silver coins. [Sharktooth Sword [Tone Reproduction]:[ The de features a serrated edge resembling a shark''s mouth, designed to slice through the hide of lower-defense ferocious beasts. Average market price: 5 silver coins. [Chrono-Emperor [White]:[ Crafted from the hide of a carrion queen ant, not only is it durable, but it also resists low-level poison attacks. Average market price: 10 silver coins. ... Simr to the alchemyb''s production of miracle drugs, all weapons and armor are ranked by rarity in ascending order: Tone Reproduction, White, Green, Blue, Purple, Orange, Gold... Moreover, the system also indicated the average market prices for each item to prevent Charles from being overcharged. This thoughtful feature nearly brought tears to Charles''s eyes. However, Charles was somewhat disappointed that most items here weremon equipment. Gear made from ferocious beast materials, even if just average in quality, often started at prices above 10 silver coins. "What a rip-off!" Charles thought bitterly. Just as he was about to leave, something caught his eye. Among the pile of Tone Reproduction and White items, one piece of equipment was emitting a blue glow! Pretending to examine a longsword nearby, Charles stealthily nced over. [Divine Scale Armor [Blue]:[ Crafted from a fall''s meteoric iron, its material density is extraordinary. Wearing it enables weighted strength training. No reference price avable. The information shed briefly, and Charles''s interest was piqued. In most battles, pets could handle the situation, but a Beast Master''s personal strength was equally crucial; otherwise, they could easily be a burden duringbat. This Divine Scale Armor was perfect for giving Charles intensive training over the next two months. What was more intriguing was that, although named "Divine Scale Armor," it appeared almost like a T-shirt. It was inconspicuous when worn, not affecting daily life, andpletely unnoticeable to others. Seeing Charles''s interest in the item, the shopkeeper''s eyes began to twirl. "My good sir, you have quite the eye! This piece is the pride of my shop. Since you''re a Beast Master, I''ll let you have it for just 100 silver coins!" Hearing the price, Charles nearly lost his bnce. 100 silver coins? Why not just rob someone? Forget about 100 silver coins, even if he sold himself, he couldn''t scrape together 10 silver coins right now... It seems swindlers know no borders; even in another world, anything you show interest in, they''ll jack up the price. Cursing inwardly, Charles kept a straight face and waved dismissively, "Isn''t this just an ordinary T-shirt? Worth 100 silver coins? I don''t see any special features. Never mind, I''ll look elsewhere." "Hey, wait... If you really want it, I''ll take 50 silver coins! The advantages, well, the advantages are..." Charles''s question had the shopkeeper stumped. This piece of equipment had been gathering dust in his shop for years, unsold. Its only feature seemed to be its excessive heaviness. "Forget it, I''m not interested anymore." Charles was already at the staircase. Seeing a sale slipping away, the shopkeeper gritted his teeth. "40 silver coins! 40 silver coins, take it or leave it?" "30! That''s as low as I can go!" "20! Oh, oh... It''s even below cost now, bro, won''t you give it another look?" "..." Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Are You a Fly? "I said no, and that means no. If you can''t even list one advantage, how can I dare buy it?" Charles shook his head and left the equipment shop without looking back. His bargaining skills had been honed in his previous life on countless shopping excursions. The best way to deal with swindlers was simply one worddy! As long as you''re not in a rush to buy, you can''t be trapped. Let''s see who bes desperate first. Moreover, while other people focused on the defensive capabilities when purchasing armor, only Charles, guided by the system''s hint, recognized the unique quality of this piece of equipment. No one else would bother buying it. Max let out a deep murmur and gently rubbed his head against Charles''s chest, clearly trying tofort him. Charles patted Max''s head. "It''s alright, Max. I wasn''t nning to buy it anyway, just checking the price." Exiting the equipment store, they were surrounded by a bustlingmercial street with clothing shops, essory stores, food outlets... Various colorful signs and billboards dazzled Charles. Charles''s family wasn''t wealthy. In the past, he wouldn''t even dare to nce at such ces, but things were different nowhe had money! It was just about time for lunch. Charles smiled gently. "Max, I''ll take you for some delicious food!" At the mention of eating, Max''s eyes immediately lit up. From a distance, Charles could smell the enticing aromaing from a ce called ''Barbarian Bull Steakhouse.'' "I''d like a private room, two steaks, and two juices," Charles said, pointing at Max to indicate the reservation was for one person and one beast. "Right away, please wait a moment!" The server smiled, even showing a bit of respect. Upon learning that Charles was the Beast Master, the shopkeeper personally took to the kitchen and prioritized Charles''s meal order as the first of the day. This preferential treatment made Charles somewhat embarrassed. He recalled that before transmigrating, many shops and trains strictly prohibited pets, but in this world, it was entirely differentBeast Mastery was regarded as an equal existence to humans. "Enjoy your meal, both of you!" A maid-d waitress bowed slightly, then gently closed the door of the private booth. "Let''s eat!" Charles passed a steak and a ss of juice to Max, who sniffed it lightly and instantly began to drool profusely. "Ooh... Huff huff!" Seeing Max get scalded yet reluctant to spit out the meat, Charles couldn''t help butugh, even though it also made him feel a bit sad. Life in the wild was far more brutalpared to the city. Although "ferocious beast" was a unified term, there were millions of species, each with its own territory. They were ipatible like fire and water, often fighting to the death over a morsel of food. ording to the Beast Master Guild, when they found Max, he was lying bloodied on the ground, an image hard to imagine. "Eat up, don''t choke. If you like it, I''ll order more." Charles fed Max a cup of juice, then passed over his own portion of steak. [Ding! This is your first time bringing Max to a steakhouse, and Max is very happy. Your rapport with Max has increased!] [Pet Loyalty +3!] Seeing the fleeting system notification, Charles covered his mouth and chuckled. Thest time he fought alongside Max defeating the spectral wolf, they had only gained 2 loyalty points. Now, just by sharing a meal, they gained 3 points! "What a little foodie..." Once Max was fully satisfied and burped contentedly, Charles led him out of the steakhouse. Seeing that it was still early, Charles took Max to a nearby pet essory shop. After browsing for a while, he finally chose a blue bow tie and tied it to Max''s tail. This was a special essory that could enhance a pet''s control over elemental forces. [Ding! You have adorned Max with a pet essory. Max is very pleased and in high spirits. Loyalty +2!] "Another 2 points?" Charles nced at the pet panel, and indeed, Max''s loyalty had risen to 75 points! Pet loyalty is a crucial attribute. If the loyalty is below 60 points, pets may abandon their owners in dangerous situations, with a higher probability the lower the loyalty. The higher the loyalty, the better the understanding and rapport between the pet and the owner, enabling them toprehend the owner''sbatmands and evenmunicate telepathically. At 90 points or above, a pet would be willing to sacrifice its life for its owner, staying by their side unto death. "Now that Max''s loyalty is at 75 points, he can understand most of what I say. This will make our coordination in battle much more convenient!" Charles thought, pleased. Beep beep As Charles was checking Max''s pet panel, his phone suddenly rang. A sweet female voice said, "Good day, sir. The materials you consigned to the Beast Master Guild have all been sold. After deducting a 10% service fee, the total amount of 7 silver coins and 820 copper coins has been transferred to your bank ount." "Thank you for your efforts." After hanging up the phone, Charles checked his bank bnce and soon received a message: [Dear customer, your bank ount ending in 9527 currently has a bnce of 0 gold coins, 8 silver coins, and 20 copper coins.] "Just now, the steak with Max cost 100 copper coins, the bow tie was 100 copper coins, plus the original 400 copper coins in the card for living expenses..." Charles furrowed his brow and did the math, finding it exactly right! The demand for the spectral wolf materials had far exceeded Charles''s expectations. In the time it took to eat a meal, even the battered wolf skin had sold! To the old Charles, this amount of money would have seemed astronomical. But having seen Max''s astonishing appetite, Charles suddenly felt it wasn''t that much after all... The steak Charles had just enjoyed was merely ordinary wild ox meat. If it had been ferocious beast meat, he could hardly fathom how quickly his money would have vanished. "Besides food expenses, I still need a full set of equipment. No matter how much I try to haggle, the shopkeeper won''t sell the [Divine Scale Armor] to me for less than 10 silver coins." Charles scratched his head, visibly worried. A wealthy man has it easy, while a poor man has it tough.With only six days before departure, where could he possibly find enough money? Suddenly, Charles remembered the small pill in his storage space, pping his forehead: "I''ve got it, I can sell the medicine!" He pulled out his cellphone, pressed and held the side button, and asked the voice assistant: "I''m in Genosha Lsengard, and I have a tone reproduction quality miracle drug. I want to sell it for the highest price. Where should I go?" [Voice Assistant Received, Analyzing...] After a few seconds of processing, the voice assistant opened the navigation on Charles''s phone, marking the endpoint at the [MisubiAuction House], 2000 meters away from him. ... Ten minutester, Charles arrived at the entrance of a rtively modest building. The building was white with hints of dark gold iy, and its simplicity was evident, save for the historically patterned frames around its floor-to-ceiling windows, which were not overly ornate. It looked unassuming, yet a quick online search revealed that the backing Misubifamily of the MisubiAuction House was one of Genosha''s three major powers, on par with the Beast Master Guild, a force not to be underestimated. "Charles? How do I bump into you everywhere?" As Charles was about to enter the auction house, a red supercar pulled up at the entrance. A pale, stick-thin young man stepped out of the luxury vehicle. Seeing Robert, Charles''s Max immediately bared his teeth and red menacingly at him. The familiar scene reminded Charles of the earlier incident at the Beast Master Guild when Robert''s ''divine beast,'' the four-winged tiger, had been scared to the point of wetting itself, almost making Charlesugh aloud: "Yeah, why are you like a fly, following me wherever I go?" Charles was clearly amused, and Robert could see it. He adjusted his suit, then nced disdainfully at Charles''s inexpensive shirt: "The treasures sold inside Misubiare exorbitantly priced. Can you actually afford them?" Having lived twice, Charles had seen through Robert''s character in just half a day. Considering their consistently poor rtionship from his memories, Charles didn''t bother engaging with him. "I certainly can''t afford to buy anything, just here to browse and expand my horizons," Charles casually excused himself from Robert and headed straight into a roombeled ''Appraisal Room'' to the left of the auction house entrance. The room was spacious and, though notvishly decorated, the intricately patterned carpets and the valuable oil paintings on the walls spoke of the grandeur of a major family. A man in a tailcoat, upon seeing Charles, bowed respectfully: "Good day, sir. This is the appraisal room of the MisubiAuction House. May I ask if there is something you wish to auction?" Charles nodded, then pulled a small box from his pocket and gently handed it to the man... --- Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Sucker "Inside this box, I have a miracle drug [Hemostatic Powder], which can rapidly stop bleeding within 10 seconds unless it''s arterial bleeding," Charles exined sinctly about the miracle drug''s effects. "A miracle drugsir, are you an alchemist?" The man''s expression changed slightly, his demeanor bing even more respectful as he arranged a seat for Charles: "Please have a seat, sir. I will arrange for an appraiser immediately!" Charles nodded and chose a seat by the window, offering a perfect view of the entire auction house. The auction house in Lsengard wasn''trge, sparsely filled with dozens of people, all elites and wealthy merchants from various sectors of Lsengard. Charles recognized two of themhis ssmates Robert and Danielwho probably wanted to acquire some treasures to prepare for their journey out of the city in six days. Absorbed in his surroundings, Charles was interrupted by the light sound of dress shoes as the tailcoat-d man returned, apanied by a middle-aged man with tone reproduction white hair: "Sir, this is our auction house appraiser, Master Brown." --- Meanwhile, Robert was sitting at the auction bench, his mood sour. Running into Charles at the entrance had greatly irritated him. "What''s Charles''s ss doing at the same auction house as me? Can he, a poor man, afford anything?" Brooding over these thoughts, Robert suddenly saw a middle-aged man rush onto the auction stage with a jade box: "Ladies and gentlemen, our auction house has just received a new treasure, personally appraised by our chief appraiser, Master Brown. I believe it will interest many of you..." The man carefully opened the lid of the jade box: "Tone reproduction ss miracle drug, Hemostatic Powder, starting bid1 silver coin!" Upon seeing the tone reproduction miracle drug shimmering with an unusual luster on the projection screen, the previously quiet auction hall erupted into lively discussions. "A tone reproduction ss miracle drug? It must be the work of some skilled alchemist. Such treasures are indeed rare!" "I was once attacked by a ferocious beast on a business trip outside the city, losing so much blood I nearly passed out. A passing alchemist fed me a Hemostatic Powder, and my wound scabbed over in seconds, literally pulling me back from the brink of death!" "It''s so miraculous, it''s like having an extra life! Forget one silver coin, I would pay a hundred for it!" "I''ll bid 2 silver coins!" "2 silver coins and 500 copper coins!" "I''ll go 5 silver coins!" "..." In the VIP reception room, hearing the sessive bids echoing through the auction house, Charles couldn''t help but smile: "This ce truly lives up to the name Misubi; the bidding techniques here are truly professional!" He knew a bit about the ways of the auction house. Among the dozens of bidders, many were shills for the auction house, yelling bids but not buying, their acting quite persuasive. However, he was more than happy to see the bidding price climbing. After several rounds of bidding, the price of the Hemostatic Powder soared to 10 silver coins. At that moment, Charles spotted a somewhat familiar figure in the auction house raising a bidding sign: "I bid 20 silver coins!" Charles''s face involuntarily twitched: "No way, Daniel is here too, didn''t mean to trap a good brother..." Back in high school, when Robert bullied him and even the ss teacher wouldn''t intervene, only Daniel dared to stand up for him. The bidder was none other than Daniel''s father, David. Charles sighed softly: "I can''t do this to my friend. If you really end up winning it for 20 silver coins, I owe you a barbecue dinner tonight!" As David''s bid was called, the room fell silent. Although the Hemostatic Powder was enticing, no one dared topete with a bid that doubled the previous one. "Heh, Mr. David, I didn''t expect you to be interested in this miracle drug as well. However, my son recently advanced to Beast Master and will be leaving the city for training next week. I need this Hemostatic Powder," a bald man behind Robert raised his bidding sign: "I bid 25 silver coins!" "Sly, no offense, but with your son''sck of skills, that money might be better spent on a coffin. Maybe he should just stay in the city, to avoid losing his life." David, standing beside Daniel, raised his bidding sign again, unwilling to back down: "I bid 30 silver coins!" This intense bidding left the crowd at the auction house speechless. The Smith family and the Taylor family, one is in the jewelry business, and the other is in the jade business, and they have always beenpetitors. Their bidding was no longer just about a miracle drug; it was about the prestige of their families. The atmosphere quickly heated up. Sitting in the VIP section, Charles choked on his water as he saw the price skyrocket: "Cough, cough! I didn''t know my Hemostatic Powder was worth this much..." "50 silver coins!" Sly shouted, his hand trembling as he raised his bid. Determined to dete David''s pride, he was going all in today! Just when everyone thought David would continue bidding, he adjusted his gold-rimmed sses and chuckled at Sly: "Mr. Sly, Mr. Sly, truly wealthy andvish with your spendinga bid of 50 silver coins for a Hemostatic Powder!I am genuinely impressed!" After speaking, David stood up,ughed heartily, and left the auction house with Daniel. Watching their departing figures, Sly''s face was a mix of shock and sudden realization that he had been yed. His face turned from red to ashen: "David, you... you dare y me! You just wait!" As if worried Sly might retract his bid, the auctioneer quickly hammered down: "Tone reproduction quality miracle drug, Hemostatic Powder, sessfully auctioned to Mr. Sly!" ... In the VIP room. The tailcoat-d man bowed slightly and handed Charles a check: "Mr. Charles, good day to you. Your item sold for 50 silver coins." Tucking away the check, Charles sighed in admiration. "As expected of a renowned family from all of Genosha, they really know how to do business!" "It''s a mere 2.5 silver coins to them, but they''ve gained a major customer." As Charles stepped out of the appraisal room, he ran into a visibly annoyed Robert and his father. "Why is it you again?" Robert, still fuming, rolled his eyes at Charles. But then, ncing at Charles''s modest appearance, Robert shook the jade box in his hand with a smirk: "Lucky day today, managed to score something great! A tone reproduction ss miracle drug, bet you''ve never seen one of these?" As Robert approached, Max bared his teeth fiercely. If not for Charles holding him back, he would have bitten Robert. "Sorry about that, Robert. My pet usually doesn''t act this way unless it sees a dog!" Charles quipped with a smile. Robert waved his hand dismissively, "It''s just a pet, better train it well... Wait, what did you say?!" "I said, a good dog doesn''t block the path!" Charles flipped Robert the bird and walked away with his head held high. Watching Charles''s retreating figure, Robert''s expression turned ugly. Being yed by Daniel and his father was one thing, since the Smith familyhad some influence and their businesses were rivals. But Charles, whose parents ran a freight businessa loser in his eyesdaring to challenge him? Throughout high school, if it weren''t for Daniel''s support and Lily''s favoritism, he would have had Charles hospitalized long ago! "Hmph! Just six days until we leave the city for our training,and you dare to provoke me? You won''t even know how you died!" Robert snorted coldly and climbed into his luxury car with a dark look on his face. In the passenger seat. Suddenly recalling something, Robert looked puzzled. He had seen Charles entering the MisubiAuction House''s appraisal room earlier, and now, just as he was leaving, he saw himing out. How could it be such a coincidence? Robert nced aside: "Dad, you don''t think that miracle drug was sold by that kid Charles, do you?" "How could that be possible! Do you think a high school student knows alchemy?" Sly took a puff of his cigar, frowning slightly: "But it is indeed strange. I know all the alchemists in Lsengard. I''ll ask aroundter, make sure we didn''t buy something stolen by that kid." ... Lsengard Commercial Bank. Recalling the scene at the auction house, Charles was almost in pain fromughing: "Hahaha! Seeing that kid Robert bleed money was just damn satisfying!" Originally, by market rates, his miracle drug would have sold for at most 10 silver coins. But Robert and his father, ying the suckers, had spent 50 silver coins! After cashing the check, Charles checked his bank ount, and his phone quickly received a message. [Dear customer, the current bnce of your bank ount ending in 9527 is: 0 gold coins, 58 silver coins, 20 copper coins.] For some reason, perhaps because he had been poor, just seeing those numbers in his bank ount made Charles feel incredibly secure. "With this money, I can craft a suitable set of equipment!" Charles could hardly hide the excitement on his face as he rubbed Max''s head: "And tonight, I''ll cook you a feast of ferocious beast meat!" As Charles was ying with Max, a message suddenly floated across his phone. [#Shocking News! Genosha''srgest auction house Misubiis openly auctioning stolen goods#] "Misubi? Isn''t that the auction house I just visited?" Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Hunting the Alloy Ant Queen Charles casually clicked into the forum where a man was broadcasting news. "A tone reproduction miracle drug, hemostatic powder, was auctioned today at the Misubi auction house for a whopping 50 silver coins. Someone saw Charles from Lsengard Beast Mastery High School entering the appraisal room with a miracle drug..." In the video, the man''s voice was altered, and he wore a mask, obscuring his identity. The explosive video quickly garnered over a hundred thousand views, and within minutes, hundreds ofments piled up. "A miracle drug for tone reproduction can only be crafted by an alchemist! We barely have any alchemists in all of Lsengard, how did a high school student get his hands on such a treasure?" "Baseless usations, you guys shouldn''t spread rumors so recklessly. Could it be that Charles bought it previously?" "You think Charles bought it? That''s a joke! I go to the same school as him, and his family is so poor they can barely make ends meet. How could he afford a miracle drug..." "It must have been stolen then. I have no proof, but that seems like the only exnation." "I can''t believe it, a Beast Master stooping to petty theft." "Charles has really disgraced our Lsengard Beast Mastery High School..." "Everyone, share this video on the campus forum and make Charlese out and exin!" Seeing these messages, Charles was speechless. Exin what? Should he tell them he crafted the miracle drug himself? That would only make them less likely to believe him. Spreading rumors is easy, dispelling them is hard. He didn''t feel like exining; after all, the 50 silver coins were now firmly in his hand, no matter what others said. "This hemostatic powder fetched a high price of 50 silver coins at auction, which, though partly due to luck, attests to the preciousness of the miracle drug." "I''ve already picked out some armor, but I still need a proper weapon. I need to find a way to make some more money." A piece of blue-quality armor cost several dozen silver coins, and a suitable weapon would be even more expensive. Fortunately, Charles now knew alchemy. With sufficient materials, he could craft numerous miracle drugs during the remaining six days. Besides selling them for money, he could also keep some for his own use when venturing into the mountains. With this in mind, Charles hailed a cab and headed to the Herbal Shop in the northern part of the city. An hourter. Standing at the doorway of an old, storied herbal shop, Charles sniffed the air: "There''s a strong scent of blood in the air..." The surrounding quiet was unusually profound. As Charles tried to locate the source of the bloody scent, a sudden vibration came from beneath his feet. Charles darted aside: "Not good! Max, get ready for battle!" "Rumbling!!!" As soon as Charles spoke, the spot where he had been standing broke apart, the gstones shattering, and a massive ant burst forth from the ground. [Alloy Ant] [Attributes]: Metal [Level]: 4 [Quality]: Bronze Division [Skills]: Giant jaws tearing apart [Mood]: Aggressive [Health]: Good [Weakness]: The joint between the body and abdomen / Thunder attribute [Description]: This is a hungry, ferocious beast. Long hours of burrowing underground have left it tired and thirsty, desperately eager to devour any living thing it encounters. "ck! ck!" Upon seeing Charles, the alloy ant repeatedly snapped its massive mandibles, as if performing a pre-dining ritual. When it opened its mouth, Charles saw rows of neatly arranged barbs, shaped like fish hooks, making escape nearly impossible once bitten. The moment the alloy ant appeared, Max had already positioned himself protectively in front of Charles. Facing a ferocious beast several times his size, Max did not hesitate. The temperature around them plummeted as ice elements coalesced into icy spears, thrusting violently at the alloy ant. "Plop, plop..." The ice spears collided with the alloy ant, emitting harsh shing sounds and sparks flying, yet they failed to inflict any damage. "Damn, its shell is too hard. A frontal attack won''t break through; we must target its weak points!" The more perilous the situation, the more Charles reminded himself to stay calm. He then shouted to Max, "Max, its weak point is at the joint between its chest and abdomen, attack from below!" Amidst the relentless assault, the alloy ant became thoroughly enraged. It sped up its charge, intending to tear its prey into pieces. Just as it was about to bite Max, an ice spear formed beneath it and stabbed towards its lower abdomen. "Crack" A crisp snap was heard, and with that strike, the alloy ant was severed in two. [Ding! You have defeated the ferocious beast [alloy ant] (Lv4Bronze Division quality), and your synergy with your pet has increased![ [Pet Loyalty +1!] [Pet Experience Points +40!] "Well done!" Before Charles could even begin to celebrate, two antennae emerged from the hole dug by the alloy ant, and a shiny silver worm crawled out from the cavern. [Alloy Ant Queen] [Attributes]: Metal/Poison [Level]: 5 [Quality]: Bronze Division [Skills]: Toxic burst [Mood]: Aggressive [Health]: Good [Weakness]: Fire attribute [Description]: Arge, fat ant in its eggying period, extremely irritable. Its hard and resilient exoskeleton can block most attacks, but it fears fire the most. The alloy ant queen kept spraying a green liquid, causing yellow smoke to rise from any buildings it touched. Fresh from his victory, Max was now fully exhrated. His small frame nimbly dodged the venomous attacks. The venom was highly corrosive; if it sshed onto Charles, it would eat away his flesh. Max would never allow that to happen. "Rumbling!!!" Another ice spear descended from above, striking the alloy ant queen''s plump belly. However, the moment it made contact, it was like hitting a cotton ball; the spear''s force waspletely absorbed. The alloy ant queen arched its body and then opened its massive jaws, gathering the venom into a thick, dark green water column. "Max, be careful! That''s its skill, toxic burst!" Charles warned. Though Max''s level was the same as the alloy ant queen''s, his golden quality soon showed its advantage. He quickly spotted the alloy ant queen''s weakness. A pale fire enveloped Max and Charles, evaporating all the venom upon contact with the mes. Seeing its skill countered, the alloy ant queen wriggled its obese body, attempting to retreat back into its cave. But Max wasn''t about to give it that chance. Bone-achingly cold! Max unleashed a powerful strike, spreading the pale mes under his feet, whichpletely engulfed the alloy ant queen. Amidst the bone-chilling mes, the once formidable alloy ant queen writhed in agony. Its entire body caught fire, struggling in vain before quickly turning to ashes. [Ding! You have defeated the ferocious beast [alloy ant queen] (Lv5Bronze Division quality), and your synergy with your pet has increased!] [Pet Loyalty +1!] [Pet Experience Points +50!] [Ding! Your pet Max has leveled up, current level Lv6!] Realizing his level had increased, Max excitedly circled Charles and then leaped into his arms. "Max is so smart, he can find the enemy''s weakness without my having to point it out!" Charles said with a smile as he rubbed Max''s head. He had system notifications that the alloy ant queen was vulnerable to fire attacks, but Max had discovered this solely through hisbat instincts. It seemed Max was much stronger than Charles had imagined! Hearing Charles''s praise, Max grew even more excited, his icy tongue licking Charles''s face and his furry tail wagging happily. Charles took out a small knife, ready to collect the spoils. He stored all usable materials from the alloy ant into the system''s storage space: [Obtained 2 giant alloy ant mandibles!] [Obtained 6 alloy ant legs!] [Obtained 50 alloy ant teeth!] [Obtained 30kg of alloy ant exoskeleton!] "These materials could fetch a good price at the Beast Master Guild, it''s just a shame the alloy ant queen got burned up," Charlesmented as he looked at the ashes scattered around the cave entrance. He remembered seeing a set of Chrono-Emperor gear at the equipment store, priced at 10 silver coins. The skin of such worms was likely quite valuable. Just then, Charles noticed something different about Max, who was in his arms: "Max, have you grown bigger? And you look even more beautiful, don''t you?" This wasn''t just Charles''s imagination. Over the past few days, he hadn''t returned Max to the Beast Mastery Space but had enjoyed carrying him around town, bing quite familiar with his weight. After leveling up, Max definitely felt heavier. Not only that, Charles noticed some changes in himself too; he seemed a bit stronger. "Could it be that when a pet levels up, the Beast Master''s attributes grow as well?" Chapter 11: Chapter 11: The Gap Between People Not only did Charles feel more muscr strength, but his body also felt lighter. Taking a deep breath, he lightly jumped andnded atop a two-meter-high wall nearby. This would have been impossible before! "It seems that after Max levels up, not only does he grow stronger, but I also gain some enhancements." Knowing this, Charles was increasingly eager to venture out of the city for training. Now that Max was at Level 6, none of the ferocious beasts nearby Lsengard could match him, and gaining experience was bing slower. To achieve greater improvement, they would have to enter the ferocious beast mountain range. "Young man, was it you who just eliminated the invading ferocious beasts?" An elderly voice came from a damaged house. Charles turned around to see an old man with white hair, hunching his body, approaching him. "I was about to go to the Herbal Shop to buy some herbs when two giant ants burst from the ground. Don''t worry, I took care of them." Charles nced around at the mess with concern and advised the old man, "Sir, there are ferocious beasts around here; you should find a safe ce to take refuge!" Hearing that the ferocious beasts had been dealt with, the residents who had been hiding began toe out one by one. Seeing Charles, they looked at him with admiration. "Young man, we owe you a lot. You''re a hero for all of Lsengard!" "I heard there were ferocious beasts nearby; I''ve been hiding in the basement for several days, nearly suffocating!" "These ferocious beasts are getting craftier, noticing the weak defenses and starting to burrow from beneath. We need to inform the defense squad quickly!" "Eh... I think I recognize this young man. Isn''t he the one used online of stealing miracle drugs to sell?" Charles: "..." The once quiet street quickly bustled again. Cement trucks arrived to fill the holes dug by the alloy ants, and the defense team set up caution tape and intensified patrols in the area. Meanwhile, a swarm of journalists and social media influencers with microphones thronged to the scene. Not wanting to waste time, Charles briefly entertained one interview before shaking off the reporters to head to the Herbal Shop to buy herbs. However, to his surprise, the owner of the Herbal Shop turned out to be the old woman he had just saved. She insisted on giving Charles the herbs for free. Charles felt awkward about it: "Madam, I can''t ept this! Your herbs are quite valuable; how can I take them for free?" The old woman sighed, "Lsengard has been unstabletely, and I n to sell these herbs at a low price and move to my daughter''s ce. If you don''t mind, give me 100 copper coins, and you can take whatever you need from the storeroom." Charles was not one to fuss over formalities. Lsengard is a small frontier city in Genosha, situated near the ferocious beast mountain range, making it indeed unsafe. Since the shop owner said to take whatever he needed, Charles did not hold back, helping the old woman clear out her stock. [Obtained 3 tons of Ice Crystals!] [Obtained 999 Hemostatic Orchids!] [Obtained 999 Red Peak Pomegranates!] [Obtained 999 Numbing Grass!] ... As Charles was emptying the Herbal Shop, news of another ferocious beast sighting quickly exploded on Lsengard''s local forums. "Heard there was trouble again up north, a Level 5 ferocious beast, an alloy ant queen, came up from underground. Sounds like someone even died!" "Level 5 ferocious beast?! I just awakened yesterday and am only Level 1. If I ran into that alloy ant queen, I''d probablyst less than a second!" "The appearance of the alloy ant queen indicates there might be an ant nest nearby. Do you think the ground under Lsengard could be hollowed out by ferocious beasts?" "Hey, don''t scare me like that, I''m already a scaredy-cat! That''s just too terrifying!" Over thest 100 years since the catastrophe, humans have continually studied Beast Masteryskills, and ferocious beasts with rtively mild temperaments have long been domesticated. Conversely, the ferocious beasts in the wild are bing increasingly fierce. The city itself is bing restless, a chill hanging over everyone. "Hmph, at a time like this, we should be uniting. But some people are taking advantage of the situation to gain benefits, even daring to steal an alchemist''s miracle drug!" "You''re talking about Charles, right? As a Beast Master, I''m really embarrassed. If I get the chance, I''ll definitely teach him a lesson!" "Such a scoundreldoesn''t deserve to be called a Beast Master! I request that his privileges at the Beast Master Guild be revoked! @the Beast Master Guild Lsengard branch" "Everyone, check out the trending videos, the alloy ant and the alloy ant queen seem to have been eliminated!" "Really? Who''s that capable?" ... At this moment, within an ancient-looking mansion in Lsengard. Robert was lounging with his legs crossed, scrolling through his phone, while his pet, the four-winged tiger, was indulging in a hearty meal of ferocious beast meat. "Let''s see what the online sentiment is like now. If I can''t deal with the miracle drug, can I not deal with you?" Robert smirked coldly. A gray miracle drug hemostatic powder, originally worth just 10 silver coins, had cost his father 50 silver coins to acquire. He was still fuming, and now Charles dared to mock him? He had uploaded a video overnight and hired some online trolls to smear Charles. Although he had no evidence, that didn''t matter. That''s how the inte works; people only believe what they want to believe. As long as you deliver the emotion, who cares if it''s ck or white. "Is that... Charles? Why is a reporter from Lsengard TV interviewing him?" Robert was baffled as soon as he clicked into the forum. In the interview video, Charles was confidently talking to the camera, recounting his battle against the alloy ant queen. "This must be boasting, right? That''s a Level 5 ferocious beast; could he really have killed it?" Robert''s hand trembled slightly holding the phone. Everyone had awakened just yesterday. He was struggling against a Level 1 ferocious beast, and Charles supposedly killed a Level 5? Impossible, absolutely impossible! Robert refused to believe it! Either the news was fake, or Charles had unbelievably good luck, finding the ferocious beast already severely wounded and taking the opportunity. Equally explosive were thements under the news video. "Oh my god! I can''t believe it, a newly awakened Level 1 Beast Master defeated the alloy ant queen!" "Such an outstanding Beast Master, and yet you all framed him as a thief, that''s just too much!" "That hemostatic powder must have been traded for with ferocious beast materials. Can the rumor-mongers just stop already!" "Exactly! They must be jealous!" "Wow! Charles is so cool. Does anyone have his contact info?" "Do you think Charles also took down the spectral wolf yesterday?" "Everyone, head to the Beast Master Guild! Someone just submitted materials dropped by the alloy ant and they''re selling them at a low price!" "Really? Let''s line up quickly!" "..." Less than half an hour after the news interview was released, the views had already surpassed 500,000. Although there were still a few skeptics, thement section was overwhelmingly filled with praise! Especially since Charles was not a member of the defense squad, but merely a student who had justpleted the Beast Master awakening ceremony. While others were nervously preparing to venture out of the city for training, Charles was already capable of easily defeating a Level 5 ferocious beast. This was truly astonishing! Those who knew Charles, including teachers and ssmates, were baffled when they saw the video. Was Charles always this powerful, and they just hadn''t noticed before? ... In an old neighborhood. In a drafty room filled with various herbs, the air was thick with the scent of medicine. "There isn''t much time left; I need to hurry." Charles was following a form chart next to him, adding materials from around him into the alchemyb. Soon, the air was filled with the essences of medicines in various colors. Recipes are the lifeblood of an alchemist, not easily shared with others. However, some non-graded medicines were easily found online, like painkillers, fire-controlling elixirs, and spirit-replenishing pills... These medicines, in addition to alleviating pain, also have beneficial effects for Beast Masters. For example, the [fire-controlling elixir] can enhance the ability of Beast Masters and their pets to wield fire elemental powers,sting for half an hour. Each type of medicine requires almost unique recipes. However, after his ''raid'' at the Herbal Shop, Charles''s system storage space was brimming with alchemy materials. As long as he wasn''t crafting high-grade miracle drugs, he would never run out. Although Max couldn''t understand what Charles was doing, he stayed by Charles''s side throughout the alchemy process. Sometimes, when he noticed Charles sweating, he''d use his ice elements to cool him down. From night to day, and back to night again... After five days, Charles stretched and exhaled deeply: "Finally finished! Let''s see what the results are like!" Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Coffee Spilled Charles opened the system''s storage space, which had been filled with herbs but, after five days of diligent work, now contained only miracle drugs. [Storage Space]: Hemostatic powder [tone reproduction miracle drug]10, painkillers200, fire-controlling elixir100, spirit-replenishing pill50, serene fluid50, beast-driving wine30... Looking at these alchemy medicines, Charles felt a great sense of aplishment. After five days of repetitive work, he felt his alchemy skills had significantly improved. "These miracle drugs should be enough for the two-month journey into the ferocious beast mountains. The excess can be sold," Charles said with satisfaction. Themon medicines were not a big deal, but he wasn''t nning to release all the tone reproduction miracle drug hemostatic powder at once. There''s a business term from his previous life called ''hunger marketing.'' If he were to auction all 10 gray miracle drugs at once, the price would definitely be driven down. He needed to sell them bit by bit. Charles hailed a cab and arrived at the Misubi auction house an hourter. This time, he was not greeted by a man in a tailcoat but by a delicately beautiful woman: "Sir, please follow me." The woman wore a very form-fitting strapless long dress that entuated her enticing curves. With a slight bow, she revealed a generous amount of cleavage. Having been through much in two lifetimes, Charles was usually unphased. However, his body was still that of an 18-year-old, full of youthful vigor. Witnessing this scene, it was inevitable that something uncontroble would stiffen. Fortunately, the woman quickly turned around, unaware of Charles''s difort, thus avoiding much embarrassment. In the VIP room. The chief appraiser, Brown, took the two miracle drugs from Charles, sniffed them gently, and then ced the pills into a nearby testing device. A few minutester, he nodded affirmatively: "Both my experience and the device''s data results confirm that these two miracle drugs have achieved tone reproduction." Brown''s face was full of smiles as he asked, "Sir, would you like to auction them here again?" Charles nodded. "The sooner, the better. I only have one day." "No problem, please wait a moment." Brown ced Charles''s miracle drugs into a jade box, gave a subtle signal to the woman beside him, and then gently closed the room''s door. Sitting by the same window, Charles watched Brown enter the auction hall downstairs with the two miracle drugs. After a brief introduction, the bidding started. "Sir, would you like some coffee?" The woman who had initially greeted Charles suddenly approached him, appearing somewhat flustered. Charles nodded absentmindedly, his attention fixed on the auction below. As the auction for the two tone reproduction miracle drugs began, the crowd downstairs grew restless, with continuous bids being ced. "I heard a single Hemostatic powder sold for 50 silver coins yesterday. This thing must be valuable; I''ll start at 20 silver coins!" "25 silver coins!" "I bid 30 silver coins!" "35 silver coins!" "..." As Charles was engrossed in the scene, he suddenly felt a warmth on his body. Turning around, he saw that his pants, which he had just put on before leaving, were now stained with light brown coffee. "I''m so sorry, sir, I''m just clumsy..." The woman looked extremely panicked as she quickly pulled out a handkerchief, knelt on the carpet, and gently wiped at Charles''s pants. "No... it''s okay, I''ll just change them when I get back. Just be more careful next time." Since it was an ident, Charles didn''t want to make too much of it. He nced at the woman''s name badge. Her name was Ang, and she seemed to be about his age, probably just starting her internship. But this nce turned awkward as Charles looked down and Ang looked up at him. Her pale blue eyes, like a clear, unpollutedke, were stunning. Ang looked down at her strapless neckline and, from Charles''s higher perspective, he must have seen everything... Her face flushed slightly, and her lips parted as if she wanted to say something but found it difficult to speak. "Uh, Miss Ang, I wasn''t looking at your... I was looking at your name badge!" Charles''s face turned red. With that, Ang''s face grew even redder. ''This... why are you blushing? It makes it seem like I did something. I wasn''t trying to peek!'' Charles was at a loss for words. Damn, it''s hard to rify! The more he exined, the more it seemed like he really was staring at Ang''s chest. Charles only heard the sound of a zipper, and then his penis, still marked with coffee stains, was exposed to the air, standing erect less than 10 centimeters from Ang''s face. Before Charles could regain hisposure, he felt a soft and moist sensation enveloping his penis, yet the pleasurable feeling almost sent him soaring, nearly moaning out loud. A buzzing filled Charles''s mind. Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do? Charles''s brain short-circuited. He was supposed to be watching the auction, but then, a sweet-looking girl spilled coffee on him and insisted on kneeling to clean it up, and then... The pleasurable sensation of her mouth working him, in and out, made his scalp tingle. Charles'' penis suddenly had veins bulging, almost filling her mouthpletely. "Um, Miss Ang, please show some respect!" Charles snapped back to reality and quickly pulled his penis out of her mouth. However, stopping at such a critical moment left him with an unbearable sense of emptiness, making him feel extremely ufortable. "Sir, please... they... they will beat me..." Tears streamed down Ang''s delicate face, dampening Charles''s pants, her voice bitter with a hint of pleading. "Was it that scoundrel Brown who forced you to do this?" Charles''s anger was palpable. He understood in a sh. There was no beautiful, idental coffee spill leading to a meet-cute; this was a prearranged, sordid transaction! He knew that alchemists held a high status in Genosha, and some major families would go to great lengths to court them. But he hadn''t expected the Misubi family to stoop so low to win him over. To force a girl, new to the workce, to seduce him against her will. "No, no, Mr. Charles, it''s not what you think, Mr. Brown is a very good man." Kneeling before Charles, Ang''s face was as red as a ripe peach, her voice tense, and Charles could even feel her rapid breathing. "Mr. Charles, when I was seven, a swarm of alloy ants attacked my vige, and it was Mr. Brown who rescued me from a bloodbath." Tears marked Ang''s face as she spoke. "Until today... until today when I saw the news that Mr. Charles personally slew that alloy ant queen, I''ve been eagerly hoping to meet you." "So..." "This was Mr. Brown''s arrangement, as well as Ang''s own desire." Despite the tears streaking her face, Ang wore a smile of contentment. ... "Mr. Charles, here is the auction proceeds of 80 silver coins, minus a 5% handling fee, totaling 76 silver coins, please take it!" At the VIP room entrance. Dressed in a light strapless dress and wearing delicate makeup, Ang''s face bore a professional smile, showing no traces of her earlier tears. She gave Charles a slight bow and winked subtly when no one was looking. Charles couldn''t remember how he left the Misubi auction house, only feeling a deep sense of pleasure both physically and emotionally, mixed with a slight exhaustion from release. However,pared to when he arrived, his mind now harbored a secret about a girl. Charles was cashing a check when his phone suddenly rang with a call from the Beast Master Guild; the ferocious beast materials he had entrusted for sale had all been sold. Thrilled, Charles checked his bank ount bnce. [Dear customer, the current bnce of your ount ending in 9527 is: 0 gold coins, 149 silver coins, 820 copper coins.] Charles quickly did the math: 76 silver coins from the auction, 15 silver coins from the sale of alloy ant materials, plus the original 58 silver coins in his ount... "Not a coin less, just perfect!" This was the first time Charles had seen so much money149 silver coins, almost the equivalent of what ten ordinary people could earn in a year without spending on anything! With a substantial sum in his pocket, Charles walked with a spring in his step. First, he went to the equipment store. This time, without haggling, he purchased the Divine Scale Armor he had eyed before for 20 silver coins. Then, Charles''s gaze shifted to ''The Wilson Weaponry'', a prominent brand in Lsengard known for high-quality weapons, not far from the equipment store. At a nce, the system indicated mostly gray and white items. With so much money, Charles was no longer interested in ordinary weapons and headed straight for the core area of the store. Tomorrow was the day he would venture out of the city for training, and the weapon store was bustling with customers today. In the perilous ferocious beast mountains, besides a pet, having a suitable weapon was also a crucial safeguard. As he moved deeper into the store, the weapons became rarer, gradually introducing weapons of green quality. After wandering around for most of the day, amidst the gray, white, and green, Charles spotted a hint of deep blue: "Excuse me, how much is this weapon?" Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Ice And Fire Supreme Spear Charles''s gaze settled on a long spear about two meters in length, its shaft adorned with intertwining patterns of frost and me. Ice and Fire Supreme Spear [Rare]: Forged from fine steel, this spear is a formidable weapon for ying ferocious beasts. If embedded with an ice and a fire beast core, both of the first tier, it would unleash its true potential. Typically priced at 150 silver coins. "Wow, it''s really heavy!" Charles lifted the spear, and instantly felt its heft as veins bulged on his hands. With a gentle swing, the spear''s tip traced an arc, slicing the air with a whoosh. "You''ve got a great eye, handsome! This spear was crafted by Yanni, our chief master smith at the weapon shop. It took him eighty-one days to forge it. For someone as discerning as you, I''ll only charge 200 silver coins!" A middle-aged man grinned broadly, likely the owner of the weapon shop. Having been poor before, haggling had almost be an instinct for Charles. He scratched his head and slowly extended five fingers: "50 silver coins, take it or leave it?" Did the shop owner think he was ignorant of the market, trying to swindle him? This spear was exactly what Charles wanted, especially because of its retractable design, which allowed adjustments between 1 and 2 metersperfect for use in densely vegetated forests. But Charles didn''t have 200 silver coins on him. "What? 50 silver coins! Aren''t you shing the price a bit too much?" The owner gritted his teeth, his face showing his pain. Charles smiled slightly, pointing at the two notches on the spear tip: "If I''m not mistaken, this spear needs two first-tier beast cores to be consideredplete, right? You dare to sell a semi-finished product for 200 silver coins?" The shop owner''s face twitched, puzzled: Despite his young age, how was this boy so knowledgeable? Initially, the weapon was designed to require an ice-type and a fire-type beast core. But after the spear was made, none of the hunters who went into the mountains to collect beast cores from ferocious beasts returned alive... He decided to back down a bit: "Didn''t expect you to be an expert, 150 silver coins, and the spear is yours." "70 silver coins," said Charles. "120 silver coins, and I won''t sell for less!" "80 silver coins!" ... Eventually, Charles struck a deal for 100 silver coins. Holding his brand-new Overlord Spear, he grew more fond of it by the minute: "This spear has a lot of potential for improvement, but where am I going to find those two first-tier beast cores?" First-tier beast cores, small probability drops from level 10 and above ferocious beasts, are critical materials needed for pets to advance beyond level 9. These cores are rarely avable on the market, often priceless. Charles had already scoured the surrounding shops and even inquired at the Beast Master Guild, to no avail. Without the elemental power of ice and fire beast cores, it could only be called the ''Supreme Spear,'' not the ''Ice and Fire Supreme Spear.'' "Never mind, there''s no rush. Once we reach the Ferocious Beast Mountains, there will be plenty of opportunities to find beast cores." Stowing the Supreme Spear back into his [Storage Space], Charles also stocked up on numerous essentials: drinking water, dry food, a tent, snake-driving wine, sr panels, spare batteries, and a camping light... all necessities for life in the wilderness. Thanks to the nearly limitless storage of his system [Storage Space], Charles''s supplies were not limited. However, to avoid revealing that he had such a system, he still bought a hiking backpack to carry some daily necessities and deceive onlookers. Max''s stomach suddenly made noise. He stuck out his pale pink tongue, looking up at Charles with hopeful eyes, asionally ncing at the roadside burger joint. "You must be starving after following me around all afternoon," Charles said, petting Max''s head. Max''s expression grew even more pitiful, continuously making a whimperingnoise. "Alright, alright, we''re leaving the city tomorrow, and I promised to cook you something delicious tonight!" Charles said with a gentle smile. ... Carrying groceries back home, Charles had just turned on the gas stove when a sudden knock echoed from outside: "Charles, are you home?" He opened the rusty iron door to find Lily standing there, which surprised him. Lily was wearing light makeup and dressed in a pale cheongsam, a style Charles had never seen her wear at school. Her slender, shapely legs were encased in semi-transparent ck stockings, and her high heels made her nearly as tall as him. Charles nced at his somewhat messy home and felt a bit embarrassed: "Miss Lily?" Lily frowned slightly and gave Charles a light re: "When there''s no one around, you don''t need to call me Miss Lily. Just call me by my name!" Charles scratched his head: "Lily, what brings you here sote?" After swapping her high heels for slippers, Lily stood up straight with a slight smile: "What, are you trying to send me away?" "No, no, no... please,e in!" Charles gestured weingly. "Hmph, I knew you wouldn''t dare," Lily said with a proud smile. Although they had only known each other for a day, Charles remembered from school that Lily had always looked out for him. Without her, Robert might have confronted him long ago. Noticing the lit stove, Lily tied on an apron and then opened the fridge: "You haven''t had dinner yet, have you? How about I show you some of my cooking?" "This... I really shouldn''t impose, I''ll cook," Charles gestured with his hands. Lily red at him, pretending to be offended: "What, you think mycooking isn''t good enough?" "I wouldn''t dare say that!" Charles settled back on the sofa, gently petting Max. For some reason, watching Lily busy herself in the kitchen while wearing an apron felt incredibly homely to him, like a housewife preparing dinner for her husband after a hard day''s work. Tomorrow, they would head into the Beast Mountains, and perhaps it would be a long time before he could enjoy such avish dinner again. "Dinner''s ready, eat it while it''s hot." Lily called Charles over. She had prepared four dishes tonight: fish and chips, beef Wellington, pizza, barbecue, and a vegetable sd. The meal was a bnced mix of meat and vegetables, rich in nutrients. However, Charles suddenly noticed a few bottles of alcohol on the table, and, remembering some past incidents, he cautioned, "Lily, maybe we should skip the alcohol tonight. We need to get up early tomorrow, and I recall your tolerance for alcohol..." His mind shed back to some unpleasant memories. A student and a teacher, their first meeting was in a bar. That day, Charles had been bullied by Robert, and Lily had been dumped by her nth boyfriend. The two, seven years apart in age, ended up drinking together. However, Charles had overestimated Lily''s drinking ability and ended up covered in vomit. "Enough talking." Lily snapped her fingers and popped off the caps of two bottles with her bare hands. Charles: ? My goodness, those are ss bottles! No wonder she''s still unmarried at 25. Lily''s tolerance was indeed poor; her fair face turned a rosy red after just half a bottle. "By the way, Charles, we''re leaving town tomorrow. Have you prepared everything you need?" Sitting across from Charles, Lily looked at him with a gentle smile, her voice soft and sweet. It was as if she had a switch that could flip between ''dominant'' and ''tender'' at any moment. Charles picked up a piece of fish and chips, nodding, "Everything''s ready. If there''s anything missing, we can still buy it tomorrow morning." He took a bite; the fish was light and smooth, utterly devoid of any fishy taste, showcasing her superb culinary skills. Max, sitting beside them, was also happily eating, clearly enjoying the meal. "Is that your pet? He looks really cute." Lily seemed to have finished eating, sipped some water, and then quietly watched Charles. She appeared to enjoy watching him eat the meal she had cooked. Suddenly remembering something, she straightened up: "By the way, have you ever tried letting your pet [bestial soul merge]?" "Bestial soul merge? What is that" Charles put down his chopsticks, looking at Lily with a puzzled expression. "Hmph, I knew you''d forget, always sleeping through my theory sses," Lily said, ring at Charles with slight annoyance: "The so-called bestial soul merge is when a Beast Master recalls their beast in a soul form to possess them. This way, the Beast Master can temporarily gain the attributes and abilities of their pet, achieving a ''1+1>2'' effect in critical moments, though the duration is short." "Is that even possible?" Charles was surprised. He remembered that this tip wasn''t mentioned on the interface; it must be considered mon knowledge'' in this world, which the system assumed everyone knew. In a world dominated by Beast Mastery, battles between two Beast Masters naturally revolve around their pets. However, in the early stages, a Beast Master''sbat ability is often much weaker than their pet''s, leading some to target the opposing Beast Master directly. Through bestial soul merge, one couldrgely avoid such ''dishonorable'' tactics. "Do you not have air conditioning?" Lily''s face was covered with a thinyer of sweat, and the alcohol made her feel even hotter as she fanned herself continuously. Charles shook his head somewhat embarrassedly. Previously, his family was so poor that they barely managed to get byforget air conditioning, they didn''t even have a fan. For over a decade, they had endured summers just like this. "Forget it, I''ll take a shower." Lily pulled out a small mirror to check her makeup, which had smeared. Taking a shower to cool off would also be a good chance to touch up her makeup. A rustling noise came from the bathroom, and shortly after, Lily''s curious voice called out, "Charles, what is this next to the shower gel?" Charles, who was still eating dinner, sensed a great change all at once. Next to the shower gelcould it be... Dropping his chopsticks, Charles dashed into the bathroom, but it was already toote. In Lily''s hand was an item resembling jelly, unique in shape. A ne cup! By then, judging by its shape and feel, Lily seemed to have guessed its purpose, her expression growingplicated: "Charles~" "Can you tell me what this treasure, hidden in the bathroom cab, is?" Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Farewell "This is... a gift from a friend!" Charles said with an embarrassed smile. Charles felt that his image hadpletely copsed in front of Lily. Although he had never been a saint, he certainly wasn''t a pervert either. Now, he feared he might never be able to face Lily again... He now wanted to give his friend Daniel, who had given him this ''birthday present'', a good beating. At the time, worried his parents would discover it, he had hastily hidden it in the bathroom cab. He never imagined it would be discovered by Lily under such circumstances. "From a friend?" Lily looked at Charles skeptically, her eyes clearly suggesting: Are you sure this friend isn''t actually you? "Alright, alright, I''m not ming you. You''ve juste of age, and it''s normal to be curious about these things..." Seeing Charles''s mortified expression, Lily found it particrly amusing: "Being curious is good, but that thing is harmful to your health. If you really need something, you cane to me, you know!" Charles''s face turned beet red, feeling that Lily was quite enjoying teasing him. She said he coulde to her if he had needs... What did Lily mean by that? Images from that day in the office shed through Charles''s mind, making his throat dry and fearing he might lose control and do something rash. Panicking, he left the bathroom. Glug Glug After gulping down some c, Charles managed to calm down a bit. Deciding to stop thinking about the mess, he picked up a random book from the shelf to distract himself. It seemed to be a geography book. "This world is muchrger than I imagined..." Charles marveled as he looked at the map on the back cover of the book. He lived in Genosha, a country covering ten thousand square kilometers, and it was just one of the seven nations within the Abyssal Depths. Beyond the Abyssal Depthsy three equally vast regions, collectively known as the Ethereal Grove alongside the Haunted Marsh. Whaty beyond the Ethereal Grove was unknown due to its vast expanse, and it was dotted with mysterious little worlds. Conservatively, the Ethereal Grove alone was ten times the size of Earth, and that was only the areas that had been explored so far... Just the thought of it filled Charles with awe. "Right, tomorrow I need to head to the Ferocious Beast Mountains..." Charles flipped through the pages, searching for a while before finding the section on the Ferocious Beast Mountains: located at the tripoint of Genosha, Celestial City, and Ster, it was awless region, a haven for fugitives and criminals. Naturally, its perilous terrain also made it a paradise for ferocious beasts, with legends of sixth-tier beasts having been spotted there. To the west of the Ferocious Beast Mountainsy Celestial City and the Infinity Isles; to the east, the Ster Atacama Desert; and the first city to the north was Isengard, where he resided. "The women of Celestial City and the Infinity Isles are fair-skinned, beautiful, and gentle as water; those from the Ster Atacama Desert are fiery, straightforward, and loyal..." Charles was engrossed in the "Local History" of the areas around the Ferocious Beast Mountains when suddenly a ssh came from the bathroom. The bathroom door was long overdue for repairs, asionally letting glimpses of light through its cracks. Charles tried hard to focus on his book, but he couldn''t help but imagine Lily naked. Although they had been intimate, it wasn''t what Charles had intendedit had all happened because he thought he was dreaming. Charles didn''t consider himself a saint, but he was not a phnderer either. Continuing this unclear rtionship without any emotional foundation would only harm them both. "Charles, could you grab a towel for me? I''m done washing." Lily''s voice floated out from the bathroom, utterly disrupting the calm Charles had just managed to achieve. The mere thought of Lily''s appearance in the office made Charles feel a sudden heat below, something uncontrobly rising. Charles pinched himself hard on the thigh to suppress the restless heat: "Okay, just a moment!" Soaking in the bathtub, Lily felt a wave offort and pleasure. She was somewhat puzzled; she had dropped enough hints, yet Charles seemed utterly unmoved. Seeing Charles carefully slip the towel through the door crack with his back turned, she found it both exasperating and amusing. After all they had done that day, why did Charles still act like an innocent young man? She summoned her petgraceful cat and gave it a knowing look. The little creature immediately understood. "I''ve left the towel at the door for you,e and get it yourself." No sooner had Charles spoken than he felt as if tripped by something, tumbling uncontrobly into the bathroom... Ssh! Without time to think, Charles found himself soaked,ing into zero distance contact with that wless body. Her exquisite, slender figure was beyond perfection, the only word Charles could find to describe it. Her soft, full breasts were irresistibly alluring, drops of water tracing down those perfect curves. "Sorry..." In his fluster, Charles tried to rise from the bathtub, but Lily''s slender arms wrapped around his neck like water snakes. "I want you." Her soft breath whispered in Charles''s ear, a mix of nervousness, shyness, and anticipation. Nothing could match the allure those three words held for a man, especially one who was an 18-year-old full of youthful vigor. All pretense, shyness, and taboos, along with Charles''s clothes, shattered in that moment. Charles extended his arms, embracing Lily''s slender waist, then kissed her. He greedily sought everything a woman could offer, from her delicate corbone down to her full, enticing breasts and smooth, t belly... Charles felt like a fish and Lily like water, and in that moment, the two merged perfectly together. As the fish entered the water, stirring up waves, Lily could no longer contain herself and began to moan softly. Charles nced at the slightly drafty window next to them, aware that the soundproofing must be abysmal. "Could you... keep it down a bit?" "No, I won''t..." Lily''s face flushed a delicate pink, her eyes hazy, "Let them listen..." ... The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight streamed in, Charles stretchedfortably. Today was the day he would leave Isengard, the small city where he had lived for 18 years to venture out into the world. "Right, Lily... are you there?" As if remembering something, Charles reached out beside him, but the bed was empty, leaving only a beautifully curved impression. Getting dressed, Charles found that the previously messy floor of the house had been tidied, and breakfast was already prepared, steaming on the table. Lily had left at some unknown hour. He checked his phone and found a voice message from Lily: "Breakfast is on the kitchen table, I won''t see you off. Oh, and if you find yourself in Atacama and meet my sister, please give her the item on the table." After listening to the message, Charles noticed a wooden box on the table, a photograph underneath it. "Your sister was under ten when this photo was taken, and now you want me to find her based on this?" Looking at the photo on his phonea young girl in a white dress and a brown sun hat, clearly still a childCharles felt a headacheing on. Searching for someone with a decade-old photo felt like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Turning off the water and electricity, and double-locking the front door, Charles looked back at the old neighborhood with a hint of reluctance. No matter how rundown, it was still his home, his first foothold in this different world. Charles hailed a cab, and two hourster, he arrived at a checkpoint on the south side of Isengard. Outside the checkpoint, fully armed guards watched cautiously over the area beyond the city. Inside the checkpoint, it was crowded with people, asionally joined by groupsing to bid farewell. Their expressions variedyouths looking hopeful, elders showing concern or even tears, but all wore a look of pride. They were likely the families of new Beast Masters from Isengard,e to send off their loved ones. Heading to the Ferocious Beast Mountains for such a significant rite of passage, seeing others bid farewell by their parents, Charles felt an unexined pang of sadness. Beep beep [Hello, the number you have dialed is currently unavable. Please try againter!] His parents'' phone was still unreachable. Charles checked his call history; it seemed they had been out of contact for a month now. In his previous life, Charles had been an orphan, growing up alone and destitute. Upon transmigrating toa different world and discoveringhe had parents, he initially felt joy. But it seemed fate always enjoyed its cruel jokes. "Mom, Dad, I''m leaving Isengard. The key is under the third flowerpot to the left of the front door. I hope you return safely." After leaving a voice message, Charles gathered his emotions and strode towards the checkpoint. In less than two months, the three major academies from the Imperial Capital woulde to Isengard for recruitment. Time was not on his side. Ideally, he would hunt more first-tier ferocious beasts to find the two beast cores needed for the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear. Of course, if there was a chance to go to the Atacama Desert, he hoped to find Lily''s sister. Rumbling As Charles was about to leave the city, he suddenly heard a deafening roar of an engine behind him. The noise abruptly stopped, followed by a chorus of women''s cries: "Young master! Are you really going out of the city? It''s very dangerous out there!" "Young master! What will we do if something happens to you?" "Young master! Can''t you stay in Isengard? Please, don''t go..." Charles turned around to see a throng of fair-skinned, slender young women dressed in ck silk stocking maid outfits rushing towards him... Seeing this spectacle, Charles was utterly dumbfounded: "Could it be... my real identity isn''t a loser, but a scion of a noble family?" Chapter 15: Chapter 15: The Promise "Young master, how will we manage without you..." A group of maids clustered around, rushing toward Charles, and then sped past him to a young man with golden long hair and a slightly plump build who was opening the door of a luxury car. Daniel?! Seeing him, Charles was reminded of the previous night when Lily had pulled a ne cup out of his bathroom cab, and he felt a surge of anger. Daniel seemed to notice Charles too and came over with a boastful look: "Charles! You''re here too? Let me open your eyes today and show you my top-notch pet!" Daniel flicked his long hair with a ir, and a six-pointed star formation appeared on the ground in front of him. A dark brown turtle crawled out from the formation. Charles nced at Daniel''srge turtle; several prompts appeared on his interface screen. [Rock Turtle] [Attribute]: Earth [Level]: 2 [Quality]: Bronze Division [Skills]: Petrified Skin, Rock Smash [Mood]: Lazy [Health]: Good [Evolution]: 1 Path [Description]: This is a juvenile rock turtle, slow-moving but with extremely strong defensive attributes. It has one evolutionary path that can continually enhance its resistance to impact. Seeing Daniel''s rock turtle, Charles nearlyughed out loud. Daniel had been acting so arrogant, and all he summoned was arge turtle? However, after reviewing the rock turtle''s data, Charles thought that the Smith family had a decent eye for quality. This rock turtle was of Bronze Division quality, Level 2, and even had an evolutionary path. If Charles didn''t have the system prompts, he would never be able to choose a pet of better quality than this one. Seeing Daniel grinning beside him, Charles''s resentment also faded significantly: "Why would you choose this as your pet?" "Because it''s tough and can take a beating!" Danielughed. Then he activated the skill [Petrified Skin] and his body turned a deep brown, shimmering with a rock-like bizarre luster. "My dad said, he doesn''t expect me to be a great Beast Master; as long as I cane back alive, that''s enough. We own a few estates and ranches, two mines, and also run a jewelry business in the city. He''s getting older and finds it a bit hard to manage..." Charles was speechless. A few estates and ranches, two mines, a jewelry business in the city... If he had such an inheritance waiting for him, he''d also choose a big turtle and take it easy! "Hey, isn''t that Daniel?" "Bringing out that big turtle of yours, don''t embarrass yourself. It''ll probably just hide its head in a fight, won''t it?" An irritating voice came from behind. Turning around, the speaker was none other than Robert, the spiky-haired guy from Isengard Beast Mastery High School. The Taylor family and the Smith family, both involved in the jewelry business in the city, were not on good terms. "Robert, say ''turtle'' one more time, see if I don''t knock your teeth out right now!" Daniel had been irked by Robert for a long time, and now, with his petby his side, he had no reason to fear him. Hearing this, Robert''s temper red, and he summoned his pet, the four-winged tiger: "Wanna fight? I''m right here!" At that moment, the southern checkpoint was crowded, and themotion quickly attracted a crowd of onlookers. Seeing things getting out of hand, a middle-aged man stepped in to intervene. Charles recognized him; he seemed to be the vice president who had spoken at the Beast Master Awakening Ceremony, named Fletcher. Recognizing both young men as scions of Isengard''s noble families, the man knew neither side was easy to offend: "Ahem, gentlemen, let''s calm down. The train is about to depart, everyone please gather your luggage and board." "Charles, let''s go. I can''t be bothered with people like him." Daniel flipped Robert the middle finger and then pulled Charles toward a train near the checkpoint. Watching their triumphant departure, Robert clenched his fists until they cracked: "Charles, Daniel, see how long you can keep up your pride!" "That''s the Ferocious Beast Mountains. What if you two die in an ''ident,'' like a ferocious beast attack..." "That wouldn''t be surprising at all, would it?" ... "Young master,e back alive, I''ll be waiting at home..." "Son, well done bing a Beast Master. You''re your father''s pride..." The train slowly started, heading south, and the crowd on the tform quickly disappeared from view. Sitting by a window, Charles looked over the train. The entire train was made of fine steel, the windows were thick reinforced ss, and the exterior was lined with rows of steel des. Charles hadn''t looked closely at the lotive before, but from its bulky, bumper-like construction, the armor there was definitely thicker. Rather than a train, it was more like a moving steel fortress. Every so often, ferocious beasts leapt out of the forests towards the train, quickly sttering blood, as if adding a vivid red undertone to the journey through the Ferocious Beast Mountains. From the front of the train, Vice President Fletcher''s deep voice captured the attention of everyone inside: "Being on this train, I assume you all take pride in bing powerful Beast Masters." "Beast Masters and ordinary people will walk two entirely different paths, filled with hardship and great peril. This two-month trial in the Ferocious Beast Mountains will be your proving ground. Those who excel will earn admission to the three major academies of the Imperial Capital..." Hearing ''the three major academies of the Imperial Capital,'' every Beast Master''s face lit up with aspiration. Aredale Academy, Nova Academy, and Cyber Academythese institutions gather the elite of all Genosha, where any teacher is a Beast Master respected throughout thend. Graduating from any of the three major academies in the Imperial Capital could lead to being sought after by Genosha''s royalty, noble families, and various powers, promising a limitless future. Moreover, for those wishing to expand beyond Genosha, these academies also serve as an excellent springboard of resources. Indeed, bing a student at one of the Imperial Capital''s three major academies is the dream of every Beast Master in Genosha! Listening to Fletcher''s introduction over the train''s speaker, Daniel''s eyes sparkled with excitement: "My goodness, these academies of the Imperial Capital are that prestigious, huh? Hearing this makes me not even want to go back home to inherit the family fortune!" Not just Daniel, but every Beast Master from Isengard on the train shared the same thought: they must excel in this trial in the Ferocious Beast Mountains to secure a spot at one of the Imperial Capital''s three academies. Seeing Daniel''s excitement, Charles wanted to say something but hesitated, fearing he might dampen his friend''s confidence. This year alone, just from Isengard Beast Mastery High School No. 1, there were hundreds of new Beast Masters. With thousands of young Beast Masters aged 18-25 participating in the trials, the Imperial Capital''s three academies would only select six from Isengard. The eptance rate was less than 0.6%... "Here, this is your trial scorecard." Daniel jogged over and handed Charles a chip he had just received. "What is this?" Charles asked, puzzled. "It''s for scoring points. As long as you hunt ferocious beasts, this chip will automatically update and upload your score." After inserting the chip into his phone, Daniel patted Charles on the shoulder, "Don''t worry, my rock turtle is quite powerful. If you''re short on points, I can let you take down some of the beasts I defeat." Charles''s face twitched. Daniel''s kindness was appreciated, but when it came to sharing points... Charles thought it best to first consider Daniel''s own needs! ... The journey on the train was calm and boring. As they neared the Ferocious Beast Mountains, the vegetation along the tracks grew denser, and attacks by ferocious beasts on the train became more frequent. Like moths to a me, they charged at the train only to be gruesomely crushed, sttering the outside of the train with blood. Three dayster, as Charles was dozing off in his seat, a disturbance suddenly rippled through the calm carriage. "Excuse me, is Charles from Beast Mastery High School here?" A crisp female voice rang out, tinkling through the stale air of the carriage like a bell and pulling at the heartstrings. "Who is that girl? She doesn''t seem to be from our Beast Mastery High School, but she''s beautiful!" "Don''t you know Grace? The daughter of the city lord, the beauty from the neighboring noble high school who tops our city''s exams every year!" "So it''s her! What''s she doing in our carriage? Looks like she''s here for Charles?" Nudged by Daniel, Charles yawned, just opening his eyes to see a formidable young woman standing before him. She had smooth, dark green hair and was dressed simply in a white mid-length T-shirt and white shoes, but her cool demeanor couldn''t be masked. Especially her long, slender legs extending from her shorts, which were incredibly eye-catching. Her arrival almost drew the attention of all the boys in the carriage, and even some girls couldn''t help but steal nces. Grace looked towards Charles, her voice ethereal: "Charles, I hope you haven''t forgotten the promise you made to me." Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Weighted Training "If you know what''s good for you, you''d best concede now, and I might consider letting you off the hook." Hearing the familiar voice, long-forgotten memories began to flood Charles''s mind. The fierce-looking young woman standing before him was none other than Grace, the daughter of Isengard''s city lord. Before Charles came to Isengard, this favored daughter had nearly monopolized all of Isengard''s exams, always clinching the top spot in the city, until that one city-wide joint exam where Charles surpassed her with an absolute lead. Then... she cornered him at the school gate after sses... Years had passed, and the little girl had certainly blossomed. "What promise? I don''t remember it." Charles shifted his gaze from Grace to the window outside. Right now, he didn''t even know where his own parents were, let alone have the mind to dwell on some silly promise made when he was a boy with a little girl. "Are you scared, or did you really forget?" Grace clenched her teeth, looking visibly angry. She still couldn''t forget how Charles had outscored her by more than 100 points in that joint exam, leaving her far behind. Her reign as the city''s top student for several years was usurped by a neer from out of town, an affront she couldn''t tolerate. Especially since Charles imed he had forgotten; this suggested that he simply did not care about their wager, a disregard that felt like a direct challenge to her. "If you say you forgot, then let me remind you once more. At the recruitment ceremony of the three major academies of the Imperial Capital, we agreed to a duel as Beast Masters. If I lose, I, Grace, will ept defeat graciously and abide by your decision," Grace looked at Charles with utmost seriousness, pronouncing each word clearly: "But if you lose, you have to let me decide your fate." In front of Grace, a golden six-pointed star formation appeared, and a butterfly with blue wings emerged from within the formation. [Azure Butterfly] [Attribute]: Wind [Level]: 5 [Quality]: Gold [Skills]: Azure Butterfly, Wind''s Shadow Strike [Mood]: Joyful [Health]: Good [Evolution Paths]: 2 [Description]: This is an Azure Butterfly of rare gold quality. It mesmerizes its enemies with ghost-like agility. Each metamorphosis of the Azure Butterfly grants it an additional skill. "This is... also a gold quality pet." Charles was secretly astounded. With the help of system prompts, Charles had managed to form a contract with a gold quality The frost wolf, but had Grace managed to bond with a gold quality petjust by opening mystery boxes? Having lived two lifetimes, Charles was more mature than his peers and originally disdained such childlike wagers. However, he suddenly found himself interested: "I ept your wager." "Remember, the loser must agree to any condition set by the winner. I hope you won''t back out when the timees." Although the Azure Butterfly and Max were of simr quality, Max had four evolutionary paths, offering greater potential for growth. Moreover, Charles had the ''system,'' a kind of cheat that not only pinpointed the opponent''s weaknesses during battle but also mapped out the optimal path for his pet''s development. Charles was confident that he could defeat Grace in two months. "Just wait to lose; I look forward to the day I have you under my heel." Grace lifted her head, her green eyes looking down at Charles with pride. "I just hope when you''re kneeling at my feet, you won''t be a sore loser and cry." Grace flipped her dark green hair and turned to leave the carriage, leaving all the ssmates who had listened to their conversation, especially the boys, quite astonished. Daniel, always eager for gossip, nudged Charles''s shoulder: "Charles, how do you always get so lucky, knowing the city lord''s daughter Grace like that?" "It''s hardly knowing her... it''s more like we''ve just crossed paths once." Charles smiled wryly, a bit helpless. "My goodness, how many people wish they could meet the city lord''s daughter and never get the chance? And here she is seeking you out. If you could get close to a wealthy heiress like that, you''d be set for life, not to mention she''s also so beautiful..." Daniel was about to impart his flirting wisdom to Charles when the train suddenly began to slow down. A voice over the train''s speaker interrupted their conversation: "The train has now arrived at York. All students, please gather your belongings and disembark." ... Stepping off the train, Charles took a deep breath of fresh air and then summoned Max. Having been cooped up on the train for several days, Max couldn''t wait to romp around in the wild as soon as they hit the ground, looking much like a puppy experiencing snow for the first time. Charles took a quick look around; the town wasn''trge. This station marked the end of the railway line and was also the southernmost point of Genosha''s borderYork. Positioned right next to the Ferocious Beast Mountains, the town naturally became an important supply point. The shops of varying sizes sold everything from healing potions and weapons to armor and ferocious beast materials. Most frequent were ferocious beast hunters, gathered in groups, either preparing to head into the mountains or taking a brief respite, animatedly discussing their day''s hauls, which trails were dangerous, and which local store had the bestpany. Isengard''s Beast Masters participating in the mountain trial were divided into 25 teams, each consisting of 50 students led by an instructor. Charles''s team leader was Vice President Fletcher. At that moment, he stood in front of the group, carefully detailing the precautions for entering the mountains: "I am your team leader, Fletcher. Everyone check if you''re missing any supplies. If not, let''s set off!" "The trial in the Ferocious Beast Mountains is finally starting..." Charles muttered to himself. He reached into his backpack, his attention, however, was on the system''s [Storage Space]. A piece of equipment materialized from the void into his palm. This was Charles''s secret weapon[Divine Scale Armor] Although the [Divine Scale Armor] offered only moderate protection, its significant weight meant that Charles was essentially undergoing weighted training every moment he wore it. "The effect should be quite good, but I might have underestimated its weight." Wearing the [Divine Scale Armor], Charles immediately felt winded, and if it weren''t for inheriting some of Max''s attributes, he might not have been able to straighten his back at all. Feeling as if he was carrying a massive stone on his back, Charles left deep footprints in the soil with every step he took on the mountain path, quickly falling behind the rest of the group. "Those of you at the back, pick up the pace, haven''t you eaten!" Fletcher''s impatient voice came from several dozen meters ahead. Charles nced behind and saw he was now at the end of the line. What surprised him, however, was that despite carrying several hundred pounds, there were still othersgging behind him. Several hundred meters ahead, the sounds ofbat echoed, and the air was faintly tinged with the smell of blood, clearly indicating an encounter with a ferocious beast. By the time Charles arrived, however, the fight was already over, and even the materials had beenpletely divided up. After several hours of difficult trekking on the mountain path, Charles took out his phone to check the score leaderboard. [Ferocious Beast Mountains Trial Scoreboard] 1st ce: Grace [8 points] 2nd ce: Brian [6 points] 3rd ce: Robert [5 points] ... "Grace is really formidable; not even half a day in, and she already has 8 points." Charles leaned against arge tree, panting heavily. But he wasn''t in a hurry, the first few days were meant to adapt to the Divine Scale Armor. With two months for the trial, there was plenty of time to hunt ferocious beasts. What surprised Charles was Robert being in the top three: "Could I have been mistaken, and that four-winged tiger actually has strongbat capabilities?" Despite his slow pace, Charles did not stop trying to catch up with the main group. By the time he reached the campsite, the sun was already setting. "Alright, today''s trial ends here, it''s gettingte. Everyone, hurry up and set up the camp. Boys on the outer perimeter, girls on the inside," instructed Fletcher, which was met with a burst of cheers around him. Sweat had pooled into little streams on Charles''s body, and he flopped down on the grass as if unburdened. ... The dark night was adorned with a crescent moon on the horizon. Around the outskirts of the Ferocious Beast Mountains, small fires twinkled like stars. Charles luxuriously soaked in a bathtub, surrounded by tworge tes of grilled skewers, while Max indulged in a hearty meal beside him. Charles tasted a sizzling, juicy skewer and sipped some red wine, then opened a chat group named "Trial Team Mega Group." "I''m dead tired today, I''ve never climbed so many mountains in my life!" "Did you guys check the leaderboard? I hunted down 3 level 1 ferocious beasts today, now I''m in the top 100 with 3 points." "Nice, bro, how did you manage to win?" "Awesome, I didn''t score at all today, thanks to a loser named Charles in our teamgging behind, even worse than the girls!" "Help! A snake just fell into my tent, someone save me!" "For real, there''s a snake? Don''t get bitten, there''s no hospital around these wilds, a bite would be the end!" "So many mosquitoes in the mountains, my hands are all swollen!" "This dry food is so awful, I miss my mom''s burgers so much, waaaah..." The chat was flooded with messages, most of them bonding over their hardships. Gurgling Charles burpedfortably after his bath, feeling refreshed. He packed up the leftovers around him, stuffing them into his [Storage Space], a designated trash area. Before leaving Isengard, he had already stored arge amount of food, medicine, and drinking water in his storage space. While others were suffering, his two months of trial could be quitefortable. However, as he stowed the bathtub back into the storage space, he was surprised to find he could lift the hundred-pound tub with one hand. "Is the training effect of the [Divine Scale Armor] really this good? It''s only been one day!" Feeling the tightened muscles on his body, Charles excitedly stepped out of the tent, took the [Ice and Fire Supreme Spear], and ventured to a spot far from the campsite. He swung fiercely at arge rock. Cling The sound of the strike was crisp, and the rock, half the height of a man, was cleanly split in two by Charles. Sensing the changes in his body, Charles was thrilled and couldn''t wait to test his strength against a ferocious beast: "Max, let''s go hunting!" Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Immortal Body Charles, wielding the Supreme Spear, moved cautiously through the forest, his ears keenly tuned to any sounds around him. His body brimmed with energy, and he was eager to test his strength against a ferocious beast. However, to his disappointment, he found nothing despite wandering until after midnight. Charles puzzled over this, "Aren''t the Ferocious Beast Mountains supposed to be perilously full of beasts? Howe I haven''t seen a single one?" Observing the scattered remains of ferocious beasts and abandoned materials around him, he suddenly realized what was happening. Today was the first day of the trial, with over a thousand Beast Masters concentrated in this areait was as if a swarm of locusts had passed through, leaving nothing behind. Perhaps the presence of level two Beast Masters, even a level three one among the team leaders, had driven any surviving ferocious beasts to hide far away. "Staying with the group, which is camped on the outskirts of the Ferocious Beast Mountains and under the watchful eyes of our leaders, relies too much on luck to encounter any beasts. At this rate, not only will I not be able to beat Grace after two months, but I might also fail to qualify for the three major academies." Understanding the gravity of his situation, Charles turned southward, guided by the starlight, venturing deeper into the Ferocious Beast Mountains. Late into the night, the valleys around him began to echo with the roars of beasts. In the darkness, Charles walked more cautiously, the ground littered with bones and even a human skull, sending shivers down his spine. Turning on his shlight to scan the trees above, he found a massive snake as thick as a barrel coiled and ready to strike. "Max, battle mode!" Charlesmanded. When he looked at the python, several prompts appeared on his interface. [Resurrecting Serpent] [Attribute]: Wood [Level]: 7 [Quality]: Silver [Skills]: Tree Regeneration, Death Coil [Mood]: Irritable [Health]: Healthy [Weakness]: "Seven inches" / Ice attribute [Description]: This is a 20-meter-long adult Resurrecting Serpent, and you have intruded into itsir, provoking its anger. Its wood attribute grants it potent regenerative abilities, making it a formidable opponent. "A level 7, higher than Max''s level!" This was the highest level ferocious beast Charles had encountered so far. Even though Max was of gold quality, Charles was concerned for its safety against this higher-level ferocious beast. He gripped the Supreme Spear tightly and with a sharp click, extended its shaft to two meters. "We fight this one together!" The serpent was massive yet agile as it maneuvered through the twisting woods. It was toote to run now. Moreover, this ferocious beast was Level 7; defeating it would increase his trial points by seven, significantly boosting his ranking. "Let''s give it a try. If it gets too tough, I can still use [bestial soul merge] and have Max merge with me." Rumbling! Maxunched its attack first, using its skill [Ice Pick Throwing]. The ample moisture in the forest quickly condensed into a barrage of ice crystals that hurtled towards the head of the Resurrecting Serpent. Piercing sound The ice picks hit the Resurrecting Serpent effortlessly, and simultaneously, Charles''s spear pierced the serpent''s head, causing blood to spurt wildly, staining the entire forest red. "Is it over? That was unexpectedly easy..." Charles was taken aback. A wave of pale green energy suddenly enveloped the Resurrecting Serpent. The bleeding stopped rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, therge wound on its head miraculously healed. The Resurrecting Serpent had activated its skill[Regeneration], restoring its wound within seconds. Although the wound had healed, the pain enraged the serpent. It hissed as it analyzed its surroundings with its flickering tongue, quickly spotting the clumsy Charles. Hiss! The serpent''s tail, as thick as one meter in diameter, whipped towards Charles like a thick wall. Max wailed continuously, trying to warn Charles to dodge. However, encumbered by the Divine Scale Armor, Charles moved as slowly as an elderly person, unable to evade in time and was soon entangled by the Resurrecting Serpent. Sigh...sigh! Max was nearly in tears, howling pitifully while continually forming ice picks to attack the Resurrecting Serpent. However, such attacks were merely a nuisance under the serpent''s formidable regenerative ability. "If this continues, we''re going to lose..." The Resurrecting Serpent activated its skill [Death Coil]. The Divine Scale Armor emitted a pale blue glow, resisting the attack, but as the serpent increased the constricting force, it soon became overwhelming. "Right, the weakness!" Charles suddenly remembered, pulling up the weakness prompt on his interface. [Weakness]: [Heart] The location of the heart. Snakes can live for a long time even after decapitation, allowing the Resurrecting Serpent to regenerate during this time. However, once its heart is shattered, it cannot use its regenerative ability. [Ice attribute] Snakes are cold-blooded, and lower temperatures slow their movements, increasing the hit rate of attacks. Grasping this, Max seemed to intuitively understand, activating its second skill [Bone-Achingly Cold] without needing Charles''smand. Pale mes zed as Max passed, frosting over the grass and trees. Charles could feel the body temperature of the Resurrecting Serpent plummeting, and the strength of its Death Coil weakening. Seizing the opportunity, Charles sliced open a gap with his spear, freeing himself from the serpent''s grip. He then gathered all his strength and hurled the spear towards the heart of the Resurrecting Serpent. Hiss... The Resurrecting Serpent, relying on its [Regeneration] skill, underestimated Charles''s attack. It had regenerated from a pierced head beforewhat was a chest wound inparison? Thrust! The Supreme Spear pierced through the Resurrecting Serpent, the force creating a massive hole in its chest cavity. Its beating heart was instantly reduced to blood froth! Hiss... The Resurrecting Serpent tried to activate [Regeneration], but this time, the wound showed no signs of healing. For decades, it had dominated this part of the forest with its powerful regenerative ability, consuming countless humans. Yet, it never expected to meet its end at the hands of a human youth. It looked at Charles, its eyes filled with confusion, gradually dimming... "Ding! You have defeated the ferocious beast [Resurrecting Serpent] (Lv7Silver Quality), and your synergy with your pet has increased!" "Pet Loyalty +2!" "Pet Experience +200!" "Ding! Your pet Max has leveled up, current level: Lv7!" "Ding! Your pet has shown exceptional quality in battle and has developed a new skill!" System notifications kept ringing in Charles''s mind, but he barely had time to listen as he suddenly felt weak and copsed to the ground, gasping for breath... Max also appeared very weak, lying next to Charles, gently licking the wounds on his body. The long use of [Bone-Achingly Cold] seemed to have taken a significant toll on its stamina. "That was close!" Today''s battle was thrilling and nearly disastrous against the giant serpent. However, it had given Charles a true sense of the dangers of the Ferocious Beast Mountains. This was no mere hyperbole, and they were only on the outer edges. The dangers deeper in the forest were beyond Charles''s wildest imaginations. Charles reached out to pet Max, noting the significant energy drain from the prolonged use of [Bone-Achingly Cold]. "Wait, didn''t the system just notify me that Max has learned a new skill?" Excitedly, Charles opened the [Pet] tab to check Max''s panel. [The frost wolf] [Name]: Max [Attributes]: Ice, Fire [Quality]: Gold [Level]: Lv7 [Skills]: [Ice Pick Throwing], [Bone-Achingly Cold], [Energy Bomb] [Weakness]: Neck, Abdomen/Poison attribute [Hobbies]: Honey Soy zed Meat [Mood]: Happy [Health]: Weakened [Recovering...] [Loyalty]: 79 [Evolution Paths]: 4 [Description]: Another victorious battle, and having discerned a new skill duringbat, Max is very happy. It now needs to rest and recover its energy. Max had leveled up again, reaching Lv7, and his loyalty had reached 79 points after this battle! Charles checked the new skill Max had discerned during the battle. [Energy Bomb]: Gathers ice and fire elements to form a chaotic elemental shockwave, causing a powerful explosion. May cause self-damage. "This skill seems very powerful, but why does it warn that it might hurt the user?" Charles was puzzled. However, Max was very tired now, so he decided to wait until it had fully recovered before testing the effects of this new skill. As Charles was preparing to stand up, his arm brushed against something round. Grabbing it, he realized it was a skull and hastily threw it, startled. The skull rolled down the slope like a ball and disappeared into the valley below. "Sorry! I didn''t mean to do that!" Realizing his act might be seen as disrespectful to the deceased, Charles pressed his hands together in a gesture of apology to the bones on the ground. It was at this moment that Charles noticed something shimmering in the skeletal hand. Chapter 18: Chapter 18: The Mysterious Map Charles turned on his shlight, and that''s when he noticed a key clutched tightly in the skeletal hand. The key was intricately carved, and Charles estimated it could fetch a good price at an art market. "Cough, cough, I''m sure you wouldn''t want this key to be left forgotten in the forest, right?" Charles said to the decapitated remains with a sheepish smile. "I''ll count to three, and if you have no objections, I''ll take it." "Three!" "Two..." "One!" Feeling relieved, Charles concluded that the deceased had given their consent, so he took the key and ced it into his storage space. As Charles was preparing to gather the materials from the Resurrecting Serpent, he noticed various antiques scattered on the ground: a Bronze Division sword, Bronze Division goblets, a Bronze Division cauldron, ceramics, terracotta figurines... He suddenly understood. These were the belongings of tomb raiders! Carrying bags full of stolen relics, they hadn''t anticipated that their path through this area would end at the jaws of the Resurrecting Serpent! Knowing this, Charles''s respect for the remains on the ground waned, and he even cursed inwardly, "Serves them right." Among the relics on the ground, he noticed a small Bronze Division box and, driven by curiosity, opened it to find two pieces of parchment inside. [Ding! You have obtained a recipe for a tone reproduction miracle drug alchemy 1!] [Ding! You have obtained a fragment of an unknown map 1!] "An alchemy recipe? Could the owner of the tomb have been an alchemist?" Charles was thrilled. He hadn''t expected to find such treasures in their of the Resurrecting Serpent! Charles checked the [alchemyb] option in his system, and indeed, alongside the hemostatic powder, there was now another alchemy recipe added. [Regenerating Potion] [Tier]: Tone reproduction miracle drug [Description]: The lowest tier of alchemy potion. When consumed, it restores some energy to both the Beast Master and their pet. Charles nced over the recipe''s description and was immediately thrilled. He could already produce hemostatic powder, which allowed for quick recovery from injuries during battles, but he had no means to restore energy. Fatigue could easily set in if energy ran low. Max, having used [Bone-Achingly Cold] consecutively, was now so exhausted that it had fallen asleep in his arms. Once this [Regenerating Potion] was sessfully concocted, he would be able to rapidly stop bleeding and continuously replenish energy during battles, essentially bing an indefatigable fighter. How could otherspete with that? Charles was eager to experiment with the alchemyb, but considering the constant danger around him, he decided it would be safer to wait until he was back at camp. "There might be treasure hidden within this map, but unfortunately, it''s only a fragment. I wonder where the rest might be..." After collecting all the relics scattered by the tomb raiders from the ground, Charles then began to gather materials from the Resurrecting Serpent. [Obtained Resurrecting Serpent Galldder x1!] [Obtained Resurrecting Serpent Skin x20!] [Obtained Resurrecting Serpent Fangs x4!] [Obtained Resurrecting Serpent Blood x100kg!] [Obtained Resurrecting Serpent Meat x100kg!] He meticulously separated therge amounts of materials and neatly stored them in his storage space. Due to the abundance of the Resurrecting Serpent''s flesh and blood, Charles only kept the most vital parts. He had initially nned to venture deeper into the Ferocious Beast Mountains, but considering Max''s current condition, he decided against it. Charles''s stomach suddenly began to grumble, after a night filled with battle and treasure hunting, he was both exhausted and parched. He nced at the sky, the moon already tilting westward: "It''s almost dawn, I should eat something before I face another long trek through the mountains." Finding a t spot, Charles set up a grill and started a fire, cing fresh serpent meat on it. He then retrieved some spices from his storage space... Before long, the Resurrecting Serpent meat sizzled enticingly, the fat dripping and crackling in the heat. This ferocious beast meat not only helped quickly restore physical strength but was also beneficial for increasing one''s power. Charles rubbed his hands in anticipation of the meal. At the scent of the grilled meat, Max, who had been sleeping soundly in Charles''sp, suddenly woke up, drooling at the sight of the skewers in Charles''s hand. "Sorry, Max, didn''t mean to wake you up!" Charles said apologetically, sharing half of the cooked Resurrecting Serpent meat with Max. Max devoured it eagerly, clearly famished after the battle. "This tastes surprisingly good; the meat is more tender than I expected, not tough at all!" Charles said with a satisfied smile on his face. If he started a food livestream featuring ferocious beast cuisine, would it be an inte sensation? After finishing the meat, Charles drank some snake blood. He immediately felt a warm surge in his abdomen, and energy spread to his limbs, greatly reducing the fatigue from a night''s exertion. Feeling fully satiated, Charles quietly made his way back toward the camp. By then, the campfire had died down, leaving only the deep red coals emitting their final warmth. With the eastern sky slowly lightening, Charles hurried to make the most of this time to concoct the Regenerating Potion. He reviewed the alchemy recipe, noting it required onlymon materials, of which he had some left in his storage space. Having previously made hundreds of miracle drugs at home in Isengard, he was quite skilled in producing this kind of tone reproduction miracle drug. In a short while, he had sessfully concocted several doses, even finding time to catch some sleep. Charles had barelyid down to rest when his phone began to vibrate incessantlyit turned out the "Trial Team Mega Group" chat had exploded! Charles tapped in to see what was happening. "Have you guys seen the leaderboard? Charles, who was ranked over 1000thst night, has suddenly shot up to 8th ce!" "What! How is that possible? He''s in my group; wasn''t he sleeping in his tent?" "Do you think it''s possible that Charles sneaked out while everyone was sleeping to hoard points?" "You''re joking, right? Fighting at night is too dangerous, he wouldn''t have the guts!" "That''s impossible! Absolutely not!" "Let''s not talk about this; the Ferocious Beast Mountains are terrifying. My pet died in battle yesterday, now I have no protection, I just want to go home..." "Did you guys hear any strange noisesst night? I heard something outside my tent and was so scared I couldn''t sleep!" "Our Group 7 didn''t kill a single ferocious beast yesterday, and we''re almost out of dry food. Don''t you guys have some ferocious beast meat? Could you spare some for us?" "Ferocious beast meat? I don''t have much myself... But hey, you have a nice profile picture. If you want some,e to my tent tonight, I''ll share some with you?" ... The chat was filled with suspicions about his score and a litany ofints. Insect bites, snake attacks, contaminated water, food shortages, declining pet loyalty... the problems were diverse and numerous. There was even a rumor that the group at the very front, Group 1, had gone missing, including their apanying teacher, and it was likely they had encountered trouble. Seeing all this, Charles was increasingly grateful for his system, a powerful tool. If he hadn''t been able to see the weaknesses, perhaps he would have lost his life in the battle against the Resurrecting Serpent. "Wake up!" "Come on, wake up, no more sleeping!" Outside the tent, Vice President Fletcher''s impatient voice could be heard urging: "I''m giving everyone 30 minutes to pack up your tents and have breakfast. The first group that camped in the valley aheadst night has gone missing. We need to cross that area and set up camp in a safe ce before dark." Fletcher''s announcement was met with a chorus of sighs and groans. "Only 30 minutes... I can''t even pack up in time, can''t Fletcher be a little more lenient?" "I... I still need to do my skincare and makeup. Can''t we leave in an hour instead?" "The entire first group is missing? That''s terrifying! I want to go home..." Despite the students''ints, Fletcher showed no signs of relenting, instead moving from tent to tent to hurry the students along. When he reached Charles, his expression suddenly changed, and after double-checking his phone, he spoke in a softer tone: "You''re Charles, right?" Charles nodded: "Is there something you need, Vice President?" Fletcher''s stern expression softened as he looked at Charles with a more amiable gaze: "Well, well! Where did you sneak off to score pointsst night, climbing all the way to 8th ce?" The so-called point-scoring involved hunting low-level, the escaped fish while others slept, a tactic some students used in previous years and was tacitly condoned as a way to gain by trickery. He clearly hadn''t expected Charles to have hunted a Level 7 Resurrecting Serpent. Seeing Charles not responding, Fletcher took his silence as an acknowledgment and admonished him earnestly: "Try to rest earlier at night. Look, you''re so slow during the day you''re dragging the team down." "This method of gaining by trickery might boost your score temporarily, but it''s not a sustainable strategy." No sooner had Fletcher finished speaking than a cry for help erupted from the outskirts of the camp. A girl, crying, screamed: "Help, teacher! There''s a ferocious beast attacking!" Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Medical Miracle Several students, panic-stricken and blood-soaked, ran towards us, closely followed by a ferocious beast. Its eyes, a ring red, were filled with deadly intent. As the beast came into Charles'' view, a series of notifications shed across his system''s holographic screen: [Steel-Spiked Hedgehog] [Attributes]: Metal, Poison [Level]: 6 [Quality]: Bronze Division [Skills]: Ferocious Impact, Venomous Spikes [Mood]: Agitated [Health]: Healthy [Weakness]: Lightning/Electricity, Fire [Description]: This is a male steel-spiked hedgehog. You have intruded into its habitat, and it is extremely agitated. Beware of its steel spikes, which are coated with a potent poison. "Two attributes? It''s a pity the quality is somewhat poor." This is the first time Charles has encountered a dual-attribute ferocious beast in the wild. Unfortunately, its Bronze Division quality means it has low potential for training and isn''t suitable as a pet. Upon seeing Charles block its path, the steel-spiked hedgehog appeared greatly enraged. It hunched its body as if gathering strength and then charged ferociously at Charles! Clearly, it had activated the skill [Ferocious Impact]! The territorial instincts of the male steel-spiked hedgehog were very strong. Any other animal that intruded into its territory was seen as apetitor. Furthermore, its spikes, allden with poison, could cause anything from festering wounds to fatal poisoning if they pierced someone, which was truly terrifying. But that was a concern for others... After battling the [Resurrecting Serpent]st night, Max had leveled up to Lv7. With his level and quality overwhelmingly superior, the fight was effortless. Moreover, Charles had prepared hundreds of bottles of healing potions and antidotes in his storage space, so he wasn''t worried at all. "Max, enterbat mode!" Charlesmanded. With a sigh, Max braced himself. Seeing just a little creature, the steel-spiked hedgehog hardly took Max seriously and elerated in a charge. Despite being smaller than the steel-spiked hedgehog, Max was far more agile. He deftly dodged the attack with a swift sidestep. Boom! A dull thud echoed as arge tree was uprooted by the steel-spiked hedgehog''s charge, crashing down towards the camp and sending the nearby students scattering in panic. The steel-spiked hedgehog shook its head, slightly dazed. It hadn''t expected its skill, [Ferocious Impact], to be so easily evaded by such a small adversary. This only fueled its rage further, prompting it to use its second skill, [Venomous Spikes]. Its body curled into a ball, shielding its vulnerable parts while simultaneouslyunching steel spikes all around Whizz! Whizz! Whizz! The sound of slicing air filled the area as the spikes, like arrows, shot out from the steel-spiked hedgehog''s back. "Be careful, those spikes are poisonous! Don''t engage in closebat! Use the skill [Ice Pick Throwing]!" Charles instructed. Although the skill [Bone-Achingly Cold] was very effective against the steel-spiked hedgehog, it was a melee skill, and Charles didn''t want Max to take that risk. Now transformed into a ''hedgehog'' with its vitals protected, its defense might have increased, but it was immobilized. This was the perfect opportunity to strike. Max used the surrounding trees as cover, evading the poisonous spikes from the steel-spiked hedgehog. Meanwhile, he gathered the icy elemental energy around him, forming icicles above the immobilized hedgehog''s head. Since it waspletely stationary, this gave him enough time to unleash a powerful strike. Whizz With a crisp sound, the icicle plunged from the sky and pierced through the body of the steel-spiked hedgehog, causing blood to gush out continuously. A one-hit victory! "We''ve won!" Max, exhrated, pranced around the corpse of the steel-spiked hedgehog, then grabbed Charles'' trouser leg, eager to show off his trophy. [Ding! You have defeated the ferocious beast [Steel-Spiked Hedgehog] (Lv6Bronze Division quality). Your synergy with your pet has increased!] [Pet Loyalty +1!] [Pet Experience Points +50!] "Well done, Max, tonight we feast on steel-spiked hedgehog meat!" Charles patted Max''s fluffy head, then pulled out his dagger to start butchering the steel-spiked hedgehog. The students who had fled the campsite, hearing that the battle was over, gradually returned. Seeing Charles harvesting his trophy, they were astounded! "I was too busy running for my life just now. Can someone tell me what happened? Don''t tell me that steel-spiked hedgehog was killed by Charles?" "Damn, that steel-spiked hedgehog just now... three of us couldn''t beat it together, and Charles took it down alone in a sh!" "Charles'' pet is so fast! I didn''t even see clearly, just saw a sh of white light, and then the steel-spiked hedgehog was pierced by the icicle..." "On the [Leaderboard], Charles just added 6 points, which means... it was a Lv6 ferocious beast!" "Are you kidding me? I can barely manage a Lv1 ferocious beast right now, and even a Lv2 is a struggle. Charles can already one-shot a Lv6?" "Pfft, if I hadn''t worn it down first, reducing that steel-spiked hedgehog''sbat strength, would Charles have been able to take advantage of a good deal so easily?" "Take advantage of a good deal? That sounds easy for you. Why don''t you try taking advantage of a good deal today and show me something impressive?" ... More and more students gathered around to watch, filled with envy, admiration, and jealousy. However, Charles remained indifferent. After defeating the steel-spiked hedgehog, he could clearly feel the change in the way people looked at him. "I didn''t see iting; you''ve got some skills. I underestimated you before!" Fletcher, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke. As the team leader, Fletcher was responsible for the students'' safety, but considering the effectiveness of the training, he wouldn''t intervene unless absolutely necessary. He had witnessed Charles''s fight; the process was clean and efficient, defeating a Lv6 ferocious beast was far from his limit. Initially, Fletcher thought Charles was just clever at gaining by trickery, but now he realized he had underestimated him. At that moment, a girl suddenly rushed to Fletcher, looking worried: "Mr. Fletcher! You need to check on Aurora; she seems to have been poisoned!" "Poisoned? Was she hit by the steel-spiked hedgehog''s poisonous spikes?" Fletcher''s smile faded. Charles pretended to put the steel-spiked hedgehog''s materials into his backpack, then transferred everything into his system''s [Storage Space] and cleaned the blood from his hands before standing up. Following Fletcher, he arrived at a shaded spot in the middle of the campsite, where indeed several pale-faced peopley on the ground. As his gaze fell on the girl, several lines of information shed before him. [Name]: Aurora [Age]: 18 [Height]: 170 cm [Measurements]: 72/55/78 [Health]: Poisoned by steel-spiked hedgehog venom [View Treatment Options] Fletcher crouched down to inspect the girl''s injury. A steel spike from the steel-spiked hedgehog hadpletely pierced through her right forearm, which was now bruising, indicating the venom was spreading. If not treated promptly, her life could be in danger. "This is just the outer edge of the ferocious beast mountain range. How could we encounter such a ferocious beast here?" Fletcher wondered. The route nning for this mountain expedition was clearly wed; such a Lv6 poisonous ferocious beast wasn''t supposed to appear until half a month into the journey. Ordinary medicines were ineffective against the venom of such a ferocious beast; only an alchemy miracle drug could treat it. But in these remote mountains, where could one find a hospital, let alone a miracle drug? Despite his reluctance, Fletcher grimly suggested, "We may have to amputate, otherwise the poison will spread to her heart and it''ll be toote..." "What? Amputate!" The students around eximed in shock. She was only 18 years oldlosing her right hand for life was far too cruel a fate for a young woman justing of age! The faces of the students who had copsed from the poison turned even paler, and Aurora couldn''t hold back her tears anymore: "Teacher, isn''t there... isn''t there any other way?" she sobbed. "Even amon snake bite would be toote to treat at a hospital now, let alone venom from a ferocious beast..." As the team leader, Fletcher felt deeply guilty seeing his students poisoned and feeling powerless to help. With even the team leader at a loss, the students quickly became despondent. However, amidst the crowd, Charles remained remarkably calm. He nced at the [Treatment Options] on his screen: for steel-spiked hedgehog venom, administer an [anesthetic pill] to alleviate pain, remove the spike, take a [blood lily pill] to neutralize the poison, and apply a [recovery ster] externally for 3 days for a full recovery. After reading, Charles took two miracle drugs from his storage space, ced them in the girl''s mouth, and then took out a scalpel to remove the poisonous spike from her arm... Charles''s smooth actions left the surrounding students stunned. "Charles, what are you doing..." Fletcher was also puzzled. Could it be that Charles knew medical techniques? Before Fletcher could finish, Aurora, who had been slipping into unconsciousness, slowly opened her eyes and color returned to her pale face. She gently moved her fingers, looking shocked. "Mr. Fletcher, I suddenly feel sensation in my arm again, and the pain is gone..." Seeing this, a smile began to form on Fletcher''s previously tense face. Just moments ago, they were preparing for amputation, and now, in just a few minutes, Charles had cured her. What kind of medical miracle was this? Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Scarcity Marketing "Charles... thank you for saving me. I don''t even know how to thank you..." "Charles, do you still have any of that miracle drug you gave to Aurora? I''ve got a spike in my knee too, and I really don''t want to amputate..." "Charles, do you remember me? I''m from Isengard Beast Mastery High too. We''re schoolmates, could you spare me one of those miracle drugs?" ... Seeing his fellow students crowd around him, begging for miracle drugs, Charles was speechless. Although he had thousands of miracle drugs in his storage space, and could produce as many as he wanted given the alchemy materials, why should he give away the fruits of his hardbor for free? Charles nced at the other students still suffering from poisoning, and put on a pained expression: "These miracle drugs were hard-earned, collected before I left Isengard, intended as ast resort to save my own life. But since we''re all ssmates, I can''t bear to see anyone lose a limb over an injury... I don''t have many of these miracle drugs left. If anyone else wants some, I would be willing to trade for items I need, like beast cores." After treating a few more poisoned individuals and consoling the surrounding students, Charles finally stood up and returned to his tent. Watching Charles walk away, the fifty members of Team 7, including the team leader Fletcher, were nearly moved to tears! "Charles shared his own life-saving medicine with everyone. I could never do that!" "Sobbing... If it weren''t for Charles''s miracle drug, I would have lost my life just now. And to think, I was badmouthing him in our group chat yesterdayI''m such a beast!" "From today onward, Charles is my big brother. If anyone dares to talk behind his back from now on, don''t me me if my fists don''t see!" "Not only is Charles handsome, but he''s also so kind-hearted. Such an outstanding guy, I wonder if he has a girlfriend?" ... Inside the tent, Charles was packing his things and couldn''t help butugh as he listened to the conversations outside. These low-tier miracle drugs, which wouldn''t be worth much under normal circumstances, had be preciousmodities here in the ferocious beast mountains. It''s like a bottle of water. At a water nt, it might be worth nothing; but in the center of a desert, especially after his ''scarcity marketing'' stunt, it could be more valuable than gold! "From now on, if I need any materials, I''ll just trade with others. That saves me the hassle of looking everywhere!" Charles chuckled to himself. After taking care of the injured, Fletcher was urging them to set off again. Charles stuffed his tent into the [Storage Space] and casually checked the current inventory. [Storage Space]: [Weapons]: Ice and Fire Supreme Spear (blue) [Equipment]: Divine Scale Armor (blue) [Daily Needs]: Tent, bedding, campmp, shlight, bathtub, barbecue grill, sr panels... [Food]: Water 100 tons, resurrecting serpent meat 90 kg, resurrecting serpent blood 95 kg, steel-spiked hedgehog meat 50 kg, steel-spiked hedgehog blood 20 kg, beef 500 kg... [Ferocious Beast Materials]: Resurrecting serpent fangs x4, resurrecting serpent skin x20, steel-spiked hedgehog skin x1, steel-spiked hedgehog poison spikes x80, steel-spiked hedgehog fangs x2... [Alchemy Ingredients]: Spirit root x20, revival flower x12, anesthetic nt x182, mountain valley orchid x10... [Alchemy Miracle Drugs]: Regenerating potion (gray) x7, hemostatic powder (gray) x10 [Common Medicines]: Painkillers x195, fire-controlling elixir x100, spirit-replenishing pill x50, serene fluid x50, beast-driving wine x30, anesthetic pill x296, blood lily pill x152, recovery ster x165... [Treasures]: Bronze division sword (unidentified), bronze division cauldron (unidentified), bronze division armor (unidentified), night pearls... [Special]: Fragment of a map (unknown) "Can''t believe it''s only been a week, and I''ve already umted so much!" Charles felt a great sense of achievement looking at his packed storage space, though he sighed, "It''s a shame most of it ismon stuff, not much of value." Charles took out his [Ice and Fire Supreme Spear], which looked dull as it had no beast core embedded in it. He had asked around, and the ferocious beasts they''d hunted hadn''t yielded any beast cores, highlighting the rarity of such items. Moreover, a first-tier beast core required hunting ferocious beasts above level 10, a feat Charles felt he was not yet capable of. "Everyone ready? Let''s move out!" Fletcher''s voice urged them from outside the tent once more. After the morning''s dy due to the ferocious beast attack, it was now midday. Stepping out from the campsite''s shade, they were immediately hit by a wave of heat. After walking several kilometers along the mountain path, the initially enthusiastic students were now visibly exhausted. Due to his [Divine Scale Armor] weighing hundreds of pounds, Charles quickly fell behind the group. He looked back at a few of the girls behind him: "Yesterday, I was the thirdst in line, today I''m the fifth. Making progress pretty fast, huh?" His routine involved weight training during the day and soaking in herbal baths at night, coupled with consuming beast meat and drinking beast blood. Charles felt his strength and reflexes were growing rapidly. The prospect of being able to walk in the first ce while wearing the [Divine Scale Armor] was something Charles couldn''t even begin to imagine. "Let''s set a small goal firstcatch up to the first ce in Group 7!" Charles gritted his teeth, letting the sweat pool on his body like a stream, and quickened his pace. After trudging a few more kilometers, a few female ssmates suddenly approached him. "Charles, you''re sweating a lot on your face. Do you need me to wipe it off for you?" "Yeah, you look like you''re having a hard time. Do you need me to help carry something?" "Charles, did your girlfriende with you on this training expedition?" The girls suddenly striking up a conversation with him didn''t surprise Charles. He had noticedst week while looking in the mirror that he was quite handsome! OOtherwise, he wouldn''t have gotten intimate with Lily in the office right after transmigrating here! Plus, the strength he disyed this morning made him extremely attractive to these naive young girls. "I''ve been single since birth, 18 years and counting. I don''t have a girlfriend." Charles wasn''t averse to the chance for interaction; they were all pure-minded schoolgirls, and chatting with them was a perfect way to relieve the monotony of the trek. Hearing that Charles didn''t have a girlfriend and wasn''t standoffish, a few more girls joined the group, chattering around him. The male ssmates walking with them werepletely ignored by the girls. Despite some jealousy, thinking about Charles''s strength, none of them dared to say much. "By the way, how''s your hand feeling now?" Charles suddenly noticed that one of the girls next to him was Aurora, whom he had saved that morning. She seemed to want to say something but hesitated because of the crowd around them. "Are you talking to me? It''s... it''s better!" Aurora suddenly looked up at him, her face blushing. She quickly turned her head away, unable to meet Charles''s eyes. "Thank you so much for this morning. If it weren''t for you, I might have lost my arm..." As she spoke, her eyes slightly reddened, as if remembering something painful. She then turned to Charles, "By the way, didn''t you say you needed a beast core? I happen to have one here." Aurora extended her left hand, and on her snow-white arm was a bracelet, shimmering with a pale blue glow under the sun. It was... a first-tier ice attribute beast core! This was exactly what he needed! "This was given to me by my mom when I left Isengard. She said it would enhance my ice elemental energy." Before Charles could react, Aurora had already taken off the bracelet and ced it in his hands. "Since you need it, I''ll give it to you." The bracelet still retained her warmth and was very delicately made, appearing quite valuable. "This was given to you by your mother, it doesn''t feel right for me to take it," Charles said, taken aback. Before Charles could finish, the girl had already run off into the distance. ... "Alright, we''ll camp here today." After Charles and a few girls had caught up, Fletcher issued the order to set up camp. With a sigh, Charles puffed out, copsing onto the soft grass,pletely drenched. He was eager for a bath now. By the campfire, Fletcher, watching the students slowly setting up their tents, feltpelled to speak: "Today there were some mishaps, so we''re camping here temporarily. But I still want to remind everyone. We haven''t even reached the position of the first group from yesterday; we are far behind! Following in someone else''s wake won''t get you into the three major academies of the Imperial Capital, not to mention the academies in our own Vendantia province..." Fletcher continued to speak, but Charles was tuning him out, one ear in, one ear out. Seemingly reminded of something, Charles suddenly took out his phone: "Oh right, I wonder how many points Grace has now. Also, has there been any news about the missing first squad?" Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Aria Lying in the bathtub, Charles held a skewer in one hand and his phone in the other. In just two days, he had hunted down a Lv7 silver quality resurrecting serpent and a Lv6 bronze division quality steel-spiked hedgehog. "I wonder what rank I am among these 1000+ participants with 13 points?" Charles opened the leaderboard. [Ferocious Beast Mountains Training Points Leaderboard] 1st ce: Grace [27 points] 2nd ce: Robert [19 points] 3rd ce: Steve [18 points] ... Seeing these rankings, Charles couldn''t help but grimace: "No way, these people are incredible! First ce is almost at 30 points..." After some searching, he finally found himself at the end of the first page: 29th ce: Charles[13 points] Although he had expected Grace to be ahead of him, he hadn''t anticipated such a crushing lead, especially since Grace had only 8 points yesterday. The thought of that girl probably holding her phone and mocking him was infuriating to Charles. "But thinking about it, it makes sense. Our Group 7 was dyed today, and the other teams went deeper into the Ferocious Beast Mountains where the beasts are of higher levels and worth more points. But... what''s the deal with Robert?" Seeing Robert in second ce left Charles somewhat stunned. "I saw that [four-winged tiger] the other day; it was useless. Could it be that Robert''s four-winged tiger isn''t the same one I saw, or is there a glitch in the system?" Charles muttered to himself. The system didn''t have voicemunication, which frustrated Charles. He needed to find some mental bnce by checking on Daniel: "Heh, that turtle of his, I bet he''s at the bottom without having to look!" Charles flipped to the 21st page of the leaderboard and indeed saw: 1018th ce: Daniel [0 points] "Hahaha, what a loser, two days and he hasn''t even hunted a Lv1 beast. Didn''t he brag about his skills before we left the city..." Charles''sughter suddenly stopped, and he almost dropped his phone into the bathtub, "Wait, why are so many people at zero points?" Everyone who entered the Ferocious Beast Mountains for training was a newly inducted Beast Master from Isengard this year; it was unthinkable that they couldn''t even defeat a Lv1 beast. Even those girls who flirted with him during the day while chatting managed to score a few points, so how could there be so many with zero? He clicked on the profiles of those with zero points and quickly noticed something strangethey were all from Group 1, the first team to enter the mountains! Yesterday, Fletcher had also mentioned that the entire Group 1 was missing. "Daniel... could something have happened to him?" A wave of anxiety swept over Charles. Aside from his foul mouth and penchant for showing off, Daniel was the only person in this world, other than his parents, who genuinely cared about him without asking for anything in return. Could fate really be so cruel to him? Beep beep [Hello, the number you have dialed is currently unavable. Please try againter!] After several calls, all went unanswered, and the chat icon remained gray. Daniel was unreachable. "Is Charles here?" came a soft voice outside the tent. Hastily throwing on a shirt and without even drying his hair, Charles unzipped the tent: "Aurora, what''s up?" "The moon is so beautiful tonight. I think we couldn''t see such a beautiful moon back in Isengard..." Aurora looked at Charles, her cheeks slightly reddening: "A lot of people are at the bonfire party, singing and such. Do you want to join and maybe sing a song?" "Sorry, Aurora, I have some things to take care of tonight," Charles replied, turning and heading towards the camp''s perimeter. Aurora said something more, but Charles could no longer hear her, or rather, he hadn''t been listening since her first word. Dressed in his Divine Scale Armor, his spear glistening with cold light, an ice attribute beast core at the spear''s tip shimmering with a faint blue glow, Charles raced through the woods: "Daniel, please don''t be in trouble!" ... Leaving the camp, Charles headed south. Along the way, he did his best to conceal his presence, avoiding rming the ferocious beasts in the forest. "I heard that Group 1 disappeared in this valley. I hope to find some clues." Charles looked ahead between two steep peaks where a narrow passageway less than a hundred meters wide served as the quickest route deeper into the Ferocious Beast Mountains. Consequently, it also became a frequent path for many ferocious beasts. After the incident with Group 1, all subsequent teams chose to detour, and Fletcher opted to camp outside the valley. Charles wiped the sweat from his palms, then gripped his spear tightly, cautiously making his way forward. The moon was obscured by the cliffs, plunging the entire valley into darkness, yet Charles did not turn on his shlight. Having acquired some of Max''s wolf tribe vision, he could barely make out the path in this pitch-ck ce. Suddenly, a strong scent of blood wafted through the air. "Are they all dead?" "Rx, absolutely clean, not a single one of the 50 left alive." "Search them, see if they have anything valuable." It seemed there were people talking in the dense forest ahead. Charles held his breath and listened intently. When he heard the number ''50,'' his heart chilled. 50 Beast Masters, 50 livesthinking about this, Charlesfelt his eyes redden with fury and he approached the two bandits without hesitation: "You took 50 lives so easily. Forgiving you is God''s business. Now, let me send you to meet Him!" "Who?!" Hearing the noise, the two bandits switched on their bright shlights and spun around, only to see a young man with a spear charging at them with a fierce look, and then... he suddenly stopped. "Doves?" Seeing a string of bird carcasses around the men''s necks and hands, Charles was stunned. "What about 50 lives, what about meeting God..." One of the men scratched his head. "Kid, you scared us to death in the middle of the night. We thought we were being robbed!" "Ha, sorry, my mistake. What are you guys doing out here sote?" Charles deactivated his bestial soul merge state but remained vignt. "We''re local hunters. This mountain trip''s been cursed; not a single ferocious beast spotted in two days. We were starving, had to hunt doves at night just to fill our bellies..." The man chuckled naively, showing off about fifty doves. Hearing the men talk about their fruitless two days, Charles gave an embarrassedugh. With over a thousand Beast Masters from Isengard training in the area, they''d probably scared off every ferocious beast around. "Since it was a misunderstanding, I''m really sorry. I have other matters to attend to, so I''ll leave you to your dove hunting," Charles said, getting ready to leave. The other man suddenly called out to him: "Young man, you seem in a hurry. Are you looking for someone?" Charles nodded, seeing no need to hide it. The man pondered for a moment before speaking to Charles, "Last night, we passed by here and saw a lot of blood on the ground. There must have been an ident. We also saved a young girl who said she was from York. Could she be the person you''re looking for?" A young girl from York yesterday... Charles considered that she could likely be a surviving Beast Master from Group 1. He could ask her about what exactly happenedst night. He nodded and said, "It''s very possible. Could you gentlemen please take me to see her?" "That''s easy." The men tied up the doves with a rope, slung them around their necks, and then led Charles to a nearby vige. From afar, they saw a few lights halfway up the mountain. It was Charles''s first time realizing that there were actually viges within the Ferocious Beast Mountains. "I tell you, that young girl, I''ve never seen anyone as beautiful in my life." "Her skin, so soft and tender, and that slender waist..." As the dove man spoke about the girl, a sleazy smile appeared on his face. "Cough, cough!" It took hispanion''s reminder for the man to realize he had been inappropriate. Disgusted yet curious after hearing the two men, Charles wondered. In his memory, there wasn''t a woman in Isengard more beautiful than Grace, but Grace wasn''t scoring zero points. A few minutester, Charles followed the two hunters to the vige, which was oddly designed with a round city entrance, a structure typically used in ancient cities for defense. Entering through the gate, he saw a dozen thatched huts scattered about, and everyone looked at him with strange eyes. "Aria, we just met one of your friends in the mountains," the dove man knocked on the door of one of the thatched huts. "A friend?" With a creak, a woman gently pushed open the door. She wore a purple dress and her face was partially veiled in translucent fabric, her eyes shimmering with a seductive allure. Her long hair was casually tied at the waist with a headband, and her every move radiated a refreshing aura. As Charles''s gaze unintentionally swept across the young woman''s waist, he suddenly understood why the previous man had chuckled like a creep. Her delicate, slender waist seemed as if it could be encircled with just his hands. Despite it being their first meeting, Charles felt an unexpected urge to embrace her protectively. Such a beautiful girl looked strikingly out of ce among the rugged vigers of the settlement. [Name]: Aria [Age]: 17 [Height]: 172 cm [Measurements]: 82/49/77 [Beast Master Level]: None This brief information shed before him, leaving Charles somewhat startled: "This girl named Aria, she isn''t a Beast Master?" Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Second Boss Felix "Excuse me, Aria, are you a member of Group 1? Could you tell me what happenedst night?" Charles asked tentatively in a soft voice. "Strange, I don''t know you, nor do I know anything about this ''Group 1'' you''re talking about." The girl named Aria didn''t give Charles another nce before gently closing the door. Realizing she was not the person he was looking for, Charles felt a wave of disappointment. He was about to get up to leave when the man who had guided him earlier took off a string of pigeons from his neck: "Brother, meeting you is fate. It''ste and I wouldn''t be at ease letting you head into the mountains now. Why not stay here for the night and set off tomorrow?" The man gave a simple smile, then led Charles to the center of the vige, where a bonfire was zing. A group of people were roasting pigeons, and the man handed a cooked one to Charles: "I''m Uldir. If you don''t mind, let''s be friends! We don''t have much, but there''s plenty of pigeon to go around! Ha ha!" Charles thought for a moment. Fletcher would likely take a longer route with the students tomorrow for safety, which meant circumventing this gorge and losing at least a week, increasing the gap with the first group. Charles looked at Uldir to check his personal information. [Name]: Uldir [Age]: 36 [Height]: 182 cm [Beast Master Level]: Level 1 His name was indeed true, and the surrounding hunters were all level 1 Beast Masters. If anything was amiss, he couldn''t overpower so many, but escaping was certainly possible. "My name is Charlie; thank you for your hospitality, Uldir!" Charles gave a false name and pretended to eat the pigeon meat, secretly spitting it into his system [storage space]. With the wisdom of two lifetimes and the vivid memory of betrayal by a brother in his past life, Charles was extra cautious, especially in the ruthless Beast Mastery World. After a simple dinner, Charles went to the room where he would rest, leaned against the door, and sighed deeply. What Charles had thought would be a routine expedition had turned into a series of unexpected events, with the entire first group going missing, and now, inexplicably, he had stumbled upon a team of ferocious beast hunters. His phone vibrated with a new message from Fletcher: "Charles, are you really heading back to York? Be careful on your way. Tomorrow, we''re nning to bypass the canyon and head deep into the Ferocious Beast Mountains for training. But Charles, with your talent, I truly hope you reconsider abandoning this. If you decide to return to the Ferocious Beast Mountains, we can meet at Remarkable Rock Summit. We expect to reach there in seven days." After putting away his phone, Charles was touched by the vice president''s stern appearance, who actually cared deeply for his students. Leaving for a week might be a good thing. The path chosen by Fletcher had already been ''swept'' by over a dozen teams, not only dying their progress but also slowing their score umtion. He nced at the leaderboard again. [Ferocious Beast Mountains Training Scoreboard] 1st ce: Grace [41 points] 2nd ce: Robert [28 points] 3rd ce: Steve [25 points] ... 62nd ce: Charles [13 points] In just half a day, Grace and Robert had pulled far ahead, likely recing the original first group as the new vanguard. Charles looked at the supreme spear in his hand. One end of the spear was embedded with an ice attribute beast core, emitting a faint blue glow, while the other end was dull. "I still need a fire attribute first-level beast core to turn this spear into a true Ice and Fire Supreme Spear. And Max is close to breaking through to Level 7; the materials needed for that breakthrough will certainly include a couple of first-level beast cores. The ingredients for making regenerating potions are almost used up too..." Just thinking about it all gave Charles a headache. With his mind feeling like mush, Charles decided to stop thinking. He asked Max to keep watch at the door,y back on his bed, and soon drifted off to sleep... The next morning, as dawn broke, Charles heard a knock at the door. "Charlie, today our hunters'' squad is setting off for Remarkable Rock Summit, where there''s plenty of game. I left some bread by the campfire for you; have your breakfast and then head down the mountain on your own. I won''t see you off." The voice outside belonged to Uldir, the middle-aged man fromst night who had been hunting pigeons. Remarkable Rock Summit? Wasn''t that the ce where Fletcher had agreed to meet him in a week? Hearing this name, Charles quickly got up from bed and opened the door: "Uldir, I need to go to Remarkable Rock Summit too. Can Ie with you?" "Take you along? With your abilities, you''d probably just be a burden to us." The speaker wasn''t Uldir but a burly young man standing behind him. Charles looked over. [Name]: Felix [Age]: 24 [Height]: 175 cm [Beast Master Level]: Level 2 After reading the young man''s panel information, Charles felt a wave of astonishment. He never expected that there would be a Level 2 Beast Master in this hunting team. A Level 2 Beast Master, who could simultaneously control two pets, significantly boostedbat powerpared to a Level 1 Beast Master! Among the entire training team in Lsengard, only one leading teacher had reached this level. Uldir, showing great respect towards the young man, nced at Charles and pleaded, "Second Boss, he''s also a Beast Master, and letting him cross the gorge alone would be akin to sending him to his death. After all, one more person is just one more set of utensils..." After hearing Uldir''s plea, Felix sized Charles up and warned, "Kid, for Uldir''s sake, I''ll let youe with us through the gorge. But let me be clear: if you give me any trouble, you''re out!" Then Felix ordered everyone in the vige, "Everyone, pack up, we leave immediately!" As for Felix''s disdain, Charles was indifferent; he didn''t n to stay long with this band of hunters. Once they crossed the valley and went their separate ways, they might never see each other again in this lifetime. The gorge was already close to the middle of the Ferocious Beast Mountains, a ce where first-level ferocious beasts were known to roam. Given his current strength, encountering one was indeed risky. Being with a group of hunters, especially with a Level 2 Beast Master like Felix, provided an additionalyer of safety. Dressed in his [Divine Scale Armor], Charles quietly followed behind the group. With Felix''s approval, the others began to see him as one of their own. They became more rxed, even starting to crack jokes. Every now and then, some would sneak nces at the purple silhouette walking not far from Felix. "That woman we saved yesterday, let me tell you, that waist of hers...!" "And it''s not just the waist! I''ve been with many women, but a gem like that could make you feel numb all over in bed!" "I heard she''s only 17, at the prime of her youth... If I could spend just one night with her, I''d die happy!" "Keep it down! Haven''t you noticed the Second Bosshas taken a liking to her? If he hears you talking like this, he might just kill you and feed you to his tiger!" The hunters spoke without restraint, but Charles had no interest in joining their crude conversation. However, from the hunters'' chatter, Charles learned that this girl named Aria seemed to have gotten separated from her family in the Ferocious Beast Mountains and was now trying to cross the mountains to reach the Atacama Desert. "So she''s not from Genosha, no wonder she carries an exotic aura," Charles chuckled softly. Yet, he suddenly began to worry about the young girl''s safety. The Ferocious Beast Mountains stretched thousands of kilometers, rumored to harbor creatures as dangerous as sixth-level ferocious beasts; moreover, the area waswless and rife with bandits. A 17-year-old girl, lost from her family and without any Beast Mastery skills, could only seek help from a group of strange huntersjust thinking about it made Charles anxious. And the men''s vulgar talk and titles like "Big Boss," "Second Boss," and "Third Boss" did not seem to promise anything good. "Why bother so much? There are plenty of unfortunate souls in the world, I can''t help them all just because she''s pretty, can I? Besides, I have my own troubles to worry about," Charles sighed softly, pulling his thoughts back. Rumbling The ground seemed to tremble slightly, distant branches shook, startling birds into the sky. A hunter at the front of the group suddenly turned around and roared: "Beast tide!" "It''s a beast tide attack!" "Everyone, be careful!" Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Beast Tide Upon hearing the warning, Charles immediately summoned Max and enteredbat mode. The trembling originated from the other end of the valley, clearly indicating that something significant had urred, as it was unlikely for so many ferocious beasts to flee towards the other end of the gorge without reason. "Roar, roar, roar" A ferocious beast, in its frenzied escape, collided with the hunters concealed in the bushes. Already in a state of panic, the beast''s instincts took over, and it hissed and roared as it charged at the hunters. Popping! A loud explosion echoed from ahead, followed by a cry of pain. By the time Charles arrived, one of the huntersy on the ground, his body charred and twitching. [Lightning Demon Ape] [Attribute]: Lightning [Level]: 11 [Quality]: Silver [Skills]: Arc Swing, Ball Lightning [Mood]: Aggressive, Panicked [Health]: Wound healing on hind leg... [Weakness]: Hind leg wound / Wind attribute [Description]: A panicked lightning demon ape, driven by its instinct for self-defense, aims to kill any enemy it encounters. Its right hind leg is injured, and targeting this weak spot could quickly turn the battle in your favor. A Level 11 ferocious beast, itsbat strength isparable to a human Level 2 Beast Master. Felix, reacting swiftly, had summoned his two pets, a blue and a red tiger, to fight alongside him against the lightning demon ape. However, Felix, apparently new to being a Level 2 Beast Master, struggled with his newly tamed red tiger, which was disobedient and oftengged in battle, even choosing to hide behind Felix when the lightning demon apeunched a ball lightning attack. Popping!! Another arc of electricity grazed Felix''s shoulder, emitting smoke and the smell of burning. "Max! Use [ice pick throwing] and target the lightning demon ape''s right hind leg!" Charles issued thebatmand. "Sigh!" Despite the lightning demon ape being four levels higher, Max charged forward without hesitation upon hearing Charles''s order. An ice spike formed behind the lightning demon ape, and taking advantage of its distraction while fighting Felix, the ice spike shot out like an arrow released from a bow, striking the beast''s hind leg. "Roar, roar, roar!!!" The lightning demon ape,pletely unprepared for this sneak attack from a seemingly insignificant foe, reeled as its recently healed wound split open, gushing blood! In that moment, Felix''s two tigers pounced, firmly mping onto the lightning demon ape''s throat. The beast struggled desperately on the ground, but as the blood continued to flow, its thrashing weakened until its eyes finally lost their spark... "Good!" "We won!" Seeing the ferocious beast defeated, the surrounding hunters cheered. Uldir, ted, approached Charles, his expression filled with excitement: "Amazing, Charlie, you defeated the lightning demon ape with just one strike! I couldn''t handle that beast at all; how did you do it?" "Even the Second Bosshad a tough time with it. This young man is something else!" The surrounding hunters also came forward, showering Charles with praise. At that moment, Felix, covered in dirt and dust, got up from the ground. Seeing the hunters gathered around Charles, he roared somewhat displeasedly: "What are you all doing? Hurry up, collect the spoils. We still have to move on!" "Yes, yes..." Upon hearing Felix''smand, the hunters scattered, pulling out their knives to slice the flesh and skin of the lightning demon ape. "It''s a pity that I didn''t deliver the final blow..." Charles sighed as he watched the lightning demon ape being dissected on the ground. If Max had made the kill, such a battle beyond his level could have elevated him to level 8! "Beast core! I found the beast core!" someone in the crowd shouted, and everyone gathered around. Seeing the white sphere sparking with electric sparks in the hands of the prey, Felix''s eyes gleamed with greed. He snatched it immediately. Among 100 ferocious beasts, only one might have a beast core! Moreover, this was a first-level beast core, an essential material for advancing in Lightning Beast Mastery, worth a fortune on the market! However... Charles had contributed significantly to obtaining this beast core... Felix nced at the beast core in his hand and then at Charles beside him, clearing his throat: "Since the lightning demon ape was defeated by us all, the spoils should be shared equally among everyone. I''ll keep this beast core for now. Once it''s sold, we''ll divide the money!" Hearing that everyone at the scene could share in the fruits of victory, the hunters burst into cheers: "Felix!" "Felix!" ... After packing up the materials from the lightning demon ape, the hunting party set off again, their faces beaming with the joy of victory. However, at the back of the group, Charles felt somewhat displeased. Logically, since he and Felix had jointly defeated the lightning demon ape, Charles should have been entitled to 50% of the spoils. While splitting everything equally might sound fair, everyone else was part of a group, and Charles was the outsider. After all the effort, he would only receive 1/20 of the loot... Plus, the beast core was already in Felix''s hands, and it was up to him when it would be sold. It was clear they were taking advantage of him as an outsider, intending to monopolize the spoils. Charles sighed, "Forget it, my goal is to get through this gorge. I''m not going to fuss over this..." Those who had cheered for Charles during the fight were now nowhere to be seen, except for Uldir, who felt guilty and secretly cut arger share for Charles while dividing the meat. "Charlie, here''s your share20kg of beast meat!" [Received 32kg of lightning demon ape meat!] Noticing the discrepancy in weight, Charles turned around as Uldir handed him arge bag of meat and exchanged a meaningful look. Charles instantly understood; among this group, Uldir was actually decent. Just then, a burly figure approached from behind the group and ced a hand on Charles''s shoulder: "Charlie, you''re quite skilled, huh? How about it, interested in joining my thievery... hunting team? In our squad, the spoils are always divided equally among everyone. As long as I, Felix, have a bite to eat, my brothers will never go hungry." Hearing Felix''s recruitment attempt, Charles scoffed inwardly: Forget it, being your brother probably means getting sold out without even knowing it. However, Charles kept his expression neutral, gently pushing Felix''s hand away and politely responding, "I appreciate the offer, but my friend is waiting for me at Remarkable Rock Summit. Once I get there, we''ll part ways." Felix nodded with a smile, "Alright then, brother, you''ve got your own things to handle. I won''t keep you. A young and promising Beast Master like you is always wee to join me." Charles offered a slight smile and then turned away from Felix to walk forward. Watching Charles''s retreating figure, Felix''s face darkened: "What an ingrate, giving him face and he dares to refuse me! When we reach Remarkable Rock Summit tomorrow, if he dares to mess with my ns, don''t me me for showing no mercy." ... The n had been to exit the gorge today, but the journey was dyed due to an encounter with a beast tide halfway through. As the sun set, Felix found a spacious area in the valley and ordered his men to set up camp there. Soon, a campfire was lit, its mes flickering slightly, providing somefort in the pitch-dark forest. Around the fire, a dozen hunters gathered, drinking and roasting meat, telling jokes, and celebrating another day survived. Felix sat next to the girl named Aria, smiling as he handed her a skewer of grilled meat. However, the girl seemed preupied, staring unhappily at the stars above. Lying in his tent, Charles whispered as he peered through a gap at the campfire: "I always feel like these people aren''t really ferocious beast hunters, more like tomb raiders, or even bandits..." Ferocious beast hunters usually make a living by hunting beasts and selling their materialsthere''s no need to risk their lives unnecessarily. But even after the beast tide attack that killed two of their own, they showed no signs of wanting to retreat. Charles could only think of two possibilities: either they are desperados, indifferent to life and death; or, there is a great treasure ahead, tempting them to ignore their fear of dying. Thinking this, Charles grew increasingly worried about the girl named Aria. She might be naively thinking she had met some good people who would help her escape the Ferocious Beast Mountains. Little did she know, she was walking into the lion''s den. Felix probably already considered her his possession. A woman without any Beast Mastery skills couldn''t even defend herself, let alone resist... "Forget it, why worry so much? I''m leaving tomorrow," Charles shook his head, trying to dismiss these thoughts. The world was full of dark deeds; he wasn''t a saint, so why should he burden himself with these concerns? Besides, Felix was a Level 2 Beast Master with many men under him. Even if he wanted to help her, he didn''t have the strength. "Better to just leave tomorrow and meet up with Fletcher and the others." With these thoughts in his mind, Charles could no longer sleep. Hey in his tent, his ears alert to any sounds outside until thete night when yawns overtook him, and he began to feel worn out. A very faint noise came from outside the tent. The sound was like the wind blowing over grass, but also resembled the movement of a crawling animal. "Who''s there?" Worried it might be Felix sending someone to assassinate him, or a ferocious beast attack, Charles abruptly opened the tent... Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Beauty in the Woods Charles peeked out, only to see a dark figure leaving the campsite, heading towards the dense forest. "It''ste for someone to be sneaking around like that. Definitely up to no good," Charles whispered, then followed the figure, just in case it was Felix up to something secretive. The night woods were pitch-ck, but with Max''s partial wolf-vision, Charles could just about keep up. However, the closer he got to the shadow, the more Charles felt something was off. The figure''s movement was odd, swaying from side to side, not quite walking like a human but rather seeming to slither like a snake. Moreover, there was a long trail on the grassy ground, simr to the tracks near the [resurrecting serpent] den he had seen the day before, likely left by some serpentine creature. "Could it be a ferocious beast?" Charles''s heart skipped a beat, pounding rapidly. For a beast to freely enter and exit the camp right under Felix''s nose, a Level 2 Beast Master, it must be extraordinarily powerful. "Hiss!" Hearing a faint hissing sound, Charles looked up and saw a venomous snake coiled above. Reacting almost reflexively, he dodged the snake''s strike. "That was close, thank goodness I reacted quickly! Why does it feel like there are more and more venomous snakes around here?" Charles swallowed nervously, looking around cautiously. By the time he looked up again, the mysterious figure had vanished. Although the shadow was gone, Charles continued following the trail through the dense forest and out of the gorge. Suddenly, the scenery opened up before him, revealing a pond. Charles pushed aside the bushes, and above him was a clear moonlight scattered with stars, while in front of himy a pond emitting a misty haze of emerald green water. "Too bad, the trail ends here." Charles sighed disappointedly after noticing thest trace at the edge of the water. Just as he was about to leave, a slight ''ssh'' sounded from the water. Through the mist, the rippling surface churned and sshed, and suddenly, a stunningly beautiful woman emerged. Thinking he was seeing things, Charles rubbed his eyes, but indeed, there was a beautiful woman in the pond. Her eyebrows, nose, lips, shoulders, and slender neck appeared as wless as a piece of perfect art. Unaware of Charles on the shore, she peeked her head above the water. After ensuring no one else was around, she slowly rose from the water. Her long hair, wet and clinging to her back, dripped beads of water that trickled down her fair skin. Her long eyshes fluttered, and her narrow, pale gold eyes shimmered with enchanting allure. Looking further, the exquisite scene made Charles''s blood surge, his heart pounding as if a wild wolf was rampaging inside him. "Who''s there?" The girl in the pond suddenly cried out, clutching her chest and swiftly diving back underwater. Only then did Charles snap back to reality, followed by a look of astonishment. Had he just been caught peeping on a girl bathing? As he was about to turn and flee, the girl had already dressed quickly and stepped ahead to block his path. Charles recognized her; she was indeed Aria, the girl often seen with Felix. Their eyes met in a bewildered silence, neither speaking, creating an eerie standoff. "Freak! I''ll kill you today!" Aria was the first to break the silence, her cheeks flushed as she drew a slender longsword and swung it at Charles. Instinctively, Charles thought to summon Max, but then reconsidered: He had been peeping at her bathing, and now he was about to fight herwas that the behavior of a real man? Knowing he was in the wrong, Charles merely used his supreme spear to block Aria''s attacks. "Miss, calm down and let me exin! I didn''t mean to spy on you bathing!" With a scoff, Aria''s lovely pale gold eyes now looked at Charles with disgust, as if she was staring at something filthy. "What''s there to exin? Today, only one of us walks away alive!" The girl, being a mere human, was no match for Beast Master Charles. After her shing attack missed, Charles caught her hands: "I''m sorry, I really didn''t mean to spy on you. There was a snake..." Just as Charles thought he had subdued her, the situation took an unexpected turn. The girl''s slender white arms sprouted fine pale purple scales, and her golden eyes suddenly narrowed into thin slits. At the same time, her body began to swell, transforming into a half-human, half-snake creature with a long purple tail, continually flicking her forked tongue. As Charles looked at the snake woman, a few lines of information shed on his screen. [Name]: Aria [Species]: Snake person [Age]: 17 [Level]: Lv9 [Body Length]: 6 meters [Attributes]: Earth/Poison [Weakness]: Sr plexus/Water attribute Realizing this, Charles understood why this young girl, though not a Beast Master, possessed extraordinarybat capabilitiesshe was not human. [Atacama women are fiery and bold, loyal and true. Snake people tribes revere Queen Medusa as their spiritual totem, capable of fiercebat. They are one of the rare groups in the Ethereal Grove that cannot awaken Beast Master talents. They are both petsand Beast Masters, except their mastery is over themselves...] Recalling this excerpt from a geography book, Charles suddenly realized the girl might not be as fragile as she appeared. Besides, her level was Lv9; he might not necessarily be her match. While he did not want to harm her, as her sword thrust at him, Charles summoned Max. "Max, block her attacks, but be careful not to hurt her!" Charles issued hisbatmand. Max seemed puzzled, receiving such an odd order for the first time. If she was the enemy, why couldn''t they strike decisively? "Calm down, please!" Charles shouted abruptly. However, the girl''s eyes were filled with murderous intent, and her red sword emitted a strange pale purple mist. Wherever it passed, even the grass and trees withered. In her beast form, Aria not only grewrger but her attributes also significantly increased. Max was no match; the ice spikes shattered into fragments upon touching the purple mist. Seizing a gap in the attack, Aria quickly broke through Max''s defense and charged close to Charles, her sword shing towards his throat... In that critical moment, driven by the instinct to survive, Charles cast aside any reservations about harming ady and activated [bestial soul merge], drastically increasing his strength and speed. ng A sharp sound echoed. Charles dodged nimbly, narrowly avoiding the girl''s strike. The tip of her sword tore through his clothes, but the Divine Scale Armor stopped the de, sparks flying. A wooden box and a torn photograph fell from the tear in Charles''s clothing. "Calm down! If you keep this up, don''t me me for not being nice!" Charles roared in frustration and anger at the girl. However, her assault suddenly ceased. The snake tail behind her disappeared, and the fine scales on her body vanished, returning her to the lovely girl she had been before. ng! The long sword fell from her hand, and the girl knelt on the ground, gently picking up a snake-shaped pendant from the ground, seemingly sobbing softly. Charles stared nkly at the scene. Wasn''t this the snake pendant Lily gave him on the day he left Lsengard, asking him to deliver it to her sister in Atacama? Could this girl be Lily''s sister? It couldn''t be such a coincidence! Thinking of how they had met in such a manner, Charles felt he would be too embarrassed to face her again. "Just now, I saw a figure with the body of a snake tail heading this way, and thought it strange, so I came to see what was going on. I happened to see you bathing in the pond... It was unintentional, and if I have offended you, I sincerely apologize," Charles said earnestly, apologizing repeatedly to the girl. However, Aria acted as if she hadn''t heard Charles at all. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and ran back towards the campsite swiftly. Picking up the wooden box and photo from the ground, Charles sighed, empathizing with Aria''s current state of mind. Anyone would struggle to cope with being spotted by a stranger while bathing secretly at a pond, especially when that stranger saw everything. It was clear this girl was not Lily''s sister, neither by species nor appearance. Since Aria had wept over the snake pendant, it indicated she recognized it and might know the whereabouts of Lily''s sister. "Once she cools off in a couple of days, I can ask her then." Stowing away the box and photo, Charles headed back towards the campsite. By the time he arrived, it was nearly dawn, and many hunters were yawning as they emerged from their tents. Having not slept all night, Charles felt a bit drowsy, but fortunately, he had plenty of regenerating potions. He took a bottle from his storage space and drank it; his sleepiness vanished immediately. Just as Charles was packing up his tent, Felix was already impatiently urging everyone: "We''ve already lost a day; we can''t afford any more dys. We must reach Remarkable Rock Summit before dark!" Without even stopping for breakfast, the hunting party set off again, hurrying towards Remarkable Rock Summit. Charles was curious why Felix was in such a rush todayhad he received some urgent news? After yesterday''s incident, the group no longer traveled in a single file but adopted a defensive formation to guard against sudden attacks from ferocious beasts. Handing Charles a piece of bread, Uldir suddenly leaned in close, "Charlie, have you heard the legends about Remarkable Rock Summit?" Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Myth and Legend "Legends? What legends?" Charles asked curiously, weing a story to pass the time on their journey. Uldir chuckled, "I heard it from the old hunters in the vige a long time ago. There''s a legend that long ago, the human race and the snake people tribes had a tremendous war. The human champion, known as ''Ares the War God'', and the snake queen Medusa faced off right here at Remarkable Rock Summit..." Uldir''s storytelling ability was undeniable, and Charles listened with rapt attention. "...The fierce battle between Ares and Medusasted three days and nights, ending with both of them dying. Ares, petrified upon death, turned into what is now known as Remarkable Rock Summit, while Medusa''s dying blood became the pool at the mountain''s base, known as the [Bloody Pool]." As he finished the myth, Uldir looked toward a distant human-shaped mountain peak, his face filled with reverence. Charles couldn''t help but praise the tale, "That''s a fantastic legend! It does exin why the Ferocious Beast Mountains are a no-man''snd, since neither humans nor snake people truly defeated the other." Uldir waved his hand dismissively, "But don''t take it too seriously. Legends are, after all, just legends. If it were true, why wouldn''t there be any record of this war in the history books?" Their engaging story attracted several nearby hunters, one of whomughed and said, "Speaking of legends, I heard from the Boss that this year the Bloody Pool will dry up, revealing a tomb containing the relics of War God Ares..." The hunter was about to continue when a cough from Felix up ahead made him abruptly stop speaking. With this warning from the Second Boss, no one else dared to speak, and the journey became boring once more. However, Charles suddenly realized that the path Felix was leading seemed familiar. As they passed through the bushes, wasn''t this the very ce he had seen Aria bathingst night? But how had the pond... disappeared? "Could the legend of the great battle between humans and snake people be real? Is this actually the legendary Bloody Pool?" Charles muttered under his breath. It was strange; justst night there had been a significant pond here, how could it have dried up so quickly? Rumbling A loud engine noise came from a distance. Charles looked over and saw several high-powered diesel pumps tirelessly drawing water from the bloody pool and channeling it into a nearby stream. Witnessing this scene, Charles found it hard to keep hisposure. Could it be... that these pumps were also foretold in the mythological prophecies? As the water was drained, the soft mud and sand beneath became exposed. Charles watched his step to avoid sinking. Following the crowd towards the middle of the drained pond, Charles spotted a depression in the ground that seemed indeed to be a tomb! In the now dry pond, hundreds of fierce-looking individuals stood, each armed, swarming into the passage. Seeing this, Felix clenched his teeth in anger: "I had my eye on this tomb half a year ago, and the Big Bosskept dying the dig. I have no idea who leaked the information, but why are so many people here today?" Felix''s words, spoken in front of Charles, were an admission of his involvement in tomb raiding. Caught up in his frustration, he seemed to care little about discretion at that moment. One by one, grave robbers emerged from the entrance of the tomb, each disying a look of disappointment, apparently finding nothing of value. By the time it was Felix and his group''s turn to descend, it was already the afternoon. Unable to resist his curiosity, Charles followed Felix''s team into the tomb chamber. The stone steps underfoot, overgrown with aquatic nts, required careful navigation to prevent slipping. As Charles entered the chamber, a chill air enveloped him. The tomb chamber was notrge, in fact, it was quite in. One sarcophagus bore inscriptions resembling ''stop the war here'', while another was empty, marked with inscriptions Charles could not understand. At that moment, Aria was transfixed by a bronze division vessel in front of the sarcophagus, seemingly lost in thought. After searching the chamber and finding nothing, Felix began cursing out loud. Suddenly, his attention turned to the skeleton in the sarcophagus: "This coffin contains the bones of an ancient power, still imbued with substantial elemental energy. Take these remains out of here!" Charles was stunned by this revtion! Why would they want to take the remains backcould the bones of this ancient being actually be used for something like making potions? Just as Charles was about to turn away and leave, his gazended on the bronze division censer that Aria had been looking at. Suddenly, a few lines of information shed before his eyes. [Sacrificial Censer: Made of bronze division material, it appears to be used for burning incense in rituals but actually serves as a switch to open a secret passage.] Seeing this prompt, Charles shivered: Could there be a hiddenpartment in this tomb? If the legend Uldir mentioned was true, there might be treasures hidden below! Charles wasn''t particrly squeamish, and since the tomb had already been discovered, if there were treasures to be found and he didn''t take them, they would inevitably be taken by other grave robbers. Charles was indeed eager to go treasure hunting immediately, but with so many people around and after the lesson from the [lightning demon ape], he decided not to share this discovery with anyone. Keeping a found treasure to oneselfonly a fool would do otherwise. After leaving the tomb, the group returned to the camp. Sitting by the campfire, Felix chuckled and passed a skewer of roasted meat to Charles: "Charlie, I''ll be honest with you, I''ve been in the tomb raiding business for over a decade, disguising it as a hunting party. If you don''t mind, you could join me. I can''t promise much, but within three years you''ll have a big house and a beautiful wife. What do you say?" "Thank you for the offer, Second Boss, but I have priormitments with friends. And I''m rather faint-hearted; tomb raiding isn''t for me." Charles bowed politely to Felix and then turned to head to his own tent. Watching Charles walk away, Felix''s expression turned sinister: "He knows what I do and still refuses to join? Does he want to stay alive?" He gulped down a drink, then signaled to someone nearby: "Keep an eye on him, don''t let him get away!" "Yes, Second Boss!" --- Lying in his tent, Charles peered through the zipper gap towards the campfire. "Felix is ruthless, and now that I know his secret, he probably won''t let me go easily." With the night long and full of dreams, Charles nned to escape under the cover of darkness, grab the treasures from the Bloody Pool tomb first, and then meet up with the main forces from Lsengard. As for Aria... Charles couldn''t concern himself with her now, and with her capabilities, Felix might not be a match for her. Having nned his escape, Charles stuffed all his personal belongings into his [storage space], leaving only the tent bedding and a dummy fashioned from nkets under the covers. After the tomb-raiding team had eaten and drunk their fill, they gradually returned to their tents. Tonight was a moonless night, with clouds covering the sky, and in the pitch-dark woods, only the dying embers of the campfire provided any light. Waiting until the snores around him grew steady, Charles silently slipped out of the tent and stealthily left the camp, darting into the woods and then sprinting towards the direction of the Bloody Pool. Charles pushed himself to his limit speed. Though he had camouged his tent, a simple check would reveal the deception, and Felix would surely lead a group towards the Bloody Pool once he discovered the ruse. Charles knew he needed to speed up. Running away might have been the safer option, but risk often corrtes with reward, and Charles was willing to take that gamble! Gasping for breath, Charles finally reached the Bloody Pool after half an hour of relentless running. The area was deserted, therge diesel engines previously there had disappeared. He guessed the tomb raiders, seeing no profit to be made here, had moved on to another location. Charles cautiously approached the center of the pond. Without the pumps, water was slowly seeping back into the pond, but at this rate, Charles estimated it wouldn''t flood before daylight. After triple-checking that no one was around, Charles darted into the tomb chamber. Truth be told, visiting a tomb in the middle of the night was somewhat terrifying, but as someone who had transmigrated, Charles didn''t believe in ghosts or goblins. He carefully approached the bronze division censer, first checking for any hidden traps, before finally cing his hands on it. "Click, click" Due to the sediment blockage, Charles had to use all his strength to turn the censer. After it had rotated a full circle, a slight tremor urred in the tomb. A hidden entrance appeared in the center of the tomb! Just as Charles was about to enter, sudden footsteps sounded from behind... Chapter 26: Chapter 26: The Sparrow Behind Charles turned warily, facing a silhouette at the entrance of the tomb. Seeing it was Aria, his expression softened somewhat, but he remained on guard: "It''s you! Are you following me?" "If you can follow me and then spy on me bathing, why can''t I follow you?" Aria''s voice was soft yet tinged with reproach as she gave Charles a pointed look. Although Aria''s words were tinged with rebuke, her charming demeanor kindled a liking in Charles. Yet, reason prevailed, and he remained unmoved by her allure, warning her coolly, "Since you''ve stumbled upon my secret, I won''t keep it all to myself aspensation for intruding on your bathst night. But don''t expect an equal share, at most seventy-thirty... no, eighty-twenty! I take eighty, you take twenty!" Seeing Charles''s serious demeanor, Aria was both annoyed and amused: "Why are you as petty as Felix? If we go by who came first, it was clearly me who found this cest night. Do you believe me if I say I could call Felix right now, and you won''t get even a tenth?" "Are you threatening me?" Charles was somewhat surprised; this youngdy was quite stubborn! With many tomb raiders camped around, her shouting could potentially bring a lot of trouble. Charles, visibly annoyed, held up three fingers: "Seventy-thirty split?" Aria shook her head, clearly dissatisfied, and already looked like she was about to call for help. Frightened, Charles quickly intervened: "Sixty-forty! I take sixty, you take forty, can we agree on that?" Aria nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this, then drew her sword, still eyeing Charles warily: "You''d better keep your word, or if it reallyes down to a fight, you might not be my match." Charles grimaced, feeling the pinch. He was being ckmailed by a young girl; he had found the treasure first, and now he had to share half of it with her, a frustrating thought... But Aria, in her half-beast form, was indeed not to be underestimated. Looking towards the dark entrance of the secret passage, Charles gestured for Aria to go first. Aria nced at the seemingly bottomless pit and then gave Charles a surprised look: "What? You''re a big man, are you really going to make me, a woman, go first?" Charles nodded firmly: "You were thinking of killing mest night. How can I trust you behind my back?" "You..." Aria bit her lip in frustration, stomping her foot angrily. From a young age, she was well aware of the advantages her beauty afforded her, and she was adept at using them. Yet she suddenly realized... this tactic was utterly ineffective on Charles. If they lingered any longer, Felix might indeed show up, which wasn''t her intention at all. Reluctantly casting a nce at Charles, she stepped into the secret passage. Seeing her enter, Charles followed suit. He certainly wasn''t going to sit tight and wait for disaster; stabilizing her mood was his priority. After all, if they did find treasure, wouldn''t the share still depend on actual strength? The passage was initially very narrow, allowing only one person to squeeze through, but after traveling about fifteen meters, the space suddenly opened up. Charles was surprised to find that this hidden chamber was evenrger than the outer tomb! It seemed the exterior was designed to mislead tomb raiders. This ce was the true location of the Bloody Pool tomb. The moment Charles switched on his shlight, he was nearly blinded by a dazzling array of gold, and if not for the damp, muddy ground underfoot, he might have thought he had stumbled into Genosha''s national treasury. Around the three-meter-wide gstone pathway, treasures piled up like mountains. Not just glittering gold coins, but countless jade artifacts, gold ornaments, bronze vessels, and rare natural treasures... Charles even found numerous jade vases, likely containing miracle drugs. Just as Charles was about to sweep up the surrounding treasures, a chillingugh echoed from behind: "Thanks a lot, Charlie. If not for you, I might have missed out on all these treasures!" "Felix?" Clenching his tyrant spear, Charles spun around. Felix had already blocked the way out, nked by his henchmen. He had been extremely cautious, yet somehow he had still led Felix and his group here. "Kid, I kindly offered you a spot in our group, and you refused. Don''t me me for being ruthless today." Felix''s words carried a cold intent to kill, and as he spoke, he summoned his two tigers. The dozen or so tomb raiders behind him had also summoned their pets and were eagerly brandishing their weapons. Noticing Aria behind Charles, Felix''s fierce gaze softened somewhat, and his voice became gentler: "Aria, what are you doing here? Come over quickly, swords have no eyes, and I wouldn''t want you to get hurt!" Aria was momentarily taken aback. She had anticipated Felix would follow them, but she hadn''t expected him to arrive so quickly. She nced at Felix and then back at Charles, her expression one of hesitation about whose side to take. After three days of observation, Aria could clearly see that Felix was nothing but a viin. Yet Charles, having spied on her bathing the previous night, wasn''t much bettera shameful pervert! Aria''s hesitation seemed to Felix like a decision to side with Charles, which made his face darken. Over these three days, he had gone to great lengthssending flowers, showing concernto humbly win the young girl''s affection, only to not even have touched her hand! Now, seeing her choosing to stand with Charles in front of all his men, Felix felt a mix of anger and humiliation: "Aria, since you insist on opposing me, don''t me me for not being merciful." Damn it! Kill this kid first, then capture Aria! As Felix advanced step by step, Charles''s heart raced uncontrobly. He scanned the surroundings, and the interface indicated that everyone present was a Level 1 Beast Master, with Felix even a Level 2. In both numbers and strength, they had the upper hand. If a fight really broke out, he would surely lose. "Should I really use that move?" Charles nced at Max''s [energy bomb] ability description, hesitating. Using it would be like burning the bridge after crossing itit could potentially bring down the tomb chamber. He hadn''t nned to resort to it, but now, there was no choice. Meanwhile, Felix''s men continued to pour into the chamber, their eyes widening at the sight of the treasures glittering on either side of the tomb. "Gold! It''s gold!" "With so many treasures, we won''t have worries for the rest of our lives!" "Second Boss, we''re rich! Hahaha!" Even the seasoned tomb raiders were stunned by the sheer amount of burial treasures in the tomb. One of the henchmen dove into the sea of gold coins with a mad grin, scooping handfuls into his pockets. Seeing someone lead the way, several others dropped their weapons to fight over a white jade statue, and some even charged toward the two sarcophagi in the center of the tomb... "These idiots! Don''t they know to kill their enemies before grabbing the treasure?" Felix cursed loudly as his men started looting, but his authoritypletely evaporated at that moment. Whizz! Following the sound of the air being split, a spear several meters long shot forward. Felix reacted quickly, narrowly dodging as the spear grazed past his neck, a near miss. He managed to evade, but hispanions behind him were not so lucky. Thud! The spear pierced through one man''s chest, its formidable force carrying the corpse and impaling several others in session, pinning them dead against the wall. "It hurts! It hurts so much, Second Boss, save me" The blood from several men flowed down the spear, trickling along the tomb wall and pooling into a small stream, staining the surrounding gold coins red. "Damn it! It''s a trap!" With years of tomb raiding experience, Felix instantly realized they had triggered the tomb''s defensive mechanism. Whizz, whizz, whizz! More slicing sounds followed, and after several screams, a few men were riddled with bolts from the trap, looking like beehives. "I...I can''t breathe, it feels like there''s fire burning inside my lungs, it''s unbearable" Several more screams echoed. Following the noises, Felix saw traps everywhere. Spears, crossbow bolts, spikes, pits... Over a dozen men had died, and poisonous gas even began to fill the air "This is cursed, even an emperor''s tomb wouldn''t have this many traps!" Ultimately, the will to survive prevailed. Felix turned to flee. On hisst nce back, he thought he saw dozens of blood-red eyes in the darkness "Quick! Block the entrance!!!" As soon as he escaped the secret passage, Felix ordered the lookouts to block the entrance. Seeing his actions, his men panicked: "Second Boss, what happened down there? If we seal the entrance, what about our brothers?" "Just shut it when I tell you to, shut your damn mouth!" Felix kicked the man aside, then went to turn the bronze division censer himself. Inside the tomb. In the instant danger struck, Charles raced toward the entrance of the secret chamber, dodging the deadly traps within the tomb. He was almost out when the heavy stone doors suddenly mmed shut with the grinding sound of gears... Chapter 27: Chapter 27: The Serpents Venom "Open the door, Felix!" "You fool, you''d betray your own brothers just to save your skin?" Though the voices were muffled by the thick stone door, Felix still heard them. Hearing Charles''s curses, Felix wasn''t angered but rather pleased: "This is what you get for crossing me. Just sit tight inside and feed those monsters. Once they''re done, all those treasures will be mine, hahaha..." Felix was soaked in cold sweat; that had been too close forfort. He had almost lost his life. He had been tomb raiding for over a decade and seen all manner of deadly tombs. But the traps in those tombs were just simple pitfalls, crossbow traps, nothing like this ce with its poison gas, spikes, and even glimpses of ferocious beasts... Felix pressed his ear against the stone door, hearing a cacophony of screams and the sound of flesh being torn apart. Clearly, this deadly tomb had turned into a meat grinder. "What a pity, such a fine woman..." The image of Aria''s beautiful face crossed his mind, and Felix sighed before instructing his subordinates: "Keep a close watch on this. No one gets near. Let me know when there''s no more noise inside." "Yes, Second Boss!" After issuing these orders, Felix finally stood up to leave; he needed to change his pants that were soaked through with urine. --- "Felix!" Charles swore angrily, picking up his tyrant spear and striking the stone door furiously. There was a sharp ng, but the stone door did not budge, only sparking slightly. Hiss, hiss... Hearing the hissing and the sound of something crawling behind him, Charles broke out in a cold sweat and turned around in shock. [Man-faced Spider] [Attributes]: Metal/Poison [Level]: 28 [Quality]: Bronze Division [Skills]: Web Binding, Venom Spray, Steel w Strike [Mood]: Excited [Health]: Hungry [Weakness]: Fire Attribute/Poor Vision [Description]: This is a Level 28 Man-faced Spider that has been trapped in this tomb for several centuries, surviving on fish from the water. Its prolonged underground existence has weakened its eyesight, but its sense of smell and vibration detection are exceptionally sharp. Tasting warm blood for the first time has made it extremely agitated. "Ugh... what a disgusting creature!" The sight of the Man-faced Spider instantly gave Charles goosebumps, and his stomach began to churn uncontrobly. Despite the spider''s body being that of an arthropod with a swollen abdomen, it bizarrely had a grotesquely ugly human head. It was now opening its maw wide, advancing towards the remaining people. "Monster! It''s a monster!!!" A tomb raider with a broken leg struggled to crawl away. But suddenly, the Man-faced Spider sprayed webbing, entangling him. Scraping at the ground with his hands, the man desperately tried to break free, but the web dragged him towards the gaping mouth of the Man-faced Spider. "Crack" A sound like breaking bones echoed. The man, now reduced to half his body, looked at Charles with pleading eyes, reaching out a bloodied hand: "Charlie, save... save me..." "Crack" Another crisp sound echoed as the man waspletely swallowed, leaving only his twitching severed arm on the ground. The man-faced spider licked the blood from the corner of its mouth, then raised its head to look at Charles, seemingly still unsatisfied. The hungry man-faced spiders quickly devoured the corpses on the ground. Having tasted fresh flesh, they surged like a tide towards Charles''s position. "What do we do now?" A panicked voice spoke up as Charles felt a soft body press against his back. Only then did Charles realize that he and Aria were the only living humans left in the tomb. Her normally fair face was now pale with terror, and even through her clothes, Charles could feel her trembling slightly. What to do? What could he do? Charles could see the levels of these man-faced spiders; all were above Level 25, and one was even Level 31, more despairing than Aria. Sometimes, knowing more isn''t necessarily better, especially when there''s a significant gap in strength... "Stay calm, stay calm..." Charles gritted his teeth. The more critical the situation, the more crucial it was not to loseposure. The strength of these man-faced spiders was far beyond him and Aria. Even if he used Beast Mastery skillsor Max''s special move [Energy Bomb], it likely wouldn''t be enough. Unwilling to overlook any information, Charles opened the system tips for the man-faced spider''s [Weakness], and a panel popped up. [Man-faced Spider Weakness]: Fire attributes counter metal attributes, which can also cause its venom to evaporate. Man-faced spiders are nearsighted, relying on smell and vibration detection to hunt prey. If they cannot be defeated head-on, it''s essential to minimize scent and noise as much as possible. As the man-faced spiders continued to close in. Aria had drawn her sword, ready to fight these ferocious beasts to the death, but Charles suddenly grabbed her wrist. Before she could react, Charles gently embraced her and then fell back into a nearby stone sarcophagus. Aria felt engulfed in darkness, with the somewhat heavy body of a strange man pressing down on her. Fortunately, this sarcophagus was empty, containing no remains or hidden weapons, but that was the least of her concerns... "What are you going to do to me!" Aria''s voice was thick with warning, sensing the ambiguous position they were in. Her outcry caused the man-faced spiders, which had initially dispersed, to quickly converge toward them. Hearing the sound of arthropods scrambling towards the sarcophagus, Charles shuddered, but Aria, unable to see the weakness prompt, couldn''t understand Charles''s intentions and struggled desperately to free herself. "Let go of me! If you dare touch me, I will kill you!" Aria''s pale gold eyes red coldly at Charles, her pupils narrowing into slits while fine scales began to appear on her arms. By now, dozens of man-faced spiders had gathered around the sarcophagus, all curious about this talking coffin. One even extended a w, attempting to lift the lid... Through the crack of the sarcophagus, Charles saw the ugly face peering in, its highly nearsighted eyes trying to investigate the interior. Charles was at his breaking point, also feeling frustrated. Misunderstood by the same woman twice in a row, and now he couldn''t even speak to exin. This frustration gradually turned into anger, and just as Aria was about to speak again, he silenced her. Of course, since both his hands were busy controlling her wrists, Charles used his mouth. The world went silent instantly. ... Outside the sarcophagus, a tide-like wave of man-faced spiders hissed, while inside, only the sound of two rapidly heating heartbeats could be heard. Charles cursed inwardly: "Damn it! My first kiss!" His first second transmigrated into this world was spent in an affair with Lily in the office, a situation Charles had no choice in, but he still had his first kiss! He held one belief: as long as he still had his first kiss, he remained a man of innocence. However, he hadn''t expected to lose it in such a way in less than half a month... After such an absurd thought crossed his mind, Charles couldn''t help but curse himself for being shameless. After all, kissing a girl with top-tier looks and an exotic allure didn''t seem like a bad deal at all. Feeling that she had been forcefully kissed, the girl''s body stiffened momentarily before she quickly broke away from Charles''s lips. She seemed at a loss for words, her gaze empty and distant. Momentster, tears began to slowly trail down her cheeks, making her appear deeply wronged. In her human form, Aria seemed fragile and pitiable. Seeing her tear up, Charles''s heart softened, and he loosened his grip slightly. It was at this moment that the girl broke free from Charles''s hold and bit sharply at his neck. ... "I''m sorry." The girl hugged her knees, curled up in a corner of the tomb chamber, and struggled to push out these three words. "Louder, I didn''t hear you. If saying sorry is enough after biting someone, what''s the point of having police in the world?" Charles applied [hemostatic powder] to the bite marks on his neck while talking. The usually fast-acting hemostatic powder was slow to work this time, and the bite left two poisonous fang marks on his neck. Feeling the pain, Charles couldn''t help but rant, "Do you even know who just saved you? If I hadn''t had [beast-driving wine] with me, you wouldn''t even know how you died! Is this how you repay someone who saved your life? Biting is bad enough, but to poison too!" "Where''s the antidote, bring it quickly." Realizing her fault, Aria''s tone softened significantly, her face showing a pale smile: "It''s my snake venom, but I don''t know how to cure it... so, there is no antidote." "No antidote?" Charles''s hand trembled, and the jade bottle in it crashed to the ground in shock. You''ve got to be kidding me, is this how I die? Not even half a month into transmigrating, and to die from a girl''s bite, even the devils in hell wouldugh at such a death, wouldn''t they? Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Trapped Hearing there was no antidote for the snake venom, Charles despairingly opened his [personal information], and a panel quickly popped up. [Charles] [Beast Master Level]: Level 1 [Pet]: The Frost Wolf [Skill]: Bone-achingly Cold [Mood]: Terrified [Health]: Good After seeing that his health status was ''Good,'' Charles finally took a deep breath of relief. Still, he was shaken and roared at Aria, "Could you please not poison people so casually? It''s very dangerous, you know? I''m just lucky to have survived!" "It''s not like I poisoned you just because..." Aria, recalling the perilous moment, realized that without Charles, she probably would have died there. She lowered her head, her voice much softer, "I''m sorry... And I don''t just go around poisoning people... Wait, where''s everyone?" Charles cautiously approached a nearby dark chamber where dozens of man-faced spiders were eagerly eyeing him. However, when they approached within a few meters of the door, they quickly retreated. "Good thing I had the foresight to bring the beast-driving wine when I left, giving us a chance to breathe. If I had known, I would have prepared more. At this rate, it won''tst more than a few days." Charles took out a bottle of [beast-driving wine] from his [storage space] and poured it on the ground again. "Felix, when I get out of this tomb, I will return what I suffered today a hundredfold, a thousandfold!" As a modern person who has transmigrated, Charles did not want to kill anyone. However, if someone tried to harm him, Charles wouldn''t mind sending them off in the most painful way possible. ncing at the still-sealed secret door, he shrugged helplessly. With his current strength, he couldn''t break through the stone door and could only hope that other tomb raiders would discover this chamber. "Charlie, have you found a way out of the tomb?" Seeing Charles return, Aria looked hopeful. Charles shook his head, then slumped dejectedly against a corner of the wall. Seeing his listless appearance, Aria didn''t press further, though she had a pretty good idea of their situation. The two of them upied a corner of the tomb chamber, each lost in their thoughts. Given their prior disagreements, they naturally didn''t feel like talking much. Hours passed like this, and the door to the chamber remained firmly closed. Aria pondered that continuing this way wasn''t a solution. Now, the two of them were trapped in this chamber, like passengers in the same boat. Charles seemed to have a way of keeping those man-faced spiders at bay. Aria realized that once Charles was gone, those creatures would run amok, and she would quickly be their prey. Having understood this, Aria finally convinced herself to ept their current ''partnership'' begrudgingly. Aria stood up, dusting off her skirt, and lightly stepped in front of Charles: "Why do you look so glum? Isn''t there a saying in Genosha, ''great cmity brings great fortune''? Since we''ve survived the jaws of these man-faced spiders, we''ll surely make it out of this tomb alive!" Seeing that Charles still wasn''t interested in conversing, Aria felt somewhat disheartened; she really wasn''t good atforting others. Plus, she was always the one beingforted from a young age, not the other way around. She rummaged through her small bag and finally found a bit of food left. She broke a small snack in half and handed one piece to Charles: "Here, have something to eat." Ariaid down a nket on the ground in front of Charles and knelt on it gently. When Charles looked over, he saw a glimpse of her pale, jade-like legs under her skirt. He might appear dejected, but he was actually contemting strategies to escape the tomb, though no viable ns had emerged yet. However, the good news was that their rtionship had eased somewhat. The human form of Aria was indeed the loveliest in the world, yet in her fury, she was quite another scene. Recalling the moment Aria had bitten him, Charles felt a twinge of pain in his neck again. Seeing Aria sitting and eating the snack, Charles''s stomach growled audibly. Having not eaten all day, a small snack was hardly sufficient. Charles took a barbecue grill, a can of fuel, and arge bag of fresh steel-spiked hedgehog meat from his backpack, preparing to impress Aria with his cooking skills. This spectacle left Aria stunned: "Your backpack is truly magical, fitting so much stuff!" "Is it?" Charles''s face twitched a bit, having hastily grabbed items from his [storage space] without properly calcting the volume. He skewered the meat and ced it on the grill. Turning to Aria, who was lost in thought, he asked, "Aren''t you from Atacama? What brought you all the way to this ferocious beast mountain range?" Aria snapped back to reality, watching Charles sprinkle various seasonings on the meat: "I came here to visit an old friend." "An old friend?" Charles looked surprised, noting how much story someone so young could have. Then something clicked in his mind, "Oh, right, do you remember the photo we sawst night?" Aria nodded, "She''s a friend of mine, but I''ve also been trying to find out where she is." Mentioning the wooden box and the photo seemed to dampen Aria''s mood, and the conversation fell cold again until Charles handed her some grilled meat, which seemed to cheer her up a bit. Aria took a small bite, her pale gold eyes lighting up: "This is really good, your cooking skills are quite impressive!" "It''s... it''s alright," Charles replied, his expression calm but inwardly pleased with thepliment. It had to be said, Charles''s grilled meat was indeed delicious, and Aria enjoyed it immensely. However, maintaining a girl''s reserve, she only nibbled small bites, chewing slowly by the side. Charles, on the other hand, was less graceful, wolfing down his food and burping loudly afterwards. After eating their fill, Charles found a corner of the wall to sit and rest. Normally, he could havefortably lied in a bed, but conjuring a bed out of nowhere was too far-fetched, and he didn''t want anyone to know he had a system. Hours passed again, and Charles nced across the tomb chamber to see Aria had fallen asleep against the wall corner. The tomb was cool at night, and seeing her dressed only in a thin skirt, Charles draped a nket over her before getting up to keep watch over the man-faced spiders. ... In the tomb, day and night blurred together, time passing in a chaotic stream. Had it not been for a nce at his phone''s calendar, Charles wouldn''t have known that five days had passed. Over these days, their rtionship had grown stronger, allowing Charles to see another side of this serpent woman. Once familiar, she shed her reserve, proving to be as talented and bold as rumors suggested. After lunch one day, Charles was performing his routine in the dark side chamber, spraying [beast-driving wine] on the ground, when he suddenly realized that only five bottles remained. At this rate, the terrifying group of man-faced spiders would break free tomorrow! Frowning with concern, Charles was distracted when Aria waved at him, her body damp as if she had just taken a bath: "Charlie, look, I caught some fish in the pool! If our food runs out, we can survive on these fish!" Charles, initially stunned, then rushed forward excitedly. "Right, fish! We have fish! How could I have been so dumb!" Charles eximed excitedly, impulsively embracing Aria. Realizing her embarrassment, he quickly released her, apologizing, "Sorry, I got a bit too excited!" These five days had indeed changed Aria''s perception of Charles, knowing his actions were unintentional. Aria asked with some confusion, "What about the fish?" Charles took Aria''s hand and led her back to the pool where she had bathed earlier: "Think about it, if there wasn''t a continuous food supply in this tomb, where would all these spiderse from? They must be surviving by eating the fish." "And if there are fish, then there must be fresh water here, perhaps even an underground river leading somewhere else!" Charles eximed and with a ''puff'' jumped into the pool. Three minutester, just as Aria was starting to worry about Charles''s safety, a figure burst from the water! Charles emerged, face alight with excitement: "There''s a passage under the water, an exit! We''re saved! We''re saved!" ... In the middleyers of the ferocious beast mountain range, the vegetation was lush and the air misty. A young girl in white, wielding a graceful long sword, was moving swiftly through the forest and rocks. The continuous roars of beasts echoed around her, yet her face showed no fear. "Grace, be careful!" As someone shouted in rm, a brute force bear hissed and lunged at the lead girl, its violent charge toppling trees in its path. Just as the brute force bear was about to strike the girl in white, her figure vanished like a specter. With a light tap of her foot, the girl was already in mid-air, and behind her, blue phoenix butterflies gently pped their wings, stirring up a wild wind through the trees. Whizz! A de of wind shot out, and before anyone could see what happened, the brute force bear was lying on the ground,pletely subdued. "Amazing! That''s a level 9 ferocious beast, and Grace took it down in one move!" "Grace, your score is unbelievable, we mere rookies can only look up to you!" "Where''s Charles, though? No movement in his scoretely, hahaha! Did he get scared and quit halfway?" Unconcerned by thepliments around her, Grace swung her sword, delivering a fatal blow to the brute force bear. The once fearsome beast instantly lost its life force, turning into 9 points for her. She checked the current score rankings. ---------------------------- [Ferocious Beast Mountain Range Training Score Leaderboard] 1st ce: Grace [142 points] 2nd ce: David[97 points] 3rd ce: Robert [89 points] ... ---------------------------- Seeing the rankings, a slight smile curled at the corners of the girl''s mouth. She was leading with a substantial margin, and if she continued at this rate, she would win this session of the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range training. Not only would she qualify for one of the three major academies in the Imperial Capital, but she would also have the opportunity to choose a pet egg. These days, she felt hints of an imminent breakthrough, suggesting she might not even need to wait until the end of the training to be a level two Beast Master! At this thought, the image of a young man shed through her mind, and she scrolled through the leaderboard page by page. Finally, she found at the lower end of the leaderboard: 865th ce: Charles [13 points] "Charles, at this rate, you won''t just fail to beat me; you won''t even qualify to fight me," Grace murmured as she sheathed her sword, her voice cold: "I look forward to the day you kneel before me in defeat. I certainly won''t show any mercy." --- Chapter 29: Chapter 29: The Way of Kings, The Way of Heroes 200 kilometers behind Grace, a training team was struggling through the rugged, winding terrain. "These rocks are as sharp as steel knives, and the slightest carelessness leaves a cut on the body," noted one of the team members, catching his breath during a rest. "Mr. Fletcher,how much longer till we reach Remarkable Rock Summit? I heard from the group chat that some teams have already made it to the middleyer of the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range," asked a young man eagerly, approaching Fletcher. Fletcher wasn''t sure how to respond; after the mishap with the first group, taking a detour around the gorge was his reluctant decision. He nced at the score rankings. His Team 7 was significantly behind, which made it awkward for him in the instructors'' chat. 865th ce: Charles [13 points] Seeing that name, Fletcher thought again of the young man he had high hopes for. After leaving a message, Charles had lost contact. Fletcher wondered if he was still en route or had dropped out due to fear. Still, there was a glimmer of hope in his heart that by the time he reached Remarkable Rock Summit, Charles might already be there waiting for him. ... After diving into the underwater river, Charles and Aria swam silently until the urge to breathe grew overwhelming, and a faint light appeared overhead. They burst through the surface! Both gasped for fresh air, their faces reflecting the relief of a narrow escape. Charlesy exhausted on a rock, breathing heavily. Aria,pletely soaked, sat wringing water from her hair on a nearby stone. The quiet trickle of water apanied the girl as shebed her hair, looking so picturesque that Charles hesitated to interrupt. Her translucent, wet clothes left little to the imagination, but his thoughts remained pure despite the scene. Even though she was still young, her delicate features hinted at a breathtaking beauty. Noticing Charles''s gaze, Aria suddenly turned around, "Why are you staring at me?" "No, nothing, I was just looking at that painting behind you!" Charles quickly diverted his eyes to a colorful mural painted on the wall behind the girl. As Aria tied her long hair with a ribbon around her waist and stood up from the rock, she too noticed the astonishing mural in front of her. The painting depicted the legendary battle that reshaped the Abyssal Depths: the fierce duel between the human war god, Ares, and the serpent queen, Medusa. Seeing the majestic figure of the serpent queen painted with such vigor, Aria felt a sudden kinship well up within her. "What do we do now? It looks like we''vee to a fork in the road..." Charles approached the end of the stone staircase where two statues stood, one on each side, with partially ajar stone doors next to them. There seemed to be inscriptions above the doors, and Charles curiously examined them. Beside the statue of war god Ares on the leftWithin five steps, a hundred foes shall fall. Ten years to hone a sword, a solitary path of the hero. And beside the queen Medusa on the rightAcross a thousand miles, wields the spear, all bow down, through the realms and ages, the eternal way of the king. "King''s way, hero''s way... What does this mean?" Charles was puzzled, but more than the inscriptions, he was concerned about which door to take. Just as he was about to step forward, Aria suddenly pulled him back. "Wait, what if we get locked in again once we go through?" Charles scratched his head and withdrew his foot. The ordeal of being trapped by Felix in the tomb had almost left them with a psychological scar. This crypt was full of traps, and they had barely escaped the jaws of the man-faced spiders; it would be awful to get locked up again. Suddenly, they looked at each other and almost simultaneously eximed, "How about we each take a different path? If one of us makes it out, we cane back and rescue the other!" This indeed was a good idea, preventing the scenario where both might be trapped at the same time. Charles scratched his head again. "Then... I''ll go left?" "I''ll take the right then." After giving Charles onest look, seemingly reluctant to let go, the girl walked towards the other stone door. As the warm, soft touch of her hand faded, Charles stepped into his chosen doorway, feeling a cold draft emanating from the passage. Just as he turned back, as if struck by a thought, Charles suddenly called out, "Oh, by the way, Aria, Charlie is just an alias of mine. My real name is..." "My real name is Charles!" Before he could confirm that Aria had heard his true name, the stone door mmed shut. "There definitely was a mechanism, it''s a good thing Aria and I split up!" Charles felt a wave of relief as he hurried along, searching for an exit. Walking down the narrow passageway, a faint chill wrapped around him, and the silence was so profound that Charles could only hear his own footsteps. These past days, he''d grown ustomed to the sound of Aria''sughter, and the sudden silence now felt strange. The murals alongside the passageway narrated the mythological tale of the war god Ares, much like a moving film. The gist of it was about a young human, Ares, who fell in love with a serpent girl from a rival tribe. Despite their tribes being locked in millennia of warfare, love proved to transcend all barriers. Yearster, the young Ares had be the mighty war god. At this time, Medusa, the newly crowned queen of the serpent people, reignited the mes of war against humans. A tremendous battle erupted across the ferocious beast mountains. The conflict raged for three days and nights. When both were gravely injured, Medusa used her ultimate abilitypetrifying gaze. Ares watched as his body slowly turned to stone, starting from his feet. Before bingpletely petrified, he threw his sword, piercing Medusa''s heart. It was only in his final moments, before life ebbed away, that Ares realized the Medusa he killed was the very woman he had desperately been searching for... Both the human and serpent champions fell in that battle. Ares''s petrified body became what is now known as [remarkable rock summit], while Medusa''sst spurt of blood created the pool at the mountain''s base, known as [bloody pool]. "This story... It''s exactly like the myth Uldir told us the other day," Charles mused, after viewing thest mural in the corridor. "Legends are just that, legendswho can really tell what''s true?" "If it were me on that battlefield, facing my beloved, I''d rather die myself than strike her down," he thought to himself. Click, click... Sounds of gears turning came from within the walls as the stone door at the end of the corridor slowly opened, revealing a grand statue of Ares. Seeing the colossal statue of Ares, dozens of meters high, Charles was awestruck. It was as if nearly half of the remarkable rock summit had been hollowed out to create this crypt, unimaginable what efforts the ancients had made to construct this tomb. However, the astonishing array of burial treasures in the crypt was a testament to the ancient people''s reverence for Ares. Gazing at the glittering gold, Charles couldn''t help but exim, "Holy crap! So much goldif I took it all, I bet the entire currency of Genosha would lose half its value!" Considering the exhaustive effort it took just to earn a few silver coins from hunting ferocious beasts or auctioning miracle drugs at alchemy auctions, he knew the sum here was beyond fathomable. One gold coin was worth a thousand silver coins, which equated to a million copper coins! If he took all this money, Charles figured he could never spend it all in his lifetime. And with the almost infinite space in his system''s [Storage Space], transporting all these coins would take no more than half a day. "While Ares'' love story is tragically beautiful, and he did hold the southernmost borders of the human territories, I truly respect him!" Charles suddenly chuckled, looking towards the statue of Ares ahead. "But so much gold, surely Ares, you wouldn''t want it to just lie buried here, right?" Charles started a stopwatch on his phone: "I''ll count to three, and if you have no objections, I''m taking it." "Three!" "Two!" "Hiss, hiss" "What''s that sound?!" A familiar, frightening sound seemed toe from below, sending a chill down Charles''s spine. "It can''t be those creepy creatures following me through the underwater passage, can it?" After confirming that there were no man-faced spiders around, Charles finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, he alsopletely abandoned the idea of taking the gold coins. Earlier in the crypt, the grave robbers had triggered the man-faced spiders by touching the treasures. It seemed that some mechanism was set to activate if even one coin was moved. Seeing treasures within reach yet untouchable was maddening, but clearly, his life was more important. With this realization, Charles no longer lingered. He approached the statue of Ares and noticed an inscription on a stone pedestal: "The true warrior acts without desire, unmoved by external forces." "You have passed the trial of Ares." "Here''s a small gift; take it if you need." Charles looked up to see three glittering treasure chests ced on the pedestal! Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Ares Treasure If it were any other day, Charles would have jumped three feet high in excitement at the sight of these three treasure chests. However, after witnessing a mountain of treasures, these three chests seemed underwhelming, leaving him slightly disgruntled. Reluctantly turning back, he suddenly realized that the gleaming treasures had vanished! "What''s going on, was I hallucinating?" When Charles looked again, he nearly fell off the pedestal in fright, turning pale. Below the pedestal was a dense mass of man-faced spiders, their grotesque human faces churning his stomach. Just one nce revealed their levelsLv29, Lv32... If he identally fell in, he''d be devoured so thoroughly that not even remnants would remain. The treasure he had seen before was just an illusion created by something akin to ''holographic projection'' technology. If he had been greedy for the treasure, he would likely have stepped into thin air and fed the man-faced spiders. "I was just thinking, with so many treasures, not even Genosha''s national treasury could match this. Good thing I was smart enough not to fall for it!" Charles felt a wave of relief wash over him. The gold was gone, but there were still three treasure chests. Thinking this, Charles felt much more content. He tossed a small stone onto one of the chests to ensure there were no traps before rubbing his hands together in anticipation and opening the first chest. [Ding! Obtained miracle drug [white quality] x20!] [Ding! Obtained alchemy form for miracle drug [white quality] x2!] [Ding! Obtained beast core (Tier 1) x20!] As the system notifications continuously chimed in his mind, Charles examined the treasures he had acquired. The miracle drugs and alchemy forms were of white quality, which was better than the basic grey level, but still not exciting enough to thrill him. "Oh my, 20 beast cores! That''s a lot!" He eximed in surprise upon seeing the number of beast cores. Normally, it takes the killing of a hundred ferocious beasts to potentially yield just one beast core. Although these were only tier 1 cores, the sheer quantity was staggering! Charles counted them by their attributes: gold, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, lightning, ice, light, and poison, two of each kind. "This expedition truly paid off, riskes with reward!" After storing the treasures in his [storage space], Charles rubbed his hands together in anticipation and proceeded to open the second treasure chest. The excitement of opening these mystery boxes was simr to his pre-transmigration days when he would spend money on gacha games in mobile apps. He carefully cracked open the chest just a slit, and when a glimmer of purple shone through, his excitement peaked. "Purple! SSR?" [Ding! Acquired rare material: a drop of dew [purple quality]!] Having adapted to the system for a while, Charles was familiar with the rarity scale of items in the Beast Mastery World: grey, white, green, blue, purple, orange, gold... Purple-tier items were extremely rare! When Charles focused on the tiny droplet of liquid inside the ss bottle, a tooltip appeared: [a drop of dew: A rare energy entity that has existed since the primordial chaos of the universe. When given to a pet, it grants a significant amount of experience points without any side effects.] Looking at the small [a drop of dew] in his hand, Charles was exhrated. Directly feeding experience without any side effects? Could he be so lucky? Immediately, Charles summoned Max, preparing to feed it the drop of dew. Having not seen Charles for a while, Max was extremely happy, circling around Charles while sighing contentedly. It then jumped into Charles''s arms, nuzzling against his chest enthusiastically. "Alright, alright, Max, calm down now. If you drop this, you won''t get to have any!" Charles cautioned. Max, being highly intelligent, quickly calmed down, eyeing the small droplet in Charles''s hand with curiosity. Charles unscrewed the lid and poured the drop of liquid into Max''s mouth. The pet barely had a chance to taste it before the liquid vanished. Momentster, a purple aura enveloped Max. [Ding! You have fed your pet a drop of dew (purple quality), your pet gains +2000 experience points!] [Ding! Your pet Max has leveled up, current level: Lv8!] [Ding! Your pet Max has leveled up, current level: Lv9!] [This level up utilized 800 experience points in total; excess experience points will automatically be applied after breakthroughs!] [Ding! Feeding Max rare materials has made it very happy, your bond with your pet has increased!] [Pet loyalty +5!] [Ding! You have unlocked new abilities: [Pet Vision], [Mind Communication].] [Ding! Your Beast Master level has broken through! Current Beast Master level: Level 2.] A flood of notifications streamed past Charles like a waterfall, leaving him momentarily overwhelmed. After reviewing the system notifications several times, Charles was stunned! Max had jumped two levels directly, with an additional 1200 stored experience points! Pet loyalty had increased by 5 points! And all of this was because of that tiny drop of dew? As Max''s attributes improved, Charles, as a Beast Master, also grew. He not only gained two new abilities, [Pet Vision] and [Mind Communication], but he also advanced to a Level 2 Beast Master. "You know, Ares should not be called the War God anymore, he should be renamed the God of Stinginess, giving me just this tiny drop of such an incredible thing?" Charles grumbled. As he finished speaking, the man-faced spiders beneath the tform became restless, startling Charles into silence. He then opened the [Pet] tab to check Max''s attribute panel. [Level]: Lv9 [View Advancement Materials] Each level advancement for a pet can bring a significant change, but the materials required for breakthroughs are usuallyplex. Charles chose to view the advancement materials, and a popup appeared on the screen. [Advancement Materials]: Ice attribute beast core [Tier 1] x1, Fire attribute beast core [Tier 1] x1, Regenerating potion [Grey] x2, Fire lotus seed x1, Pr cold spring x1! Dual-attribute pets have uniquebat abilities, but they also require twice the materials for advancement. Fortunately, he had just obtained arge number of beast cores; otherwise, with a 1% drop rate, it would have been a hassle. As an alchemist, Charles had the form for the grey-tier regenerating potion, and he had taken some fire lotus seeds from the Herbal Shop. However, the pr cold spring... What exactly was that? Was he supposed to travel to the Antarctic to get water from a spring there? Charles pondered for a moment, realizing he couldn''t get it immediately. "I''ll leave it for now. I''m only missing this one material. Once I regroup with the team, I''ll ask the teachers in the group!" After organizing all the materials neatly in his storage space, Charles turned his attention to thest treasure chest. Unlike the previous two chests, this one was intricately carved and emitted a faint glow. Just from its luxurious appearance, it was clear that whatever was inside was no ordinary item! Charles blew on his hands for luck, then eagerly opened the chest. A golden light shed, revealingan egg? As he focused on the pet egg, the system immediately provided a notification. Apart from the qualitybel showing "Gold," everything else was "?" with no useful information. Charles directly looked at the [Description]. [Description]: This is a gold-quality pet egg, currently in a dormant state. Keep it with you for 24 hours to form a contract (100% sess rate). The information was brief, but it filled Charles with joy. From Level 1 Beast Master to Level 10 Beast Master, each level upgrade allows for the taming of an additional pet. However, apart from the first Beast Mastery, which has a 100% contract sess rate, future contracts with ferocious beasts will always be lower than this percentage. The exact rate depends on the beast''s submission level, the Beast Master''s strength, the beast''s quality, and even its mood, all of which greatly influence the oue. "This is fantastic! A guaranteed contract with a gold-quality pet!" Charles couldn''t help but grin widely. Using a pet eggpletely eliminates this hassle. The contract sess rate for pet eggs is 100%, and the base loyalty is even higher. Regarding the origin of pet eggs, the theoreticalmunity has yet to reach a consensus. Charles couldn''t find it in the "Beast Master Beginner''s Guide," but he knew one thing for sure This item is extremely precious! Especially since it''s a gold-quality pet egg! Ordinary Beast Masters don''t have the ability to see ferocious beast attributes like Charles does, making each contract attempt a gamble. With a pet egg, at least the pet''s quality is known in advance. A high-quality pet egg is as valuable as miracle drugs in the auction market. "I hope you won''t disappoint me!" After a moment of hesitation, Charles decided to keep the pet egg with him. In 24 hours, he would know the result. After finishing this, the mountain suddenly trembled, and a light shone from behind the statuea passage out of the tomb had opened! "I can''t dy any longer; Aria is still waiting for me. I hope she''s safe!" Looking up at the statue of Ares, Charles didn''t linger any further and hurried towards the exit... Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Farewell Passing through a long corridor and then climbing the moss-covered stone steps, Charles finally reached the end of the stone staircase. There, a young girl in a purple dress was already waiting for him at the edge of the cliff. A gentle breeze blew, lifting the girl''s waist-length hair, and her skirt swayed lightly in the wind. "Aria, you were right. If we could escape from the man-faced spider, there''s no way a mere tomb could trap us," Charles said as he reached the cliff''s edge. Following Aria''s gaze, he saw the bloody pool at the foot of the mountain. At that moment, many people had gathered near the tomb entrance again, presumably all tomb robbers associated with Felix. "I''m just d you made it out. Are you hurt?" Aria turned around, looking Charles over with some concern. "No worries, it was just a man-faced spider!" Charles waved his hand dismissively. Gazing down the mountain, Charles could vaguely see Felix''s figure. He raised his fist angrily, "These tomb robbers are truly despicable, disguising themselves as hunters. And that Felix, he doesn''t even spare his own men! If I get my hands on him, I''ll make him taste the man-faced spider''s bite!" Of course, for now, Charles could only make threats. Felix was a Level 2 Beast Master, with two pets over level 10. Given Charles''s current strength, seeking revenge on Felix was tantamount to courting death. But this was only temporary. Charles had also advanced to a Level 2 Beast Master. Once Max broke through to level 10 and the golden egg he carried hatched, a future encounter with Felix would be a different story. Retracting his gaze from the mountain, Charles turned his head to look at Aria beside him. "So, where are you headed next?" After spending a week together in the tomb, the once aloof image of Aria in Charles''s mind had softened. Now, facing parting, he felt a slight reluctance, but it was just a fleeting thought. He had training tasks toplete, a score to settle with Grace in two months, and... he still needed to find out about his parents'' whereabouts. They had met by chance, and now it was time to say goodbye. "I''m nning to head east back to Atacama. How about you?" Aria''s soft voice came through. "Me? I''ll be staying in these ferocious beast mountains for another month! I won''t leave until I''ve fed that scoundrel Felix to the man-faced spider." Charles chuckled, but there was a serious look in his eyes. "That Felix is a Level 2 Beast Master and quite powerful. Be careful," Aria kindly reminded. "Don''t worry! I have a clear understanding of my abilities..." Charles suddenly chuckled. "If I really can''t beat him, I can always use some tricks. Dealing with scoundrels, there''s no need to be honorable!" The two chatted as they walked down the mountain from the remarkable rock summit. Along the way, Charles couldn''t help but feel that the young girl had changed quite a bit since the morning. He nced at the status screen. [Name]: Aria [Age]: 17 [Height]: 172 cm [Measurements]: 82/49/77 [Level]: Lv13 "In such a short time, this girl has leveled up four times. She must have found some treasure behind another stone door," Charles thought, surprised. However, he didn''t intend to ask more questions. Before entering the tomb, they had agreed that any treasures found would be split 60/40, and he wasn''t one to go back on his word. ... The two figures moved swiftly through the forest, and after an hour, they finally reached the foot of the mountain. "East from here leads to Atacama. Let''s part ways here." Standing at a fork in the beast trail, Charles waved to Aria and handed her a photo. "If you reach Atacama, please help me inquire about the person in this photo. We''ll meet again if fate allows." "Alright." The girl raised her white arm and gently waved, watching Charles disappear from sight. After Charles had gone far, a ck venomous snake slithered through the bushes and came to Aria''s side. It transformed into a man with a snake tail. The man was three meters tall, with a long ck snake tail behind him. "Miss, this man is rted to Alex. Should I eliminate him?" The man made a throat-slitting gesture. "Joshua, unless I give the order, you are not to harm him." Aria''s voice changed from its earlier gentleness to one of authority and indisputablemand. Joshua was a bit surprised. What was happening with the youngdy? She was actually defending a human man. He nced at the photo in Aria''s hand, then reluctantly lowered his head. "Yes!" "Roar!!!" A beast''s roar suddenly came from another mountain peak a hundred miles away, the sound was piercing. The ferocious beasts around the remarkable rock summit were startled by this cry and fled towards the valley. Looking in the direction of the roar, Joshua bowed slightly towards the girl. "The devouring serpent is about toplete its advancement. It is currently at its weakest. This is a rare opportunity, don''t let anyone else get ahead of us." Aria nodded. "There''s no time to lose. Let''s set off now." Beneath her long dress, the girl''s legs transformed into a purple snake tail, and the middle-aged man also transformed into a ck snake. Two snake shadows quickly disappeared into the forest. ... In the dense forest, it was quiet and peaceful. A figure quietly parted the bushes and looked towards a camp by the bloody pool. One of the men was leisurely eating roasted meat, asionally scolding his subordinates. "Felix, enjoy your happiness while you can. You wanted to trap me in a tomb to feed the spiders. Now I''ll let you experience the feeling of being torn apart by them." Charles clenched his fists, his voice cold, and quietly retreated into the bushes. Although Charles wanted to kill that bastard Felix, he knew that with his current strength, he was no match for him. To get his revenge, he needed to be stronger as soon as possible. The number of tomb raiders near the bloody pool was increasing. To avoid being discovered, Charles ran through the forest for thirty kilometers. As night fell, he finally found a t ce to set up camp. After setting up his tent, he took a barbecue grill from his storage space, ate a few pieces of roasted meat, and drank a bottle of regenerating potion, sweeping away a week''s worth of fatigue umted in the tomb. Charles''s attention then turned to the mystical beast egg in his hiking bag, which was gleaming gold. ording to the system''s instructions, the egg only needed to stay with him for 24 hours to hatch and form a contract. Cradling the mystical beast egg gently in his arms, Charles felt like a mother hen incubating her egg... [mystical beast egg] [Name]: None [Attribute]: ??? [Level]: ??? [Quality]: Gold [Skills]: ??? [Loyalty]: ??? [Evolution]: ??? [Description]: This is a gold-quality mystical beast egg, currently in a dormant state. Keep it with you for 24 hours to form a contract (100% sess rate). Countdown: 03:12:07. "Master, you''re not going to abandon Max now that you have a new spirit beast, are you..." Charles was staring at the golden egg in a daze when he heard a series of ''sigh, sigh, sigh'' sounds, followed by a voice in his mind. "Who...who''s talking?" Charles was a bit surprised. "It''s Max, who else! Master, you''ve been holding that broken egg all day and haven''t even patted Max''s head once!" Another series of ''sigh, sigh, sigh'' sounds followed. "Oh, right, I canmunicate with spirit beasts now!" Charles suddenly realized the source of the voice. He remembered that after Max swallowed the [Heaven''s First Drop], he unlocked two abilities simultaneouslyMind Communication and Pet Vision! Charles opened the system panel to check. [Mind Communication]: You have gained the ability tomunicate with your contracted spirit beast. You can understand what your contracted spirit beast says and also convey battlemands using Mind Communication. [Pet Vision]: You can see through the eyes of any spirit beast. Charles hadn''t found any use for the [Pet Vision] ability yet, but [Mind Communication] was extremely important! The higher the level of the ferocious beast, the more intelligent it bes, even understanding human speech. If all battlemands had to be roared out, it would expose his intentions to the ferocious beasts, which could be fatal inbat. These two abilities would make things much easier in the future! Seeing that Charles was ignoring it, Max immediately pounced into Charles''s arms, exposing its fluffy white belly and acting coquettishly, while licking Charles''s face with its cool little tongue. "Haha, stop! Max, stop!" Charles was too excited to sleep that night. He held Max, roasting meat while waiting for the new spirit beast to hatch. Crack In the darkness, a clear and crisp sound. "What was that noise?" Pushing away Max''s fluffy big tail, Charles rubbed his sleepy eyes, surrounded by a sh of golden light. A deep, awe-inspiring voice came from in front of Charles: "Ie from the dark abyss. I have existed since the beginning of time. Who has awakened me?" Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The Dark Dragon Soul In front of Charles, a huge figure appeared, like a small mountain blocking out the sky, casting Charlespletely in its shadow. It was actually a dragon? Charles could hardly believe it was real, but a dragon with a wingspan of tens of meters had appeared out of thin air before him. The overwhelming presence of the dragon made even Charles, as its Beast Master, feel a bit tremulous. "Is this the spirit beast hatched from my golden egg? This isn''t just an SSR; it''s an SSSSSSSSR!" Charles looked at it excitedly, wanting to check the dragon''s attribute panel. However... nothing appeared. "How can this be... Did the system malfunction?" Charles wondered. The dragon let out an impatient roar, "Are you my Beast Master? You look much weaker than I expected. I hope you won''t hold me back in battle." Charles felt anxious andpletely unprepared for how to deal with a gigantic dragon. Besides, he was worried about something else His current stock of ferocious beast meat totaled only a few hundred kilograms. Wouldn''t this giant creature eat him into poverty in one bite? "They say being a Beast Master is an expensive profession. I didn''t believe it before, but now I get it..." Charles muttered, feeling the pain in his wallet. However, there was something odd about this dragon... Charles squinted and looked closely, gradually noticing the issue. Although this dragon looked impressive, it stood there dumbfounded, and Charles couldn''t feel any of the dragon''s innate pressure from it. It seemed more like a model. With this doubt, Charles started observing his surroundings carefully. Before long, he spotted it: a small, round flying squirrel with a brownish-yellow body, looking quite adorable. To be precise, it was a small flying squirrel, as it was gliding in the air with its wing membrane stretched out, something regr squirrels couldn''t do. A squirrel? Charles felt like a bolt of lightning had struck him out of the blue. In that very short moment, Charles had already fantasized about riding the dragon and sweeping through the entire ferocious beast mountain range. But now, he was told it was all a lie? From an ancient dragon to a little squirrel, the sense of disappointment was overwhelming. And at that moment, the towering dragon''s figure gradually became illusory until itpletely disappeared, leaving a fluffy little creature falling from the sky... "Squeak~" "Help, help!" "Am I going to die here today?" The majestic voice disappeared, reced by a weak one that Charles almost didn''t hear. Whizz Max shot through the air like an arrow, leaping off a tree and catching the little flying squirrel mid-fall, curiously studying the small creature. "So... soft. Did I die and go to heaven?" The voice came from Max''s back as the flying squirrel peeked from behind its tiny paws. Standing on Max''s back, the flying squirrel curiously eyed Charles before its attention swiftly shifted to the skewers of roasted meat in front of him. "Mousey is very hungry right now. Hand over all the tasty food and drinks, or else..." The flying squirrel crossed its arms and red at Charles menacingly. "I''ll act cute and adorable for you!" Using the fiercest tone to say the most timid words... Seeing the adorable demeanor of the little flying squirrel, Charles felt his heart melting. At that moment, a light screen shed, revealing the flying squirrel''s information. [Shadow Flying Squirrel] [Name]: None [Attribute]: Dark [Level]: Lv11 [Quality]: Gold [Skills]: [Mimetic Illusion], [Darkness Cloak] [Weakness]: The whole body is a weakness [Hobby]: Scaring people [Emotion]: Afraid [Health]: Good [Loyalty]: 65 [Evolution]: Two routes [Description]: Originally an ordinary flying squirrel, it identally entered an ancient ruin and was mutated after being corrupted by the residual thoughts of the dark dragon soul. "A dark-attribute spirit beast, this is the first time I''ve seen one." In Charles''s memory, whenever Lily mentioned this attribute in theory sses, she always glossed over it in a few words. It seemed like a taboo, something no one wanted to talk about. Charles picked the flying squirrel off Max''s back and held it in his palm. Gently rubbing its chin, the flying squirrel let out a series of "squeak" sounds, and when Charles touched its belly, it made a very peculiar noise. "Let go of me! How dare you handle melike that!" "I''m not pure anymore,..." Charles was amused by the flying squirrel. He checked and found out it was indeed a female. He then looked at the detailed skill descriptions on the light screen. [Mimetic Illusion]: Can simte other powerful creatures using dark energy. The duration andbat power of the illusion are linked to the user''s own strength. [Darkness Cloak]: Can conceal presence and enhance sensory sharpness in the dark. In times of danger, it can enter the shadows and teleport. Teleportation consumes a lot of energy and will result in prolonged weakness afterward. "These two skills seem very powerful. Looks like I got lucky, I found a treasure!" Charles marveled. With the Mimetic Illusion skill, any ferocious beast Charles has fought, including other people''s spirit beasts, can be mimicked. This means he can replicate the strongest spirit beast on the battlefield! The second skill is an ultimate survival technique! There''s a saying, "retreat and give way!" The system didn''t mention any restrictions, which means anywhere there''s a shadow, it''s safe for Charles. If he had [Darkness Cloak] back when he encountered the man-faced spider in the tomb, he wouldn''t have been so embarrassed. After reading the information on the shadow flying squirrel, Charles checked his [Personal Panel]. [Charles] [Level]: Tier 2 Beast Master [Spirit Beasts]: The Frost Wolf, Shadow Flying Squirrel [Skills]: Bone-Achingly Cold, Darkness Cloak [Abilities]: Bestial Soul Merge, Pet Vision, Mind Communication [Status]: Good Charles attempted to activate his newly acquired skill, [Darkness Cloak]. The pitch-ck night became as bright as day. Not only that, but his sensory abilities also enhanced in the dark, allowing him to hear the chirping of insects and the singing of birds a hundred meters away. "Oh, right, I haven''t given you a name yet..." Charles suddenly smacked his forehead. "Since you''re such an adorable little flying squirrel, how about I call you Jerry?" The flying squirrel had been looking forward to it, but upon hearing the name, it immediately looked disgusted. "I''m a Shadow Flying Squirrel, Flying! Squirrel! Don''tpare me to that mouse!" "Well... if you insist, it''s not impossible," it added begrudgingly. [Ding! The Shadow Flying Squirrel dislikes the name you gave it. Loyalty -3.] Huh? Can loyalty actually drop? Charles was a bit shocked. Loyalty below 60 means there''s a chance it might run away, and if this little flying squirrel flew off, where would he find it? "How about this, since you call yourself ''Mousey,'' I''ll call you ''Mousey'' from now on?" Charles suggested with a smile. [Ding! You gave the Shadow Flying Squirrel a nickname. It likes this name very much. Loyalty +5.] Seeing the Shadow Flying Squirrel''s loyalty rise back to 66, Charles sighed in relief. He grabbed Mousey and gently petted its fluffy tail. His unique massage technique made the little flying squirrel roll aroundfortably in his palm. "Oh no, you..." "How could you do this? You finally couldn''t resist and decided to take action against me..." Mousey kept making ''squeak'' sounds, and through [Mind Communication], Charles understood every word. The absurdity of it all made himugh out loud. "Alright, enough teasing. Let''s try out your new abilities, okay?" Before Mousey could react, Charles tossed it into the air. Charles activated his new ability, [Pet Vision], and his perspective immediately shifted to Mousey. It felt like wearing a VR headset and entering a drone''s view. From this high vantage point, Charles could perceive everything around him. Not only that, thanks to Mousey''s excellent vision, he could see all dangers within 500 meters clearlyfor example, a poisonous snake on a treetop 10 meters directly ahead. As Mousey flew higher, Charles could see tiny points of light several kilometers away, likely from thieves near the bloody pool or other teams undergoing trials in the vicinity. However, Mousey suddenly became nervous, and its heartbeat quickened. Following its gaze, Charles saw a massive creature heading their way... Chapter 33: Chapter 33: This Place Falls Apart Without Me "A ferocious beast is approaching. Max, prepare for battle!" Charles took out his supreme spear from the storage space, remaining vignt. After Charles noticed the ferocious beast approaching, it didn''t take long for the surrounding forest to start trembling. Birds scattered in panic as a monstrous creature emerged, its jaws wide open! [Thorny Chomper] [Attribute]: Wood [Level]: 13 [Quality]: Silver [Skills]: Thorns Regrowth, Devour [Emotion]: Hungry [Health]: Healthy [Weakness]: Wind Attribute / Severed Flower Stem [Description]: This is a mutated nt that uses vibrations to sense nearby prey. Without a central nervous system, it feels no pain or satiation and will continuously feed purely on instinct. "It''s a Level 13 ferocious beast!" Seeing the system prompt about the Thorny Chomper, Charles became tense. Max was currently stuck at Level 9 due tocking breakthrough materials, a full tier below this ferocious beast. Clearly, Max was not its match. However, Charles still intended to give it a try. If things got too dangerous, they could always use [Darkness Cloak] to escape. "Max, avoid its attacks. If we can''t win, we''ll run. Don''t get hurt!" Charles warned. "Sigh!!!" Max''s tone was defiant. How could the master underestimate it? Determined to prove itself, Max disyed agile movements, constantly dodging the Thorny Chomper''s spreading thorns. It formed ice spikes in front of it,unching a barrage of icy spears at the Chomper like a rain of arrows! Under this dense attack, several tentacles were severed, and the Chomper was riddled with holes. Seeing its pitiful state, Max raised its chin proudly. But in a moment of carelessness, a thorny vine emerged from the nearby bushes, wrapping around its body! "Max, watch out!" Charles dashed forward, shing the vine with his spear to free Max. He then activated [Bone-Achingly Cold], causing pale mes to ignite on the ground, burning the dense vines to ashes. Just as Charles was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the vines regrew and began to wrap around him again. "These wood-attribute ferocious beasts are really troublesome. With this regeneration speed, we''ll be fighting until morning." Charles was frustrated. He then checked the light screen for its weakness: to defeat it, they had to destroy its core flower stalk. Charles understood how to defeat it now, but the surrounding thorns were so numerous that they formed an imprable web, making it impossible to reach the core! "Attacking the vines is useless! Aim for the flower stalk, you fool!" The little flying squirrel, perched safely on a tree branch, looked anxious. In the forest, it had seen a three-eyed crow hunt a Thorny Chomper before. It simply dodged the vines at high speed and bit through its flower stalk, causing all the vines to wither. Mousey spread its wing membranes and leaped lightly, flying above the Chomper''s head. Its tiny body didn''t attract any attention. "Seeing you in such a miserable state, Iwill reluctantly lend a hand... If he dies, who will provide free roasted meat? Who will massage me?" Mousey thought to itself. Mousey was only doing this for the free food and drinks! And the personal massages! Not to save him! Already fantasizing about a future where Charles serves it, Mousey let out a "squeak" ofughter and then unleashed its ultimate move! "Mimetic Illusion!" With a wave of dark energy, a ferocious beast identical to the Chomper appeared out of the darkness. The real Chomper noticed the imposter in front of it and became extremely agitated! Vines began spreading from the ground, trying to entangle the fake Chomper. At the same time, the mimetic illusion''s Thorny Chomper also activated [Thorns Regrowth], producing vines from the ground! The vines grew and intertwined on the ground until they eventually formed a tight knot... "Great opportunity!" Taking advantage of the moment when the two ferocious beasts were entangled, Charles swiftly charged forward with his spear! "Crack!" With a crisp sound, Charles swung his spear down, severing the Thorny Chomper''s flower stalk. The round head of the Chomper, with its gaping maw, fell to the ground. Once the flower stalk was cut, the surrounding vines began to wither rapidly, losing their life force. [Ding! You have defeated the ferocious beast [Thorny Chomper] (Lv13Silver Quality)!] [Spirit Beast Max (Lv.9) Loyalty +1! Experience +300 (Stored)!] [Spirit Beast Mousey (Lv.11) Loyalty +3! Experience +100!] [Obtained Thorny Vine 1!] [Obtained Chomper Fang 30!] [Obtained Beast Core [Tier 1 Wood Attribute] 1!] [...] A series of system prompts echoed in Charles''s mind. "A Tier 1 Beast Core? I didn''t expect to be this lucky!" Charles smiled, ignoring the wounds from the thorns. A week ago, Charles struggled to face a Level 7 Resurrecting Serpent alone. Now he could defeat a Level 13 ferocious beast. Despite the difficulties, this progress made Charles very happy. If he could defeat this Level 13 ferocious beast, he felt confident he could face Felix too! "See that? This is the power of Mousey!" Next to Charles, a brownish-yellow little flying squirrel spread its wing membranes and circled around him, squeaking continuously. "That huge monster just now, seeing you both in danger! At the critical moment, it was me who stepped in!" "One move, Mimetic Illusion!" "In an instant, the sky darkened, a fierce wind rose, dust swirled, lightning shed and thunder roared... Under my attack, the enemy was easily defeated..." Watching the little flying squirrel vividly recounting the recent battle, Max''s eyes narrowed with amusement, and it covered its mouth with a paw, chuckling softly. "This ce would have fallen apart long ago without Mousey!... So, where are the tasty cookies and nuts?" The little flying squirrel widened its round eyes, staring at Charles and wiping a bit of drool from the corner of its mouth. Seeing Mousey like this, Charles felt his heart melting. Mousey''s loyalty wasn''t very high, and it had a chance to avoid fights. In the recent crisis, Mousey didn''t choose to hide in a safe ce but tried to save him. Charles noticed it all. "You''re really silly and adorable..." Charles murmured softly, then took out a bag of nuts from his storage space and tossed it into the air. In an instant, a yellow blur shot out like a cannonball! "The ferocious beasts around here are getting stronger. I need to help Max break through quickly. Otherwise, the experience we''re gaining will just be stored, and our strength won''t improve..." Recalling the intense moment of the recent battle, Charles looked worried. But where could he find the [Pr Cold Spring], the key to Max''s breakthrough? "I''d better ask the teachers at school. They''re knowledgeable and might know." With this thought, Charles took out his phone. There was no signal in the ancient tomb near the bloody pool, and he hadn''t contacted the outside world for a long time. As soon as he clicked into the "Trial Team Group Chat," he saw that there were tens of thousands of unread messages umted over a week, impossible to go through all of them. "I seem to have fallen behind. I''ve searched the whole forest and haven''t seen a single ssmate. What should I do?" "I heard another team went missing. I''m so scared. Could they all be dead?" "Don''t scare me! What''s the n for this route? There were never so many idents in previous years'' trials!" "After entering the middleyers of the ferocious beast mountain range, I can''t beat those ferocious beasts at all. Does anyone else feel the same way?" "It''s not just ferocious beasts! Mosquitoes, rats, poisonous snakes... I''m going crazy. I want to leave this horrible ce!" "The problem is, even if we want to go back now, it would take over a week to get out of the mountains. I''ve lost contact with the main group. I won''t survive one night alone." "Whimper... I don''t want to be a Beast Master anymore. I don''t want to die... Whimper..." "..." The chat messages were full of despair. It seemed that while he was in the tomb for a week, many idents had happened outside. It wasn''t really the Beast Master Guild''s fault for not nning the route properly. Something seemed to have happened in the ferocious beast mountain range, causing some powerful ferocious beasts that were supposed to be deep inside to appear in the outeryers. Charles had already seen several waves of frightened beast migrations. After reading the group chat messages, Charles opened his private messages. Among the dozen or so messages from female ssmates, one message from Fletcher caught his attention. "Charles, we reached the designated location and waited for half a day. We didn''t see you, and you didn''t reply to our messages. Have you really given up? We''re heading south toward the bloody pool now. We''ve left some food at the camp. If you see this message, you can go and get it." Seeing the words ''bloody pool'' in the message, Charles immediately felt worried. "Felix and his band of ouws are near the bloody pool. Going there now is suicide!" Putting away his phone, Charles was about to head toward the bloody pool. The surrounding area was misty, with the sound of flowing water and a cold chill in the air. Despite it being summer, Charles couldn''t help but shiver. Max seemed very excited, suddenly breaking free from Charles''s embrace and rushing toward the water. Charles was amazed. "Is this... the pr cold spring?" Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Advancement! Critical Evolution! At a camp near the bloody pool. A pale, skinny boy, as thin as a bamboo pole, was sitting in front of a pile of phones, methodically removing the trial chips from each one. "Robert, what''s the point of dismantling all those useless chips?" A burly young man applied antiseptic to his wounds, grimacing in pain. "I went through all that trouble to help you kill people, and it''s all for these worthless things?" "Felix, you don''t understand. You do it for money; I do it for trial points. Isn''t this a win-win situation?" Robert chuckled, then took out his phone to check the leaderboard: [Ferocious Beast Mountain Trial Points Leaderboard] 1st ce: Grace [817 points] 2nd ce: Emily [472 points] 3rd ce: Robert [465 points] ... "Damn it, what kind of monster is Grace! In less than half a month, she''s almost reached a thousand points?" Robert cursed under his breath, crushing the chips in his hand. The leaderboard quickly updated. 2nd ce: Robert [493 points] "Hunting ferocious beasts is such a hassle. It''s dangerous and the points increase slowly. But killing people and taking their points is much easier!" Seeing his points increase by 21, Robert smiled coldly. Thanks to a friend who participated in the ferocious beast mountain trialst year, Robert learned that besides hunting ferocious beasts, robbing other Beast Masters of their point cards could also earn points. Tossing a few gold coins to Felix, Robert mounted his four-winged tiger and prepared to leave. As he reached the camp''s entrance, he suddenly turned around. "Haven''t you found that kid Daniel yet? I paid you 5 gold coins for his head!" Felix hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "We almost had him that night. The first team was nearly wiped out by us, but then we encountered a beast tide... With his strength, there''s no way he survived such a strong beast tide." "Good. I saw in the group chat that Team 7 is also nearing this area. Make sure to keep things clean this time!" After giving a few more instructions, Robert turned and left. After Robert left, Felix looked towards the tent where a middle-aged man in a ck coat, smoking a cigarette, was sitting. "Dad, do you think it''s worth all this effort and the risk of offending the entire Lsengard Beast Master Guild for a few gold coins?" The middle-aged man took a drag of his cigarette and blew out a smoke ring. "When I got into trouble in Lsengard years ago, I was set for the gallows the next day. It was Sly who got me out of jail. We share a life-and-death bond." "Besides, we''ve always been in the business of robbery and grave robbing. Are we supposed to be afraid of killing?" The man flicked ash from his cigarette and suddenly remembered something. "By the way, that young man named Charlie, did he survive?" Felix sneered. "Don''t worry, Dad. I''ve searched the entire area near the bloody pool. There''s no other exit. The tomb has been quiet for the past two days. I''ll go in and loot the treasures tomorrow." Hearing this, the middle-aged man smiled in satisfaction. "Good. You mentioned he''s only a Tier 1 Beast Master but managed to defeat the Lightning Ape. A Beast Master with such incredible talent would be a future threat if we don''t eliminate him now." "Don''t worry, Father. I understand that much." Felix tightened his bandages and stood up from his chair. "I''ve already gathered the nearby men, disguised as ferocious beast hunters. As soon as those trial teams get close, none of them will escape." ... "So cold, it''s freezing!" Near a steaming spring shrouded in white mist, Charles, bundled up in a thick down jacket, squatted in a corner, shivering. It was strange; it was July, the peak of sweltering heat, yet the area around this spring was covered in white frost, colder than a walk-in freezer. "Thank goodness for the system prompt. Otherwise, I would have missed this [Pr Cold Spring]!" Charles smiled to himself, ncing over at Max in the spring. After finding this cold spring, Max had all the materials needed to ascend a tier! However, the process of advancing required time, and it was during this vulnerable period that many high-tier ferocious beasts were ambushed and taken down. To ensure Max''s safety, Charles stayed close by. "While Max is advancing, I can upgrade my [Ice and Fire Supreme Spear]!" Charles retrieved the spear from his storage space. The spear tip, embedded with an ice attribute beast core, gleamed with a faint blue light on one side, while the other side had a normal metallic sheen. Carefully, Charles took out a fire attribute beast core from his storage space, feeling its warmth in his palm. He cautiously embedded the beast core into the reserved slot, and the spear glowed with a vibrant blue and red light, like swimming dragons coiling around it. Gripping the spear tightly, Charles swung it around. With several whizzing sounds, he felt the ice and fire attribute energies swirling around him. [Ice and Fire Supreme Spear [Blue]: Forged from refined steel, a lethal weapon for ying ferocious beasts, now in its fullypleted form. When ice and fire attribute energies are injected simultaneously, it will cause explosive piercing damage.] "Explosive piercing damage?" Charles was puzzled as he read the system prompt. Since bonding with Max, he had gained the ability to harness both ice and fire attributes. He carefully channeled the attribute energies into the spear. The spear began to vibrate... Whizz!!! Before Charles could react, the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear shot out of his hand, piercing through arge tree in front of him, leaving a perfectly round hole. "This power is amazing!" Charles eximed. He thought being able to prate a tree with a three-meter diameter was impressive, but the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear showed no signs of stopping. "Boom!!!" One tree... Two trees... Twenty trees! The spear finally came to a stop after piercing through dozens of trees. "This is ridiculous! It pierced through 26 trees!" Charles was in shock as he pulled the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear from a tree trunk hundreds of meters away. Looking back, he saw a perfectly round hole extending from where he stood to the pr cold spring. The tree trunks showed no cracks, indicating the incredible prating power of the spear! Such terrifying pration would likely be too much for even earth attribute ferocious beasts known for their defense. Themotion attracted the attention of those nearby. "Charlie, he''s alive?" "Quick! Kill him!" Seeing the figure in the woods, a few tomb raiders'' faces twisted with malice. Charles was supposed to be locked in a monster-filled tomb by the second-inmand. How did he escape alive? One of them reached for his walkie-talkie, but before he could dial, a fierce wave of air was already stabbing towards his face! He didn''t even have time to react before he was pinned to a tree trunk by the spear, blood streaming down to the roots, pooling into a crimson mess. Charles extended his hand, and the spear, as if it had legs, quickly flew back to him. He pointed its tip at the remaining tomb raiders: "Who else wants to kill me? One by one is too boring. Come at me all at once!" Hearing Charles''s taunting words, two tomb raiders summoned their spirit beasts. Behind the ck hexagrams, two ck Iron quality Level 6 ferocious beasts appeared. "We have the numbers and two Beast Masters. His spirit beast isn''t with him. Let''s take him down together!" The tomb raiders, faces filled with viciousness, drew their long knives and charged at Charles along with their spirit beasts. As the four men and two beasts rushed toward him, Charles''s face remained expressionless. This was the first time he had killed since transmigrating to this world, and it seemed much easier to ept than he had anticipated. If others wanted to take his life, then to Charles, killing them was no different from killing a few ferocious beasts. With a light tap of his toes, Charles leapt onto a nearby tree, using the momentum to swing the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear downwards! The tomb raiders didn''t even have time to scream as the spear shed their throats, blood spurting from their severed carotid arteries like fountains. Looking at the twitching corpses on the ground and the two spirit beasts fleeing in panic, Charles''s face remained expressionless, his heart filled with the thrill of revenge. "The disappearance of these people will definitely attract more tomb raiders. Max is in a vulnerable state right now. If Felixes, I can escape, but Max would be in danger." After burying the corpses and cleaning up the blood, Charles hurried back toward the pr cold spring. Before he reached the spring, a system prompt sounded [Ding! Your spirit beast Max has sessfully advanced! 1500 stored experience points used sessfully, current level Lv12!] [Your spirit beast Max triggered a critical evolution during the advancement process. Please choose an evolution route!] Seeing the system screen pop up with four evolution routes to choose from, Charles was overjoyed. "Max evolved during its advancement? And it triggered a critical evolution?!" Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Go to Hell A sh of light appeared, and four option boxes and a countdown timer materialized before Charles''s eyes. [A. Ordinary Evolution]: Quality upgrades to tinum, learns a new skill, 90% sess rate. If evolution fails, quality remains Gold. [B. Random Evolution]: Quality upgrades to tinum, enhances a random skill, boosts a random attribute, 95% sess rate. If evolution fails, quality remains Gold. [C. Designated Evolution]: Quality upgrades to tinum, evolves into an ice and fire demon wolf, 100% sess rate. Requirements: 2 Ice Attribute Beast Cores, 2 Fire Attribute Beast Cores, 1 Ice Mountain Lotus Seed, 1 Inferno Core. [D. Critical Evolution]: Quality upgrades to tinum, evolves into ancient mythical beasts, 75% sess rate. If evolution fails, quality remains Gold. "With so many evolution routes, which one should I choose?" Charles felt his decision-making anxiety kick in, especially since almost all evolution routes had a chance of failure! Designated Evolution had a 100% sess rate, but unfortunately, Charles couldn''t gather the required materials at the moment. Random Evolution had a high sess rate, but the process was too unpredictable, and Charles didn''t dare to gamble. "It''s already triggered Critical Evolution, what am I hesitating for? Let''s go for it! After all, there''s nothing to lose if the evolution fails." Seeing the countdown nearing its end, Charles decisively chose [D. Critical Evolution]! A white light enveloped Max, gradually transforming into a cocoon that tightly encased him! While waiting for Max to evolve, Charles nced at his phone''s group chat. Fletcher and the others seemed to be in danger and were calling for help from anyone nearby. But with Max in an immobile state due to the evolution, leaving Charles''s protection would mean getting devoured by the surrounding ferocious beasts... Crack A fissure appeared on the cocoon, with bright light shining through. The entire cocoon shattered with a burst, and when Max reappeared before Charles, his demeanor hadpletely transformed. [Nine-Tailed Demon Wolf] [Name]: Max [Attributes]: Ice, Fire [Level]: Lv12 [Quality]: tinum [Description]: Max sessfully evolved, and his skills have been enhanced. Currently, he has only three tails. Once he grows nine tails, the ancient mythical beasts will truly manifest. Charles looked at the newly evolved Max. Max appeared to have grown significantly, now the size of an adult. His water-blue eyes were even more clear and bright, and the three fluffyrge tails behind him were particrly striking... "Master! Max feels a bit different now!" Max seemed very excited, rushing over to try and leap into Charles''s arms, but ended up knocking him to the ground. "Max, you''ve grown so big that I don''t think I can hold you anymore!" Charlesughed, standing up from the ground and brushing off the dust. Today was truly a joyous day. Not only had he gained a newbat partner, the shadow flying squirrel, but Max had also advanced to level 12 and even triggered Critical Evolution! The ice and fire supreme spear was now in itsplete form! Charles''s strength had seen a tremendous boost! Now, not to mention Felix, even if all the nearby tomb raiders teamed up, Charles would be able to put up a fight! After taking another nce at the group messages, Charles put away his phone and said, "Let''s go, it''s time to take revenge on that bastard Felix!" With one man, one wolf, and a tiny figure in the air, the three silhouettes quickly disappeared into the forest. ... "What? You''re telling me that kid Charlie is still alive and even killed four of our brothers?" At the camp near the bloody pool, hearing his subordinate''s report, Felix''s veins bulged with anger, and he crushed the teacup in his hand. He had personally locked Charles in the tomb, intending to feed him to the monsters inside. Who would have thought that kid would escape and nowe looking for him? Seeing the second-inmand in a rage, the surrounding tomb raiders were too scared to make a sound. Behind Felix, a middle-aged man in a ck trench coat sighed, "I told you before, you should have finished the job thoroughly. Now our enemy hase knocking at our door, hasn''t he?" "What does it matter? Do you really think he can be a match for me?" Felix nced at the wounds on his body. His anger had caused the wounds to reopen, and blood was seeping through again. Bearing the pain, Felix looked at the subordinate who had just reported to him. "You said you saw his mystical beast evolve?" "Absolutely!" The subordinate nodded vigorously. "Damn it!" Felix found it hard to believe. Mystical beasts with evolution paths were extremely rare. When they triggered evolution, not only did their attributes improve, but their quality could also be enhanced! How could that kid Charlie be so lucky? Felix was already considered a prodigy among the younger generation in Lsengard, but Charles''s disy of Beast Master talent truly shocked him. The kid''s talent was terrifyingly exceptional. No matter what, he had to kill him. Otherwise, Felix would never have peace in the future! "You all, go in greater numbers and keep a close eye on his movements. Report any updates to me immediately!" Felix gritted his teeth. Then, putting on his battle armor, he said to the middle-aged man beside him, "Dad, there''s a second-level Beast Master with the seventh squad. I''ll handle it. You take care of things here." The middle-aged man nodded. He had confidence in Felix''s abilities. "We''re nning to reopen the secret passage to the bloody pool ancient tomb today. Hundreds of people from other tomb raiding groups are eager to make a move. I have to keep an eye on them and can''t leave. Be quick!" Felix smiled slightly. "Don''t worry. Just a bunch of high school seniors and that recently promoted vice president of the Beast Master Guilddo you really think I can''t handle them?" ... In a pocket-shaped valley, wide in the middle and narrow on both ends, both exits were already blocked. Fletcher nced at the dozens of bandits surrounding them, gritting his teeth as he shielded the students behind him. Blood was dripping from his arm. "We will give you all our ferocious beast materials and valuable items. Just don''t harm my students." Fletcher used his longsword to support himself, preventing himself from copsing. He had heard cries for help in the valley and led his training team to rescue, only to fall into a trap. Faced with the bandits'' assault, several students had already perished, and his mystical beast, the greenwood wolf, had also fallen in battle. "Valuables? The most valuable thing you have right now is your lives!" A voice came from outside the valley, and the surrounding bandits parted to make way. "Second boss, why waste words with him? Let''s just get to it!" "Those girl students look so tender. Let''s have some fun with them before we kill them!" A burly young man came to the front of the group, apanied by two tigersone blue and one red. "Felix!" Seeing the young man, Fletcher was filled with rage and shouted, "How did the president of the Beast Master Guild raise you? You beast!" Far from being angered by Fletcher''s insults, Felix just smiled indifferently. "Vice President, calm down. After leaving Lsengard, I had no intention of dealing with the Beast Master Guild anymore. But someone has paid for your lives. Should I kill you or not?" The blue and red tigers let out a thunderous roar, causing the surrounding students to tremble with fear. Several students had already been killed. Looking at the corpses nearby, a few timid girls were quietly sobbing. The cloud leopard roared and blocked Felix''s path. Fletcher looked disdainful, "I once thought you were a once-in-a-century genius of Lsengard. Who would have thought you''d turn into a bandit in the ferocious beast mountains? Like father, like son..." Before Fletcher could finish, Felix''s veins bulged in anger, "Old man, go to hell!" "Roar!!!" Felix gave themand to attack, and the two tigers charged at the cloud leopard. Both were melee ferocious beasts, and the fight was brutally fierce. Amidst the roars, Fletcher''s cloud leopard had chunks of flesh torn off, and its body was covered in bloody gashes from the tigers'' ws. Against two opponents, the cloud leopard stood no chance and was quickly defeated, copsing on the ground, barely breathing. "It''s over, Fletcher. Someone paid for your lives, you can''t me me!" Felix sneered coldly, standing before Fletcher. He held a dagger in one hand and grabbed Fletcher''s hair with the other. Fletcher''s face turned pale. A Beast Master without his mystical beast was no different from amb waiting to be ughtered. He finally understood why the first squad had lost contact. They must have been killed by Felix, likely in this very same ce. But even until his death, he couldn''t understand who would be so ruthless to target the Lsengard training team. "I know you''re confused right now. Take those questions with you to hell!" Felix raised his knife, and a sh of white light cut through the air. "No!" "Teacher Fletcher!" "You beast!" The remaining students, who were still alive, had been subdued by the bandits. Seeing Fletcher about to be killed, their eyes were filled with despair. ng! The long knife struck Fletcher''s neck, producing a crisp metallic sound. Everyone was puzzled by how hard Fletcher''s neck seemed to be, but then they saw that Felix''s knife had hit a ghostly blue supreme spear. "The one who should die is you, Felix." A voice came from above as a figure leaped down from a nearby ridge. A handsome young man, apanied by a three-tailed demon fox and a small flying squirrel hovering overhead, appeared. Reaching out, the supreme spear returned to his hand. Charles looked at Felix with a cold expression: "Felix, take a good look at who I am! Since you want to kill us, you and these dozens of aplices around you will be exterminated, not one will be left alive!" "Felix, go to hell!" Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Indeed Strong, But Now Its Mine Seeing someonee to their rescue, the students who had been engulfed in despair now had a glimmer of hope on their faces. However, this hope was quickly extinguished when they saw that it was Charles, turning into deep confusion. Wasn''t Charles supposed to have secretly returned to York? There were even rumors that he had gone back to Lsengard. How could he be here? There were hundreds of bandits around, and Felix was a second-level Beast Master. Even Teacher Fletcher had no solution. Why had Charlese here to court death? The vicious bandits around, seeing that the neer was Charles, let down their guard. Even if he managed to kill Rumbling before, it was just a fluke. With so many people around, what could a first-level Beast Master possibly do? "Charles, get out of here, leave now!" Fletcher, with disheveled hair and bloodshot eyes, looked up at Charles and almost screamed. After a brief glimmer of hope was extinguished, seeing the bandits closing in, Fletcher''s expression towards Charles turned bleak: "He''s a second-level Beast Master; yourbat strength isn''t on the same level. You shouldn''t havee to save me. Why are you... so foolish!" "Charles... aren''t you called Charlie?" Shifting his gaze from Fletcher to the handsome young man not far away, Felix''s eyes were filled with murderous intent. "Hmph, whatever your name is, since you dare toe here, you''ll die with them today!" Felix shouted, charging at Charles with his long knife. "Who lives and who dies, that''s still uncertain." Charles smiled calmly. As he looked at Felix, a system prompt shed before his eyes. [Name]: Felix [Age]: 24 [Height]: 175 cm [Beast Master Level]: Second Level [Weakness]: Knife wound on the right side of the waist; agile, fears control-type skills. "Being this arrogant despite having an injury?" Charles sighed inwardly, spotting the w from the system prompt. Though Felix wore a coat, Charles easily identified Felix''s weakness thanks to the system prompt. He infused ice and fire elemental energy into the ice and fire supreme spear. The spear began to tremble and then shot towards Felix like an arrow. The supreme spear moved incredibly fast, but Felix was also very agile, dodging Charles''s attack with a sidestep, the spear only grazing him and leaving a cut. Already wounded on the waist, Felix''s unhealed injury split open again from Charles''s surprise attack, with fresh blood seeping out. The pain made Felix gasp: "A blue-quality weapon, huh? It seems you gained quite a few treasures in the tomb, didn''t you?" Felix''s eyes gleamed with greed. As long as he defeated Charles, this incredibly powerful weapon would be his! Felix extended his right hand, and a silver six-pointed star appeared before him. Two fierce tigers emerged from the summoning circle. Seeing the fierce blue and red tigers, Charles summoned Max. After all, this was a Beast Mastery World, and powerful mystical beasts were the key to battle! Felix knew that his agility alone wouldn''t suffice. "Max, use the skill Ice Pick Throwing!" Charlesmanded through Mind Communication. Cold air gathered around, causing a light snow to fall in the valley. Max''s three tails swayed gently, resembling a snow spirit. Whizz, whizz, whizz Ice crystals formed into the shape of ice and fire supreme spears, shooting out toward Felix''s two ferocious beasts and the surrounding bandits. Felix dodged the ice spears with his agility, but his subordinates weren''t so lucky. Under the barrage of ice spears, more than a dozen fell dead or injured in a blink of an eye. "Good!" "Charles, well done!" Seeing Charles gain the upper hand with two consecutive attacks, the previously disheartened students around him were greatly encouraged. The girls who had been hiding at the back of the group stopped crying, summoning their mystical beasts to join the fight against the bandits. "I underestimated you earlier. You do have some strength. Blue me, Scarlet me, use the skill [Frenzy]!" Felix''s eyes shed with a fierce light as hemanded his mystical beasts. The fire elements gathered around Felix, and the already robust tigers swelled as if inted, lunging toward Max. Seeing the enemies closing in, Max didn''t wait for Charles''smand and used its second skill [Bone-Achingly Cold]. Pale mes ignited around them, but the frenzied tigers seemed impervious to pain. Even as ice spears pierced their bodies, they didn''t slow down. Max''s powerful ice skill managed to coat the approaching tigers in a thickyer of frost, attempting to halt their advance. Yet, Felix''s beasts, driven by their frenzied state, charged through the icy barrier, their eyes glowing with relentless fury. Charles quickly assessed the situation. "Max,bine the elements! Use Ice and Fire Burst!" Max''s tails red with a mixture of ice and fire energy. In an explosive burst, a shockwave of freezing cold and searing heat radiated outwards, colliding with the tigers in a dazzling disy of elemental power. The force of the st sent the tigers reeling back, their frenzied assault momentarily halted. The surrounding bandits, caught in the crossfire, were thrown into disarray, some fleeing in terror, others copsing from the elemental onught. Felix, struggling to regain control of his disoriented beasts, shouted, "Stay focused, you fools! Attack together!" Charles, seizing the opportunity, directed Max for a final strike. "Max, now! Full power Ice and Fire Supreme Spear!" Max concentrated its remaining energy, forming a massive spear glowing with both icy blue and fiery red. With a mighty leap, Max hurled the spear at the two tigers, the elemental weapon piercing through their defenses and striking them down. Felix, seeing his beasts fall, stumbled back in shock and rage. "This isn''t over, Charles! I''ll make you pay!" Charles stood firm, his eyes locked on Felix. "Your reign of terror ends here. Surrender, or face the consequences." The valley echoed with the sounds of battle fading away, leaving only the resolve of a young Beast Master and the determination of his mystical beast standing victorious amidst the fallen. Even more terrifying was the fact that the wounds on the tigers, pierced by the ice spears, were healing at an rming rate. Seeing the two tigers closing in on Charles, Felix''s face lit up with a smug expression. "With the short-term explosive power of Frenzy, not just you, but many second-level Beast Masters have died at my hands. What chance do you have, boy!" "Blue me, Scarlet me, kill them all!" Seeing Max gradually losing ground in the struggle against the two tigers, Charles rushed in with his supreme spear to assist. "Bang!" When the supreme spear struck the two ferocious beasts, it only produced a dull thud. Apart from causing some superficial wounds, it couldn''t prate deeply, and in the blink of an eye, the wounds had already healed. Charles checked the current status of the two tigers. [Frenzy]: Strength and speed gain explosive growth, numbing the pain from wounds, and granting self-healing abilities. The cost is a week of weakness after Frenzy ends. "Felix was indeed considered a genius of Lsengard back in the day, and he does have some skill. This short-term explosive power is indeed frightening," Charles mused. The supreme spear shed with the tiger ws, sending vibrations through Charles''s arms, making them feel numb. Even Max, who excelled at ranged attacks, was struggling to gain any advantage. "It seems I overestimated you. Earlier, you relied on some gain-by-trickery tactics," Felix sneered. With Frenzy activated, his muscles had swollen, bursting through his shirt, with bulging veins wriggling as if they could break through his skin at any moment. He lifted his long knife and charged at Charles, the de whistling through the air, sparks flying where the tip met the ground. At a distance of 10 meters from Charles, Felix suddenly leaped into the air, gripping the knife handle with both hands, and swung down at Charles with the momentum. "Die!" Charles looked up, seeing Felix above him, and gripped the supreme spear tightly to defend himself. ng!!! A heavy sound rang out, and arge cloud of dust rose around them. When the dust settled, Charles had been pushed back over ten meters. At his feet, two deep grooves had formed, clearly the result of dispersing the force of Felix''s attack. In closebat with the frenzied Felix, Charles was at a distinct disadvantage, while on the mystical beast battlefield, Max was also losing ground. Max excelled at long-range attacks, but in this close-quarters fight against two opponents, it was struggling. "Blue me, Scarlet me, merge and attack!" Felixmanded, using his mystical beasts'' second skillFusion! A red light shed, and the two tigers on either side of Felix merged into a single creature with two heads and two tails. "Roar!!!" A tiger''s roar echoed! The terrifying aura emanating from the double-headed tiger sent chills down the spines of the nearby students. After the fusion, the double-headed tiger''s strength and speed increased further. Following another failed attack by Max, the tiger''s wsnded heavily on Max. Despite using ice spears to deflect some of the force, Max''s body was still flung like a projectile, breaking all the trees in its path as it flew. Boom! An explosion echoed as arge boulder near Charles was sted into pieces. "Max, are you alright?" Charles rushed to Max''s side, looking at him worriedly. Max stood up from the rubble, shaking off the debris from his fur. "I used ice to reduce the impact. It''s just some minor injuries." Seeing Felix gain the upper hand in the battle, the surrounding bandits cheered loudly. "You managed to withstand my full-strength attack. I''m quite surprised for a first-level Beast Master," Felix said, approaching Charles with his double-headed tiger and stopping ten meters away. "With your strength, you could have been a valuable subordinate of mine, perhaps even the third-inmand. But you refused." "Thanks, Felix, but without you, how could I replicate such a powerful mystical beast?" Charles sneered, signaling to the cute brown flying squirrel perched on a tree branch. After a ripple of spatial distortion, another double-headed tiger emerged from the shadows of the void. It looked identical to Felix''s mystical beast: one blue head, one red head, and the same robust and tall body. However, this creature''s gaze was filled with ferocity as it looked at Felix and the tomb raiders behind him. Seeing this, Felix was dumbfounded. How could there be another identical double-headed tiger in the world? Moreover, Felix now realized a shocking fact: Charles was also a second-level Beast Master. How had he managed this in just a week? Noticing the disbelief on Felix''s face, Charles smiled calmly. "I know you''re anxious right now, but don''t worry. Save these questions for hell." When the battle started, Charles hadn''t immediately let Mousie join. The mimetic illusion could replicate the enemy''s mystical beast, and Charles naturally wanted to im this double-headed tiger for himself. Now, Felix had no further use. Pointing the supreme spear at Felix, the bloodstained tip glinted coldly as a murderous intent shed in Charles''s eyes: "It''s over." "Felix, I told you, I would personally send you to hell..." Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Mushroom Cloud "Mousie, use your illusion to attack. You don''t need to defeat him, just buy us some time," Charlesmanded the flying squirrel through Mind Communication. "Squeak!" Seeing the charging double-headed tiger replica, Felix sneered, "It''s just a counterfeit. You don''t think a copy can defeat my mystical beast, do you?" The two identical double-headed tigers shed, tearing into each other. Using the same skills and moves, they fought intensely, making it hard to tell them apart. Relying on the faint connection with his mystical beast, Felix knew that his tiger had the upper hand in the fight and breathed a sigh of relief. Turning to Charles, Felix smiled confidently. "Is this your trump card? It''s nothing special! You''ve only just barely broken through to be a second-level Beast Master. How could you possibly be my match?" "Who said that was my trump card?" Charles replied with a faint smile as an energy storm of ice and fire began to surge violently behind him. Felix''s smile faded as he saw the swirling energy. "What is this?" Charles didn''t respond. Instead, he focused the elemental energies, merging them into a powerful and destructive force. The wind howled, and the temperature fluctuated wildly as the ice and fire energies collided and fused. "Max, now!" Charles shouted,manding Max to strike with its full power. Max unleashed its ultimate attack,bining ice and fire into a massive spear of elemental energy, which shot towards Felix with incredible speed. Felix tried to dodge, but the sheer force and speed of the attack were overwhelming. The spear struck him, and an explosion of ice and fire engulfed the area. A mushroom cloud of elemental energy rose into the sky, and when the dust settled, Felixy on the ground, defeated and severely wounded. Charles approached him, his eyes cold and unforgiving. "This is the end for you, Felix. May you find the answers to your questions in hell." With that, Charles raised his supreme spear and finished the job, ending Felix''s reign of terror once and for all. Feeling the terrifying energy, Felix''s face turned pale, and he instinctively took a step back. Charles''s face was filled with murderous intent, and the chaotic energy stirred up a wind that lifted the bangs from his forehead. "I''ve never used this move before. Today, you''ll be my test subject. Max, activate the skill" "[Energy Bomb]!" Max was enveloped in an eerie glow. Extreme cold and heat gathered behind him, forming a vortex like a ck hole, continuously devouring the ice and fire elemental energy from the surroundings. It transformed into a zing sphere, even brighter than the sun... "Run! Run now!" Sensing the imminent danger, Felix abandoned his mystical beast and the surrounding bandits, sprinting towards the mouth of the valley. However... A sh of white light passed, and before Felix could react, he was incinerated by the searing energy, reduced to a charred husk. Boom! The explosion echoed, and the violent shockwave leveled the surrounding forest. A small mushroom cloud rose from the explosion site... "Letting that bastard Felix die like this, without feeding him to the man-faced spider, is really too lenient," Charles muttered, watching the rising ''mushroom'' with a look of awe. After the mutation, many physicalws of this world had changed. In this Beast Mastery World, there were no nuclear bombs. But Charles had achieved a simr effect, though on a much smaller scale... Looking at the deep crater in front of him, over ten meters deep, and the mushroom cloud, everyone around was stunned. The sound of gasping followed. The surviving students, all around Charles''s age, looked at him with admiration. While they were still struggling with how to defeat a level 5 ferocious beast, Charles had just created a mushroom cloud. Felix was a second-level Beast Master, but Charles had obliterated him with a single move, leaving nothing behind... More and more people nervously approached the giant explosion crater, unable to hide their amazement. No wonder Charles could easily kill the steel-spiked hedgehog a few days ago. With this level of power, he could dominate the entire periphery of the ferocious beast mountains! At that moment, Fletcher staggered to his feet, his eyes wide with shock. He was even more astonished than everyone else around him. Just a week ago, Charles was still a first-level Beast Master. How had he suddenly advanced to the second level in just one week, and defeated Felix, who Fletcher himself couldn''t beat, with a single move? There were many first-level Beast Masters in Lsengard who never managed to advance to the second level in their entire lives. But Charles had done it in just one week. How would those old guys feel if they knew? He looked at Charles incredulously. "Charles, can you tell me what happened to you this past week?" "Uh, well I''m not really sure myself. I just somehow advanced," Charles said, scratching his head in embarrassment. He then recalled the extremely weak Max into his mystical beast space. Charles himself was a bit shocked by the power of the energy bomb. He saw the skill description and thought it looked pretty powerful, so he decided to try it out on Felix. Who could have guessed it would be this ridiculously strong? He nced again at the skill description in the system prompt: [Energy Bomb]: Gathers ice and fire elements to form a chaotic elemental stream, causing a massive explosion. May harm the user. He used to be puzzled by the "may harm the user" part, but now he finally understood. If not careful, he could blow himself up too! It seemed that this skill should be used sparingly. The bacsh was too great; Max had fallen into a deep sleep and who knew how long it would take to recover... Aurora also stared at Charles with wide eyes. She had heard that Charles had left the ferocious beast mountains and felt a bit sad. But now she realized that Charles hadn''t left; he had gone to train and enhance his abilities alone. With such a terrifying rate of improvement, she could sense that Charles would definitely be a highly influential figure in Genosha in the future. Her gaze at Charles now included a bit of admiration. She wanted to go up and say a few words to Charles, but felt a bit shy. Moreover, Charles was already surrounded by many students, and she couldn''t get through. Meanwhile, the dozen or so surviving bandits, after seeing Felix killed by Charles, were already scared out of their wits and were fleeing towards the mouth of the valley in a panic. "These bandits killed so many of our ssmates! Don''t let them escape!" Inspired by Charles''s explosive disy of power, the previously disheartened training team rallied. A dozen boys grabbed their weapons and chased after the fleeing bandits... ... In the dark forest, the cold moonlight bathed thend, with ferocious beasts asionally moving through the woods, emitting terrifying roars. But in a clearing within the forest, the atmosphere was peaceful. By the campfire, Charles poked at the wood with a stick, making the fire burn brighter. The meat on the grill sizzled as it cooked. "Charles, I made some beast meat mushroom soup. Would you like to try it?" A girl adjusted her skirt and sat down gently beside Charles. Charles took a sip. The soup was perfectly prepared, with the sulent taste of the beast meatplemented by the delicate vor of the mushrooms. He couldn''t help but praise it: "Hmm! This tastes really good!" "Re-really?" Aurora''s face turned slightly red upon hearing Charles''s praise. Seeing her expression, a few girls nearby teased, "Aurora, do you like him or something?" "N-no way. Don''t talk nonsense..." As she spoke, Aurora stole a nce at Charles''s reaction and then quickly looked away. She wasn''t sure how she felt herself. Witnessing the brutal deaths of over a dozen ssmates today had left a deep psychological scar. If Charles hadn''t arrived at the critical moment, she probably wouldn''t be here now. In the dangerous ferocious beast mountains, she felt that only by staying near Charles could she feel safe. Even though she didn''t say it, her expression revealed everything. And it wasn''t just Aurora. Many girls in the seventh squad had developed feelings for Charles. Seeing Aurora''s actions, one couldn''t help but tease: "Charles is a second-level Beast Master now. After this training, he''ll definitely get into Vendatia Academy in our Vendatia Province." "With Charles''s talent, he won''t be content staying in this small ce like Lsengard." Aurora couldn''t miss the mocking tone in their words, and she was well aware of the gap between her and Charles. "He''s probably out of my reach now, isn''t he?" she thought, feeling a bit dejected as she lowered her head. "Ahem!" Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Fletcher cleared his throat. "Everyone, finish your meal and get some rest. Tomorrow, we will enter the mid-levels of the ferocious beast mountains. The real training is just beginning..." Charles ate his ferocious beast meat while listening to Fletcher describe the mid-levels of the ferocious beast mountains. He couldn''t help but admire the resilience of his ssmates. Despite just experiencing a fierce battle, with some even sacrificing their lives, they quickly pulled themselves together. No one suggested quitting. Charles had to acknowledge that humans were indeed a tenacious species. In this Beast Mastery World, humans were not at the top of the food chain; they were a vulnerable species. People who survived in this dangerous world might have been ustomed to life and death from a young age, which allowed them to face mortality so calmly. "The mid-levels of the ferocious beast mountains... I''m looking forward to it," he thought. ... In the mid-levels of the ferocious beast mountains, a waterfall cascaded down, forming a clear stream at the base. The thin mist from the waterfall dispelled the summer heat, making Grace feel particrlyfortable. She tested the water temperature with her hand and smiled in delight. She nced worriedly in the direction of the camp''s lights but ultimately couldn''t resist the lure of the stream... Slowly, she removed her top, revealing smooth, fair skin and long, slender legs, then continued to undressyer byyer... "Little Butterfly, keep watch around and make sure no onees close." After instructing the azure butterfly to guard the area, Grace rxedpletely and soaked in the stream. Despite being outdoors, she insisted on bathing daily. After spending the entire day battling ferocious beasts, this was the only time Grace could feel a moment of rxation. She nced at the points ranking. [Ferocious Beast Mountains Training Points Leaderboard] 1st: Grace [1092 points] 2nd: Robert [617 points] 3rd: Thomas [575 points] ... Seeing her points, which were far ahead of everyone else, she smiled contentedly. "Everyone has now entered the mid-levels of the ferocious beast mountains. This advantage is only temporary. I need to keep pushing," Grace murmured. Before she left, her city lord father had revealed some insider information to her. In half a month, all the mentors would leave. At that time, nearly a thousand students would be without any protection for a month of trial. That would be the true hell on earth! "Charles, what have you been doing all this time? Howe you only have so few points?" "This time, just wait to lose. I look forward to the day you bow and scrape before me." Thinking this, Grace suddenly noticed someone had posted a short video in the group chat. Just one look at the video thumbnail made Grace widen her eyes in disbelief... Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Blood-Stained Village Near the bloody pool, in a camp, the atmosphere was dark and oppressive. In the center of the hall, a shattered skeleton had been pieced together, barely resembling what was once a ''person.'' Staring at the gruesome corpse, a middle-aged man was overwhelmed with grief: "Tell me, who killed Felix?" "Boss, it was Charlie... no, it was Charles. He escaped from the tomb and somehow gained some strange power. He... he killed the second boss..." Recalling the terrifying scene in the valley, the few bandits who had managed to escape trembled all over. "A newly promoted second-level Beast Master killed the second boss?" Felix was his son; he knew his strength well. His two mystical beasts, the twin tigers, were both at level 16. They could escape from even a third-level Beast Master, so how could they fall to a newly promoted kid? Tears welled up in the middle-aged man''s eyes. Though he was crying, his voice was chilling: "No matter what despicable means he used, for daring to kill my son, I, Bradley, swear to the heavens" "If I do not tear him limb from limb, I, Bradley, will cease to be human!" Bradley howled towards the sky, the soundwaves infused with elemental energy, startling flocks of birds from the forest. A bandit rushed into the tent, drenched in sweat and panting heavily: "Boss, we used hunting dogs to track from the valley where it happened. We found a camp 50 kilometers away. It looks like it''s Charles and his group." Charles! Hearing the name, a sinister grin spread across Bradley''s face, and the teacup in his hand crumbled to dust. ... At that moment, Charles was soaking in a bathtub. After drinking a bottle of [Regenerating Potion], a gentle glow surrounded him, washing away the fatigue from today''s fierce battle. He nced at Max sleeping soundly in the mystical beast space and decided not to disturb him. The dangers of the ferocious beast mountains were far beyond Charles''s expectations. This was just the outeryer, and he had already encountered such formidable enemies. Moreover, he was certain that after killing Felix, the bandits would not let him off easily. He checked the points ranking on his phone, and the sip of juice he had just taken almost sprayed out of his mouth. He couldn''t help but curse, "Grace is terrifying! In just over a week, she''s already scored over 1000 points?" This meant that the cumtive level of the ferocious beasts killed by Grace exceeded 1000. Just the thought of it sent shivers down Charles''s spine. "I heard that the top scorer in the training points gets a chance to enter the treasure vault of the three Imperial Capital academies, and everything in there is a treasure." Besides these tangible benefits, the three Imperial Capital academies were the top theoretical research centers in Genosha. Studying there would surely allow Charles to understand more about the mysteries of this world. Aredale Academy, Nova Academy, and Cyber Academy had a long history, with Aredale Academy even having ties to the Genosha royal family. If he could enter one of these top academies, even if Charles found that he could never return to Earth, having such a background would ensure he livedfortably in this Beast Mastery World. "To enter the three Imperial Capital academies, I need to be in the top six in the points ranking. The next month and more will be a hard fight every day." Already far behind, Charles knew he had to give his all every day from now on. After his bath, Charles yed with Mousie for a while before finally falling into afortable sleep. ... Meanwhile, 100 kilometers away, not everyone was sofortable. "Charles killed Felix? How is that possible?" Robert''s phone buzzed incessantly. The ''Trial Team Group'' chat was updating with dozens of messages every minute, all about Charles. In Robert''s mind, Charles was just a follower of Daniel. Without Daniel as his backer, crushing him would be as easy as crushing an ant. But this sudden and shocking news in the group made him very curious about what had happened. So, he posted a message in the group. "I didn''t have time to check the messages today. Can anyone exin how Charles managed to defeat Felix?" Robert''s message quickly garnered many replies. "I''m a survivor from the seventh group. We were surrounded by Felix in the valley today and almost wiped out. It was Charles who saved us." "I''m also from the seventh group. I can testify that even Teacher Fletcher couldn''t defeat Felix, but Charles killed him in one move!" "Are you talking about that traitor Felix from Lsengard? He became a second-level Beast Master three years ago. Are you saying that in less than a week, Charles has also advanced to the second level?" "From the photos you posted, that explosion crater is nearly 20 meters in diameter. Even a fourth-tier ferocious beast couldn''t cause that much damage!" "Judging by your conversation, all I can say is that Charles is truly impressive! It''s undeniable! We''re all the same age, and I''m struggling with level 6 ferocious beasts, while he''s already dominating level 10 and above first-tier ferocious beasts." "Don''t be fooled by Charles''s current low ranking. He''s just keeping a low profile and hasn''t started exerting his full strength yet." "I feel with Charles''s talent, getting into one of the three Imperial Capital academies this year is a sure thing." "Can I switch to your seventh group? I want to be in Charles''s team!" "Does Charles have a girlfriend?" "..." Smack! Before he could finish reading the messages, Robert angrily threw his phone: "Damn low profile, damn not yet exerting his strength, damn Charles..." Robert''s eyes were filled with jealousy. Back in high school, he had a crush on their homeroom teacher, Lily. If it weren''t for Charles transferring to their school, Lily might have been his by now. Last week, before leaving Lsengard, Charles and Daniel had teamed up to trick him into buying a hemostatic powder for 50 silver coins. Thinking about these new and old grievances, Robert was filled with hatred. Charles and Daniel were close. If Charles found out that Robert had anything to do with Daniel''s death, he could be in big trouble. "Charles, you think you''re so great?" "In Lsengard, I''ll make sure you understand the consequences of crossing me, Robert!" He picked up his phone from the ground, its screen shattered. Robert found Bradley''s phone number and sent him the information he had gathered about the seventh group''s uing route. ... Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, creating a stifling heat in the forest that made it hard to breathe. A trial team of just over twenty people carefully navigated through the thick woods. At the front of the group, Fletcher urged them to pick up the pace: "Five kilometers ahead, there''s a hunter''s vige. It''s a crucial supply point in the ferocious beast mountains. If you need any supplies like drinking water or dry food, you can restock there." It had been a week since they left the bloody pool, and the seventh group had gradually moved into the mid-levels of the ferocious beast mountains, encountering increasingly dangerous beasts, some even above level 10. During this week, they had to fight and travel during the day and remain vignt at night to guard against beast attacks. Hearing there was a vige ahead, the trial team members cheered and asked questions eagerly. "Teacher Fletcher, does the vige have guest rooms? Can I sleep on a soft,fortable bed?" "Only wooden beds." "Teacher Fletcher, is there a supermarket? I haven''t had a drink in half a month. I really want a bottle of chilled juice!" "Only spring water." ... Wearing his heavy Divine Scale Armor, Charles walked in the middle of the group, smiling at the surrounding chatter. Spending a week in that dark tomb made him cherish the time with the main group even more. Additionally, traveling with the main group had another advantage. The materials from ferocious beasts he didn''t need and the miracle drugs he made could be exchanged with ssmates for other materials or sold for money. Charles checked his bank bnce, and his phone received a text message. [Dear customer, your ount ending in 9527 currently has a bnce of: 0 gold coins, 102 silver coins, 800 copper coins.] For Charles, there was nothing more delightful than watching his bank bnce steadily increase. At this rate of earning, by the end of the training, he could have 1 gold coin! The view ahead gradually opened up, and as they exited the forest, a few rows of thatched cottages came into view. This must be the hunter''s vige Fletcher mentioned. The vige was small and quite shabby. However, seeing a human settlement in the beast-infested mountains was still a joy. Fletcher politely stepped forward and knocked on the door: "Hello, we are the Lsengard training team passing through. Could we exchange some supplies?" "Lsengard? That''s a long way. Come inside, it''s hot out here," a dark-skinned man called out, inviting the team inside. As Charles was about to enter, he noticed one of the vigers looked very familiar. When he looked closer, a few lines of information appeared before his eyes. [Name]: Uldir [Age]: 36 [Height]: 182 cm [Beast Master Level]: Level 1 Seeing this familiar name, Charles almost eximed: "You..." Before Charles could finish his sentence, Uldir gave him a significant look and pulled him aside to the well: "Our spring water here is sweet and refreshing, and it''s free. Make sure your ssmates fill up before you leave!" Once everyone else had moved away, Uldir lowered his voice: "Charles, you need to leave immediately. The vigers here have all been killed. The people you see are bandits in disguise!" Following Uldir''s gaze into the well, Charles saw it was filled with bodies, the water stained red with blood... Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Absolute Overpowering This horrifying scene made Charles break out in a cold sweat, but he quickly calmed down. He looked at Uldir with some confusion and asked in a low voice, "Uldir, why did you join them? This is a gang of ruthless bandits!" Though his voice was low, Charles''s tone was full of reproach. In his impression, Uldir''s nature wasn''t that bad; otherwise, he wouldn''t be thinking of saving him now. "Sigh, I can''t exin it to you right now. Let''s just say they have something on me," Uldir said with a bitter smile. "Hurry and leave, Bradley is a Level 3 Beast Master. You killed his son Felix a few days ago; he definitely won''t let you go!" "Level 3 Beast Master?" Charles was slightly stunned. He had just recently advanced to Level 2 Beast Master, and the fight with Felix had already been tough. With Max still in a weakened state, encountering a Level 3 Beast Master would mean no chance of victory. However, something was odd. They had decided toe to this hunter''s vige to resupply just two days ago and only mentioned it in the trial group. How did Bradley know? Charles looked puzzled. "Is it just a coincidence that Bradley happened to ambush us here?" "I''ve been seeing a stranger frequently entering and leaving Bradley''s camp recently. He might be the one who leaked your whereabouts," Uldir said, his forehead sweating and his heart pounding as footsteps sounded from the nearby huts. "Uldir, can you describe him?" Charles asked, lowering his voice even more. "His face is pale, as thin as a stick, riding a four-winged tiger..." Uldir hadn''t finished speaking when the wooden door next to them creaked open. Seeing Charles, a hunter-looking man was first startled and then shouted: "Charles! Charles is here! Catch him, the boss offers 5 gold coins!" The words were like poking a ho''s nest. In an instant, the bandits who had been hiding in the surrounding straw huts tore off their disguises and rushed out, weapons in hand. "5 gold coins? Let''s see if you have the guts to take it," Charles snorted coldly. He took out the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear from his storage space and faced the oing bandits head-on. A sh of light passed, and then the Fire Supreme Spear swung. The tip of the spear shed through the air, and the bandit who had just spotted him had blood spurting from his neck. Hearing themotion outside, the other members of the Seventh Squad, who were cooling off inside the house, rushed out. These past few days, they had been hiding in the mountains to avoid these bandits'' pursuit. They hadn''t eaten well or slept well, and everyone was already filled with pent-up anger. They didn''t hold back, summoning their mystical beasts and engaging in battle with the surrounding bandits. Fireballs and hail rained down on the bandits, while the melee mystical beasts charged forward for closebat. Even a usually timid girl summoned her mystical beast, a skrk, using its song to provide buffs for her teammates. After nearly two weeks of training, the strength of the entire Seventh Squad had undergone a qualitative leap. Those who could survive the trial were not to be trifled with. After half an hour of fighting, a dozen bandits were dead, while only a few squad members had minor injuries. Suddenly, a roar came from outside the vige: "Asshole, today I will tear you to pieces to avenge my son''s death!" In the blink of an eye, a middle-aged man with a grim expression appeared in front of Charles. The man wore a ck cloak, with a long sword with an ''L''-shaped hilt at his waist, and he red at Charles with bloodshot eyes. Sensing the formidable aura emanating from the middle-aged man, Charles immediately realized that this must be Bradley, the Level 3 Beast Master that Uldir had mentioned. Before Charles could speak, Bradley drew the three-foot-long ''L''-shaped sword, stomped on the ground, and shot toward Charles, swinging the sword at his head! Almost reflexively, Charles used the Fire Supreme Spear to block the man''s fierce attack "ng!!" The supreme spear and the de collided, producing a sharp, piercing metallic sound. The force of the sh sent straw from the thatched roofs flying and falling to the ground. Under this powerful impact, Charles slid back several meters beforeing to a stop. In contrast, the man opposite him only took half a step back to steady himself. As Charles looked up at the man, several lines of text appeared on his system''s light screen. [Name]: Bradley [Age]: 51 [Height]: 178 cm [Beast Master Level]: Level 3 "What immense power! So this is the difference between a Level 2 Beast Master and a Level 3 Beast Master," Charles marveled silently. With each level a mystical beast advances, the Beast Master''s own attributes also improve. The strength of a Level 3 Beast Master isparable to a Level 20-29 ferocious beast, while Charles''s current strength is at most equivalent to a Level 12. The gap between them was toorge; he was no match for Bradley now. Charles nced at the shadow not far from him. He only needed to activate the skill [Darkness Cloak] to teleport away. But if he did that, Fletcher, Aurora, and the rest of the Seventh Squad would likely be ughtered by Bradley. "Well done, big boss!" "Great hit!" "Kill that bastard and avenge the secondboss!" Seeing Bradley win the first exchange with Charles, the previously beaten and downtrodden bandits were greatly encouraged, cheering loudly. Bradley cracked his knuckles, producing a series of bone-popping sounds: "You actually managed to block my strike without breaking your arm. I must say, you do have some strength. But your path as a Beast Master ends here!" Bradley extended his right palm, and three silver hexagrams appeared in front of him. Three massive creatures emerged from the summoning array, their enormous bodies blocking out the sunlight. The surrounding thatched huts trembled slightly with their footsteps. "Three mystical beasts... He''s a Level 3 Beast Master!" Seeing these three mystical beasts being summoned, Fletcher''s heart sank. He wasn''t even a match for Felix, let alone Bradley. Fletchermanded the cloud leopard to stand in front of the students, prepared for a desperate fight. The surrounding students looked at the three summoned beasts with eyes full of despair. With Bradley''s power, killing them would be as easy as crushing an ant. "What should we do... I''m so scared, I don''t want to die!" "Mr. Fletcher, maybe we should hand Charles over. He''s the one who killed Felix" "Shut up! What are you talking about? Without Charles, we would have been dead already!" Amid the chaos of the battle, Charles remained unusually calm. He carefully examined the information about the three mystical beasts, looking for any weaknesses. [Four-Eyed Pit Viper] [Attribute]: Poison [Level]: 20 [Quality]: Silver [Skills]: Poisonous Fang Sting, Venom Spray [Weakness]: Fire Attribute ... [Long-Tailed Emperor Scorpion] [Attribute]: Poison [Level]: 22 [Quality]: Silver [Skills]: Bone-Cutting ws, Scorpion Tail Sting [Weakness]: Fire Attribute ... [Vesicted Toxic Toad] [Attribute]: Poison [Level]: 21 [Quality]: Silver [Skills]: Vesicle Spray, Long Tongue Coiling [Weakness]: Fire Attribute ... Charles shook his right hand, which had gone numb from the impact, his brow furrowed in concern. "The gap between Bradley and me is too vast. With such a disparity in strength, he can easily negate the disadvantage brought by attribute restraint." "I need to find a way to enrage Bradley. When he loses hisposure, that''s when I can attack his weaknesses!" Charles pondered. Since he couldn''t handle the three Level 20 and above mystical beasts head-on, he had to look for an opportunity to ambush Bradley instead. Though it might not be the most honorable tactic, Charles had never considered himself a noble person. He was willing to use any means necessary to survive. Having formted his n, he immediately issuedbat orders through Mind Communication: "Mousie, use [Mimetic Illusion] to create a replica of the two-headed tiger and infuriate Bradley!" "Leave it to Mousie!!" "Max, use ice spikes to slow their assault and buy me some time." "Max received!!" The space distorted as Mousie activated its skill [Mimetic Illusion], and a towering figure, five meters tall, emerged from the void. "Roar!!!" The two-headed tiger let out a deafening roar, its bellow echoing through the mountains. "You!!!" Bradley''s pupils contracted sharply as he stared at the all-too-familiar two-headed tiger, his clenched fists cracking. This two-headed tiger was thebined form of his deceased son Felix''s mystical beast. How could he not recognize it? "You bastard, you''re courting death!!!" Thinking of Felix''s mutted remains, Bradley''s eyes turned blood-red. He issued a battlemand to his three mystical beasts: "Attack! Kill them all!" The ground began to tremble as the massive creatures engaged in battle. The vesicted toxic toad charged forward, grappling with the two-headed tiger in closebat. The four-eyed pit viper unleashed [Venom Spray], aiming to poison the frost wolf. The long-tailed emperor scorpion, the strongest inbat, struggled to move as its segmented exoskeleton slipped on the ice-covered ground, making even walking difficult. "Hmph, do you think you can defeat me this way?" Bradley snorted coldly. In the face of absolute power, any scheme or trick wasughable. His mystical beasts held a dominant 3v2 advantage in their fight, and as for Charles, Bradley intended to finish him off personally. Bradley stomped the ground and shot forward, evading the frost wolf''s ice spike attack, heading straight for Charles. The sound of rushing wind reached Charles. By the time he saw Bradley''s figure, Bradley was already in front of him. The long sword shed with the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear, sending out a shower of sparks. Given the disparity of an entire Beast Master level, Charles had no chance. He was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into a nearby mud hut. "Lightning Demon Ape!!!" A row of thatched huts copsed under the powerful impact. Bradley had a decisive advantage, and the frost wolf and the two-headed tiger were also losing ground. With a slight smile, Bradley pointed his long sword at the debris in front of him: "It''s over, you bastard." "I will soon show you what it means to beg for life and be denied death!" Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Piercing Strike Just as Bradley was about to advance, the sound of crumbling stones echoed. A hand emerged from the rubble, and a figure climbed out: "I just wanted to see how powerful a full-strength strike from a Level 3 Beast Master is. Turns out, it''s weaker than I thought." When they saw Charles stand up again, all the surrounding bandits were dumbfounded. How was this kid like an unkible cockroach, taking two of Bradley''s attacks and still standing unscathed? Seeing Charles unharmed, Bradley came to an abrupt halt, his eyes filled with confusion. Charles, of course, noticed Bradley''s bewilderment. Bradley would probably never understand in his lifetime that Charles''s [Storage Space] was filled with a vast amount of recovery miracle drugs. As long as he wasn''t killed in one blow, he could quickly recover. Charles smiled lightly, "Since I withstood your full-strength attack, how about experiencing mine next?" "Hmph, your body is stronger than I thought, but it''s just the final struggle before death!" After a brief moment of shock, Bradley activated his skill [Poisonous Fang Sting]. If brute force couldn''t kill him, then he would poison him to death! ck mist materialized in the air, transforming into two one-meter-long poisonous fangs that shot towards Charles. Seeing the poisonous fangs, Charles didn''t dodge. Instead, he removed his defensive armor. As he took off his [Divine Scale Armor], he instantly felt as light as a feather. During the past half-month of training in the ferocious beast mountains, he had been wearing this close-fitting armor weighing hundreds of kilograms. Now, with the burden removed, he felt almost like he was flying, even his muscles seemed to swell. He could clearly feel his strength and attribute energy maniption abilities surging! "Bestial Soul Merge!" Charles shouted, and in the distance, Max and Mousie, still fighting, turned into streams of energy and merged with him. The surrounding bandits and the members of the Seventh Squad all looked puzzled. To them, Charles removing his armor in battle seemed like a death wish. Using Bestial Soul Merge at this moment only added to their confusion. Wouldn''t that put him at an even greater disadvantage, facing a 4-on-1 situation? "You actually used Bestial Soul Merge. Do you think that will help you defeat me?" Bradley sneered mockingly. "Then you can try," Charles said, gripping the Fire Supreme Spear tightly. His eyes were cold as he stared at Bradley, the spear''s tip glowing with an intense blue and red light, more dazzling than ever. As Charles spoke, the ice and fire elemental energies around them began to surge violently, converging into the Fire Supreme Spear, forming a vortex of energy. With the continuous influx of energy, the Fire Supreme Spear in Charles''s hand started to grow restless, emitting a sharp metallic hum as if it might break free from his control at any moment. "It looks like some kind of charged attack. I can''t let him continue!" Bradley sensed something was wrong, though he wasn''t too worried. The gap between a Level 2 Beast Master and a Level 3 Beast Master was like a gxy apart. To him, Charles''s movements seemed like slow motion: "Do you think with your speed, you can hit me? Unless you can teleport." "Congrattions, you guessed right!" As Charles''s words fell, he vanished right under Bradley''s nose, reappearing in the shadow behind Bradley in a breath: "Let me show you the power of my Fire Supreme Spear, enhanced tenfold" "[Puncture Thorn]!" With a loud shout, Charles unleashed the Fire Supreme Spear from his hand. It shot out, carrying a storm of extreme cold and heat, aiming for Bradley''s heart with unstoppable force! Bradley''s focus had been on the rubble in front of him. When Charles suddenly teleported behind him, Bradley was stunned. As the Fire Supreme Spear shot forward, even the space around it seemed to distort. Watching the spearhead hurtling toward him, Bradley''s pupils contracted sharply until they were mere pinpoints... At such speed and close range, there was no possibility of escape! "Bone Cutting ws!" Reflexively, Bradley''s hands transformed into the hardened pincers of the emperor scorpion, acting as shields in front of him. A crisp sound echoed as Bradley barely had time to react. The Fire Supreme Spear had already pierced through his ws. Such terrifying piercing power! Bradley, as a Level 3 Beast Master, couldn''t confidently achieve this, yet Charles had done it: "You actually" Before Bradley could finish speaking, the Fire Supreme Spear had already pierced through his chest, leaving a hole the size of the spear''s shaft in his body. With a spurt of blood, Bradley fell to his knees in front of Charles, blood gushing from the crimson hole. "This" The bandits and the members of the Seventh Squad, who had been fighting, all stopped. Even the mystical beasts on the battlefield stared in disbelief at the destructive power of Charles''s strike. There was no explosion, no smoke or fire, but everyone was stunned by the sheer piercing power of the attack! Those with good eyesight craned their necks to see the direction where the Fire Supreme Spear had disappeared. A deep hole extended from Bradley''s chest, prating dozens of trees before vanishing. Some even saw light from the other side of the hill... One strike to annihte the enemy, a Fire Supreme Spear that pierced through the mountain! Everyone''s eyes were filled with fear as they looked at Charles. He was just a recently promoted Level 2 Beast Master, who not only withstood a full-strength attack from a Level 3 Beast Master unscathed but also counterattacked and killed his opponent? Such a thing was unheard of, and everyone''s faces involuntarily twitched. They all stood there, staring at Charles in silence, until a minuteter, the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear flew back into his hand from the air. A strong sense of dizziness swept over Charles. That piercing strike had almost drained all the energy from his body. When physical exhaustion reached a certain level, even taking regenerating potions had no effect. He knew that in a normal fight, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t possibly be a match for Bradley. The only way was to enrage Bradley, making him leave the protection of his three mystical beasts, and when he reached that shadow, using [Darkness Cloak] tounch a sneak attack. This was his only chance! Removing the Divine Scale Armor and using Bestial Soul Mergethis was the strongest attack Charles could muster as a Level 2 Beast Master! Whether it worked or not, he had left it to fate! Looking at Bradley, half-kneeling on the ground just a few meters away, Charles took a step forward, intending to finish him off. But as soon as he stepped out, a strong sense of powerlessness enveloped him, a side effect of [Darkness Cloak]''s [Weakness]. That full-strength [Puncture Thorn] not only drained all the ice and fire elemental energy around but also exhausted all of Charles''s own power. Using the Fire Supreme Spear to support himself, he tried to stand up but ultimately lost consciousness. ... It felt like he was in endless darkness, but suddenly there was a faint light. Charles vaguely sensed that he was lying on a fragrant, soft bed. He reached out and seemed to touch something incredible. "Charles! You''re awake!" came a woman''s exmation from beside him. Charles''s eyes snapped open to find himself in a light pink tent, with Aurora sitting next to him, her face flushed as she stared at him. Charles quickly withdrew his hand. Seeing the pot of mushroom and beast meat soup simmering nearby, he realized Aurora must have been taking care of him while he was unconscious. He gave her a grateful look. "By the way, is Bradley dead?" "He seemed seriously injured and was taken away by his men. When you passed out, Mr. Fletcher had us retreat quickly to keep you safe... But you were amazing! That was a Level 3 Beast Master!" Aurora recounted the battle between Charles and Bradley from her perspective, not without some exaggeration of his feats. "Cough, cough, I''m not that great," Charles said, his face twitching slightly. He checked his phone and saw that he had been unconscious for three days and nights. Sitting up in bed, Charles said, "Thank you, Aurora, for taking care of me while I was out. It''s gettingte, I should head back." "It''s sote, why don''t you just stay here" Aurora started to say, then quickly realized how that sounded and blushed deeply. "Charles, I didn''t mean it like that. I meant you could sleep in my tent, and I''ll find another girl to bunk with" "No worries, I can set up my tent quickly!" Charles smiled gently and left Aurora''s tent. While setting up his tent, Charles couldn''t help but sigh softly, "I have to say, these girls are really quite adorable." In his previous life in the business world, Charles had seen too many hypocritical people and dealt with those with deep, calcting minds. Now, in this transmigrated life, spending his days with pure-hearted youths made him feel younger. "Was I really too reckless?" Lyingfortably in the bathtub after setting up his tent, Charles couldn''t help but recall the battle with Bradley three days ago, still feeling a bit of lingering fear. This time, he managed to seed with a lucky sneak attack using [Darkness Cloak], but it was a pity he couldn''t kill Bradley. The next time they met, Bradley would surely be on guard. Bradley''s mystical beasts were just a bit over Level 20, yet Charles had struggled so much. He couldn''t help but worry. In the ferocious beast mountains, there were Level 6 ferocious beasts, and if he encountered one, he would have no chance of survival. However, this battle also made Charles understand why the alchemist profession held such a high status in Genosha. During his fight with Bradley, it was those continuous recovery miracle drugs that allowed him to quickly recover after withstanding two of Bradley''s attacks. "I remember I got two alchemy recipes from the ancient tomb in the Bloody Poolst time. Since we''re starting the midyer training in the ferocious beast mountains tomorrow, I should replenish my stock of miracle drugs tonight!" Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Shocking News Charles opened the [Alchemy] tab in his system and saw that two new alchemy recipes had been added. [Miraculous Speed Pill] [Grade]: White-grade miracle drug [Description]: Travel a thousand miles a day. Increases speed by 50% for 3 hours after consumption. [Ingredients]: 3 miraculous speed herbs, 5 wind mushrooms, 10 feathers of a graceful bird, 1 bottle of regenerating potion, 1 wind attribute beast core [no grade]... [Seduce Potion] [Grade]: White-grade miracle drug [Description]: Colorless and tasteless, enhances sexual desire for both men and women upon consumption. When applied to oneself, physical contact induces aphrodisiac effects on the opposite sex. The effectsts for 6 hours. If desire is not relieved before the effect ends, it results in heart failure. [Ingredients]: 2 blood deer antlers, 5 epimedium seeds, 10g of pure yang stone, 10g of inner shadow stone... [Would you like to open the alchemyb?] Charles reviewed the information on the light screen one by one. "The Miraculous Speed Pill looks quite effective. I have all the ingredients needed, so I can make plenty tonight." Currently, his primary means of survival came from the skill [Darkness Cloak] he acquired from Mousie. This skill was incredibly powerful; during his battle with Bradley, it was this very move that allowed him to sessfullyunch a sneak attack. Unfortunately, the weakness effect after its use was something his current strength couldn''t easily withstand. The Miraculous Speed Pill could boost his speed by 50% during battle, which would certainly catch enemies off guard. It would also be a great skill for traveling quickly in nonbat situations. "Seduce Potion? What the heck is this?!" Seeing the second recipe, Charles couldn''t help but lose hisposure. It seemed like some kind of unisex aphrodisiac. "With my handsome and charming looks, there are plenty of young women who would throw themselves at me. I don''t need to resort to such despicable means," Charles muttered to himself, taking a selfie on his phone. Besides, given his strength, this effect would likely be of little use. It must have been a mistake when they built the tomb Why else would Ares''s tomb contain such a thing? Charles had plenty of the materials needed for these two alchemy recipes in his storage space, so without wasting any time, he got to work. "Open alchemyb!" As soon as Charles spoke, a long metal table appeared out of thin air before him, covered with various metal containers. Having refined over a thousand miracle drugs, he was quite skilled. Even though it was his first time crafting white-quality miracle drugs, it wasn''t too difficult. He carefully adjusted the heat to ensure each ingredient reached its optimal potency. An hourter, as a white light appeared over the alchemyb, Charles wiped the sweat from his forehead, "It''s done!" After the first sessful batch, he could produce them in bulk. Charles continued to work untilte into the night, eventually crafting a total of 30 Miraculous Speed Pills. As fatigue set in, his attention shifted to the other alchemy recipe. "Well, it''s a rare white-quality recipe. Might as well use it to practice my skills." Charles followed the recipe to craft a batch of Seduce Potion, then carelessly shoved it into his storage space. "After half a month of hard training, let''s see the results!" Charles nced at his system''s storage space. [Storage Space]: [Weapons]: Ice and Fire Supreme Spear (Blue) [Equipment]: Divine Scale Armor (Blue) [Daily Items]: Campingntern, bathtub, barbecue grill, sr panel... [Food]: Water (95 tons), steel-spiked hedgehog meat (10 kg), resurrecting serpent meat (30 kg)... [Ferocious Beast Materials]: Wolf pelt 1, resurrecting serpent fangs 4... [Beast Cores]: (Level 1) Wood 3, Gold 2, Water 2, Earth 2, Wind 2, Lightning 2, Light 2, Poison 2, Ice 1, Fire 0, Dark 0 [Alchemy Ingredients]: Spirit root 18, revival flower 9... [Alchemy Miracle Drugs]: Miraculous Speed Pill (White) 30, Seduce Potion (White) 1, Regenerating Potion (Gray) 25, Hemostatic Powder (Gray) 21 [Common Medications]: Painkillers 165, Fire-Control Elixir 100, Spirit-Replenishing Pill 21, Recovery ster 136... [Treasures]: Bronze Sword (Unidentified), Bronze Cauldron (Unidentified)... [Special]: Map Fragment (Unknown) "In the past half month, I''ve gathered quite a bit of ferocious beast materials and medicinal herbs, but the ferocious beast meat supply is running low." In reality, Charles had hunted a fair number of ferocious beasts over the past two weeks, but most of them were too unptable. He discarded the meat after collecting the ferocious beast materials. Plus, with three mouths to feed, the ferocious beast meat consumption was high. He didn''t have a single beast core above Level 1. It was already a struggle for him to fight Bradley, so he couldn''t even think about taking on a Level 2 ferocious beast. "What could this map fragment be?" Looking at the piece of parchment in his hand, Charles felt his eyelids getting heavy. ... At dawn. "Wake up!" "Wake up, get up, no more sleeping!" Outside the tent, Mr. Fletcher''s familiar urging voice rang out, though he noticeably lowered his volume as he passed by Charles''s tent. Charles quickly ate some breakfast, gathered his things, and headed to the camp for assembly. As soon as he joined the group, all eyes were on him, and a chorus of voices erupted around him: "Good morning, Charles! You''re finally awake! We were so worried about you while you were unconscious!" "Charles, from now on, you''re my big brother. Do you need me to carry anything for you?" "Charles, do you need a sidekick? Could you help me outter?" Seeing the smiling faces around him, Charles felt a warmth in his heart and responded to each greeting. Initially, he didn''t know any of the members of the Seventh Squad, but after half a month of life-and-death experiences, their bonds had deepened, and he was gradually integrating into this world. "Charles, did you have breakfast? I prepared an extra portion for you..." Aurora, with her hair neatly braided and a hairpin in her bangs, handed him some breakfast when she saw him. Charles had already eaten, but he appreciated the gesture: "Thank you!" Wearing the Divine Scale Armor, Charles had started to keep up with the first tier of the team despite its hundreds of kilograms of weight. "Students, 100 kilometers ahead is our final training destination for the Seventh Squad this timethe [Nine Hell River]," Fletcher''s voice came from the front of the group. As they walked, Fletcher introduced the surrounding area to the trial team. The Nine Hell River, spanning 5,000 meters in width and flowing from the southwest to the northeast, divides the entire ferocious beast mountain range into two parts. The more ferocious beasts mostly live to the east and south of the Nine Hell River. Therefore, the thousand-strong training team from Lsengard set their final camp on the northwest side of the Nine Hell River. "In short, all training will take ce on the northwest side of the Nine Hell River. Under no circumstances should you cross the river boundary." At this point, Fletcher paused for a moment, "Today is July 26th. In five days, the teachers will leave the ferocious beast mountains, and you will have toplete thest month of training without any teacher apaniment." Upon hearing this, the previously lively Seventh Squad fell silent. No one spoke, lost in their thoughts. However, Charles noticed that since Fletcher had announced that they would disband the Seventh Squad and allow everyone to form their own groups for the trial after he left, more eyes were turning towards him. Before thest rays of the sunset faded, Fletcher finally led the Seventh Squad to their final camping site for the trialthe alluvial in at the junction of Kentish Mountain and the Nine Hell River. Charles nced around and couldn''t help but admire Fletcher''s choice of location. This in offered a wide view, mostly covered with low shrubs. The ferocious beasts here were generally below Level 10. Even if dangerous beasts invaded, they could be quickly spotted. The open area also made it easier for group members to assist each other. For those aiming to climb the ranking board and enter prestigious schools, Kentish Mountain provided an excellent training ground. Moving southwest into these mountains would lead them to Level 10, and even Level 20 and above ferocious beasts. By the campfire, Fletcher earnestly reminded the students of survival tips in the wild, repeatedly emphasizing, "No matter what, do not cross the Nine Hell River." The more Fletcher reminded them, the more curious Charles became. He nced across the Nine Hell River, where the opposite shore was shrouded in darkness, featuring much higher and more treacherous peaks than Kentish Mountain. The craggy mountains loomed like devil''s ws in the dark, watching the river''s other side menacingly. After eating roasted meat by the campfire, a chubby boy suddenly approached Charles and whispered, "Charles, do you know there''s actually a faster way to climb the ranking board than hunting ferocious beasts?" Charles was intrigued, "Oh? What method? Tell me." The boy ced his hand on his neck and made a shing motion before turning and walking back to his tent. Charles was left wondering whether the boy was giving a warning or had another intention. Killing... can also increase trial points? Charles felt a shiver run down his spine. Watching the chubby boy''s retreating figure, which bore a slight resemnce to Daniel, Charles couldn''t help but worry. Could it be that the boy was... Charles was grateful for the warning, though. Even if he wasn''t deranged enough to harm his ssmates, it reminded him of a crucial lessonno one could be trusted in these ferocious beast mountains. People could deceive, and they were far more dangerous than ferocious beasts. "To survive, I can''t fully trust anyone." With that thought in mind, Charles approached his tent and saw Aurora standing at the entrance, looking like she had been waiting for a while. "Charles, I found a depression on the ins with lots of low-level ferocious beasts! No one else has discovered it yet. Do you want to team up and score some points tomorrow?" Aurora asked eagerly. "No, thanks," Charles replied with a slight smile. "Oh... okay." Aurora looked a bit disappointed. Charles is so powerful; he probably isn''t interested in something as trivial as scoring points... ... Night fell, and silence enveloped the camp. Thinking back to what the chubby boy had said, Charlesy in bed, unable to sleep. He picked up his phone and checked the points ranking again. [Points Ranking for Ferocious Beast Mountain Training] 1st: Grace [2385 points] 2nd: Robert [1317 points] 3rd: Thomas [972 points] ... 752nd: Charles [214 points] ... Reluctantly, he scrolled to thest page. 1018th: Daniel [0 points] Not only Daniel, but all 50 members of the First Squad who had entered the mountains three weeks ago still had zero points. The fact that killing for points was possible meant it was tacitly allowed. Who knows how many atrocities were happening in the ferocious beast mountains right now? "Robert, that bastard, he''s definitely capable of this," Charles thought bitterly, ring at the ''1317'' next to Robert''s name. In his eyes, that number turned blood red, hiding who knows how many lives behind it. "At this rate, forget about the three great academies in the Imperial Capital, I won''t even get into Vendantia Academy in the province." Charles drank a bottle of regenerating potion, instantly shaking off his drowsiness. He put on his Divine Scale Armor and quietly slipped out of the tent. Once the campfire was out of sight, he took a Miraculous Speed Pill and sprinted toward the Nine Hell River... Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Gathering of Experts Under the pitch-ck night sky, with a crescent moon hanging above, Charles sprinted all the way to the edge of the Nine Hell River. A thinyer of mist hovered over the river''s surface, and faintly, the roars of beasts could be heard from the opposite bank. "Once I cross the Nine Hell River, I''ll be in the heart of the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range. I wonder what kind of powerful ferocious beasts I''ll encounter there. It''s quite exciting, really," Charles sighed softly. The Ferocious Beast Mountain Range was an area with vague boundaries, and the Nine Hell River could be considered Genosha''s de facto ''borderline.'' The territory south of the Nine Hell River belonged to the ferocious beasts, and even the most experienced old hunters rarely dared to cross the river. However, this also had its advantagesfewer people meant lesspetition. Charles''s current score had already fallen far behind the others, with Grace leading him by a full 2,000 points. To overtake her in the next month, Charles had to take some risks. "Tonight, I''ll scout the situation on the other side of the river. If it''s favorable, I''ll spend the next month over there," Charles pondered. He took an intable rubber boat out of his storage space, ced it in the river, and carefully began rowing towards the opposite bank. As soon as he entered the water, themotion on the surface attracted some fish, all of which were low-level water-type ferocious beasts simr to piranhas. As long as he didn''t fall into the river, they shouldn''t be able to attack him. The Nine Hell River was 5,000 meters wide, and it took Charles a full quarter of an hour to reach the middle of the river. The wind and waves around him gradually intensified, with several waves sshing over, drenching Charles to the bone. Suddenly, he noticed a massive creature swimming beneath the water''s surface. "What''s going on? What is that thing?" Charles eximed in shock. The towering waves around him weren''t stirred by the wind, but by a dragon-like creature beneath the river''s surface. It was swimming right under Charles, and with just a slight flick of its tail fin, it stirred up a tremendous wave on the river! "Woo" "Woo" A deep sound echoed from beneath the water, resembling the call of a whale. As a ssh echoed, a colossal creature suddenly leaped out of the waterit was a hydra! [Devouring Serpent] [Attribute]: Water [Level]: 59 [Leveling up...] [Quality]: Gold [Emotion]: Fear [Health]: Severely Injured [Description]: This is a Level 59 ferocious beast, the Devouring Serpent, which has already gained rudimentary human intelligence. It is currently in the midst of an evolution and is extremely weakened, with three external wounds and bleeding from its chest and abdomen, resulting in a 50% decrease inbat power. Devouring Serpent, with its nine terrifying heads, stared at him. In the darkness, nine pairs of blood-red eyes gleamed ominously. Its deep blue body, streaked with golden stripes, looked extraordinary. Beneath it, currents of water seemed to lift it off the ground, allowing it to float in the air as if it were swimming. A ferocious beast this powerful could probably reduce him to nothing with a mere sneeze. The thought of fighting waspletely out of Charles'' mind. As the nine pairs of eyes locked onto him, his scalp tingled with fear, and he was ready to activate [Darkness Cloak] to escape at any moment. "It looks like it''s severely injured, and it''s clearly fleeing from something. But what could possibly have beaten a Level 59 ferocious beast so badly?" Charles wondered in confusion. It was terrifying to even imagine what kind of monstrous existence could do this! Charles swallowed hard. He hadn''t even crossed the Nine Hell River yet, and he was already facing a battle of this magnitude. The idea of crossing to the other side was quickly fadingstrengthening himself was important, but staying alive was even more so! Charles gently moved his oar, preparing to retreat... But at that moment, the previously calm Devouring Serpent suddenly became agitated again. It violently whipped its tail fin and leaped into the air, sending a massive wave tens of meters high crashing down. In front of this colossal creature, Charles was no different from an ant. With one sweep of its tail fin, Charles hadn''t even processed what had happened before he found himself soaring dozens of meters into the air. The next moment, the sensation of weightlessness overcame him, and Charles began to plummet towards the river. On the river''s surface, hundreds of piranhas had already gathered, tightly packed together as they opened their gaping jaws, watching Charles fall from the sky. These were all ferocious beasts below Level 10, but their sheer numbers were overwhelming. If Charles fell among them, there wouldn''t be a scrap of him left! In the darkness, just as Charles was about to hit the water, his fall suddenly stopped. A lock of pale blue hair dangled near his ear. She smelled faintly of elegance and freshnessthis was a woman, but before Charles could even catch a glimpse of her face, she gave him a gentle push... A powerful current lifted Charles across to the other side of the Nine Hell River. He stumbled several steps uponnding before finally regaining his bnce. "Tha... Thank you!" Charles, still shaken, turned around. In the sky above stood a tall, slender woman holding a green longsword. She must have been the one who saved him. As Charles began to express his gratitude, the next second A sh of sword light cut through the air as the woman transformed into a streak of cyan light, chasing after the direction where the Devouring Serpent had vanished. Lightning Demon Ape!!! An explosion echoed from a mountain peak several kilometers away, and a brilliant blue light illuminated a vast portion of the sky. In that fleeting moment, Charles was horrified to see that the mountaintop had been sliced cleanly in half... The shockwave, mixed with fragments of grass and wood, swept towards him, carrying with it a strong scent of blood as debris rained down to the ground. Charles shook off the bits of debris that had settled on him, his eyes wide with shock. "So this is what a battle between the truly powerful looks like? This is insane..." To be able to force a Level 59 ferocious beast to flee in such a sorry state, Charles spected that the woman he just saw was at least a Level 6 Beast Master, possibly even a Level 7 Beast Master! A battle of this magnitude was clearly not something Charles could get involved in; even just watching it could easily get him caught up in the destruction. Suddenly, hurried footsteps and voices approached from behind, prompting Charles to quickly hide in a nearby thicket. "Did Vice Principal Emma just head that way?" "It seems so. The explosion just now came from over there. Let''s hurry and catch up." In the blink of an eye, a group of young men and women, riding on Mystical Beasts known as Wind Leopards, rushed past him, heading in the direction where the Devouring Serpent had disappeared. Each of them bore the emblem of Nova Academy, one of the Imperial Capital''s three major academies, and they were mostly Level 3 Beast Masters, with even a Level 4 Beast Master among them. They were clearly here to train in the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range. Once they had moved on, Charles emerged from the thicket, his face filled with surprise. Who would have thought that the woman who saved him was actually the Vice Principal of Nova Academy, one of the three major academies in the Imperial Capital! "That Devouring Serpent was a Level 59 ferocious beast. If I secretly follow them, I might be able to pick up some scraps!" Charles chuckled to himself. A high-level ferocious beast like that would have immense valueeven a piece of its flesh could significantly boost the strength of a Mystical Beast, and it could fetch an astronomical price on the market! Moreover, Charles figured that given the size of such a massive ferocious beast, they wouldn''t be able to carry most of the meat and materials without a storage space like his. There was bound to be plenty of good stuff left behind. Charles carefully suppressed his presence and stealthily followed after them... ... After swallowing the [Miraculous Speed Pill], Charles''s speed surged by 50%. Following the group, he finally arrived at the center of the explosion a few minutester. The closer he got to the explosion''s epicenter, the more shocked Charles became. The trees within a few kilometers were all neatly severed, and a nearby rocky hill had a smooth cross-section, polished like a mirror. The once colossal Devouring Serpent, with its nine heads, now had only one remaining. The other eight had been severed, with blood gushing out, creating a gruesome sight. In front of the serpent stood a petite woman with pale blue hair tied back by a delicate golden hairpiece. Her face, elegant and captivating, remained incredibly calm. To her, this powerful ferocious beast seemed no more threatening than amb awaiting ughter. "Why do you insist on hunting me down, human woman?" The Devouring Serpent''sst remaining head looked towards the woman and suddenly spoke. Hearing the ferocious beast speak in humannguage, Charles was momentarily stunned. He recalled that Lily, during one of her theory sses, had mentioned that some high-level ferocious beasts gradually develop human intelligence and can speak. At even higher levels, they can even transform into human form. "Surrender to me and form a contract with me!" The woman''s voice was clear and melodious, her longsword pointed directly at the Devouring Serpent. As Charles looked on, several lines of information appeared before his eyes. [Name]: Emma [Age]: 32 [Height]: 171 cm [Measurements]: 88/49/77 [Beast Master Level]: Seven "It seems she has just recently advanced to a Level 7 Beast Master. Her purpose ining to the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range must be to tame her seventh Mystical Beast." Understanding the situation, Charles felt a twinge of disappointment. Emma wasn''t here to hunt the ferocious beast, but to subdue it. This meant that his hope of scavenging anything valuable was now dashed. "Human woman, in my era, I, the Devouring Serpent, was the ruler of this Ferocious Beast Mountain Range. To think I would submit to you? Keep dreaming!" The Devouring Serpent roared, sending a flock of nearby birds and beasts scattering in fear. With a soft sigh, Emma slowly raised her longsword. "If you refuse to submit to me willingly, then I shall beat you into submission." As she lifted her hand, a sh of light appeared, and a six-pointed star summoning circle materialized beside her. Charles quickly counted Emma''s Mystical Beaststhere were six in total. The most striking among them was a blue-ringed octopus of tinum quality! As Emma''s voice fell, the Nine Hell River erupted in turbulent waves. A blue water column shot up into the sky, transforming in the blink of an eye into a towering waterspout, several stories high. Beside her, all six of her Mystical Beasts assumed battle stances. The blue-ringed octopus surged in size until it was as massive as the Devouring Serpent itself. Emma''s power likely rivaled that of a Level 60 ferocious beast, and she was facing an opponent who was on the verge ofpleting its evolution into a fifth-tier pinnacle-level ferocious beast. This was the first time Charles had ever witnessed a battle of such magnitude! A colossal showdown was inevitable. Instinctively, he took a step back. Suddenly, a voice rang out from another direction in the sky: "I discovered this Devouring Serpent first. Did you think you could tame it without my permission?" A middle-aged man dressed in ck robes appeared before Emma in the blink of an eye. The moment he arrived, Charles felt an overwhelming sense of pressure. [Name]: Joshua [Race]: Serpentkin [Age]: 41 [Level]: Lv64 [Attributes]: Wind/Poison A few lines of information shed before Charles''s eyes, leaving himpletely stunned. The Nine Hell River was indeed bustling with activity tonight. The Vice Principal of Nova Academy chasing down a Level 59 ferocious beast, and now, out of nowhere, a Level 64 Serpentkin has appeared! Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Spectators and Drama In the sky above, the two formidable figures faced each other, standing on air. The sheer intensity of their presence made it difficult for Charles to even breathe. A faint ck mist enveloped the man, obscuring his features from Charles''s view. With a sweep of his long sleeve, the ck mist began to spread, gradually covering a vast portion of the sky. Even the Devouring Serpent, which was on the verge of breaking through to the sixth tier, was utterly terrified by the disy. Despite the excruciating pain coursing through its body, it dared not make a sound. Charles shifted his gaze to the other side. The swirling blue vortex had almost drained the Nine Hell River dry, with the riverbed faintly visible. The woman, with a delicate point of her toe in the void, stood atop the towering waterspout. "This Devouring Serpent, with eight of its nine heads already severed by me, is nearly subdued. For you to now im that you were the first to discover it is rather audacious," the blue-haired woman said, her voice crisp and melodic. Sensing the formidable strength of the neer, her tone was measured,cking any overt hostility. "Audacious?" The man in the ck robe let out a cold snort, then pointed to the severely wounded body of the Devouring Serpent. "A month ago, I discovered this Devouring Serpent as it was about to ascend. It barely escaped from me, but not without sustaining serious injuries. Otherwise, do you think you could have defeated it so easily with your strength?" Following the direction of the man''s finger, Charles noticed three ck wounds on the serpent''s abdomen. A quick nce at the system''s status for the Devouring Serpent confirmed that it was indeed suffering from serpent venom, likely from the Serpentkin. It seemed the man was telling the truth. However, Emma clearly intended to subdue this ferocious beast and make it her Mystical Beast. Given the high price she must have paid during the pursuit, she was unlikely to hand over the Devouring Serpent now that it was within her grasp. Charles surmised that a fierce battle was inevitable tonight. In the sky above, seeing the woman remain silent, the man slightly softened his stance. "The Serpentkin and Genosha have been at peace for a century. I am not an unreasonable man. How about this: I take the beast core, bones, and scales, and you can have the rest of the materials. What do you say?" "You''ve got it all figured out, haven''t you? Doing nothing and expecting to reap the rewards? But I intend to subdue this Devouring Serpent as my Mystical Beast, not kill it," the woman''s voice echoed coldly from the other side of the sky. "In that case, let''s see if you have what it takes!" The man wasted no more words. His aura surged, and ck mist poured out from his body, gradually forming a suit of ck armor around him. Wielding a jet-ck spear, he swung it through the air, whipping up a fierce gale around him. "If it''s a fight you want, then I''ll give you one," the woman responded calmly, showing no trace of fear. Her six Mystical Beasts circled around her, and as the blue-ringed octopus moved, the Nine Hell River erupted in towering waves, sending water columns hundreds of meters high shooting into the sky. "So this is... the terrifying power of a Level 7 Beast Master?" Charles muttered to himself, drenched from head to toe as the waves pounded against him. Spitting out a mouthful of water, he clung desperately to a nearby giant tree. He stared up at the sky in awe. On one side, a cyan light had spread across half of the heavens, resembling an ocean. On the other, a ck storm was brewing, threatening to swallow even the starlight. The sky was like a powder keg soaked in gasoline, ready to explode at the slightest spark. Charles wasn''t too confident in the woman named Emma. Though she was undoubtedly one of the most powerful figures in Genosha, she had only recently advanced to Level 7 Beast Master, roughly equivalent to a Level 61. Moreover, she hadn''t yet tamed her seventh Mystical Beast, which meant her strength was somewhat diminished. As the waves surged, dozens of water columns formed in front of Emma''s Mystical Beast, the blue-ringed octopus. Gradually, they coalesced into a massive water dragon, a hundred meters long, which spiraled toward the man. Wherever the water dragon passed, the ferocious beasts in the forest below scattered in terror, their eyes wide with fear as they fled in all directions. Charles quickly darted back another hundred meters, terrified of being caught up in the water dragon''s wrath. "Fool!" the man sneered as he watched the enormous blue dragon hurtle toward him. Behind him, the storm raged more fiercely, gradually forming an evenrger ck serpent that charged headlong into the water dragon. In the sky above, the two colossal beasts collided, unleashing a brilliant light that made it as bright as day. Charles shielded his eyes with his hand, barely avoiding being blinded by the intense re. "Lightning Demon Ape!!!" Momentster, the sound of an explosion roared through the air, apanied by a shockwave that sted the trees in the center of the battlefield into splinters, some of which struck Charles. The massive dragon, weighing millions of tons, shattered into countless droplets after the explosion, triggering a brief but intense downpour. The river water from the Nine Hell River surged like a sh flood, sweeping away everything in its path. Countless low-level ferocious beasts were washed into the river by the deluge. It took every ounce of strength Charles had to break free from the floodwaters, struggling to climb onto a nearby hill that stood above the chaos. As he looked up at the two powerful figures locked in battle in the sky, his eyes burned with excitement. This was the first time he had witnessed a battle of this magnitude, and with just a single move, Emma had triggered a localized sh flood. And this was only the beginning. After the water dragon dispersed, the Nine Hell River roared back to life, as water energy began to gather once more in front of Emma, slowly forming into a massive. [Network of Constraints]! Charles recognized the skill as belonging to Emma''s Mystical Beast, the blue-ringed octopus. The overwhelming waves gradually wove into a massive spherical, trapping the man inside, leaving no room for escape. The water began to contract... The ck serpent, conjured from the hurricane, along with the man beside it, was quickly ensnared by the web. But in just a blink of an eye, another explosion echoed across the sky, and the once-imprable shattered into a shower of water droplets. A colossal figure, with the upper body of a man and the lower body of a snake, burst free from the''s restraints. Emma''s two attacks had failed to inflict any harm on the man, but the relentless assault had clearly worn down his patience. Joshua, now revealed in his true Serpentkin form, stood ten meters tall, wielding a ck spear. With a powerful swing towards the woman, the ck mist around him condensed into a razor-sharp de. As the wind de surged forward, even the starlight seemed to warp around it. Watching the attack approach, Emma frowned slightly. Her six Mystical Beasts each activated their defensive skills, gradually forming a water-blue shield in front of her: "Sea Phantom Shield!" As the massive shield solidified, the wind de was already upon her, crashing directly into the shield. A sharp, grating sound, like metal scraping against metal, echoed from the point where the wind de met the water shield. Under the force of the collision, Emma began to lose ground, and cracks started to spread across the surface of the shield. "Crack!!!" With a clear, shattering sound, the giant shield exploded into fragments, dissolving into a spray of water droplets that fell like rain once more. Though the water shield had absorbed most of the wind de''s power, a residual force still broke through, striking Emma in the chest. A stream of crimson blood began to pour from the wound. "It''s over," the Serpentkin man scoffed, lunging toward her with his spear. Injured and under the relentless assault of the man, Emma was clearly struggling to defend herself, retreating step by step in the sky. Blue and ck streaks of light shed repeatedly in mid-air. Emma had already activated her Bestial Soul Merge, unleashing a brief surge of power in a desperate,st-ditch effort. "Lightning Demon Ape!" Shockwaves continuously erupted from the aerial battle, carving deep, bottomless trenches into the mountains and ground below. "Vice Principal seems to be injured. If this continues, something terrible is bound to happen!" "These Serpentkin are truly shameless. They waited until we and the Devouring Serpent were both exhausted from fighting and then swooped in to im the prize!" "But... if even the Vice Principal can''t defeat him, what can we, just Level 3 Beast Masters, possibly do?" On the other side of the hill, a group of Nova Academy students, who had also taken refuge from the floodwaters, looked up at the sky with worried expressions. They had noticed Charles by now, but their attention was so fixated on the battle above that theypletely ignored him. With a de of foxtail grass between his teeth, Charles silently watched the unfolding drama, almost as if he needed a small chair to settle in and enjoy the show. He could see clearly that Emma was no match for the Serpentkin man named Joshua. In his estimation, she would be defeated in less than a minute. But despite everything, they were both humans, and Charles didn''t want to see Emma killed by a Serpentkin, especially considering that she had saved him on the Nine Hell River just a short while ago. Charles opened the system interface, scanning for any tips on the Serpentkin man''s weaknesses. [Weakness]: Wind attribute abilities rely on absorbing wind energy from the environment to enhancebat power. In windy conditions, his attacks are significantly strengthened. However, if the wind in the environment is cut off, hisbat effectiveness will be greatly reduced. "A ce without wind..." Charles muttered to himself. The battle was taking ce high in the sky, where the wind was strongnaturally an ideal environment for wind-basedbat. It was like how a forest benefits wood attributes or a volcano benefits fire attributes. Up in the sky, Emma was being relentlessly pushed back by the Serpentkin man, her body covered in wounds. She had clearly underestimated her opponent. After her exhausting battle with the Devouring Serpent, she hadn''t had time to recover, and now she was clearly no match for this Serpentkin. Just as despair began to creep in, a strange voice called out from the ground below: "Don''t fight him in the air! Get to the ground, or better yet, into the water!" Though the voice was faint, her advanced hearing as a Level 7 Beast Master allowed her to catch even the slightest sound within several kilometers. The words jolted her to the realization that she had made a grave mistake. Why was she fighting an opponent with wind attributes in the air, his domain? Seeing the blue figure plummet toward the Nine Hell River, the Serpentkin man''s eyes shed with malice as he too descended, though not toward the womanhe aimed straight for the source of that voice: "Boy, you''re asking for death!" Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Bloodline Intimidation Emma slowed her descent, steadying herself just a few meters above the surface of the Nine Hell River. The humid air rushed toward her. All six of her Mystical Beasts were water-based, and the dense water attribute energy around her instantly made her feel as if herbat power had increased by at least thirty percent. If the battle took ce in her advantageous terrain, she might not be able to defeat the Serpentkin man, but at least she wouldn''t be at such a disadvantage. However, when she nced in the direction the Serpentkin was heading, she realized he seemed to be targeting the person who had just given her that crucial advice. Her brow furrowed, and she quickly followed after him... "Boy, do you know you''re courting death?" As the voice reached his ears, the Serpentkin man''s figure had already descended from the sky,nding right in front of Charles. The overwhelming sense of terror and oppression almost made Charles lose his footing. Unlike humans, who rely on contracts with Mystical Beasts to enhance theirbat abilities, the Serpentkin tribe relies entirely on building up their own attributes, making theirbat power extraordinarily formidable. In the face of such absolute strength, Charles had no chance of victorynot even a sliver. "Damn, I think I''ve gotten in over my head!" Charles cursed under his breath. When he saw Emma being overpowered earlier, he had revealed the Serpentkin man''s weakness. That action had clearly infuriated him. Cold sweat began to bead on Charles''s forehead, but he maintained a calm exterior. He knew that panicking wouldn''t help; if he wanted to survive, he had two options: either stall for time until Emma could rescue him, or find a way to slip into the shadows and use [Darkness Cloak] to escape. Carefully, Charles edged closer to a patch of shadow cast by the moonlight through the trees, all the while trying to divert the man''s attention. "Come on, man, you were just fighting her. I''m just a newly promoted Level 2 Beast Mastersurely you wouldn''t stoop so low as to pick on me?" The moment Charles took a step, a cloud of ck mist enveloped him, binding his body as if ropes had tightened around him, rendering him immobile. The mist then lifted him into the air. "Spare me your slippery tongue. If it weren''t for you, that woman would be dead by now. Since you like meddling so much, then die for it!" the man roared, and the ck mist behind Charles coalesced into a massive ck serpent. The serpent opened its blood-red maw and lunged at Charles, ready to devour him. "It''s over... Am I really going to die here?" Charles''s face paled, and his heart pounded in his chest. The disparity in their levels was so vast that even with the system, he doubted he could withstand the attack. Damn it! If only he had just stayed out of it and watched the fight. What was a small fry like him doing getting involved in a battle between a Level 64 Serpentkin and a Level 7 Beast Master? "Nine Hell River marks the boundarySerpentkin and Genosha are to remain in peace. Must you force my hand to once again tten Atacama?" A majestic voice echoed through the air, ethereal and omnipresent, as if it came from all directions at once. Behind Charles, a massive figure appeared, towering like a great mountain. Its presence was so immense that it seemed to blot out the stars and moon in the sky. As he gazed upon the towering figure standing several dozen meters tall before him, the Serpentkin man froze in fear. The Serpentkin had an ingrained terror of this ancient war god, Ares, who had never known defeat in battle. "Ares... Ares has been resurrected?" The words slipped out of the Serpentkin man''s mouth almost reflexively. He immediately released his grip on Charles, taking a step back in a desperate attempt to flee. Ares was Genosha''s first war god from a thousand years ago, and in the legendary battle, the Serpentkin Queen Medusa had perished alongside him. His power was unmatched, far beyond anything this Serpentkin could contend with. "Wait, no! Ares was petrified long ago! Hmph, trying to trick me, you little brat!" Upon closer inspection, the man realized the truthhigh above in the air, there was a small brownish creature, and that was the true source of the voice. A mass of ck mist formed into a hand and reached out to grab it from the air. "Squeak, squeak, squeak!" "Help, help!" "Let go of me, or... or... could you maybe let me finish the nuts I''ve hidden before you kill me?" The majestic voice vanished, along with the illusion of Ares''s figure. Charles quickly understood that it had been Mousie using its [Mimetic Illusion] skill all along. Though the illusion hadn''t caused any real harm, the brief moment of distraction was enough for Charles to reach the shadows, where he could now activate [Darkness Cloak] and escape at any moment. But if he did, Mousie would be in grave danger... Mousie had risked its life to save him just nowhow could he abandon his partner? Joshua, feeling deeply humiliated by being frightened by such a tiny creature, allowed his fury to take over. The ck mist transformed into tworge handsone for the human, the other for the beastand he prepared to end both their lives. While Charles hesitated, the ck mist wrapped around him once again, the suffocating pressure even more terrifying than the Resurrecting Serpent''s coils from before. His Divine Scale Armor creaked under the strain, clearly nearing its breaking point. Beside him, Mousie''s face had turned red, unable to make a sound. "Pain... it hurts!" Charles groaned. The pain wasn''ting from where the ws gripped him, but from his neck, where Aria had bitten him before. Blood seeped from the fang-marked wound, and suddenly, a purple light began to envelop him... An ancient andmanding aura emanated from Charles, causing Joshua to feel a shiver run through his soul. He even felt an inexplicable urge to kneel. "Joshua, I told youyou cannot harm him." A voice echoed from behind Charles, but it sounded more like a hallucination. Joshua snapped out of his daze, realizing that the boy before him was the very human the princess had instructed him not to harm that day. "Hmph." Suddenly, Joshua released his grip and vanished into the forest. The moment he disappeared, the massive ck w holding Charles dissipated, and the suffocating pressure lifted. Charles copsed to the ground, gasping for breath. His entire body was drenched in sweat. It was his first time facing such overwhelming pressure from someone above Level 60. Staring in the direction where Joshua had vanished, Charles remained in a state of shock for a long time. "Are you alright?" A voice, ethereal and serene, came from behind him. Before he could fully process what had happened, a slender figure in blue appeared before him, gazing at him with eyes as clear and unperturbed as a stillke. "I''m sorry I waste." Charles looked up, finding himself face-to-face with the Vice Principal of Nova Academy, Emma, for the first time. A Level 7 Beast Masterone of the most powerful figures in all of Genosha, someone even the royal family would show deference toand she was standing right in front of him. As he observed her closely, a sense of awe welled up within him. Although the system had indicated that she was 32 years old, she looked no older than a young woman just stepping into adulthood. He had heard that high-level Beast Masters often possessed a sort of "elixir of life." Her pale blue hair cascaded like a waterfall, her skin was wless like jade, and her features were exquisitely delicate, carrying an ethereal beauty as if untouched by the mortal worlda fairy-like presence. "Are you hurt?" she asked again, her voice soft and gentle. Charles snapped out of his reverie, realizing he had been staring a bit too long. He scratched his head awkwardly and said, "When I heard them say that the Vice Principal of Nova Academy was fighting that ck serpent in the sky, I imagined you''d be some... well, an older woman. I didn''t expect to see such a beautiful youngdy instead!" At the mention of the word "older," a sh of annoyance crossed Emma''s lovely face, but when he followed it up with "youngdy," a faint blush spread across her cheeks. "I''m not exactly a young girl... Actually, I''m... ahem, 20 years old! And thank you for your help earlier. If it wasn''t for your reminder, I might have lost that battle." Recalling the perilous moments in the sky just now, Emma still felt a lingering sense of fear. At that moment, the students who had been watching the battle alongside Charles all rushed over, their faces filled with astonishment. "Was that thing that looked like Ares something you summoned?" "I can''t believe my eyes! That was the Serpentkin who nearly defeated Vice Principal Emma, and you actually managed to drive him away!" "You''re only a Level 2 Beast Master, right? How on earth did you do it?" Surrounded by the curious and chattering female students, Charles felt a bit embarrassed. To be honest, even he didn''t fully understand why Joshua had let him go. There had been a sharp pain in his neck, seemingly from where Aria had bitten him before. But when he checked now, not only had the wound healed, but even the bite marks hadpletely vanished. "Squeak, squeak!" "That''s right! It was Mousie who summoned Ares just now! You know, the legendary figure who could take on the Serpentkin Queen Medusa one-on-one, of course, he could scare that guy away! No, actually, it wasn''t just scaring him away, it was me, Mousie, who defeated that Serpentkin..." The little brown flying squirrel circled around Charles''s head, enthusiastically recounting its supposed victory. Although only Charles could understand Mousie''s words, its fluffy, adorable appearance quickly captured the attention of the girls around him. "Wait, stop!" "Let go of me... Only my master can pet Mousie... Oh no...!" Meanwhile, Emma nced toward the riverbank, noticing that the Devouring Serpent had long since disappeared. "What a pity, we almost had it. I''m injured as well, so let''s return to camp and rest for now. We can resume the search for the Devouring Serpent tomorrow," Emma suggested. Then she turned her gaze to Charles. "This area is extremely dangerous. Why don''t youe with us?" Charles thought it over. Since he nned to train in this area anyway, tagging along with them to get familiar with the terrain seemed like a good idea. Nova Academy was one of the three major academies in the Imperial Capital, and getting to know the Vice Principal certainly wouldn''t hurt! As Charles approached, the cloud leopards that served as their mounts began growling, issuing warning sounds. Seeing the cloud leopards, Charles couldn''t help but feel a twinge of envy. These creatures were far faster than any train! The world he found himself in was at least ten timesrger than the Earth he knew, with cities spread out across vast distances. Even high-speed trains would feel sluggish in such a sprawlingndscape. Mounting one of the cloud leopards, Charles felt the world around him blur into a whirlwind of motion as the creature dashed forward at incredible speed. Suddenly, Emma appeared beside him, her captivating eyes studying him closely. "I can sense threepletely different types of elemental energy within you. How interesting." Emma''s voice was soft, almost drifting on the wind, but it caused Charles to stiffen suddenly. Chapter 45: Chapter 45: The First Law of the Beast Master Charles''s Mystical Beast, Max, possessed both ice and fire attributes, and Mousie had the rare dark attributesomething Charles had never shared with anyone. But Emma was a Level 7 Beast Master. Herbat prowess and perception were far beyond those of ordinary people, so detecting the three different attributes within Charles wasn''t difficult. There was no way for him to hide it. "That''s right. My Mystical Beast, the Nine-Tailed Demon Wolf, naturally possesses both ice and fire attributes, while the flying squirrel has the wind attribute. But why are yousuddenly interested in this?" Charles replied, though he wasn''t entirely truthful, concealing the fact that Mousie had a dark attribute. Emma turned her head, her cyan eyes glinting with a strange light. "It seems my theoretical research was correct. There truly are people in this world who can harness multiple elemental powers!" The cloud leopards sped through the forest at a breakneck pace, covering a hundred kilometers in the blink of an eye. Emma, clearly excited, began to exin her "Five Core Theories of the Beast Master" to Charles. As Emma spoke, Charles started to grasp the concepts she was discussing. The firstw of the Beast Master Core Theories: The Principle of Energy Annihtion. Typically, a Beast Master can only tame Mystical Beasts of the same attribute; otherwise, the different types of elemental energy within the Beast Master''s body would create chaotic energy currents. This unstable energy could lead to mental instability or even death. However, if a Beast Master possesses exceptionally strong soul power, they might be able to finely control and prevent this energy from bing chaotic. Emma''s six Mystical Beasts were all water attribute; the Bradley they encountered earlier had three poison attribute Mystical Beasts, and Felix had two fire attribute tigers. Inparison, Charles was indeed unusual. Charles spected that his soul might be stronger than most because he had lived two lives, but he was still puzzled. "Even though I can control multiple types of elemental energy, I don''t really feel that different from other Beast Masters." Emma had the cloud leopard slow down, then lowered her voice. "What I mentioned earlier was only the first half of the theory. If, during battle, you can control different types of energy and cause them to annihte each other, you could potentially create an unprecedented and incredibly powerful super bomb." After hearing Emma exin the ''First Law,'' Charles felt as if he''d been struck by lightning, his whole body momentarily frozen in shock. Why does this sound so much like... E=MC^2? Isn''t this essentially the mass-energy equivalence of the Beast Mastery world? Charles finally understood why Max''s skill, [Energy Bomb], which seemed unremarkable at first, could cause such massive destruction, allowing him to defeat Felix in an instanteven producing a mushroom cloud in the process! This world may not have nuclear bombs, but that Energy Bomb is practically the equivalent here! Emma''s exnation suddenly made everything click into ce for him. If he could leverage this principle, like collecting pieces of a puzzle, he could ensure that each of his future Mystical Beasts has apletely different attribute: ice, fire, dark, metal, wood, earth, wind, thunder... Wouldn''t that mean he could create increasingly powerful "nuclear bombs"? With such a powerful secret weapon at his disposal, even if he faced enemies far stronger than himself in the future, he would still have a chance to make a desperate stand! Thinking about this, Charles suddenly felt like the future was bright. His Beast Master talent might not be the strongest in this world, but his soul power, forged across two lifetimes, was unique in this world!!! Understanding all of this, Charles looked at Emma with newfound respect. It was no wonder she was the Vice Principal of Nova Academy; to have developed such an astonishing theory was truly impressive. "You mentioned earlier that this is one of the ''Five Core Theories of Beast Mastery.'' Could I ask what the other four theories are?" Charles asked with curiosity. "The other four theories, huh" Emma gracefully leaped onto the nearby grassy area, her skirt fluttering as she smiled gently. "When you pass the entrance exam and be a student under my tutge at Nova Academy, then I''ll tell you!" Seriously...? If you want to know what happens next, stay tuned for the next episode. Charles was somewhat speechless, having piqued his curiosity, but suddenly stopped talking. But he understood. These theories were likely considered state secrets in Genosha. The fact that Emma had shared even the firstw with him was already a great privilege. "The Imperial Capital''s three major academies are indeed filled with hidden talents," Charles thought to himself. Dismounting from the cloud leopard, he followed Emma to a small campsite on the grass. There weren''t many peoplefewer than ten. When they saw Emma return, they quickly gathered around. Among them were seven studentstwo men and five womenand with Emma and Charles, there were nine people in total sitting around the campfire for ate-night meal. Everyone was curious about Charles. After all, it was rather astonishing that a Level 2 Beast Master would dare venture alone into the depths of the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range for training. Sitting by the campfire, Charles ate a little and then checked the points leaderboard. [Ferocious Beast Mountain Range Training Points Leaderboard] 1st ce: Grace [2746 points] 2nd ce: Robert [1632 points] 3rd ce: Thomas [1321 points] 805th ce: Charles [214 points] It had only been a day since hest checked, and that prodigy Grace was already nearing 3000 points! "Only one month left. Starting tomorrow, I need to step up my game!" Charles silently motivated himself. Witnessing the battle between a Level 7 Beast Master and a Level 64 opponent today had only strengthened Charles''s resolve to grow stronger. Whether it was to find his parents, unravel the secrets of this world, or even one day find a way back to Earth, he had to emerge victorious in this training! Only then would he have the opportunity to venture beyond Lsengard into the vast world outside. After checking the leaderboard, Charles sent a message to Fletcher, letting him know that he had gone to train in the Kentish Mountains and wouldn''t be returning to the camp for a while. As he put away his phone and was about to set up his tent, a sudden, sharp sound caught his attention, and the group around him became rmed. "Vice Principal, what''s wrong? Please don''t scare me!" a girl cried out in panic. Charles looked toward themotion and saw Emma with blood at the corner of her mouth, having already lost consciousness. The seven or eight people around her, although a few years older than Charles, were still inexperienced students. Faced with this unexpected situation, they were clearly panicking. "Move aside," Charles said, stepping forward to examine Emma''s condition. [Name]: Emma [Measurements]: 88/49/77 [Beast Master Level]: Seven [Health]: External Injuries: 6 locations [View Treatment Options]Internal Injuries: 2 locations [View Treatment Options]Original Serpent Poison: [View Treatment Options] Charles quickly reviewed the information. The first two weremon injuriesnothing too serious, even the internal injuries were manageable given Emma''s formidable strength as a Level 7 Beast Master. The reason she had coughed up blood was likely due to the serpent poison inflicted by Joshua. "We encountered a very powerful Serpentkin earlier, someone stronger than Vice Principal Lin. The blood is ck, which suggests she''s been poisoned by a serpent!" "This original serpent poison might only be treatable back in the Imperial Capital! But even from here to Lsengard, it would take the cloud leopards seven dayslet alone reaching the Imperial Capital." "Ah, what do we do? Please don''t scare us like this!" "Please, Vice Principal, you mustn''t have anything happen to you..." The students around were at aplete loss, panicking as they watched Emma''s condition worsen. Charles gently lifted Emma off the ground and carried her to a nearby tent. "I have a way to treat her, but I needplete privacy. No one can disturb us." "Charles, you can treat the original serpent poison?" The group looked at him with doubt etched on their faces. As they watched Charles disappear into the tent, everyone was skeptical. But at this point, they had no other choice but to trust him, so they waited anxiously outside the tent. Once inside, Charles pulled the tent''s p closed and carefullyid Emma on the bed. An advanced Beast Master''s body remains frozen in its prime, its most beautiful age, until death. Although Emma was truly 32 years old, her body appeared to be that of an 18-year-old. As Charles inadvertently touched her wless form, he felt a wave of heat rise within him, but he quickly pushed down any inappropriate thoughts. Following the treatment n provided by the system, Charles administered a [Hemostatic Powder] to Emma, then gave her some medicine to treat her internal injuries. The blood at the corner of her mouth stopped, but a faint ck mist still surrounded her body. The slight furrow in her brow made it clear that she was still suffering from the effects of the serpent poison. The pained expression on her face tugged at his heart. "Treating the external injuries is the easy part. The real problem is the original serpent poison in her system," Charles sighed softly. If he remembered correctly, Joshua was Level 64. To counteract a poison from someone of that level would be nearly impossible without equal or greater strength. At best, Charles could only produce low-quality miracle drugs, which made him doubtful that he could fully cure Emma''s poison. Still, he decided to check the treatment options out of hope. "Hmm?" As Charles nced at the treatment n on the screen, he suddenly froze. [Treatment n]: Original Serpent Poison. Use the blood of the one who administered the poison to create an antidote; or, have someone with a purer Serpentkin ancient god bloodline prick their fingertip with a needle and gently stroke the affected area. Note: Host''s sess rate is 50%. The treatment n provided two methods for neutralizing the poison. The first one made sense to Charlesit was simr to the conventional methods for treating snake venom in his previous life. But when he saw the second treatment option, Charles''s expression gradually became a mix of surprise and confusion. Chapter 46: Chapter 46: The Wrong Medicine "If treating Joshua''s serpent poison requires a purer Serpentkin ancient god bloodline, why do I have a 50% sess rate?" Charles wondered, perplexed. This was the treatment method suggested by the system, so he had no reason to doubt it. But the process... it was definitely unconventional. Charles nced at Emma, lying on the bed. The thought of having such "close contact" with this beautiful woman made his throat tighten slightly. He retrieved a small needle from his storage space and gently pricked his finger. A faint sting followed, and a small drop of blood emerged. Strangely, as the blood oozed out, his fingertip became surrounded by a faint purple mist. Even more surprising, when he brought his finger closer to Emma''s body, the previously rampant ck mist around her began to scatter as if trying to flee. "It''s actually working!" Charles thought in amazement. It seemed the purple energy in his blood had a strong suppressive effect on the Serpentkin''s original poison. Looking at Emma, her clothing was half-draped, revealing her fair skin marred by faint ck lines. Her delicate face was slightly contorted from the venom''s effects. He gently removed Emma''s cyan dress, revealing a white, form-fitting garment underneath, though it was torn in several ces and stained with blood. "My apologies," he murmured softly. With trembling fingers, Charles carefully reached toward Emma''s undergarment. No longer hesitating, he gently removed thest piece of clothing covering her, and suddenly, a vast expanse of her bare skin was exposed before him. Emma had six wounds in totalthree on her chest and two on her lower abdomen. Charles cursed silently, realizing just how strategic Joshua had been in his attacks, targeting her most vulnerable spots. Gritting his teeth, he cautiously moved his hand closer. As his fingers brushed against her soft, firm skin,Charles felt a shiver run through his entire body. Especially with the added effects of the elixir of life that advanced Beast Masters used, her skin was so smooth and tender that even the finest jade couldn''tpare. Charles''s hands moved carefully over Emma''s wless body, following the path of Joshua''s woundsfrom the peaks of her chest down to her t abdomen. Under the influence of the purple energy within him, the ck mist surrounding Emma''s body gradually dissipated. "What are you doing!" Just as Charles was absorbed in the soft,forting sensation, a sudden voice startled him. Emma had woken up, her green eyes ring at him, filled with anger. Seeing that Emma was reaching for her sword nearby, Charles quickly darted several meters away. "I''m helping you dispel the serpent poison. I didn''t mean anything else. But if you''re really ufortable with it, I''ll stop." ng As he heard the sound of the sword being returned to its sheath, Charles breathed a sigh of relief. He had reacted quickly enough; otherwise, he might have found himself sliced apart by this woman. Emma''s beautiful eyes red at him as she hastily covered her chest with her clothes. Waking up to find herselfpletely naked and being touched by a man, she had shown remarkable restraint by not cutting him down on the spot. She took a moment to assess her condition and was surprised to find that not only were her wounds healing, but the violent ck energy within her had also significantly diminished. When she looked at Charles again, the coldness in her gaze had softened. Seeing him about to flee the tent, she softly said, "Don''t go yet Please continue helping me dispel the poison." Though the words were simple, a blush crept onto her face as she spoke. Charles cautiously returned to Emma''s side, looking at this icy beauty with a serious expression. "I''ll continue treating you, but promise me you won''t suddenly decide to cut me down with your sword." Emma nodded, then slowly moved her clothing aside, exposing her full, firm chest without any hesitation right in front of Charles. "Mmhm~" The warmth of the boy''s palm against her chest sent a shiver through Emma''s body, and she couldn''t help but let out a soft moan. Embarrassed and seemingly annoyed, she warned Charles, "Just focus on dispelling the poison. Don''t get any ideas, and don''t look where you shouldn''t." But the mix of her warning and the faint traces of her breathless voice had an entirely different effect on Charles. Charles was at the height of his youth, and with such an extraordinary beauty sitting naked before him, if he had no reaction, could he even call himself a man? The fact that she was the dignified Vice Principal of Nova Academy, a woman of such high standing, now trembling under his touch, only intensified the contrast, making Charles''s mouth go dry. After about ten minutes of treatment, the ck mist within Emma''s body hadpletely dissipated. However, her fair skin now bore a faint blush, and her body began to grow rmingly hot. Noticing Emma''s strange condition, Charles grew concerned. "What''s going on? I thought I already dispelled the poison from her body." He quickly checked Emma''s health status through the system. [Health]: Confused state. Affected by a lust poison. If sexual desire is not relieved within six hours, the heart will fail, leading to death. Seeing this message, Charles had a sinking feeling. This looked awfully familiarit was the same effect as the white-tier miracle drug [Seduce Potion] that he had tried making a few days ago. Realizing his mistake, Charles checked his system storage space, and sure enough, the white pill was gone. It must have gotten mixed in with the healing medicine he had given Emma earlier. Emma, now feeling her body burning with an rming heat, noticed Charles''s distracted expression and quickly pieced together what had happened. Drawing her sword, she red at him. "You bastard, what did you just make me take?" ng! Before she could raise her sword fully, it slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. Emma realized she had lost all her strength. Normally, a drug of this level wouldn''t have any effect on her given her power. It must have been something Charles slipped to her while she was unconscious. The thought that this seemingly innocent-looking boy could be so deceitful filled her with deep resentment. "Please... let me exin! This was truly unintentional on my part..." Charles quickly darted to the entrance of the tent, but he knew he couldn''t just leave. If he walked away now, Emma would likely die from heart failure. With a wave of her hand, Emma used thest bit of her strength to set up a barrier around the tent. The water-based barrier ensured that no one outside could hear or see what was happening inside. In her current state, if her students were to see her like this, she would never be able to face returning to Nova Academy. After listening to Charles''s frantic exnation, Emma realized the gravity of the situation. Her options were grimeither lose the virginity she had preserved for years of cultivation, or die from heart failure in six hours. "You despicable rogue... Why would an alchemist like you even research something like this?" Emma gritted her teeth, ring at Charles with venom in her eyes. She tried to pick up the sword lying on the ground, but her body was too weak to move. Charles, terrified that she might strike him down, suddenly noticed that there seemed to be a barrier around them. Even if he used all his strength, he wouldn''t be able to escape. Trapped in this small space with a breathtakingly beautiful woman who was looking at him with eyes full of desire, he felt an uncontroble urge building within him. He realized his vision was starting to blur, and his body was growing ufortably hot. Something was definitely wrong. He quickly checked his status: [Charles] [Health]: Confused state. Affected by a lust poison. If sexual desire is not relieved within six hours, heart failure will ur. Charles cursed under his breath, "Damn it! I must have gotten infected with the lust poison when I was trying to dispel Emma''s!" The [Seduce Potion] not only heightened desire but also had the effect of arousing the opposite sex. Damn! I''ve been betrayed by my own concoction! While Charles couldn''t deny that Emma was extraordinarily beautifullikely the dream of countless people in Genoshahe also knew that if he gave in and something happened between them, her personality and power would ensure he wouldn''t live to see another day once she recovered. Charles leaned against the barrier, focusing inward, trying to suppress the raging desire within him. It felt like a fire was burning through his body, and his throat was so dry it felt like it might crack. In his dazed state, Charles felt a slender, fair arm wrap around his neck like a water snake, followed by a slick, soft tongue slipping into his mouth. Holding the delicate, boneless beauty in his arms, her fragrance filled his senses. It was as if a parched desert had finally received rain, quenching the thirst in his mouth as he instinctively responded to the kiss. "Charles, if you take away my purity, I will personally kill you when I regain my senses!" The beautiful woman in his arms briefly regained her rity and warned Charles. But her gentle voice,ced with breathless gasps, was quickly overshadowed by her lips pressing against his once more. By this time, the fire within Charles had already consumed him, and his desire had overwhelmed all rational thought. Instead of being deterred by Emma''s warning, he felt a spark of defiance. He lifted Emma and gently ced her on the bed beside them. "Today, I''m iming you, Emma. If you want to kill me afterward, go ahead and try!" Charles''s hand moved down to her lower abdomen, slowly sliding lower, before he suddenly tore away thest piece of fabric between them. Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Forcible Seizure "Could it be your first time?" A fleeting thought crossed Charles''s mind. It wasn''t umon for Beast Masters to remain celibate throughout their lives, and considering Emma''s power, there probably wasn''t a man in all of Genosha who could catch her eye. This realization only fueled Charles''s sense of conquest. He gently lifted her long legs, positioning himself, and slowly pushed forward. The tightness was overwhelming, but the intense sensation of being enveloped made Charles moan in pleasure. "It hurts... it hurts!" The once ethereal beauty nowy beneath Charles, her eyes filled with a seductive allure as she gazed up at him, her breathy voice echoing in his ear. Charles, having been quite experienced in his past life, knew that prolonging this would only increase her pain. With a firm thrust, he broke through, feeling a rush of satisfaction as he fully entered her. The untouched depths, never before explored by any man, were now entirely molded to his shape, as Charles imed herpletely. As Charles continued with rhythmic thrusts, Emma''s initial frown from the pain gradually softened, and she began to emit low moans that matched his movements. The once high-ranking Vice Principal of Nova Academy, who hadmanded respect in front of thousands, now disyed the vulnerability and allure of a woman beneath him. The intense sense of conquest made Charles''s entire being tremble, his body igniting like a powder keg ready to explode. "Ah... ah... please, be gentle..." Under the influence of the [Seduce Potion], Charles had long lost all sense of reason. The more Emma struggled and pleaded, the more forceful he became. In the confined space of the barrier, there was no Charlesonly a wild, lust-driven beast. ... Outside the tent, near the edge of the barrier, a group of male and female students stood with worried expressions. "It''s been so long, and Vice Principal hasn''te out yet. Do you think something might have happened?" "Yeah, that Charles is only a Level 2 Beast Master. Can he really be trusted?" It had been five hours since Charles had taken Emma into the tent. Many of the students wanted to go in and check on them, but they were repelled by the water-blue barrier that surrounded the area. Just as everyone was at their wits'' end with worry... Lightning Demon Ape!!! A sudden explosion erupted, and in an instant, the barrier and the tent were reduced to tattered fragments. A figure shot out from the wreckage, followed closely by another in a sh of cyan. The students barely caught a glimpse, but it seemed the two figures were none other than Charles and Vice Principal Emma. The suddenness of the scene left everyone in utter shock. ... "Senior Emma, I swear I had no control over what happened! If we hadn''t done it, both of us would have died from heart failure!" Charles, now bound by a water-blue rope, was sweating bullets as he spoke. Emma red at Charles with cold, disdainful eyes, as if she were looking at something utterly repugnant. The audacious boy was speaking as if curing her of the lust poison was his aplishment, yet she knew full well that the aphrodisiac had been forced on her while she was unconscious. A water-blue energy gradually condensed into a longsword in Emma''s hand, her emerald eyes reflecting a cold, murderous intent. "You stole my purity. Today, I will kill you!" Emma''s voice, usually clear and melodious, now sounded as cold and piercing as ice. "It''s all my fault for being careless! That seduce potion was something I was experimenting withI never meant for it to get mixed in with the healing medicine!" Charles felt utterly helpless. That night, he had been practicing alchemy untilte, and in his tired state, he had identally misced the miracle drug, leading to this disastrous oue. Seeing the boy''s somewhat pitiful expression, the sword in Emma''s hand trembled slightly. With her strength, it would take just a bit of force to sever his head, but somehow, she couldn''t bring herself to do it. After all, this boy had saved her life twice. Without him, she would have either died under the Serpentkin''s spear or sumbed to the poison. St... The sword in Emma''s hand, along with the ropes binding Charles, dissolved into droplets of water and vanished. Her transparent emerald eyes flickered slightly, and her expression became deste, more forlorn than a firework burning out. With her back to Charles, Emma spoke in a cold, distant voice: "Leave. I don''t want to see you again. And whatever happened today, you must never speak of it. If I hear anything, I''ll make sure you regret it." Watching the lonely figure of Emma as she walked away, Charles felt a deep sadness that he couldn''t quite exin. Although what happened between them was unintentional, he had undeniably be the first man to be with her. Yet now, he wasn''t even allowed to acknowledge their rtionship. Perhaps, from Emma''s perspective, as the Vice Principal of Nova Academy, being involved with an unknown, insignificant boy was far from honorable. A Level 7 Beast Master was someone who could stand at the pinnacle of Genosha, a top-tier powerhouse even in the entire Eastern Wastnd. How could she possibly see a mere Level 2 Beast Master like him as anything significant? Returning to the camp, Charles began to pack his belongings, preparing to leave. The surrounding students looked on with regret. "Charles, you just saved Vice Principal from the serpent poison. We didn''t even get a chance to properly thank you, and now you''re leaving so suddenly?" "Yeah, the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range is so dangerous. What if something happens to you out there alone? It''s safer if you stay with us." Charles politely declined the offers from those around him to stay. Emma had already given him the cold shoulder, and no matter how thick-skinned he was, he couldn''t bring himself to linger any longer. After packing up his belongings, Charles waved goodbye to everyone and set off, leaving the camp behind. The depths of the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range were too dangerous, so he nned to return to the area near Kentish Mountain to continue his training. Not long after he began walking, he noticed a faint fragrance in the air. Though well-concealed, Charles caught a glimpse of a strand of pale blue hair through the gaps in the leaves. He smiled up at the trees. "What''s this? Still reluctant to let me go,ing to see me off in secret? Just a word of advicewearing a skirt while standing up high isn''t the best idea... easy to sh someone." Before Charles could finish his sentence, a cold gleam struck the tree beside him, cutting down a towering ancient tree with a single blow. "Hmph, women can be so ruthless!" Charles swiftly dodged the falling tree and waved behind him. "Even if a goddess falls to earth and a toad manages to steal a kiss, is there really a need to hunt down the toad to the ends of the earth?" As the sun set, the evening breeze lifted Emma''s long, flowing hair. Watching Charles''s figure gradually disappear into the distance, her expression grewplicated. After a long moment, she sighed softly. The leaves rustled, and the beautiful figure vanished from sight. ... After bidding farewell to the teachers and students of Nova Academy, Charles headed north, returning to Kentish Mountain. Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Meeting Emma felt like a dream. During those three days, Charles made his way back to the Nine Hell River, hunting ferocious beasts along the way. If he encountered one he couldn''t defeat, he used [Darkness Cloak] to avoid the battle. In just three days, he climbed over 200 ces on the leaderboard. With this intense training, both Max and Mousie made significant progress, their levels increasing to 14 and 13, respectively. Now, even facing some first-tier ferocious beasts above level 15 posed little challenge for Charles. Like the [Long-Tailed Bat] in front of him. [Long-Tailed Bat] [Attribute]: Metal [Level]: 16 [Quality]: Bronze [Skills]: Tail Sting, Whip Strike, Sharp Fang, and Spike [Emotion]: Irritated [Health]: Hungry [Weakness]: Fire attribute [Description]: This is a hungry Long-Tailed Bat that relies on its agile aerial maneuvers to attack enemies, delivering a fatal strike with its long tail when the enemy is exhausted. "Max! Mousie! Attack!" Charles gave themand. Maxunched an ice spike attack from a distance, while Mousie projected the image of a long-beaked bird. Under thebined assault of the two Mystical Beasts, the Long-Tailed Bat was quickly defeated. [Ding! You have defeated the ferocious beast [Long-Tailed Bat] (Lv16 Bronze Quality)!] [Mystical Beast Max (Lv.14) Loyalty +0! Experience +300!] [Mystical Beast Mousie (Lv.13) Loyalty +1! Experience +310!] [Acquired Bat Tail Spike 1!] [Acquired Long-Tailed Bat Wings 2!] [...] As the system notifications chimed, the once arrogant spiked bat was reduced to ferocious beast materials and a few hundred experience points. After gathering the materials and storing them in his inventory, Charles''s stomach suddenly growled. "Come on, Max, Mousie, let''s have grilled fish tonight!" At Charles''s suggestion, Max excitedly tried to burrow into Charles''s arms,pletely forgetting its current size, and ended up knocking Charles to the ground. The air was thick with humid mist, and in the distance, the sound of waves gentlypping against the shore could be heard. With excitement, the trio made their way to the banks of the Nine Hell River. Even though his [Storage Space] was stocked with plenty of beast meat, Charles asionally craved something fresh. The wild fish from the Nine Hell River were exceptionally tasty, especially when freshly caught and grilled. Charles set up a grill on arge, t stone by the riverbank, then prepared the area for fishing. While Mousie preferred nuts over meat, Max was eagerly watching the float on the water, clearly excited to help Charles keep an eye out for any bites. "Sigh!" (Master, the fish has taken the bait!) Hearing Max''s alert, Charles reeled in the fishing line and, sure enough, pulled out arge, wriggling bass. After cleaning the fish and slicing it into fillets, the aroma of grilled fish soon filled the air. Few dared to fish in the depths of the Nine Hell River, so the bass poption had exploded. Despite fishing and eating simultaneously, Charles soon found himselfpletely stuffed. Just as he was about to pack up and call it a night, Max excitedly cried out again, "Master, another fish is on the line!" Responding to Max''s call, Charles quickly grabbed the rod, but this time, no matter how hard he pulled, the catch wouldn''t budge. With years of fishing experience under his belt, Charles was certain that this time he had hooked something big! The fish struggled violently, nearly dragging Charles into the river. "I don''t believe this! I''m a Beast Masterare you telling me I can''t handle one fish?" Charles, determined not to lose, gritted his teeth and pulled with all his might. "Woo woo" A deep, mournful sound emanated from beneath the water, reminiscent of the blue whale calls from his previous lifelow and resonant, with a powerful, prating quality. Ssh! The water erupted as a massive head emerged from the depths of the Nine Hell River. The colossal head, asrge as a small hill, red at Charles with blood-red eyes. It was only then that Charles realized, with a mix of horror and disbelief, that his fishing hook was lodged in the creature''s nostril... Chapter 48: Chapter 48: The Chase "Sorry for disturbing you!" Charles offered an awkward smile to the giant creature before him, quickly reeling in his fishing line. Then, he turned to Max with a scolding tone, "All you think about is eating, and now lookyou''ve gone and disturbed someone''s rest!" Without wasting another second, Charles grabbed Max and bolted toward the forest. As he ran, he nced back at the monster''s status panel: [Devouring Serpent] [Attribute]: Water [Level]: 60 [Quality]: Gold [Emotion]: Agitated [Health]: Healthy [Description]: A recently ascended sixth-tier Mystical Beast with enough destructive power to shake mountains. You''ve disturbed its rest, and it is now extremely agitated. After quickly scanning the system''s information, Charles inhaled sharply, feeling a thousand curses surge through his mind. "Of all the ces, why do I keep running into this guy?" A few days ago, when he crossed to the southern side of the Nine Hell River, he had nearly been crushed by this very Devouring Serpent''s tail. Now, he was just trying to fish, and here it was again. Its wounds had long healed, and the eight heads that Emma had severed had all regrown. Even more terrifying was that it had now ascended to Level 60, making it even more formidable. Charles didn''t even bother looking at its weaknesses or skillsthere was no point. Just one swipe from this creature could turn him into a smear on the ground. "Roar!!!" Recognizing Charles as the one associated with the woman who had cut off its eight heads, the Devouring Serpent became even more enraged. Nine blood-red eyes locked onto Charles, who was scrambling away like an ant. With a thunderous roar, it unleashed a massive blue water column straight at him. Charles sprinted towards the forest, desperately searching for any shadows he could use to activate [Darkness Cloak]. But all around him was a pebbled riverbankno trees, norge rocks, nothing that could cast a shadow for him to escape into. The water column was closing in, the sound of it slicing through the air growing louder. If this sixth-tier ferocious beast''s attack hit him, there wouldn''t even be a bone fragment left. "I''m done for!" Charles cried out in panic. Just as the water cannon was about to strike, a shimmering blue light appeared behind him. The water energy in the air surged wildly, condensing into a massive blue shield. Lightning Demon Ape!!! The water column collided with the shield, producing a deafening explosion. Just as Charles wondered who had saved him, a graceful figure appeared in front of him. Before he could react, the woman embraced him and leapt into the air. The wind roared in his ears as her long, pale blue hair whipped against his face, carrying the pleasant scent of calming flowers. "Emma, are you following me?" As soon as the words left his mouth, Emma''s cold voice cut through the wind. "You''d better keep quiet, or I''ll drop you right into the Devouring Serpent''s maw." Charles nced over his shoulder and saw the Devouring Serpent soaring through the air behind them, its nine gaping jaws snapping ferociously, which sent a shiver down his spine. But hey, she only said not to talkshe didn''t say anything about keeping his hands to himself, right? He pulled her soft, delicate body closer, and even though Emma was slightly shorter and had a slim figure, she still gave him an overwhelming sense of security. Charles never minded the idea of relying on someone stronger. Who wouldn''t want a beautiful, powerful girl who just happened to be the Vice Principal of one of the three major academies in the Imperial Capital? Suddenly, the Devouring Serpent seemed to vanish from sight. The two of them descended like a falling star,nding gently on a stone by the edge of the Nine Hell River. "How long are you nning to keep holding me?" Emma shot him a sharp re, noticing how he clung to her like a water snake. "Cough, cough... My bad. We were flying so fast, I was afraid of falling," Charles said, quickly releasing her and stepping back a few meters to give her space. "Now that you''re safe, it''s time we part ways. You saved me twice, and I saved you twice. We''re even." Emma turned away from Charles, her gaze fixed on the turbulent waters of the Nine Hell River. Her words cut off whatever Charles was about to say, leaving him momentarily speechless. As he looked at Emma''s graceful figure, Charles couldn''t help but notice that after what had happened between them, there was now an addedyer of mature allure beneath her natural elegance. The sunlight filtering through the clouds bathed her fair skin in a soft glow, making her appear almost divine, her ethereal beauty only enhanced by her serene, otherworldly aura. But as the reality of their vastly different statuses sank in, Charles sighed in resignation. She was a Level 7 Beast Master, while he was just a brash young man. What had happened between them was an ident, nothing more. "By the way, weren''t you nning to tame that Devouring Serpent as your Mystical Beast? After going through all the trouble to track it down, aren''t you worried it''ll get away again?" Charles asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Emma paused, a hint of sadness flickering across her face. "It''s already advanced to the sixth tier. I''ve missed the best chance to tame it. But..." She suddenly lowered her voice, her tone icy. "What does that have to do with you?" Looking at her delicate profile, Charles wiped away the teasing expression from his face and gave a nearly self-deprecating smile. "Emma, you don''t have to talk to me like that. I''ve already exined that the mix-up with the healing potion and the aphrodisiac was purely idental. But don''t forget, if it weren''t for me, you would have already died from the poison! So don''t look down on me as if I''m beneath you. I owe you nothing!" Seeing the boy who had been all smiles just moments ago suddenly be serious, evenshing out at her, Emma was taken aback, unsure of how to respond. Whether in her family, at Nova Academy, or even within the royal circles of Genosha, everyone treated her with the utmost respect. This was the first time someone had dared to speak to her so harshly! A heavy silence settled over them. As she looked at the stern expression on Charles''s face, Emma finally spoke up, "You''re participating in the entrance trials for the three major academies of the Imperial Capital, right? Considering that you saved my life, I could rmend you for admission to Nova Academy as the Vice Principal. What do you think?" Nova Academy was one of the three prestigious academies in the Imperial Capitala chance like this, she thought, would surely tempt Charles. Moreover, Charles possessed a rare and powerful soul force, allowing him to control three different elemental energies simultaneously. It was an extraordinary talent, and Emma was even considering taking him on as her personal disciple. "No need. In a month, I''ll earn my ce in one of the three academies on my own merit." With that, Charles turned and walked away without looking back. As she watched him leave, Emma''s beautiful face showed a flicker of surprise. She wondered if her words had somehow wounded the boy''s pride. "Such a determined young man... I''ll be waiting for you at Nova Academy," she thought to herself. But just as this thought crossed her mind, she heard the sound of water churning behind her. "Roar, roar" Suddenly, the Devouring Serpent, which had previously been left behind, surged forward again, its ear-piercing roar echoing in the air. "Human woman, you ambushed me while I was advancing, nearly killing me! Today, I will tear you to pieces to avenge the loss of my heads!" As the Devouring Serpent reappeared, Emma''s graceful form leaped into the air, transforming into a streak of cyan light as she soared into the sky. Lightning Demon Ape!!! The two beams of light collided in the sky, and the resulting shockwave was so intense that it even distorted the sunlight. The intense battle in the sky sent shockwaves through the forest, causing flocks of birds and herds of beasts to flee in panic. The chaotic stampede of ferocious beasts converged into a beast tide, all desperately escaping toward the outskirts of the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range. Standing on a hill near the Nine Hell River, Charles watched the two cyan light beams several kilometers away, constantly shing and intertwining. Even though he had already witnessed a battle involving beings above Level 60, the scene before him was still profoundly awe-inspiring. However, after observing for a while, Charles began to frown slightly. Though Emma was a Level 7 Beast Master, she had yet to tame her seventh mystical beast, meaning her strength was at best equivalent to a peak Level 6. After the Devouring Serpent advanced to Level 60, it would be incredibly difficult for her to win. Moreover, the Devouring Serpent had an extraordinarily terrifying regenerative abilityunless all nine of its heads were severed simultaneously, it wouldn''t die. Charles secretly hoped that Emma would emerge victorious. After all, the Devouring Serpent was a sixth-tier mystical beast. If Emma didn''t want some of the materials, whatever she gifted him would fetch a hefty price once he brought it out of the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range. The battle raged from noon to dusk and then continued into the night. The cyan light continued to sh in the sky, and a nearby mountain peak had already been ttened. "Battles of this level are indeed not easily resolved," Charles sighed. He had been watching for so long that he was starting to get drowsy. The massive body of the Devouring Serpent was submerged in the Nine Hell River, continuously absorbing water attribute energy, making its endurance in battle incredibly formidable. As Charles observed, he suddenly noticed something glowing at the bottom of the riverbed. [Heart of the Ninefold Abyss] [Gold Quality]: A spiritual stone formed at the beginning of time, further refined by the constant flow of the Nine Hell River over millennia. It contains the purest water attribute energy, rivaling the value of a sixth-tier beast core. "A gold-quality treasure!" The prompt shed before Charles''s eyes, instantly waking him from his drowsiness, his eyes lighting up with excitement. The Nine Hell River had once been a bustling waterway, and over the centuries, countless Beast Masters, adventurers, and smugglers had met their end in its depths, leaving behind untold treasures. However, no one dared to dive into the river to search for them, fearing the Devouring Serpent. Now, with the Devouring Serpent upied by Emma, Charles saw an opportunity. ncing up at the sky, he figured that the battle wasn''t going to end anytime soon. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to put on his diving gear, then took a deep breath and dove headfirst into the waters of the Nine Hell River. Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The Sunken Treasure The icy, bone-chilling river water rushed towards Charles, jolting him awake. After taking a moment to adjust to the surroundings, Charles began to dive deeper into the water. He had already applied some [beast-driving wine] to his diving suit, and it was starting to take effect. The restless piranhas, who were previously agitated, halted about ten meters away from Charles. ncing at the dozens of dark, hollow eyes surrounding him, Charles gritted his teeth and quickened his pace. The effect of the [beast-driving wine] dissipates rapidly in water, so he needed to hurry andplete his task. The Nine Hell River was far deeper than Charles had anticipated. The surroundings were pitch ck, with only faint glowing spots at the riverbed guiding his way. A few minutester, Charles discovered a sunken ship at the bottom of the river. The light was emanating from within it. He switched on his shlight, revealing the iron ship, rusted and covered in river mud and aquatic nts, seemingly telling tales of its former glory. The sight of the ancient ship strengthened Charles'' convictionthis might very well be an old ship that had once transported secret treasures. Charles cautiously scanned the area, ensuring nothing was following him, and then carefully made his way into the ship. After navigating through the long corridor of the ship''s cabin, a spacious storage room came into view. The ship was muchrger than Charles had imagined, and beneath theyers of silt, countless treasures were scattered around. In the center of this chamber stood a translucent crystal chest, emitting a ghostly blue glowthe very source of the light. With his experience from the bloody pool tomb, Charles feared the surrounding treasures might be trapped, so he headed straight for the crystal chest in the center. ording to the system''s prompt, the [Heart of the Ninefold Abyss] was a golden-quality treasure. Although its purpose was still unclear, Charles guessed it was far more valuable than the ordinary objects around it. Charles cautiously surveyed his surroundings once more, and after confirming there were no guarding ferocious beasts, he slowly approached. As he drew near the crystal chest, the light from the Heart of the Ninefold Abyss grew so bright that Charles could barely keep his eyes open. He also noticed that the water''s energy in the area was abnormally abundant. He focused briefly on the source of the water energy and discovered it all originated from the small, aquamarine spirit stone inside the chest! Crack, crack... A screech pierces the silence,A piercing screech echoed around him, like metal scraping against metal. The entire sunken ship began to tremble slightly. Almost instinctively, Charles turned to look behind him. To his horror, a massive creature hadpletely blocked the entrance he had juste through. As Charles stared in shock, a series of messages shed across his system''s interface. [Giant Freshwater Crocodile] [Attribute]: Water [Level]: 17 [Quality]: Gold [Skills]: Wild Collision, Death Roll [Mood]: Agitated [Health]: Healthy [Weakness]: Earth attribute [Description]: This is an adult male Giant Freshwater Crocodile, which has imed this sunken ship as its home. Your sudden intrusion has made it extremely agitated. It possesses a bite force of up to 50,000 kilograms, strong enough to snap steel. Charles felt a wave of tension wash over him as he read the system''s warning. A Level 17 creature, and it''s even a Gold-quality ferocious beastthis was the first time Charles had ever faced such a formidable enemy. "Damn it, and of all ces, it''s in the water. This is definitely the home turf of a water-attribute ferocious beast. Max and Mousie likely wouldn''t stand a chance." In the briefest moment, Charles abandoned any thought of fighting the Giant Freshwater Crocodile. After all, his goal was to retrieve the treasure at the bottom of the river, not to engage in a battle. If he could avoid a fight, he would. Charles quickly opened the crystal chest, grabbed the Heart of the Ninefold Abyss, and stored it in his inventory space. Then, without a moment''s hesitation, he swam frantically towards a damaged porthole to make his escape. But the Giant Freshwater Crocodile was a creature of the water, with fins on its limbs and tail. With a mere flick of its tail, it propelled itself toward Charles at breakneck speed. Lightning demon ape! With a resounding crash, the Giant Freshwater Crocodile mmed through the rusted hull of the ship, charging directly at Charles. Its massive jaws gaped wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth, capable of shredding anything in their path. The creature was several times faster than Charles, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. Its powerful jaws snapped shut, aiming to crush Charles between them Thud! A sharp sound and a crimson sea.With a crisp, sharp sound, blood began to stain the surrounding river water. "Damn it, this thing is nearly impossible to handle underwater!" Charles cursed under his breath. The Ice and Fire Supreme Spear had managed to wedge itself between the two jaws of the Giant Freshwater Crocodile, with the spearhead already piercing into the crocodile''s upper jaw, causing blood to gush out. The two beast cores embedded in the spear were glowing brightly, and the entire spear now radiated a ghostly blue light as it resisted the crocodile''s overwhelming bite force. After a tense standoffsting nearly a minute, the Giant Freshwater Crocodile suddenly jerked its head, flinging Charles out of its mouth. The blood streaming from its mouth only served to awaken the Giant Freshwater Crocodile''s primal instincts. After missing its initial attack, it quickly adjusted its stance and charged at Charles once more. Charles immediately recognized that the Giant Freshwater Crocodile had activated its [Wild Collision] skill! Its body was tougher than steel, and at this depth of nearly a hundred meters, being struck by it would be fatal for Charles. "Max, Mousie, prepare for battle!" Charlesmanded through Mind Communication. At the same moment, Mousie was summoned from the Beast Mastery space, using its Mimetic Illusion to create an identical Giant Freshwater Crocodile, which then engaged inbat with the real one. Meanwhile, Maxunched ice spikes that, upon hitting the Giant Freshwater Crocodile, froze a section of the river water along with part of the crocodile''s body. The Giant Freshwater Crocodile''s attack was thwarted by the illusion Mousie had created. At the same time, the areas struck by Max''s ice spikes began to stiffen. To the Giant Freshwater Crocodile, Charles, with his much smaller stature, seemed like an easy preynothing more than a juicy morsel. But to its surprise, Charles proved to be as stubborn as a porcupine, blocking its attacks and even managing to wound it. As its limbs gradually became numb and more blood poured from its wounds, the Giant Freshwater Crocodile grew increasingly enraged, its eyes beginning to glow a deep, blood-red. Seeing the three figures swimming towards the surface, the Giant Freshwater Crocodile thrashed its tail fin, preparing to unleash its most powerful strike! Up ahead! Charles could faintly see the moonlight. With Max and Mousie buying him precious time, he had managed to reach the surface. He burst out of the water, with Max and Mousie following closely behind. Shaking off the river water from his fur, Charles and his twopanions sprinted towards the forest, running for their lives... Behind them, the river surged as a massive form leaped out of the water. The colossal creature, nearly ten meters long, broke the surface and instantly blotted out the moonlight above Charles! The Giant Freshwater Crocodile had caught up! The moment it surfaced, Max and Mousie halted their retreat, determined to protect Charles. Despite being outssed by three to four levels, they did not hesitate to engage the Giant Freshwater Crocodile in battle. Max unleashed its [Bone-Achingly Cold] skill, igniting with a pale, ghostly me as it shed head-on with the crocodile in closebat. Mousie projected an illusion of a double-headed tiger to assist Max in the fight. Watching the intense battle unfolding behind him, Charles furrowed his brow slightly. Being near the Nine Hell River, the area was saturated with water-attribute energy, which enhanced the Giant Freshwater Crocodile''s strength to some extent. Moreover, the water attribute naturally countered the fire attribute. With this dual advantage, the crocodile quickly gained the upper hand over Max and Mousie. This was a formidable adversary! It was undoubtedly the toughest battle Charles had faced since entering the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range. "If this continues, Max will be defeated," Charles thought, gripping the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear tightly. He prepared to unleash his most powerful attack, [Puncture Thorn]! This move was a skill he had mastered during his battle with Bradley. Its extreme piercing power had been strong enough to break through the defenses of a Level 3 Beast Master like Bradley, so it would certainly be effective against a Level 1 ferocious beast. Although this attack had significant recoil, Charles couldn''t afford to worry about that now. He slowly raised his spear, taking careful aim at the massive creature before him. The surrounding ice and fire attribute energies began to converge into a swirling vortex. After a brief moment of gathering power, the spear shot from his hand with explosive force! The Giant Freshwater Crocodile was closing in fast! The moment it appeared, Max and Mousie ceased their retreat, determined to protect Charles. Despite the 3 to 4 level gap, they didn''t hesitate to engage the Giant Freshwater Crocodile in battle. Max activated its [Bone-Achingly Cold] skill, its body igniting with a pale, ghostly me, as it engaged in closebat with the Giant Freshwater Crocodile. Mousie, meanwhile, projected an illusion of a two-headed tiger to support Max in the fight. Watching the intense battle raging behind him, Charles furrowed his brow slightly. Being so close to the Nine Hell River, the area was saturated with water-attribute energy, which amplified the Giant Freshwater Crocodile''s strength. Moreover, the water attribute naturally countered fire. With these dual advantages, Max and Mousie were quickly being overwhelmed. This was a formidable opponent! It was, without a doubt, the toughest battle Charles had faced since entering the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range. "At this rate, Max will be defeated," Charles thought. He tightened his grip on the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear, ready to unleash his most powerful attack, [Puncture Thorn]! This move was a skill he had mastered during his battle with Bradley. Its extreme piercing power had been strong enough to break through the defenses of a Level 3 Beast Master like Bradley, so it would certainly be effective against a Level 1 ferocious beast. Though this attack came with significant recoil, Charles couldn''t afford to worry about that now. He slowly raised his spear, carefully aiming at the massive creature before him. The ice and fire attribute energies around him began to converge into a swirling vortex. After a brief moment of gathering power, the spear shot from his hand with explosive force! The spear shot forward at an incredible speed, carrying an unstoppable momentum. It wasn''t until the spear was mere meters away that the Giant Freshwater Crocodile realized what was happening. Its eyes widened in terror, pupils contracting into narrow slits as it faced the oing wave of lethal energy. Thud! A crisp sound echoed through the water, clean and decisive. In that moment of absolute pration, the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear pierced through the Giant Freshwater Crocodile''s skull, shredded its internal organs, and burst out from the other side of its body. The searing pain was excruciating. Despite its mountainous size, the crocodile could only thrash and roll in agony. And in that very instant! Max and Mousie struck in unison, their wswolf and tigerslicing through the crocodile''s throat. Blood gushed from the wound, and the Giant Freshwater Crocodile''sntern-like eyes slowly dimmed as life ebbed away. For over a century, it had roamed the depths of the Nine Hell River unchallenged, yet now, at the end of its reign, it had fallen at the hands of a seemingly weak human boy... "We did it!" Charles eximed in triumph, before copsing onto the ground, gasping for breath. The battle had been unbelievably perilous. If he had been just a moment slower in reaching the shore, he might have found himself inside the Giant Freshwater Crocodile''s stomach by now. [You have defeated the ferocious beast [Giant Freshwater Crocodile] (Lv17, Gold Quality)! [Mystical Beast Max] (Lv.14) Loyalty +1! Experience +500! Your pet Max has leveled up! [Mystical Beast Mousie] (Lv.13) Loyalty +3! Experience +600! Your pet Mousie has leveled up! [...] Chapter 50: Chapter 50: The Fall of a King A series of prompts shed before Charles''s eyes, and a wave of joy washed over his face. Defeating a Gold-quality ferocious beast had not only given Max and Mousie a level up but also bolstered their strength! "After this battle, Max''s loyalty has increased to 90 points!" Charles recalled reading in the Beast Master Beginner''s Guide that once a mystical beast''s loyalty reached 90 points, it would be absolutely loyal to its Beast Master, willing to follow them through any danger, no matter the cost. A surge of emotion filled Charles''s heart; this wasn''t just a cold, lifeless number. Just moments ago, when faced with danger underwater and a far more formidable foe, Max and Mousie had instinctively chosen to protect him. Before Charles could fully process what had just happened, Max suddenly pounced on him, nuzzling its fluffy head against his body. "Master, wasn''t I awesome in that fight just now?" Charles chuckled as he rolled on the ground with Max a few times, a genuine smile spreading across his face. As Max continued to level up, he could see the growth in hispanion. Max''s body was now asrge as Charles himself, with three big, fluffy tails swaying behind him, looking even more plush and soft. After ying around with Max for a bit, Charles didn''t forget to praise the little flying squirrel circling overhead. "Mousie, you were amazing too!" "Humph, a fight like that was no challenge for Mousie..." Mousie said, its round little eyes twinkling as it nced at Charles. "So, do you still have any tasty nuts and cookies?" Charlesughed and pulled out arge bag of nuts from his storage space, tossing it into the air. Mousie''s loyalty had also risen to 74 points, and their teamwork in battle was bing more seamless. As Charles fed Mousie, he couldn''t resist giving its big, bushy tail a little pat. Just as Charles was about to collect the spoils from the Giant Freshwater Crocodile, a streak of cyan light shed across the sky, followed by a deafening explosion that reverberated through the air! Under the cyan light, a massive creature with nine heads dominated half of the sky, while on the other side stood a slender, graceful woman. In the sky above, a woman wielded a cyan longsword, surrounded by six mystical beasts that circled her protectively. Among them, a blue-ringed octopus had swollen in size after unleashing its skill, upying a significant portion of the sky as well. The battle had raged on for nearly six hours, and it was a scene of utter devastation. "Human woman, you have sessfully awakened my bloodlust!" the Devouring Serpent roared, blood gushing from its three severed heads. The excruciating pain was driving it into a frenzy. "I''ll say it once moresubmit to me, and I''ll spare your life," Emma''s voice was cold and unyielding. The blue-ringed octopus circled before her, while the outline of a cyan longsword shimmered faintly behind her. "Arrogant woman! You dare think you can tame me as a mystical beast? Dream on!" The Devouring Serpent bellowed, its entire body shrouded in cyan light. Its aura surged, and the waters of the Nine Hell River began to boil, sending torrents of water soaring into the sky. "Crushing Suppression!" With the Devouring Serpent''smand, a massive water sphere, spanning over a kilometer in diameter, suddenly engulfed Emma and her mystical beasts. Momentster, the sphere began to contract violently! "Windwalker!" With a soft chant, Emma summoned a hundred-meter-long cyan sword behind her, drawing in the surrounding water attribute energy until it became a solid entity! The giant sword cleaved through the water sphere, splitting it in two, and the razor-sharp sword energy shot towards the Devouring Serpent! ng!!! Where the sword energy passed, the very fabric of space seemed to distort. In an instant, it reached the Devouring Serpent, which hastily conjured a protective shield to fend off the woman''s attack. But the shield was effortlessly sliced in half. Lightning Demon Ape!!! With a single stroke, the woman severed five of its heads. The enormous heads fell from the sky into the Nine Hell River, creating massive waves upon impact. Having lost eight of its heads in rapid session, the Devouring Serpent was now paralyzed with fear, but even more so, it was consumed by confusion. Just moments ago, it had been utterly dominating the battle against this woman. But in the blink of an eye, the tide had turnedpletely against it. It couldn''tprehend what had gone wrong. Suddenly, its gaze shifted to the depths of the Nine Hell River, where a ghostly blue light had vanished. The [Heart of the Ninefold Abyss], like a vortex, had continuously absorbed water attribute energy from the world, empowering the Devouring Serpent. However, it now realized that the Heart of the Ninefold Abyss was gone! Without the Heart''s nourishment of water attribute energy, itsbat strength had been severely diminished. As the Devouring Serpent briefly scanned its surroundings, it quickly spotted the boy on the shore, eagerly dissecting the Giant Freshwater Crocodile. This human woman had never left its sight, and there was no one else around. Who else could have stolen the Heart of the Ninefold Abyss but that boy? "You wretched brat, you''re courting death!!!" The Devouring Serpent roared in fury, its face contorting with rage as it whipped its tail fins, hurtling towards the boy''s position with a fierce wind-breaking sound. In the instant that the Devouring Serpent was distracted, Emma seized the opportunity to unleash her ultimate move. "Thousand Threads! Annihtion!" A blue hexagram magic circle appeared in front of her, with her six mystical beasts positioned at each point. The water attribute energy converged into an incredibly fine thread. ... On the ground, Charles waspletely absorbed in harvesting materials from the Giant Freshwater Crocodile. [Obtained Giant Freshwater Crocodile Skin 1!] [Obtained Giant Freshwater Crocodile Tail Fin 1!] [Obtained Giant Freshwater Crocodile Fangs 10!] [Obtained Giant Freshwater Crocodile Blood 500kg!] [Obtained Giant Freshwater Crocodile Meat 1000kg!] With practiced precision, Charles methodically separated all the valuable materials from the Giant Freshwater Crocodile and stored them in his inventory space. Given the immense size of the creature, there was more meat than he could carry, so he carefully selected the choicest cuts from the chest. As he was stuffing pieces of meat into his storage space, a sudden whooshing sound from above caught his attention. Almost reflexively, Charles darted into a nearby shadow, ready to flee at a moment''s notice. Looking up, Charles''s eyes widened as he saw the Devouring Serpent rapidly growingrger in his vision, its massive form bearing down on him. He couldn''t help but wince. He was just an innocent bystander, watching the action from the sidelinesso why was the Devouring Serpent suddenly targeting him? The full-force attack of a sixth-tier mystical beast brought with it an overwhelming pressure that made Charles feel as if he could hardly breathe. Just as he was about to activate [Darkness Cloak], the massive, hundred-ton body in the sky suddenly came to a halt. "What the...?" Charles''s eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before him. It was as if time had frozen; the enormous creature hung motionless in the sky. Upon closer inspection, Charles noticed that the Devouring Serpent was entangled in a thin, blue thread. The thread spread like wild vines, and in the blink of an eye, it had tightly bound the creature. The thread continued to constrict, digging into the serpent''s flesh. With great difficulty, the Devouring Serpent turned its head onest time to gaze at the woman in the sky behind it. "Thousand Threads! Annihtion!" At the sound of her voice, the massive body of the Devouring Serpent, along with its bewildered eye, was instantly sliced into countless pieces. Thousands of ferocious beasts simultaneously witnessed the fall of the once-mighty king of the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range. The terrifying spectacle sent a wave of fear through every creature in the mountain range. The forest, which had previously echoed with the roars of beasts, fell eerily silent. Even the cicada chirping noisily near Charles had gone quiet in fear. Momentster, the blood mist from the shattered remains of the Devouring Serpent began to drift down, turning the waters of the Nine Hell River a deep crimson. Countless piranhas swarmed to the surface, eager to feast on the remnants. As the saying goes, "When a whale falls, all life prospers." "What a waste! What a terrible waste!" Charles rushed to the edge of the Nine Hell River, watching in frustration as the chunks of meat floated downstream. He was so upset he nearly cursed aloud. This was a sixth-tier ferocious beast! Even its meat, let alone its blood, would fetch a fortune at any auction. But now, with everything shredded and washed away into the Nine Hell River, he hadn''t even managed to salvage a single scrap! "Ah well, at least I''ve got that big crocodile as a constion prize. That should still bring in a decent amount of money." Charles sighed, a bit deted, as he got up from the ground. He had discovered an incredible golden treasure during his dive into the sunken ship in the Nine Hell River. No matter how he looked at it, it was a massive win for him! As Charles was lost in thought, a figure quietly descended behind him. He snapped out of his reverie and found himself locking eyes with a captivating gaze. The woman wore a cyan gown that entuated her graceful figure. Her long, pale blue hair was tied back with an intricate golden hairpin, and her stunningly beautiful face was cold as ice. Despite the breathtaking beauty standing before him, Charles felt no trace of desire. After witnessing the death of the Devouring Serpent at her hands, seeing Emma again filled him with unease. "Congrattions!" Charles forced a grin, quickly averting his gaze from the longsword in Emma''s hand as he took a half-step back. "I still need to continue my training in the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range, so let''s part ways here, shall we?" "Give me the Heart of the Ninefold Abyss," Emma''s voice was icy and unyielding. Charles froze for a moment before feigning ignorance. "The Heart of the Ninefold Abyss? I have no idea what you''re talking about." Whoosh! Before Charles could react, Emma was suddenly right in front of him, her longsword pressed against his throat. Her tone was almostmanding, and droplets of fresh blood dripped from the cyan de. "You can leave if you wish, but hand over whatever you just found at the bottom of the Nine Hell River first." The Heart of the Ninefold Abyss was a treasure Charles had risked his life to obtainthere was no way he would simply hand it over. Yet, Emma was a seventh-tier Beast Master, and facing her, Charles knew he didn''t stand a chance. Chapter 51: Chapter 51: The Bargain In the cold moonlight, Emma appeared as if she were draped in a thin veil, her long blue hair flowing gracefully down her back. Her face was ethereally beautiful, aloof and proud. But Charles had no interest in admiring her beauty at this moment. Having lived two lives, Charles was all too aware of the realitygiving up a treasure he had fought so hard to obtain was something that left a bitter taste in his mouth. "This is a treasure you rightfully acquired. I don''t intend to force you," Emma finally broke the tense silence after a moment''s pause. "However, as a water-attribute Beast Master, the Heart of the Ninefold Abyss is incredibly important to me..." She reached into her pouch and pulled out several items. "If you''re willing, I can offer you other treasures in exchange." Hearing that Emma was here to make a trade rather than to take the Heart of the Ninefold Abyss by force, Charles finally rxed. With her strength, if she had intended to seize it by force, Charles wouldn''t have stood a chance. However, the Heart of the Ninefold Abyss in Charles''s possession was a golden-quality treasure. Though he wasn''t sure of its exact use yet, he doubted that Emma had anything enticing enough to offer in exchange. But when he nced at the items in Emma''s hand, several prompts appeared before his eyes. [Devouring Serpent''s Golden Scale] [Gold Quality]: An extremely rare material from a ferocious beast, produced with a small probability during the Devouring Serpent''s evolution. It is a crucialponent for crafting gold-quality inner armor. [Devouring Serpent''s Spirit Bone] [Gold Quality]: A spirit bone formed from concentrated attribute energy in ferocious beasts above the sixth tier, rarer than a beast core. It is an essential material for crafting gold-quality divine weapons. [Spirit Essence Pill] [Orange Quality]:A miracle drug that, when consumed, guarantees a 100% sess rate in a mystical beast''s evolution with no side effects. As Charles gazed at these two gold-quality and one orange-quality treasures, his eyes sparkled with excitement. Suddenly, the Heart of the Ninefold Abyss in his hand didn''t seem so precious anymore. After all, the Heart of the Ninefold Abyss only enhanced a Beast Master''s water attribute energy, which offered limited benefit to him. Emma was willing to trade three treasures ofparable quality for the one he heldwho wouldn''t know which choice to make? His current equipment, the [Divine Scale Armor], was a special suit for weighted training with limited defensive capability; the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear was merely a blue-quality weapon. Eventually, he would need to upgrade to better gear. With the materials from the Devouring Serpent, he could potentially forge a full set of gold-quality equipment! The offer was tempting, but would Emma really be that generous? Charles looked at Emma with a hint of suspicion and cautiously asked, "Three for one are you sure?" His wary expression amused Emma. She had gone to great lengths to y the Devouring Serpent, and if not for how perfectly the Heart of the Ninefold Abyss suited her, she wouldn''t have offered such valuable items in exchange. "So, it''s a deal then? Even if you''re a woman, you have to keep your word!" Charles quickly snatched the three treasures from Emma''s hand and tossed the small cyan gemstone to her. "Deal!" Emma replied with a soft cough, amused by Charles''s quick decision. Taking the spirit stone, Emma suddenly coughed lightly, and a trickle of blood appeared at the corner of her mouth. She wobbled, unsteady on her feet. Just as she was about to copse, a figure swiftly appeared in front of her, gently catching her before she fell. As memories of that day in the camp tent shed through her mind, Emma''s body trembled slightly. She warned, "Don''t touch me, or else I''ll" "You''re injured, so stop trying to act tough. Besides, what''s the harm in holding you? After all, I''ve already touched everywhereI shouldn''t have that day." Charles whispered, while checking her injuries through the system prompts. "You!" Emma red at Charles fiercely, but seeing that he was focused on treating her, she held her tongue. As Charles quietly applied medicine to the wound on her arm, Emma''s gaze grew soft and a little hazy. These wounds, minor as they were for someone of her strength as a seventh-tier Beast Master, would heal on their own after a short rest. The medicines Charles was using were low-grade miracle drugs she normally wouldn''t even consider, yet she didn''t stop him. As the eldest daughter of her family, Emma had been burdened with high expectations from a young age, sent to the Imperial Capital to train at the Beast Master Guild. Her father often told her, "Emma, the future of the family rests on your shoulders. Though you are a woman, your character must not be weak." She had taken these words to heart, hunting ferocious beasts and training alone, never thinking of herself as just a woman. Sinceing of age, many young and talented men had sought her hand, practically wearing down the family''s doorstep with their pursuit, but she had turned them all away. But now, as she leaned gently against Charles, watching him treat her wounds, she suddenly realized howforting it felt to be cared for. "I''m pretty sure, with your strength, you don''t need to lean on me just for these minor injuries, right?" Charles''s voice broke through her thoughts unexpectedly. Emma''s body stiffened, and she quickly noticed that Charles had already finished tending to her wound, even securing it with a bandage. "Take these bottles of medicine. Apply it once in the morning and once at night, and you should be fully healed within three days." Charles rummaged through his storage space, pulling out a few bottles and handing them to Emma. "And don''t mess with the bandages I put on today, or you''ll end up with scars." Emma took the healing medicines from Charles, her long eyshes fluttering slightly. Then, with a yful smile, she teased, "Oh? You seem to care quite a lot about that, don''t you?" "Ah, um, cough, cough!" Charles cleared his throat, trying to cover up the awkwardness he felt. He had to admit, despite her somewhat domineering personality, Emma was a rare beauty in this world. Whether it was her figure or her appearance, she was wless, without a single imperfection. To say he wasn''t a bit moved would be a lie. But Charles was also painfully aware of the gap between them. For someone like Emma, who had already ascended to a seventh-tier Beast Master at such a young age, the future held limitless possibilities. He, on the other hand, was just an inconspicuous pebble, causing a brief ripple in her otherwise calm, clearkeone that would soon fade, leaving the water undisturbed once more. "Time to sleep." Charles handed Emma a sleeping bag and then crawled into his own, pulling the covers over his head, eager to escape his swirling thoughts. He needed some peace to clear his mind. As she looked at the boy who had suddenly fallen silent, a strange sense of mncholy washed over Emma. Though she was ustomed to solitude, the sudden presence of this talkativepanion had been rather amusing. But... with the Devouring Serpent now in, she would be returning to the Imperial Capital tomorrow. After that, the two of them would part ways, likely never to cross paths again. ... The next day, as the sunlight warmed his body, Charles stretchedfortably. When he opened his eyes, Emma was already gone, leaving only a faint trace of her signature floral scent lingering in the air. The other sleeping bag was neatly folded beside him, and he suddenly noticed a letter ced next to it. "A rmendation letter for admission to Nova Academy?!" Charles jumped out of his sleeping bag as he read the letter''s contents. He had gone through all sorts of trials in the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range, striving toe out on top in hopes of gaining admission to one of the three prestigious academies in the Imperial Capital. But who could have imagined that it would all fall into ce so effortlessly? By sheer luck, he had encountered the vice dean of Nova Academy and now had a direct entry into the school. If his ssmates back at Lsengard knew, they would be green with envy. Charles wasn''t one to dwell on things too much, but he was determined not to be underestimatedespecially by someone like Emma. No matter what, he was determined to use his own strength to secure a top-six position in this training exerciseperhaps even take first ce! A low snort interrupted his thoughts. Charles turned around and saw a Cloud Leopard tethered nearby. This was undoubtedly another gift left by Emma. "Heh, she talks about wanting to get rid of me, but deep down, she''s really looking out for me," Charles chuckled softly. He approached the Cloud Leopard, which stood as tall as a person, and gently stroked its white fur. The Cloud Leopard immediately arched its back, issuing a warning growl. Charles circled around the Cloud Leopard, growing more and more fond of it. This creature was a wind-attribute mystical beast. While itsbat abilities were average, its speed was exceptional, making it one of the best mounts avable. With this mount, long journeys would no longer be a challenge. The rtionship between a Cloud Leopard and a Beast Master was one of servitude, meaning it could be stored in a dedicated mount space, making it easy to summon and dismiss. The only requirement was to remember to feed it regrly. The Cloud Leopard was fast, but it had a huge appetite and only ate ferocious beast meatsomething most people couldn''t afford. However, Charles had several thousand kilograms of ferocious beast meat in his storage space, so it was hardly an issue. Charles gently mounted the Cloud Leopard, attempting to establish Mind Communication with it. Although the beast hadn''tpletely submitted to him, it could at least understand his basicmands. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh The wind roared past as the Cloud Leopard leaped forward, covering a hundred meters in a single bound. "So fast! This is incredible!" Charles shouted in excitement, his adrenaline surging. The speed was far faster than any high-speed trainriding it was a thrilling experience! Within minutes, Charles reached the other side of the Nine Hell River, arriving at the alluvial in beneath Kentish Mountain. This was where Mr. Fletcher had led the seventh squad to set up camp during their training in the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range a few days ago. After stowing away the Cloud Leopard, Charles approached the campsite. Only a few tattered tents remained, scattered here and there. When he checked inside, he found that the food had already molded, a clear sign that no one had been there for days. "Could something have happened?" Charles recalled the warning that boy had given him that night: In the Ferocious Beast Mountain Range, the only thing more dangerous than the beasts is the human heart. A sense of unease crept into Charles''s mind. Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Uninvited Guests Charles found himself in a wide-open area, surrounded by an endless expanse of primeval forest. There were no signs of battle, not even a single person in sight. The Ferocious Beast Mountain Range spanned thousands of kilometers, and the group of over 1,000 trainees was like a few grains of rice scattered into the ocean. Charles sighed and checked his phone for messages. The most recent message in the group chat for the 7th squad was from Fletcher. August 1st, 07:56 [Fletcher]: "I''m leaving today. The next month of training will be up to you all. Be careful in everything you do. I''ll be waiting for good news from you at Lsengard." At this moment, all the members of the 7th squad were offline. Charles tried sending a few messages, but no one responded. However, Charles didn''t want to jump to conclusions. The Ferocious Beast Mountain Range was vast, and many areas had electromaic interference. Even if someone lost contact, it didn''t necessarily mean something bad had happened. He then opened the "Trial Group Chat," where messages were flooding in nonstop. "When I returned to the camp today, everyone was gone. There were bloodstains all over the ground. Is there anyone from the 3rd squad who can tell me what happened?" "Seriously? Don''t scare me... I can barely manage to hunt ferocious beasts below Lv10. When I encounter a tougher one, I just hide!" "I heard from those who''ve participated in previous trials that, besides hunting ferocious beasts, killing other trainees can also earn points. Is that true?" "What?! Is that even allowed? How is this any different from?" "I''m Bill from the 8th squad. If any big shot wants my points, I''ll hand over my points cardjust don''t kill me!" "Yesterday, I hid in the bushes and saw Robert from the 1st squad kill a ssmate and take their trial points!" "What? You saw Robert from the missing 1st squad? Could it be that he killed the rest of his team?" "What kind of trial is this? I just want to go home! If someone can get me out of here, I''ll give them 5 gold coins when we''re back at Lsengard!" "..." The group chat was filled with gloom, with nothing but despairing and negative messages. More and more people were realizing that killing their fellow trainees was a shortcut to earning trial points. It was like the "dark forest theory" in action. Once suspicion took root, trust between people evaporated. Even couples who were once close were breaking up and choosing to go their separate ways during the trial. Charles also noticed something rming: all the teachers, including the representatives from the Beast Master Guild, had left the chat group. "Damn it, turning a blind eye, huh? Do they think that by leaving the chat, they can just ignore all this killing?" Charles muttered angrily. He could understand that Lsengard''s intention might be to expose these fledgling Beast Masters to the harsh and bloody reality of the Beast Mastery world. However, as a modern person who has transmigrated, Charles cannot ept such inhumane practices no matter what. "While I, Charles, won''t kill without reason, if anyone tries to take my points, they''d better not me me for being ruthless." Charles nced at his status panel. After nearly a month of grueling training, his progress had been remarkable. Max was now at Lv15, Mousie at Lv14, and his ownbat strength was roughly equivalent to Lv15, making him one of the top students in the group. But he knew he couldn''t afford to becent. Ferocious beasts, though terrifying, were generally straightforward in their attacks. Humans, however, were a different storythey could set traps, use poison, strike while you sleep, or even manipte emotions. The range of dirty tactics was endless. He checked the points leaderboard. [Ferocious Beast Mountain Range Training Points Leaderboard] 1st: Grace [3562 points] 2nd: Robert [2328 points] 3rd: Thomas [2109 points] ... 515th: Charles [614 points] ... The same names dominated the top of the leaderboard. Grace held first ce with an overwhelming lead, while Robert had amassed over 2,000 points. Who knew how many lives had been lost at his hands? Charles''s points hadn''t changed much, but his rank had climbed by over 100 ces. He suspected that many of those ahead of him had simply disappeared. As he scrolled further down the leaderboard, a particr name caught his eye, and excitement surged through him. 618th: Daniel [489 points] "Daniel! You''re still alive!" Charles eximed in relief. Seeing Daniel''s points move up was one of the few pieces of good news Charles hade across that day. In this world, aside from his parents and Lily, Daniel was the only person Charles had a close rtionship with. If something had happened to Daniel, Charles feared he''d have no one left among his peers to talk to. With a mix of joy and determination, Charles pocketed his phone and tightened his grip on the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear. He looked up at the towering peaks of the Kentish Mountains before him. "It''s thest month. No matter what, it''s time I truly take action." Taking a deep breath, Charles set off at full speed toward the Kentish Mountains. ... Three weeks flew by in the blink of an eye. In the treacherous cliffs of the Kentish Mountains, a Salt Snakey coiled in the underbrush, its forked tongue flicking out as it waited for prey to stumble into its trap. But before the snake could react, the sound of something cutting through the air reached it, and a spear pierced its body, sending blood spraying everywhere. The intense pain enraged the Salt Snake. It reared back, and upon seeing that its attacker was merely a human boy, it bared its fangs and lunged to bite him. "Max, Mousie, get it!" Before the Salt Snake could reach the boy, its path was blocked by a strange, three-tailed wolf. And beside the wolf, a massive, 10-meter-long crocodile appeared out of thin air! The sudden turn of events left the Salt Snake stunned. It abruptly halted, attempting to flee. But the crocodile was incredibly fast, surging forward to mp down on the snake. After a vicious death roll, the Salt Snake was torn into several pieces, lifeless on the ground. [Ding! You have defeated the ferocious beast [Salt Snake] (Lv20, Silver Quality)!] [Mystical beast Max (Lv.17) Loyalty +0! Experience +600!] [Mystical beast Mousie (Lv.16) Loyalty +1! Experience +700! Your pet Mousie has leveled up!] As the system notifications shed before his eyes, Charles extended his hand, and the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear, which had been embedded in the ground, shot back into his grasp. The past three weeks of training in the Kentish Peaks had given him a healthy bronze tan, and his body had grown noticeably stronger. The defined muscles beneath his clothes were now more apparent. Charles inspected the defeated Salt Snake, feeling quite satisfied with his progress during this time. He recalled the first time he used [Puncture Thorn]; he had been so exhausted afterward that he fell unconscious for three days and nights. Now, however, he felt only a slight breathlessness, with no significant aftereffects. Even more gratifying was the rapid progress Max and Mousie had made through relentless day-and-night training. Both had reached Lv17, and it wouldn''t be long before they advanced to second-tier mystical beasts! When they leveled up, there was always a chance of triggering a critical evolution, and Charles now possessed a purple-quality miracle drug, the [Spirit Essence Pill], which guaranteed a 100% sess rate in evolution! After easily defeating this Lv20 ferocious beast, Charles had a clear understanding of his current strength. A month ago, when he faced the third-tier Beast Master Bradley, he had only managed a draw by relying on the element of surprise with [Darkness Cloak]. But now, Charles was confident that he could outright defeat Bradley in a direct confrontation. "Bradley, Robert. The atrocities you''vemittedI, Charles, will repay a hundredfold!" Charles clenched his fist, his gaze fixed on the base of the Kentish Mountains. The training was nearing its end, and now was the time for revenge. He summoned the Cloud Leopard from his mount space and began his descent down the mountain. ... On a moonless, windy night, Charles sped through the forest on his Cloud Leopard, the scenery around him blurring as they raced along. During these three weeks of intense training, Charles had ventured deep into the Kentish Mountains to catch up with the top tier on the points leaderboard. Even after a full day of running at full speed, the Cloud Leopard had only reached two-thirds of the way to the mountain''s edge. Noticing that the Cloud Leopard was now panting heavily from exhaustion, Charles decided to stop. He found a t, sheltered spot where they could set up camp and rest. Sizzle, sizzle... Charles set up the campfire and ced the grill on top. The delicious aroma of roasted beast meat soon filled the air, with grease sizzling as it cooked. After taking a big bite of the beast meat and washing it down with some beast blood, the fatigue from a day of grueling training was instantly swept away. With just one week left, this brutal trial in the Ferocious Beast Mountain wasing to an end. He could no longer remember how many people''s scores had be permanently stagnant on the leaderboard; they might have already vanished. It had been a month since hest spoke to anyone, and Charles felt like he was about to go insane. He was eager to return to Lsengard and tell Lily that he was now capable of being admitted to Nn Academy, or even to one of the three major academies in the Imperial Capital. He also hoped that when he returned to his rented room, his parentswho had been out of contact for two monthswould be home to witness his growth into a true Beast Master! As Charles enjoyed his roasted meat, he suddenly heard the sound of rustling footsteps outside the camp, followed by a voice saying, "That smells so good! There seems to be a camp up ahead." Upon hearing the voices, Charles instinctively tightened his grip on his spear and cautiously watched the direction of the neers. "Hey there! Are you training here from Lsengard too? No need to be tense!" Two boys approached Charles''s camp, evidently startled by his alert stance. Charles nced over them; both wore the emblem of the Lsengard Beast Master Guild, which meant they were likely in the same situation as him, preparing to return to Lsengard after the trial. He rxed his grip on the spear but remained vignt. "Do you need something?" Charles''s voice was cold. The two boys exchanged nces and then casually sat down by the campfire. "We just had a ferocious beast attack our camp. We lost our tent while fleeing." "Would you mind if we rested here for the night? It would be safer if we formed a temporary team." Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Enemies on a narrow road Charles sized up the two boys.One was dark-skinned with tattered clothing, while the other was tall and thin, covered in bloodstainsa clear sign of how desperate their escape had been. Although they were close to the outskirts of the Kentish Mountains, there was still a small chance of encountering high-level second-tier mystical beasts. Having two extra people around at night would indeed make things safer. Charles reached into his backpack and pulled out two sleeping bags. "I''ve got extra sleeping bags, but there''s only one tent, so you''ll have to make do on the ground by the fire tonight." The dark-skinned man waved his hand dismissively. "No problem at all. We haven''t eaten all day, so we''ll be d just to have some food. We could cook up some mushroom soup or something." "By the way, we didn''t catch your name," the tall, thin one said with a friendly smile. "Thomas," Charles replied, giving a false name. Upon hearing the name, both men looked shocked. The dark-skinned man''s face lit up with admiration. "Thomas? You mean the third-ranked guy on the leaderboard? I can''t believe we''ve run into you out hereit''s an honor! I''m Maxim." "I''m Aiden," the tall one added. "With someone like you on our team, there''s nothing to worry about. Haha!" The two men began chatting, showering Charles with praise. Since they were strangers who had met by chance, Charles didn''t intend to get too close. After exchanging a few words, he was about to head back to his tent to sleep. As Charles turned to leave, he noticed something strangethe small basket filled with mushrooms that one of the men was holding looked familiar. He remembered that Aurora, from the 7th squad, had a basket just like it, and she loved making mushroom soup for him. Without letting his suspicion show, Charles returned to his tent. He drank a bottle of [Regenerating Potion] to dispel his sleepiness, then activated [Pet Vision] to have Mousie closely monitor the two men''s every move. With these two suspicious individuals nearby, there was no way Charles could sleep. ... In the dark forest, the campfire was the only source of light in the area. The pot on the fire began to bubble, and soon the aroma of mushroom stew with beast meat filled the air. As the two men added spices to the pot, they whispered to each other in low voices. "Aiden, this kid is the real deal. If we kill him, we could split his pointshe''s the third-ranked Thomas on the leaderboard. With that many points, getting into one of the three Imperial Capital academies would be a breeze, and even if we fall short, Nn Academy is guaranteed," Aiden muttered. "Shh, keep your voice down!" Aiden gestured for Maxim to lower his voice. "Are you crazy? You can kill anyone else, but we''re talking about the third ce on the leaderboardhis strength must be formidable. And you want to target him?" Maxim nced nervously towards the tent, relieved to see no movement inside. He then lowered his voice even further. "What are you afraid of? We have the numbers on our side! I''ll send a message to Robert right now. He''s nearby, guarding those few from the 7th squad. He can be here in ten minutes, and besides, I have a n..." Inside the tent, Charles''s expression darkened with murderous intent when he heard Robert''s name. He had been looking for that scumbag, and now he learned Robert was just a few kilometers away! A few minutester, there was a soft rustling outside the tent, and a figure appeared at the entrance. "Thomas, I made some mushroom soup. It tastes pretty good. How about ate-night snack?" Charles unzipped the tent and pretended to yawn. As he nced at the bowl of mushroom soup in the man''s hand, a few lines of text shed before his eyes. [Mushroom Soup]: Warning! This soup contains a potent, colorless, and odorless poison. Drinking it will immediately render you unable to use attribute powers, and within five minutes, you will bleed from your orifices and die. The brief warning shed across Charles''s vision, and he calmly thanked the man as he took the bowl. Pretending to drink the soup, Charles discreetly spat it into his system''s storage space. Seeing Charles seemingly down the mushroom soup, the two men''s smiles twisted into something more sinister. "Thomas, if you know what''s good for you, hand over your points card, and we''ll make sure your death is quick." Charles smiled faintly. "Points card? And what if I don''t hand it over?" "Then you''ll be going straight to hell!" the two men snarled, pulling military knives from their sleeves. In a sh of steel, they lunged at Charles, aiming their des straight for his heart. "I weed you into my camp, and you repay me by trying to poison me!" Just as their knives were about to pierce his chest, a ghostly blue spear materialized in Charles''s hand. With a swift motion, he spun the spear, creating a beautiful arc, and blood spurted from the men''s throats. "You... why..." Their eyes locked onto Charles in shock as they clutched at the gashes in their necks, but the blood kept flowing. Within seconds, life had drained from their eyes. They likely never figured out, even in their final moments, how Charles had survived after they had clearly seen him drink the poisoned soup. Hearing themotion, the sound of hurried footsteps began to close in from all around. "Charles? You killed Aiden and Maxim!" a voice shouted in disbelief from outside the camp, and several shlights immediately lit up Charles. Charles stood up, wiped the blood from his spear, and turned to face the neers. "That''s right, I killed them. So what? They tried to take my lifedid you expect me to just let them?" From the crowd, a pale, gaunt boy, as thin as a reed, slowly stepped forward. The moment Charles saw his face, the veins on his forehead bulged with rage. "Robert, did you kill all the members of the 1st squad? And you even teamed up with scum like Felix and Bradley, betraying your own ssmates? You''re nothing but a beast!" Charles struggled to stay calm, but he couldn''t hold back his voice, which erupted in a furious roar. "Charles, you think you''re so righteous, so superior! Idon''t have your talent, so I have to rely on underhanded methods to get into one of the three great academies," Robert sneered as he summoned his mystical beast, the Four-Winged Tiger. But he knew full well that his beast was just for show,cking any realbat power. At the same time, Charles summoned his own two mystical beasts. The moment Max saw Robert, it bared its teeth and growled menacingly, ready to pounce and tear him apart at any moment. Charles looked at Robert with a disdainful smile. "Robert, how long has it been since we left the city for this trial? And you''re still a first-tier Beast Master? You''re nothing but a failure!" Ever since Charles transferred to Lsengard High, Robert had bullied him relentlessly for not paying "protection fees." This torment had only eased slightly when Lily became their homeroom teacher. Although these were memories of his previous life, seeing Robert now still stirred deep feelings of anger within Charles. Robert gave a cold, malicious smile, wasting no more words on Charles. He turned to a middle-aged man standing nearby and said, "Morrs, kill this kid5 gold coins!" As soon as Robert spoke, a burly man stepped forward to the front of the crowd. [Name]: Morrs [Age]: 45 [Height]: 186 cm [Beast Master Level]: Tier 3 When the middle-aged man appeared, the dozen or so students around him instinctively stepped aside to clear a path. "What a disgrace," Charles muttered, his face dark with displeasure. "Bringing along a Tier 3 Beast Master as a bodyguard for this trialno wonder you''ve been able to kill other students so recklessly." As the crowd parted, Charles noticed several people tied up at the back, bound hand and foot. Among them were members of the 7th squad, including a girlAurora. Aurora''s voice was tinged with despair, her eyes red as she looked at Charles, tears welling up. "Charles, you need to run! He''s a Tier 3 Beast Masteryou can''t fight him!" The others, all battered and bruised, looked on with worry. Some of the boys were covered in blood and barely clinging to life. One of them tried to warn Charles as well, but Robert silenced him with a brutal punch. Robert turned his lecherous gaze toward Aurora, sneering, "I didn''t know you cared so much about him. Once I''m done with Charles, I''ll have my way with you." Robert signaled to Morrs, and the middle-aged man''s body ignited with zing mes. Three ck hexagrams appeared in front of him. [me Griffin] [Attribute]: Fire [Level]: 21 [Quality]: Iron [Skills]: Fireball, Airborne Assault [Weakness]: Water Attribute ... [Fiery Spiritual Bird] [Attribute]: Fire [Level]: 22 [Quality]: Iron [Skills]: Firestorm, Sharp Beak and Pointed Spikes [Weakness]: Water Attribute ... [Lava-like Flower Core] [Attribute]: Fire [Level]: 21 [Quality]: Iron [Skills]: Lava Spike, Dizziness Pollen [Weakness]: Water Attribute ... The three mystical beasts, exuding a powerful aura, lined up in front of Charles. As they appeared, the surrounding trees began to catch fire, burning fiercely. As the manunched his attack, a dozen others around him also summoned their mystical beasts, sending them charging toward Charles. Charles smirked and cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing through the tense air. Since he had Robert in his sights, there was no way he was letting him escape. Deciding to end this quickly, Charles removed the [Divine Scale Armor] from his storage space. With the weight of several hundred kilograms lifted from his body, Charles suddenly felt light as a feather. "Boom!!!" In a blur of motion, Charles darted forward and delivered a powerful kick to the student leading the charge. The force of the blow sent the boy flying like a ragdoll, smashing through several towering ancient trees before he hit the ground, coughing up blood. Charles moved with such ghostly speed that even Morrs couldn''t follow what was happening. Before anyone could react, the dozen attackers were already lying on the ground, incapacitated. "Kill him! Burn him to ashes!" Morrsmanded his mystical beasts with fury. But in the very next moment, a massive figure loomed above him. As Morrs looked up at the terrifying creature hovering overhead, a chill ran down his spine, and he found himself unable to breathe... Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Slaying the Level 3 Beast Master "This kid... he actually tamed a giant freshwater crocodile! How on earth did he do it...?" Morrs''s face was filled with disbelief. It wasn''t just himRobert and the dozen others behind him were equally shocked, trembling as they watched the enormous creature approaching. The information they received from Bradley was that Charles had only just advanced to a Level 2 Beast Master. But the strength Charles was now disying, having easily fended off thebined assault of a dozen Level 1 and Level 2 Beast Masters, suggested that he might already possess the power of a Level 3 Beast Master. As Morrs hesitated, Charles''s speed suddenly surged. Before Morrs could evenprehend what was happening, Charles had appeared in front of him like a phantom. The Ice and Fire Supreme Spear glinted coldly as it thrust forward, cutting through the air with a terrifying force that made cold sweat break out on Morrs''s forehead. Without hesitation, he raised his longsword to defend himself. "ng!" The Supreme Spear shed with the steel longsword, producing a crisp metallic sound. Sparks flew from the de as they collided. The terrifying force of the impact made Morrs''s arms go numb, and the sound of rocks cracking echoed beneath his feet. One of his feet had already sunk a foot deep into the ground. Morrs gripped the back of his sword tightly, struggling to withstand the relentless pressure. His arms began to tremble as cracks in the earth spread from beneath his feet. "ng" With a sharp sound, the steel-forged, white-quality weapon in Morrs''s hand broke in half! The moment the longsword shattered, Charles seized the opportunity to thrust the spearhead toward Morrs''s throat. Morrs only saw a sh of cold light before narrowly dodging the attack thanks to his quick reflexes... Even so, the Supreme Spear still managed to sh a deep gash across his chest, with blood gushing out. The sharp pain in his chest made Morrs furious. This little bastard''s footwork was indeed as formidable as Bradley had described, but Morrs, as a Level 3 Beast Master with absolutebat power, wasn''t about to be intimidated! Above them, Morrs''s mystical beast, the me Griffin, unleashed its skill,unching fireballs that struck the giant freshwater crocodile, filling the air with the smell of burnt flesh. Meanwhile, the Fiery Spiritual Bird pped its wings, stirring up a fiery tornado in the forest. On the ground, theva-like flower core unleashed its molten spike attack on Max, turning the entire forest into a zing inferno in the blink of an eye, a scene straight out of hell. "Heh heh, kid, burning you to death like this is letting you off easy!" Morrs sneered as he watched the man and his two beasts consumed by the sea of mes. The crackling sounds echoed throughout the mountain forest, while birds, beasts, and even humans scrambled to flee from the raging fire. The few surviving members of Squad Seven looked back at the inferno, their faces filled with despair. Against the overwhelming strength of a Level 3 Beast Master, Charles stood no chance. "No... Charles..." Aurora turned to look at the towering fire tornado, her pale face growing even paler as she weakly fell to her knees. A figure approached her, its shadow cast by the mes making it appear even more sinister and terrifying. "Little girl, save your strength forter. You''ll have plenty of time to cry when you''re in my bed, heh heh!" Robert''s voice dripped with malice. At his words, the dozen men behind him grinned lewdly andughed, "This pretty one is yours, but let us have some fun with the other girls too, yeah?" Before they could finish their vile remarks, a figure shot out of the mes like a cannonball, crashing through several trees before finallying to a stop in a heap of rubble, looking utterly disheveled. The onlookers eagerly rushed forward, thinking to deliver the final blow to Charles, but to their horror, they found that the figure lying in the rubble was none other than Morrs! "You don''t really think I couldn''t take down that piece of trash, do you?" A voice drifted out from the mes, calm and mocking. Everyone turned around to see Charles emerging,pletely enveloped in a liquid bubblelikely a skill from the water-type giant freshwater crocodile. Despite the zing mes all around, not a single hair on his head was singed, thanks to the bubble''s protection. "Ugh, cough!" Morrs coughed up a mouthful of blood, struggling to sit up amidst the rubble. He then red viciously at Charles. "Kid, if you dare kill me, you''ll be making an enemy of the entire Taylor family!" "Is the Taylor family really that powerful?" Charles chuckled, but his eyes were filled with murderous intent. In the past, he might have been wary, but after witnessing Robert''s cold-blooded ruthlessness, all he wanted was to avenge his ssmates who had perished in the ferocious beast mountain range. So what if he had to kill Robert? After that, he just wouldn''t return to Lsengard. This debt would have to be settled sooner orter! Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Robert''s face turned pale. The top-tier Level 3 Beast Master he had hired as reinforcement couldn''t evenst three minutes against Charles. Trying to regain someposure, Robert forced a smile and said, "Charles, we''re ssmates after all, with no real grievances between us. Why push things to the point of no return? How about thisI''ll let the members of Squad Seven go, and we can pretend none of this ever happened." Morrs had been Robert''s personal bodyguard, and it was thanks to Morrs''s assistance that Robert had managed to climb to second ce on the training points leaderboard in such a short time. But now... he had been defeated? As Charles advanced toward him step by step, Robert was drenched in cold sweat. Wiping the blood off the Supreme Spear, Charles sneered, "Now you remember that we''re ssmates, Robert? Back when you cornered me in the bathroom at Lsengard High and beat me half to death, when you ughtered hundreds of people training outside the city just to steal their points, did you ever think that we were ssmates?" With that, Charles gripped the Supreme Spear tightly and delivered a ruthless strike at the fallen MorrsPuncture Thorn! Whoosh! Before Robert could even react, the eerie blue spear had already pierced through Morrs''s skull. Blood, mixed with white brain matter, gushed out from the gaping hole in his head. The once menacing eyes of Morrs slowly dimmed, life draining from them. Witnessing this horrifying scene, everyone around was filled with terror. Some were so scared they wet themselves. This was a Level 3 Beast Master, yet Charles had killed him effortlessly in a single blow. Most of them were only Level 1 Beast Masters, with the strongest among them barely reaching Level 2. For Charles to kill them would be as easy as slicing through butter. Robert''s pants were soaked as he copsed to his knees, frantically bowing his head. "Charles... mercy, please, have mercy! Spare me!" He summoned his mystical beast, the four-winged tiger, but the useless creature, upon seeing Charles''s giant freshwater crocodile, turned tail and fled in terror. "Mercy? Go ask for it in hell, along with the ssmates you murdered!" Charles''s fist came crashing down on Robert''s head. ... As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, the camp was filled with the joyful faces of Squad Seven''s members, relieved to have survived the ordeal. Next to them, a dozen or so men were tightly bound and gagged. "I never would have imagined that Robert, that bastard, would do anything for points. He got the entire Squad One killed!" "Charles, you had me stunned back there. If you hadn''te to save us, we''d probably have ended up as Robert''s points too, right?" "That Morrs was a Level 3 Beast Master! When I saw you kill him with a single spear thrust, I waspletely floored!" "Hahaha, wasn''t that scumbag Robert acting so high and mighty just a moment ago? Then he got so scared he pissed his pantswhat a disgrace!" "Charles, we haven''t seen you in a month, and now you''re so powerful. Could it really be true, like they''re saying, that you''ve be a Level 3 Beast Master?" "When I saw someone from our Squad Seven break into the top 10 on the leaderboard, I was so excited I couldn''t sleep for days!" "Charles, you''re amazing!" "...." Surrounded by the surviving members of Squad Seven, Charles couldn''t help but feel a bit embarrassed by all the praise. Amidst the crowd, Aurora approached Charles. Her clothes and skirt were torn in a few ces, and there was a new determination in her expression that hadn''t been there a month ago. "Charles, what do you think we should do with Robert and the others?" At Aurora''s question, a brief silence fell over the group. Everyone knew that Robert was likely responsible for the disappearances, but no one had any solid evidence. Moreover, with the Taylor family''s influence in Lsengard, killing Robert would be like poking a ho''s nestthey would surely face relentless retaliation from the Taylor family. Despite the deep resentment they all felt, no one dared to actually do anything. The most they could muster was spitting on him. Charles nced at Robert, who was lying nearby. His eyes were filled with a mix of fear and venomous hatred. Charles had not only ruined Robert''s ns but also killed his personal bodyguard, Morrs. The two of them had never been on good terms, and now this feud was cemented. If he let Robert go, he would almost certainly face tenfold, a hundredfold retaliation. Charles didn''t want to kill anyone, but if someone intended to kill him, he would not let them live. "In a week, the training in the ferocious beast mountain range will be over. If you head north from Kentish Mountain, you''ll be out of the range," Charles said, pointing to a spot below the mountain, where Fletcher had chosen to camp near Nine Hell Riverst time. "I''m going to stay here and try to climb the leaderboard a bit more. You guys take the others and leave first. As for Robert... leave him to me." "I''ll take him back to Lsengard, but... whether or not he gets eaten by some ferocious beast along the way, well, that''s something I can''t control," Charles said with a casual shrug. Charles walked up to Robert, lifted him off the ground with one hand, waved to Aurora and the other members of Squad Seven, and then left the camp. Everyone understood that Charles was doing this to keep more people from getting entangled with the Taylor family. As they watched his figure gradually disappear, a sense of gratitude washed over the faces of Squad Seven''s members. Chapter 55: Chapter 55: The Moment of Revenge On a narrow mountain path, a pure white cloud leopard raced through, leaving everything behind it as a blur. Aheady a ravine, several dozen meters wide. With a powerful leap, the cloud leopard soared across to the other side of the cliff. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Slow down! Are you trying to scare me to death?" Robert woke up with a stream of curses. When he looked into Charles''s cold, piercing eyes, he shivered and quickly shut his mouth. He waspletely bound with ropes and strapped onto the cloud leopard''s back, unable to move. However, since Charles hadn''t killed him, it meant that Charles was still wary of his connection to the Taylor family. This thought brought a smug smile to Robert''s face. "Charles, as long as you don''t kill me, once we get back to Lsengard, I can give you money, womenanything you want!" "Kill you? I wouldn''t want to dirty my hands," Charles scoffed. He lightly patted the cloud leopard''s back, and it immediately picked up speed, causing Robert to be jolted back into unconsciousness. When Robert next opened his eyes, he found himself lying at the entrance of a dark, eerie tomb. A cold wind blew from within, carrying a strong, putrid stench. Charles was there, using a small knife to cut the ropes binding Robert. "Charles, what are you...?" Despite his relief at being freed, Robert couldn''t shake the uneasy feeling creeping over him as he took in his surroundings. "Of course, I''m letting you go," Charles replied with a friendly smile. Before Robert could fully grasp what was happening, Charles kicked him into the tomb. As Robert tumbled inside, the sound of something crawling echoed behind him. He turned around to see dozens of blood-red eyes ring at him from the darkness. Outside the passageway, Charles was slowly closing the heavy stone door. "Charles, you bastard! You broke your promise! Didn''t you say you''d let me go? Open the damn door!" Robert screamed, his voice raw with desperation as he pounded on the stone door. Just before the door fully closed, through the narrow gap, he caught a glimpse of Charles''s face, twisted into a chilling smile. "I did say I wouldn''t kill you, and I was nning to let you go. But did I ever say where I''d release you? Why don''t you stay here and keep those man-faced spiderspany?" Boom! The stone door mmed shut with a resounding thud. Robert froze for a moment. "Man-faced spiders?" Then it hit him. Before entering the ferocious beast mountain range, his father, Sly, had warned him repeatedly about the terrifying creatures that lurked in the tombs and caves of the rangecreatures even Morrs wouldn''t stand a chance against. As Robert turned around, he squinted through the faint lighting from the door''s gap. In the darkness, he saw the grotesque monsters creeping toward him. They had the bodies of spiders, but with hideous human faces, drooling blood and saliva as they crawled closer. "Charles, you bastard! Open the door!!" Robert banged on the stone door with all his might, but the massive door didn''t budge, not even a little. As the dozens of man-faced spiders closed in, Robert was so terrified that he wet himself again, curling up in a corner by the door. Under the overwhelming shadow of death, his mind shed with the faces of the ssmates he had killed, as if in a movie reel. But now, those hundreds of faces were just as hideous as the man-faced spiders. Snap. A sharp, clear sound rang out, followed by an excruciating pain that nearly made Robert faint. One of the man-faced spiders had bitten clean through his leg, the searing pain almost causing him to lose consciousness. "Aaaahhh!!!" The scent of blood filled the air, driving the man-faced spiders into a frenzy as they swarmed over him. "Charles!!!" As Charles walked away from the bloody pool outside, he could faintly hear Robert''s cries for help. Charles smirked coldly. "Robert, now you know the fear and pain that those ssmates you butchered felt, don''t you?" ... Outside the bloody pool, Charles nced back at the ancient tomb, now long deserted. In the week since he left, even the coffins inside had been emptied out by a gang of grave robbers. From within the tomb, faint echoes of screams and the sound of man-faced spiders gnawing on bones could still be heard. Charles let out a long sigh. "By killing Robert, I''ve officially made the Taylor family my mortal enemies." Since arriving in this world, Charles had never intended to provoke anyone. All he wanted was to survive, and one day, return to Earth. If that was impossible, then at least he hoped to find his parents and live afortable life in this Beast Mastery World. But if anyone tried to kill him, he wouldn''t hesitate to retaliate with the most brutal means avable. After leaving the bloody pool, Charles took another look at the points leaderboard. --- [Ferocious Beast Mountain Range Training Points Leaderboard] 1st: Grace [21,524 points] 2nd: Thomas [14,381 points] 3rd: Emily [13,019 points] ... 9th: Charles [10,298 points] ... --- With Robert''s death, Charles''s ranking had climbed up one spot to 9th ce. Now, admission to Vendantia Academy in the province of Vendantia was practically guaranteed. But if he could raise his rank by just three more spots, he would earn a spot at one of the three prestigious Imperial Capital academies. "Even though I have Emma''s rmendation letter, which could get me into Nova Academy on special admission, I''d rather not give that woman any reason to look down on me!" A determined spark lit up Charles''s eyes. Moreover, the top six would be granted ess to the academy''s treasure vault. With the right mystical beast egg, his power could undergo a dramatic transformation, just in time to tame his third mystical beast. There was less than a week left until the end of the training, and the window to surpass his rivals was closing fast. But before he could focus on that, there was something even more important he needed to take care of. ... Around the bloody pool, a few grave robbers were cautiously patrolling the area. "I think I heard something from the bloody pool tomb just now. You all stay sharp! Don''t let Charles get away!" barked the leader, a scar-faced man, his voiceced with menace. But as soon as the words left his mouth, he noticed something strange: a light snow began to fall around them. It was August, yet the air suddenly turned bitterly cold. "Achoo! What''s with this weather?" The scar-faced man sneezed, only to realize that his feet were now frozen to the ground. At that moment, a tall, muscr young man slowly approached him. "I''m the Charles you''re looking for. So, what? You think you can catch me?" "You... you..." The scar-faced man''s face twisted in fear. But before he could even shout Charles''s name, his head had already been severed from his body. The other robbers behind him were quickly skewered by Max''s ice spikes, their bodies left looking like pincushions. "Charles, it''s you!" Thest surviving grave robber, Uldir, eximed in surprise and dragged Charles into a nearby thicket. "That bastard Bradley has been going crazy looking for you ever since you killed Felix. How can you risking back here?" Charles peeked out of the bushes, confirming that no one else was around, then lowered his voice. "Uldir, I''ll keep this brief. I''m back to get my revenge on Bradley. Can you fill me in on what''s happening now?" Despite having seen Charles''s strength, Uldir was still visibly worried. "Bradley''s camped about 30 kilometers west of the bloody pool. This month, he''s taken in another group of exiles from Lsengard, including two who are about to be Level 2 Beast Mastersvery powerful guys..." As Uldir exined, Charles got a good sense of Bradley''s gang''s situation. The group had grown to several hundred men. Besides hunters like Uldir who had been forcibly conscripted, the core members were nearly a hundred exiles, mostly Level 1 and 2 Beast Masters, with a few on the brink of advancing to Level 2. The most formidable among them remained their leader, Bradley. "Are you sure about this? Even if you can take down Bradley, they''ve got the numbers on their side!" Uldir said, his voice still tinged with concern as he looked at Charles. Charles smiled. "Don''t worry, I''m not stupid enough to take on dozens or even hundreds of them all at once." When it came to dealing with enemies, Charles wasn''t above using underhanded tactics. If he couldn''t win in a direct confrontation, he could always resort to assassination. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from the distance. Uldir nced in their direction, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. "I know I can''t talk you out of this. How about thisI''ll find a way to draw them away, then you can go in and take out that venomous old snake, Bradley?" Charles looked at him in surprise. "But won''t that put you in danger?" Uldir waved his hand dismissively, a rare glint of fury in his eyes. "That bastard Bradley destroyed my vige, humiliated my children. The men were forcibly drugged and controlled by him, and the women were turned into ves under hismand. I''ve wanted revenge for a long time!" He rolled up his sleeve, revealing an arm covered in needle marks from drug injections. His face was twisted with hatred. "If I can get my revenge, I''m willing to die for it!" Seeing Uldir''s anger, Charles felt a pang of sympathy and finally understood what Uldir had meant when he said Bradley had something on him. Uldir had been forced to serve his enemy, Bradley, through the cruel methods of drugging and holding his vige people as hostages. Just imagining it made Charles feel the weight of the tragedy. "Alright, then we''ll split up. Be careful," Charles agreed to Uldir''s n, watching as Uldir left the bushes. Charles then slipped back into the dense forest, his heart pounding. A month ago, he had severely injured Bradley but at the cost of being unconscious for three days and nights. Bradley was, without a doubt, the most formidable enemy Charles had encountered since entering the ferocious beast mountain range. Now, the time for revenge hade. Chapter 56: Chapter 56: The Purple Mist In a camp by the bloody pool. Bradley, sitting in the chief''s seat, listened to his subordinate''s report with a grim expression. "You''re saying that Robert has fallen into Charles''s hands?" "Yes, boss, I saw it with my own eyes just a few days ago, absolutely certain!" the bandit assured, pounding his chest. Bang! Upon hearing this, Bradley mmed his hand down on the armrest, leaving a deep imprint. Sly had paid him ten gold coins and had repeatedly urged him to ensure Robert''s safety. Bradley knew that in his line of work, especially when dealing with stolen artifacts, he needed the Taylor family''s support to turn his loot into money. But now, Robert had gotten into trouble right under his nose. How was he supposed to exin this to Sly? The deep furrows in Bradley''s brow betrayed his foul mood, and the atmosphere in the tent became tense and oppressive. No one dared to speak, and a heavy silence filled the air. "That kid Charles... he''s so young, yet he already has the ability to kill a Level 3 Beast Master. If he''s left unchecked, he''ll definitely be a major threat to us in the future. And once he returns to Lsengard, there''s a chance he''ll expose my connections with the Taylor family. That wouldn''t be good at all," Bradley sighed, his voice heavy with concern. A fierce glint shed in his eyes as he gave orders to the men in the tent: "Have the brothers in the surrounding areas tighten their patrols. No matter what, we must ensure Charles doesn''t leave the ferocious beast mountain range!" "If there''s any sign of him, report to me immediately!" "Yes, big boss!" the men responded in unison. With an enemy like Charles still atrge, Bradley knew he''d never sleep soundly again. The mere thought of it made him clench his fists in frustration. Just as he was about to send his men back to their posts, a bloodied man staggered into the tent, half crawling and half stumbling. Bradley''s eyes widened in shock at the sight. "Uldir, what happened? Where are the rest of your squad?" he demanded. Copsing at Bradley''s feet, Uldir was a mess of tears and snot. "Big Boss, we ran into Charles near the bloody pool. We lost a dozen menif I hadn''t run so fast, I''d be dead by his spear too!" Hearing this, the bandits in the tent jumped in rm, grabbing their weapons. A savage light gleamed in Bradley''s eyes. He had been racking his brain for a way to exin Robert''s situation to Sly, but now, Charles had delivered himself right to their doorstep? Last time, Charles had ambushed him and barely escaped with his life. This time, Bradley was determined to settle the score. Clenching his fists tightly, Bradley barked, "Head to the bloody pool immediately! I want every inch of this ferocious beast mountain range searched. Find Charles and bring him to me, no matter what it takes!!!" ... Lying low in a thicket just outside the camp, Charles silently observed the scene inside. Suddenly, rms red throughout the camp, and hundreds of bandits gathered in the central clearing. "Uldir''s n worked," Charles muttered under his breath. As long as this band of thieves left the camp, the narrow, winding mountain path stretching over 30 kilometers would force them into a long, vulnerable line. In such a formation, the bandits wouldn''t be able to leverage their numerical advantage. This would give Charles the opportunity to create nearly one-on-onebat scenarios. As long as he wasn''t facing more than three opponents at once, he stood a chance of defeating Bradley. The sun was already dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest. Even if the fight didn''t go his way, Charles could always activate Darkness Cloak and retreat. As the hundred or so grave robbers gathered in the clearing, ready to charge towards the bloody pool, Charles prepared to follow them. But suddenly, something unexpected happened. A thick fog began to rise in the forest, but it wasn''t ordinary fogit was a strange, purple mist, carrying a faint scent of calming flowers. A woman slowly emerged at the front of the group. She wore a semi-transparent veil that barely hid her stunningly alluring features. Her long, narrow golden eyes shimmered with a natural, captivating charm, drawing the attention of everyone around her the moment she appeared. She was dressed in an opulent, purple-gold gauze dress that clung to her exquisite figure, adding an air of seductive mystery. Yet beneath the long skirt, a glimpse of a pale purple serpent''s tail could be seen, swaying slightly, radiating a dangerous aura that sent chills down the spine. "Aria?" Charles muttered in confusion as he nced over, and instantly, a status panel popped up before his eyes. [Name]: Aria [Race]: Descendant of the Ancient Gods - Goddess of Sky-patching [Age]: 17 [Level]: Lv35 [Length]: 12 meters [Attributes]: Earth/Poison As these lines of information shed briefly before disappearing, Charles was stunned. Aria was bing increasingly enigmatic to him; it seemed like her details changed every time she appeared. What shocked Charles even more was that thest time he had parted ways with Aria, she had only been at Level 13. How had she managed to reach Level 35 in such a short span of time? "She must have used some sort of secret technique, maybe something like activating a dormant bloodline. This kind of power surge is likely temporary," Charles reasoned as he felt the unstable pressure of Aria''s elevated level. It seemed she was here to seek revenge on Bradley as well. Despite her delicate appearance, Charles knew all too well that beneath that facade, Aria had a fiery, unyielding spirit. "With her overwhelmingbat power at Level 35, it looks like I won''t even need to lift a finger," Charles thought, feeling a twinge of pity for Bradley and his underlings. However, his curiosity about Aria''s origins only deepened. Was this trace of ancient gods'' bloodline something she was born with, or was it something she acquired from Medusa in the ancient tomb? In front of the camp, the hundred or so bandits stared at the beautiful young woman slowly approaching them. At first, their faces showed a twisted kind of interest, but as they noticed the long, purple snake tail trailing behind her, a flicker of fear crossed their expressions. "A snake-woman? What''s she doing here?" A moment of fear shed across Bradley''s face before it was reced with a lecherous grin. "I''ve heard that the women of the Atacama snake people have a unique taste. Today, I think I''ll try it for myself!" Despite sensing that the purple mist around them seemed unusual, Bradley figured that with his strength as a Level 3 Beast Master, dealing with a little girl who hadn''t even fully matured wouldn''t be a problem. "Capture her! But don''t hurt her!" Bradleymanded, his intentions clear in his tone. Dozens of men closed in, surrounding the girl, but the purple mist thickened around them. ng! The sound of weapons hitting the ground echoed. One by one, the bandits began copsing to the ground, their bodies going limp as they foamed at the mouth, their eyes rolling back in their heads as they convulsed uncontrobly. "This isn''t goodthe mist is poisoned! Cover your mouths and noses, don''t breathe it in!" Bradley, as a poison-attribute Level 3 Beast Master, realized something was wrong with the mist after just a small inhale. He shouted the warning to his men. But by then, it was toote. The mist had already engulfed the entire forest, making Bradley''s orders futile. The purple fog spread, iming the lives of ferocious beasts by the dozen, causing birds to drop from the sky. Everywhere the mist touched, trees and grass withered and died. In a panic, Bradley quickly pulled a [hold-breath pill] from his pocket and popped it into his mouth. This miraculous drug would allow him to go without breathing for an hour, but his subordinates weren''t so fortunate. Amidst the poisonous mist, the young woman in the purple-gold gown slowly approached. As her pale golden, narrow eyes locked onto him, Bradley found himselfpletely mesmerized with just a single nce. Bradley stared, entranced, at the young woman with the semi-transparent veil covering her face. He waspletely captivated, especially by those breathtaking golden eyes. Despite the situation, Bradley found himself losing all will to fight, overwhelmed by an inexplicable urge to kneel before her in worship. The girl stopped a few meters away, her slender waist visible through the delicate fabric. The short distance between them filled Bradley with the sudden desire to pull her into his arms. But then, he noticed something was wronghis feet were frozen in ce. Not only that, but his hands were also refusing to obey him. With a loud tter, the sword he had been holding fell to the ground. A wave of fear, like a bucket of cold water, extinguished the mes of desire in Bradley''s heart. But under the girl''s piercing gaze, he realized with horror that he couldn''t move. Shlunk! A sharp sound cut through the air as the purple mist around them solidified into a tangible form. A violet sword pierced through Bradley''s chest. "You... we have no quarrel, why are you killing me?" he gasped, blood pouring from the wound. As his life drained away, his face grew increasingly pale. Aria looked down at Bradley with cold indifference, as if he were nothing more than an insect. Her voice, sweet yet chilling, filled his ears like a death knell: "A thousand years ago, my serpent tribe and Genosha had a treaty. The Nine Hell River was to be our boundary, a line neither side would cross. I didn''t want to resort to violence, but why did you have to harm him?" "Him? Who... who are you talking about?" Bradley''s pupils constricted in panic. The girl''s words clearly implied he had angered someone he never should have. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t remember ever offending anyone from the serpent tribe. The girl didn''t bother to answer. Instead, she slowly raised her right hand, where purple mist coalesced around her delicate fingers, once again solidifying into a deadly weapon. sh! Thud! One by one, the violet swords made of mist pierced through Bradley''s body, turning him into a living pincushion. Each strike was apanied by a sickening sound as his flesh was torn apart. Under the girl''s cold gaze, Bradley''s body was riddled with holes, each one a window through his fading life. Blood quickly soaked his clothes, and the light in his eyes dimmed until, finally, his lifeless body copsed heavily to the ground. Seeing this, the girl finally allowed herself a satisfied smile. "With this, there shouldn''t be anyone left in the ferocious beast mountain range who can threaten Charles, right?" The girl nced around at the chaotic scene, with hundreds of thieves'' groups scattered around hersome dead, some fleeing. Their leader, Bradley, had already met his end at her hands, and then she vanished into the purple mist... Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Rampaging Bradley As the mist slowly dissipated, the setting sun cast its rays once more, illuminating the blood-soaked ground. The scene was a gruesome spectacle of carnage, a hellishndscape of corpses and blood. Over a hundred bodiesy motionless, and within a hundred meters, all nt life and animals had been drained of their vitality by the toxic mist, turning the area into a lifeless zone. Cough, cough! Bradley coughed weakly as he slowly crawled out from a pool of blood. He nced at the direction where the girl had disappeared, a faint smile ying on his lips. "Who would''ve thought... I actually have two hearts." His body was riddled with holes, but having reached the level of a Level 3 Beast Master, Bradley''s body had undergone significant strengthening, allowing him to endure injuries that would have killed any normal person. "I never imagined Charles would know a serpent-woman. I almost met my end at her hands," Bradley muttered to himself, carefully applying healing ointment to his wounds. The wounds began to close, albeit slowly, the pain so intense that Bradley ground his teeth in agony. "Charles, once I''ve healed, I swear I''ll tear you to pieces!" Just as Bradley was about to stand, a shadow suddenly appeared before him. "Remarkable, having two hearts. But I wonderif I cut off your head, would you still survive?" The unexpected voice sent a jolt of terror through Bradley as he applied the ointment. When he looked up and saw that it was Charles, his veins bulged with fury. Instinctively, Bradley snatched up the longsword lying on the ground beside him. Seeing Bradley standing before him, battered but still alive, Charles sighed. It seemed the cleanup would fall to him after all. "Although you''re injured, and fighting you now might seem unfair, I, Charles, don''t really care about fairness," Charles said with a light chuckle, summoning Max and Mousie. Bradley stood before Charles, his breath shallow and weak. Charles felt that he didn''t even need his mystical beasts to step in; he could handle this with one hand. But in the next moment, Bradley''s aura began to surge. His wounds started healing at a speed visible to the naked eye, even the deep gashes vanished entirely. Not only that, but Bradley''s height and physique began to swell rapidly, with his blood vessels twisting and bulging grotesquely. As Charles looked at Bradley, a few lines of information shed before his eyes. [Name]: Bradley [Age]: 51 [Height]: 205 cm [Beast Master Level]: Level 3 [Status]:Warning! Consumed a Strengthening Pill, resulting in a temporary berserk state. Pain and fear are suppressed, while strength, speed, and elemental power are significantly enhanced. This effect also amplifies the power of any associated mystical beasts. The downside is a month of severe weakness after the effect wears off, with a high risk of death. "This is... a Strengthening Pill!" Charles eximed, immediately recognizing the drug. He remembered it from a theory ss with Lily, where she had mentioned it as a forbidden substance. "Kid, you''ve got some knowledge, I''ll give you that," Bradley sneered, his eyes bulging, almost ready to pop out of his head. "You forced me to use a Strengthening Pill. You can die knowing you actually pushed me this far." Bradley''s massive form lunged at Charles, his entire body covered in bulging veins. A ck mist enveloped his de as he swung it down toward Charles with terrifying force. The sheer power of the strike was nearly at the peak of a Level 3 Beast Master, while Charles was only a Level 2 Beast Master. If that blow connected, it would be fatal! ng!!! On reflex, Charles raised his Supreme Spear to block. The intense force of the impact caused even the durable Ice and Fire Supreme Spear, forged from meteoric iron, to bend slightly under the pressure. "So strong!" Charles thought to himself, feeling the immense power behind the strike. The strength of the blow nearly broke his arms, and his feet sank half a meter into the ground under the sheer weight of it. Given Bradley''s current physical state, using a Strengthening Pill so recklessly could only lead to one oueheart failure. It was clear Bradley intended to take Charles down with him. "He''s got brute strength on his side right now. Engaging him head-on would be foolish," Charles quickly strategized in his mind. He retrieved a [Miraculous Speed Pill] from his storage space, swallowing it in one gulp. His speed increased by 50%, allowing him to dodge Bradley''s next attack in a blur of motion. Lightning Demon Ape!!! Bradley''s de crashed into the ground, sending a shockwave that cleaved a one-meter-deep trench in the earth. Arge boulder behind Charles was split clean in two. Bradley nced at his now-damaged longsword, frustration flickering across his face before he angrily tossed it to the ground. He knew his time was running out and that he needed to end this quickly. Without hesitation, he summoned his three mystical beasts. [Four-Eyed Pit Viper] [Attribute]: Poison [Level]: 29 [Quality]: Silver [Skills]: Poisonous Fang Sting, Venom Spray [Weakness]: None [Long-Tailed Emperor Scorpion] [Attribute]: Poison [Level]: 29 [Quality]: Silver [Skills]: Bone-Cutting ws, Scorpion Tail Sting [Weakness]: None [Vesicted Toxic Toad] [Attribute]: Poison [Level]: 29 [Quality]: Silver [Skills]: Vesicle Spray, Long Tongue Coiling [Weakness]: None [Description]: Bradley is in a berserk state, reaching the pinnacle of Level 3 Beast Master strength. His mystical beasts now fight at Level 29, ignoring typical attribute disadvantages. "This is terrifying!" Charles thought, as the brief information shed before his eyes, sending a cold sweat down his spine. There was no time for hesitation. Almost instinctively, he issued battlemands to Max and Mousie through their psychic connection. "Max, use Ice Pick Throwing for long-range attacks!" "Roar!" "Mousie, use Mimetic Illusion to replicate his strongest beast, the Long-Tailed Emperor Scorpion!" "Squeak!" The three monstrous creatures charged toward Charles with unstoppable momentum. With Bradley in a berserk state, the strength of his mystical beasts had skyrocketed, rivaling the power of some of the lower-level man-faced spiders from the tomb. ng... Mousie, controlling the illusionary Long-Tailed Emperor Scorpion, shed with Bradley''s original scorpion. The collision of their metal-hard exoskeletons sent sparks flying as the sound of grinding metal filled the air. Meanwhile, Max''s ice spears repeatedly pierced through the Four-Eyed Pit Viper and the Vesicted Toxic Toad. Yet, despite being turned into pincushions by the ice spikes, these enhanced mystical beasts felt no pain and continued their relentless advance. Max then unleashed its second skill, Bone-Achingly Cold, igniting the entire area with pale blue mes. Yet, the Four-Eyed Pit Viper pressed forward, even at the risk of being burned to ashes, determined to close the distance to Max. The battle seemed to be turning against Charles, and Bradley''s face twisted into a vicious grin. "Kid, your death is near!" Seeing Charles disappear into the shadows below, Bradley''s muscles tensed, his attention focused on his surroundings, especially behind him. Boom!!! With a fierce wind, Bradley''s brutal punchnded heavily on Charles, creating a massive dent in his chest. With the full force of Bradley''s strike, Charles''s body was hurled like a cannonball, crashing heavily to the ground and shattering arge boulder into fragments, sending dust and debris flying everywhere. Bradley activated his Bone-Cutting ws skill, his arms transforming with an exoskeleton that resembled the powerful pincers of the emperor scorpion. He slowly approached Charles, whoy amidst the rubble. "I told you, kid, you''re no match for me. Did you really think the same sneak attack would work twice?" Bradley raised his massive pincers, which gleamed menacingly in the air. "Time to die, you little bastard. Today, your head will be the offering for my son Felix''s soul!" As Bradley''s pincers descended, Uldir, watching from a distant hill, was so terrified that he instinctively covered his eyes. Just as the pincers were about to strike, Charlesmanded Max to activate the Energy Bomb skill. A swirling vortex of blue and red energy appeared behind him, and at the same time, he had Mousie inject dark elemental energy into the vortex. "Triple Bomb!" With a quiet utterance from Charles, the space vortex,posed of blue, ck, and red energy, emitted a high-pitched, resonant hum as it charged up, distorting the very light around it. This was the first time Charles had attempted to create a chaotic explosion bybining three different elemental abilities. If Emma''s First Law of Beast Mastery was correct, this would be an unprecedented miracle, the equivalent of an E=MC^2 moment in this worlda super nuclear st! The chaotic energy in the air intensified, growing so fierce that even Bradley, despite being numbed to fear by the drugs, felt a shiver of terror deep in his bones. As a Beast Master, he knew all too well the devastating power of an energy disruption annihtion. The resulting explosion would pulverize every living thing within a hundred-meter radius. Bradley gritted his teeth, screaming in desperation, "You crazy little bastard, have you lost your mind?!" As soon as the words left Bradley''s mouth, Charles gave him a small wave from within the shadows, then vanished into thin air. Feeling the turbulent energy in the air, Bradley''s eyes filled with despair. Lightning Demon Ape!!! A deafening explosion followed, shaking the surrounding hills with its force. The intense shockwave obliterated trees within a several-hundred-meter radius, reducing them to splinters. The blinding white lightsted for a full ten seconds before finally fading, giving way to a massive fireball that rose like a small mountain, sending scorching heat waves in all directions... A kilometer away, hiding behind a hill, Uldir waspletely dumbfounded. Just moments ago, when Bradley went berserk, Uldir was certain that Charles was done for. But who could have imagined that Charles would turn the tables in such a dire situation? Even after the red glow faded and a mushroom cloud rose into the sky, climbing several kilometers high, Uldir''s mouth was still hanging open in shock. As he stood there in disbelief, a young voice interrupted his thoughts. "Here''s the antidote for the poison in your system, and this is the key to where your family is being held." Uldir looked down to find Charles standing before him, offering the items. "Uldir, thank you for the information you provided. Bradley is deadyou''re free now." Uldir wanted to express his gratitude, but he suddenly realized that his jaw had nearly locked from hanging open for so long. All he could do was watch as the boy''s figure disappeared into the sunset... Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Triple Bomb Meanwhile, about 30 kilometers away from the st center, a figure in a cyan cloak was moving swiftly through the forest. As the azure butterfly flitted around her, a blue-green whirlwind mmed into a second-tier mystical beast fox Lightning Demon Ape!!! The deafening explosion echoed through the woods, and Grace''s eyes widened in surprise. Her beautiful eyes were filled with confusion. "When did my wind de get so powerful?" It was only then that she realized the sound wasn''ting from her attack. It was from somewhere far off, seemingly in the direction of the bloody pool, where a fiery mushroom cloud was rising into the sky! Grace stared at the towering ''mushroom'' in shock, and an image of a familiar face shed through her mind. Last time, someone in the trial group chat had shared a photo, showing the aftermath of one of Charles''s mystical beast, the frost wolf''s, skills. "How is that possible? A Level 2 Beast Master shouldn''t have this kind of destructive power! And when I saw itst time in the group, it wasn''t nearly this strong!" Grace shook her head, trying to dismiss the strange thoughts, but they persisted. She checked the points leaderboard again, seeing that Charles was still far behind her. A smug smile spread across her face as she let out a cold chuckle. "Charles, I''m ahead of you by over 10,000 points, and there are only six days left. Even if you hunt ferocious beasts non-stop, you''ll never catch up to me." "I, Grace, will make sure to crush you underfoot at the trial ceremony, and wash away the shame of that day!" ... At this moment, nearly all the students participating in the trials on the outskirts of the ferocious beast mountain range could see the massive mushroom cloud rising into the sky. Some students, who were closer to the site, even began live-streaming around the enormous crater left behind by the explosion. Messages andments flooded in like a snowstorm: "I''m deep in Kentish Mountain and didn''t see the mushroom cloud. Can someone tell me what happened?" "Do you see that hundred-meter-wide crater? I''m betting my money that Charles is behind this!" "I can confirm that! I''m from Squad 7, and I''ve seen Charles use this exact skill before. It''s definitely him!" "This explosion is so massiveeven a Level 6 ferocious beast, like a Charizard, couldn''t have caused this much damage with its fireball attack!" "I can''t believe it! In just a month, Charles went from the bottom of the leaderboard to the top 10. He''s the biggest dark horse of this entire trial! Who else could have caused this explosion?" "Does anyone know if Charles needs another teammate? There are only six days leftmaybe I can tag along and earn some points..." "Charles is absolutely amazing!" "Does anyone have Charles''s contact info? Is Charles single right now?" "..." The discussions about the battle continued well into the night. And as if the news had wings, it quickly spread through the inte, all the way back to Lsengard. When people learned that Bradley and his son Felix, the two notorious traitors of Lsengard, were dead, everyone was ted. But when they found out that it was Charles from Lsengard Beast Mastery High School who had taken them down, that tion turned to shock! A high school senior, who had only recently graduated and was still just a Level 2 Beast Master, managed to single-handedly defeat a Level 3 Beast Master who had taken a ''Strengthening Pill''and did so without a scratch? It sounded like nothing short of a miracle. The news of Charles''s victory spread through the MisubiAuction House, Beast Mastery za, and the Beast Master Guild, echoing through every corner of Lsengard. The news also circted within the ferocious beast mountain range. Those hunter teams who had suffered under the oppression of the grave robbers cheered upon hearing of Bradley and Felix''s deaths. Those once-arrogant bandits, robbers, and grave robbers couldn''t help but shudder whenever they recalled the fiery mushroom cloud that lit up the sky that evening. Many of them dismantled their hideouts and fled deeper into the ferocious beast mountain range. ... Charles had no idea about the sensation he had caused on the inte. At that moment, he was racing through the forest on the back of his cloud leopard. Every time the cloud leopard slowed down slightly, the soft sensation he felt behind him sent a shiver through his heart. Thanks to the cloud leopard''s incredible speed, Charles reached the border between the Atacama Desert and the ferocious beast mountain range, arriving at an oasis at the foot of the mountains in less than half a day. This ce was still some distance from the desert and was filled with low shrubs. From afar, Charles could see arge number of ferocious beasts gathering at the base of the mountain, and a smile spread across his face. "We''ve arrived. This is the only water source within a hundred-mile radius. All the nearby ferocious beasts and animalse here to drink. You wanted a ce where ferocious beasts gatherI couldn''t think of a better spot," Aria said as she gently dismounted from the cloud leopard. Recalling their earlier idental closeness, she turned her gaze away. "Yes, this ce is perfect. In less than five days, I should be able to climb to the top of the leaderboard," Charles nodded in agreement. He quickly surveyed the surroundings, which were mostly popted by first- and second-tier mystical beastsideal for him to gain strength. The more popr areas of the ferocious beast mountain range were crowded with people, and ces like the southern bank of the Nine Hell River were often frequented by third- and fourth-tier ferocious beasts, which were still too challenging for Charles at his current level. This oasis, on the other hand, was like a hidden gem. Seeing Charles agree, Aria''s face lit up with joy. She pointed to a small, slightly dpidated wooden cabin nearby. "This used to be an outpost on the Atacama border. Why don''t we stay here for now? I can also train in the area." "That sounds great. I''d be more than happy to have such a lovelypanion," Charles replied, admiring the young girl before him. Once again, he couldn''t help but think that in her human form, Aria was the most adorable girl in the world. Noticing Charles''s gaze, Aria yfully raised her small fist and huffed, "Don''t get any ideas aboutying a hand on me. I''m not weak, and don''t forgetyou still have my original serpent venom in your system." "Uh, right, I almost forgot about that. Aria, can you remove this venom?" Charles asked, a bit concerned. But Aria only stuck out her tongue at him and then hummed a little tune as she walked toward a nearby pond. After sweating so much on the way, it was clear Aria was headed to take a bath. Having witnessed Aria''s terrifying side, Charles quickly quashed any thoughts of sneaking a peek. Though Aria had injected him with some unknown serpent venom, she didn''t seem to harbor any ill will toward him. After all, she had risked her own weakness to kill Bradley for him. Charles nced at the points leaderboard once again. --- [Ferocious Beast Mountain Range Training Points Leaderboard] 1st: Grace [23,551 points] 2nd: Thomas [15,204 points] 3rd: Emily [13,598 points] ... 8th: Charles [13,029 points] ... --- Seeing that Grace had pulled ahead by over 12,000 points, Charles couldn''t help but curse her under his breath for being such a maniac. He then got up and headed toward a valley on the other side of the pond. The nearby ferocious beasts all came to this oasis to drink, and that valley was a crucial passage leading to the water source. All Charles needed to do was set up traps in the valley and he could pick off the injured ferocious beasts, racking up points in the process. "There are only five days left in the ferocious beast mountain range trial. While points are important, I need to focus on increasing my strength during this time." "Moreover, that mysterious academy known as the ''Monster Academy'' has surprisinglye to Lsengard to recruit this year. I need to see if it''s a good fit for me." "And as for you, Graceyou''re eager to defeat me, aren''t you? Let''s see who''s really stronger!" In a world where power reigns supreme, Charles was bing acutely aware of this reality. Over the past two months in the ferocious beast mountain range, he had narrowly escaped death countless times. Without formidable strength, not only would he struggle to find his parents, but even his own survival would be in jeopardy. Drawing the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear from his storage space, Charles looked toward the approaching beast horde on the other side of the valley, his expression resolute: "Let the storme, and let it be fierce!" ... At the border between the forest and the desert, a young man was moving swiftly through the valley. For the past two days, Charles had been fighting the waves of beasts heading toward the oasis, day and night, while Aria rested near the small wooden cabin. The two kept to themselves, not disturbing each other. "Mousie, there''s a second-tier green insect over there! Go get it!" "Max! A group of red-eyed rabbits is trying to cross the valley to drink water. Get ready for battle!" [Ding! You have defeated the ferocious beast [Green Insect] (Lv21 Silver Quality)!] [Mystical Beast Mousie (Lv.17) Loyalty +0! Experience Points +400!] [Ding! You have defeated the ferocious beast [Red-Eyed Rabbit] (Lv19 Bronze Quality)!] [Mystical Beast Max (Lv.17) Loyalty +0! Experience Points +300!] ... [Ding! You have defeated the ferocious beast [Armored Rhino] (Lv18 Gold Quality)!] ... [Ding! You have defeated the ferocious beast [Desert Spider] (Lv22 Silver Quality)!] [Your mystical beast Max has leveled up. Current Level: Lv.18!] [Your mystical beast Mousie has leveled up. Current Level: Lv.18!] ... The constant system notifications ringing in Charles''s ears were starting to be second nature to him. These past few days, whenever a beast horde came rushing through, Charles would summon Max and Mousie to engage in battle. When he got injured, he used Hemostatic Powder to heal himself; when he grew tired, he drank a bottle of Regenerating Potion to shake off the fatigue. In this relentless, almost hellishbat, his strength was increasing at an incredible pace, and his muscles were visibly bing more defined and stronger. As his mystical beasts leveled up, Charles''s personal attributes and elemental control improved as well. He began to feel that the once-distant goal of bing a Level 3 Beast Master was now within reach. However, Charles was not one to let pride cloud his judgment. As mystical beasts level up, the amount of experience required doubles with each level. The energy needed to go from Lv18 to Lv20 is greater than the total needed from Lv10 to Lv18bined. Charles knew he couldn''t expect to achieve a breakthrough in just a few dayspatience was key. In the spare moments between battles, Charles often found himself organizing his storage space. At this moment, he was staring nkly at a few golden scales and a semi-transparent beast bone in his hand. "The devouring serpent was a tough one. Emma really went all out to defeat it. These items aren''t ordinary at allwhat could they be used for?" Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Unlocking a New Function As Charles''s gaze fell upon the materials in his hand, a few lines of information appeared before his eyes. [Devouring SerpentGold Scales] [Gold Quality]: Extremely rare ferocious beast material, with a small chance of being produced when a devouring serpent evolves. It is an essential material for crafting high-quality golden inner armor. [Devouring SerpentSpirit Bone] [Gold Quality]: A rare material formed when a sixth-tier or higher ferocious beast condenses its elemental energy into a physical form. Even rarer than a beast core, it is a key material for crafting high-quality golden weapons. [Spirit Essence Pill] [Orange Quality]: After consuming this miracle drug, a mystical beast will have a 100% sess rate during evolution, with no side effects. The effect of the Spirit Essence Pill was straightforwardCharles knew it was meant to be used when a mystical beast was about to evolve. But what about the other two items? Based on his theoretical knowledge, Charles understood that these materials could be used to craft weapons and armor. However, crafting high-quality equipment required more than just good materialsit required skill to ensure the materials worked well together. In Lsengard, the best weapons only reached blue quality. It would be a waste to hand over such valuable materials to a local cksmith. Just when Charles was at his wit''s end, he suddenly noticed that in the system interface, next to [alchemy], there was an additional columnbeled [forging] that he hadn''t seen before. Curious, Charles focused on it, and a window quickly popped up. [Nine Netherworld Armband] [Gold Quality] [Crafting Materials]: - [Devouring SerpentGold Scales]: 20/18 - [Devouring SerpentSpirit Bone]: 10/8 - Water Attribute Beast Core [Second Tier]: 0/1 [Description]: The armband integrates seamlessly with the exoskeleton of the right arm, remaining invisible until activated by infusing water attribute energy. [Effect]: A gold-quality piece of equipment thatbines offense and defense. It enhances the muscle strength of the right arm by 100% through the exoskeleton while providing significant protection from the golden scales, reducing damage from ordinary attacks. (Currently, it can mitigate 97% of a Level 4 Beast Master''s standard attacks.) [Enhancement]: The beast core is removable. The higher the grade of the water attribute beast core, the stronger the offensive and defensive capabilities. After reading the brief description, Charles was overwhelmed with excitement. "It can reduce 97% of the damage from attacks two full levels above! That''s insanely powerful!" With this level of damage reduction, getting hit on the right arm would be no more painful than a light scratch. Even more impressive was the fact that the armband could boost the strength of his right arm by an explosive 100%. This enhancement would effectively double the piercing power of Charles''s Puncture Thorn. Just the thought of it made him realize how terrifying this exoskeleton could be. Charles figured that with such a powerful effect, there had to be some limitations, like a cap on the number of uses. Otherwise, it would be too overpowered. Additionally, since the materials came from a sixth-tier mystical beast, its effectiveness would likely be reduced against even stronger beasts. But even with these considerations, this would be an incredibly valuable piece of equipment for Charles at his current level. Once the gold-quality armband was crafted, it would be another ace up his sleeve for staying alive. What made Charles even happier was that the system had unlocked the [forging] feature, which meant that he could now craft weapons and equipment himself using materials he obtained in the system. As Charles''s gaze shifted to the "forge," a flood of information poured into his mindeverything rted to forging, including temperature control, smithing, extraction, and more. The sudden influx of knowledge caused a brief dizzy spell in Charles''s head. "Now that I have the knowledge of forging, and I''ve got the gold scales and spirit bone, all I need is a second-tier water attribute beast core," Charles sighed as he checked the required materials. He had plenty of first-tier beast cores, but not a single second-tier core. Such rare items could fetch astronomical prices at auctions, and even if he found one, it would likely be beyond his budget. With no other options, Charles decided to try his luck near the pond at the center of the oasis. After gathering his belongings and stuffing all the seble ferocious beast materials from the valley into his storage space, Charles left the valley. But when he arrived at the pond... he was stunned! The entire pond was shrouded in a thinyer of pale purple poisonous mist. Dozens of animals and ferocious beasts of various sizes floated lifelessly on the water''s surface. Seeing the grim scene, Charles couldn''t help but grimace. Forget about finding a second-tier water attribute beast corethere wouldn''t even be any fish left to eat. Thankfully, he still had plenty stored in his storage space... He searched the area around the pond but found no sign of Aria. It wasn''t until he approached the small wooden cabin near the edge of the forest that he heard faint sobbinging from inside. The poisonous mist that had polluted the entire area was emanating from within the cabin, and the greenery surrounding the cabin had withered and turned yellow under the toxic influence. "Aria, are you in there?" Charles asked softly, knocking gently on the door. The crying stopped, and after a long silence, a faint voice responded, "No... I''m not here." Hearing that familiar voice, Charles breathed a sigh of relief. He had always sensed that this girl carried secrets far beyond what he could imagine. But then again, everyone has their secrets, and Charles had no intention of prying. The days of the ferocious beast mountain range trial were drawing to a close. Thanks to his relentless efforts over the past few days, Charles had sessfully climbed into the top three on the leaderboard. Although there was still some distance between him and Grace, who held the first spot, and Emily, who was in second, Charles was already satisfied with his progress. He hade today to share a meal with Aria and to say goodbye at this oasis. Afterward, she would return to the desert, and Charles would head back to Lsengard. Who knows... they might never see each other again. "If you don''t open the door, I''ming in," Charles said after waiting a moment longer, worried that something might have happened to Aria. He gently pushed the door open. He had a good idea of why Aria was upsetit was likely due to the poisonous mist around her that was bing increasingly difficult to control. Before setting out on this trial, Charles had read about a legend in the book Local History that rted to Atacama. Long ago, Atacama wasn''t the vast, barren desert it is now, but rather a lush paradise with fertile grasnds, abundant herds, and millions of living creatures. The ancient Goddess of Sky-patching was said to have molded y into humans, who lived harmoniously with her and enjoyed a prosperous, blissful life. One day, however, the Goddess of Sky-patching was corrupted by an evil spirit. Her once long, ck hair transformed into thousands of venomous snakes, and her fair, beautiful face twisted into something grotesque and terrifying. Wherever she went, poisonous mists spread. Humanity, once devoted to the Goddess, began to fear and despise her. They destroyed the temples dedicated to her and burned her statues. The once-revered Goddess of Sky-patching became the dreaded and shunned evil deity known as Medusa. ... "I wonder if this has any connection to that legend..." Charles thought, snapping back to reality as he noticed Aria, now wearing an apron, preparing dinner in the kitchen. She seemed inexperienced in the kitchen, her movements somewhat clumsy, and with tears still lingering at the corners of her eyes, she looked like a young bride who had been wronged. The fish that had been lively just moments ago perished the moment it came into contact with the faint purple mist surrounding Aria before it even reached her hands. Seeing that she was on the verge of tears again, Charles couldn''t help but tease her, "So, you know how to cook fish?" "Of course! Back in the pce... at home, there were people who wanted to eat my cooking but couldn''t!" Aria shot Charles a defiant re, her cheeks puffed out in frustration. Watching her, Charles felt a strange sense of nostalgia, as if he were witnessing a scene from a different lifetime. It was hard to reconcile the cheerful girl he once knew with the sad and vulnerable Aria standing before him now. He couldn''t help but wonder what she had gone through in the month they had been apart to bring about such a change. He had a vague suspicion that it had something to do with the tomb of the ancient serpent gods, Medusa, that they had encountered. As he watched the beautiful figure bustling about, Charles suddenly spoke up, "Aria, I might be leaving the ferocious beast mountain range tomorrow. Of course, there''s no real rush if... you know, we don''t have to say goodbye so soon..." The beautiful figure hesitated for a moment at Charles''s words. After a brief silence, she replied with a barely audible, "Okay." They both fell into a quiet silence, neither of them saying a word, just like when they had first met in the ancient tomb. The only difference was that back then, it had been Charles grilling meat for Aria. "All done! Come and taste my cooking!" Aria finally called out, breaking the silence with a small smile. Aria proudly ced the pot of "fish soup" in front of Charles. Without even needing to taste it, as a seasoned cook, Charles could already imagine just how "delicious" it would be, simply by looking at it. He hesitated for a moment, then forced augh. "This is... fish soup?" "What, are you worried I poisoned it?" Aria''s lips curled into a smug smile as she looked at Charles. "This is the first time I''ve ever cooked for someone else. Even if it doesn''t taste good, you have to finish it, or else..." Aria raised her slender arm, the threat in her words unmistakable. "Why would I worry about you poisoning me? The entire room is already filled with toxins..." Charles muttered, unable to resist a bit of sarcasm. But the moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them. Sometimes, words are spoken without thinking, but the listener can take them to heart. Aria, who had just started to cheer up, was hurt by Charles''sment. She nced at a wilted flower on the windowsill, then burst into tears and ran out of the cabin. Lightning Demon Ape!!! At the moment Aria started crying, a terrifying pressure descended, nearly suffocating Charles. The small wooden cabin, along with the table and chairs around Charles, was instantly reduced to splinters. A gray-haired middle-aged man appeared before Charles in the blink of an eye, his eyes zing with fury. "Boy, what did you say to the youngdy? If anything happens to her, I''ll make sure you die a thousand deaths!" As the man appeared, a few lines of information shed before Charles''s eyes. [Name]: Joshua [Race]: Serpent Man [Age]: 41 [Level]: Lv64 [Attributes]: Wind/Poison Charles''s face twitched involuntarily, and the spoon in his hand slipped from his grasp, ttering to the floor. "No way... talk about bad luck. Isn''t this the same guy who fought Emma? How did I run into him again here?" Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Inescapable Fate "Senior, I didn''t intend to offend yourdy. There must be some misunderstanding here," Charles said calmly as he faced the man before him. In his palm, he gathered energy of three elements: ice, fire, and darkness. The man before him, named Joshua, was a serpentine warrior whom Charles had once seen gain the upper hand in a battle against Emma. This meant that his strength was equivalent to that of a Level 7 Beast Master! This was apletely overwhelming difference in power, but Charles had no intention of surrendering. The energy bomb was his most powerful card right now, and if Joshua really intended to kill him... Even if he had to die, he would make sure Joshua paid for it with at least a broken tooth! Joshua wielded a sleek, jet-ck spear, and his narrow, ck serpentine eyes swept over Charles. Noticing the elemental energy fluctuations in Charles'' hand, Joshua felt a hint of surprise. Ordinary people would have been scared out of their wits, begging for mercy at this point, but this mere Level 2 Beast Master was actually nning to counterattack? A fleeting memory of the princess''smand shed through his mind, instructing him not to harm this boy. Joshua clenched his teethif he really killed this kid, he might not be able to exin it to the princess. "Kid, this is your final warning," Joshua spat coldly. The spear in his hand dissolved into a cloud of ck mist. Just as he had appeared out of thin air, Joshua''s figure gradually became insubstantial, fading away right under Charles'' nose. It was only after Joshua had vanished that Charles withdrew the elemental energy from his hand. During the standoff with Joshua, it felt as though a taut string had been pulled tight within him, and now he was gasping for breath, his chest heaving. The man seemed intent on killing him, but for some reason, he didn''t dare to strike. "I''d better find Aria quickly. After all, we''re still in the Ferocious Beast Mountains, and if anything happens, it could be dangerous." Charles quietly closed the wooden cabin door and then hurried along the path where Aria had disappeared. ... After passing through the trees by the pool and following the steep mountain trail upwards, Charles could feel the poisonous gas growing thicker around him. Charles retrieved several miracle drugs from his storage space and swallowed them in quick session to resist the encroaching toxic attributes. Only then did he begin to feel slightly better. Aria''s movements were easy to track. Everywhere she passed, there were corpsesbutterflies, lizards, birds, and even some ferocious beasts... Even the towering ancient trees around her had turned yellow and withered, despite it being midsummer. It looked likete autumn, withrge amounts of dead leaves falling to the ground, creating a scene of destion. At the end of this lifeless wastnd sat a beautiful young girl, silently gazing out from the edge of a cliff. From a distance, Charles noticed something strange: there seemed to be eerie ck markings on her once fair arms. Just as he was about to approach, a figure suddenly grabbed him from behind and said coldly, "Kid, if you want to die, go ahead." Before Charles could respond, the figure pulled him away, leaping to a nearby hill where the poisonous mist was thinner. Seeing that even Joshua seemed wary of this purple poisonous mist, Charles felt a deep sense of confusion. "Senior, could you tell me what has happened over the past month? How did Miss Aria end up like this?" "This is a curse that has persisted for over a thousand years, or perhaps it''s a fate she can never escape." Joshua sighed softly, leaning against a tree beside Charles. His gaze, fixed on the young girl, was filled with affection and pity. "A thousand-year curse? And fate? What do you mean?" Charles was baffled by Joshua''s cryptic words. "You are human. I shouldn''t be telling you this, but... it''s just an old legend, so it doesn''t matter if you know." Joshua fell silent for a moment before finally speaking, his eyes still on the distant girl. In a deep voice, he began: "A thousand years ago, the serpent people were the weakest tribe in Atacama, on the brink of extinction. In that desperate time, a young girl from the tribe made a pact with a demon." "A demon... a pact..." As Joshua spoke, Charles felt a wave of shock. He couldn''t help but recall the mural in the ancient tomb. Could the demon Joshua was referring to be the legendary Medusa? "After that, the serpent tribe gained control over the power of poison. Several powerful figures emerged, and the tribe became one of the most feared in the area. Atacama not only gained independence from the Ster Empire but even the northern Genosha human tribes began to fear them. The serpent people flourished and multiplied in this world. However, everythinges at a price..." At this point, Joshua''s expression turned sorrowful. The once stern, snake-like eyes were now moist with emotion. "That young girl, who became the queen that united the entire serpent tribe, found her power growing increasingly uncontroble. Her appearance grew hideous, her long hair turned into venomous snakes, and a purple mist began to spread across thend, turning the once thriving Atacama into a desert..." "..." Charles swallowed hard. The queen who had once saved her people had be the demon that destroyed Atacama! How heartbroken must she have been, watching her country perish by her own uncontroble power? So, what is the rtionship between the former Serpent Queen and Aria...? "After the kingdom turned into a desert, the queen sought out more suitablends for survival and waged a great war against the Genosha to the north. Her opponent was none other than Ares, the War God of Genosha, who had been the strongest warrior for centuries. Though the queen defeated Ares, she herself perished in the battle." "Following her death, a revolt broke out within the entire serpent tribe, and Atacama splintered into factions. The people believed the queen had brought divine retribution upon them, and the royal family was massacred. Aria is the only one left behind by the queen in this world..." Joshua suddenly stopped, realizing he had said too much. His face turned stern again, and he coldly fixed his gaze on Charles. "You''d better forget what you just heard. If you reveal Miss Aria''s whereabouts to anyone, I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth. Believe me, there''s no one in all of Genosha who can stop me." Joshua''s figure turned into a shadow and disappeared before Charles, who was still overwhelmed by shock. He had suspected earlier that Aria''s origins were anything but simple, and now it seemed his suspicions were confirmed. No wonder she ended up wandering in the Ferocious Beast Mountains, rescued by a human hunter. She was likely on the run, pursued by those who wanted her dead. "But the speed at which this girl''s power is increasing... it''s almost terrifying..." Charles turned his gaze back to the edge of the cliff, but the girl had disappeared, the purple mist around her dissipating. Aria''s power had surged from Level 13 to Level 35 in just one montha rate of growth that was unheard of among both humans and beasts. And Charles had never seen her hunting ferocious beasts or undergoing rigorous training, meaning Aria could grow stronger without effort. This effortless advancement was something Charles couldn''t help but envy. However, everything has its price. Could it be that Aria''s ultimate fate will mirror that of the queen from so long ago, consumed by the curse until she eventually loses herselfpletely...? "What did Joshua just say to you?" Charles was still gazing wistfully at the cliff when, before he knew it, Aria had appeared beside him. He almost instinctively took a half-step back. Noticing the purple mist around her had disappeared, indicating she had regained control, Charles finally breathed a sigh of relief. Feeling a bit awkward for his reaction, Charles decided to lighten the mood with a joke. Smiling, he said, "Joshua just told me that hisdy is so beautiful, intelligent, a great cook, and incredibly strong. Whoever is lucky enough to marry her one day must have umted good fortune over several lifetimes!" "Really?" Aria seemed a bit surprised but didn''t doubt Charles. She continued, "We serpent people are a matriarchal n, much like mantises or spiders. On the wedding night, the bride devours the groom. If that counts as ''good fortune,'' then so be it." "Uh, what..." The delicate and charming girl before him suddenly seemed a lot more terrifying to Charles. Seeing the startled expression on Charles''s face, Aria covered her mouth and giggled. "Alright, I was just teasing you. I''m not that scary! But I guess... no one would dare to marry me anyway, right?" With a soft sigh, the girl''s clear golden eyes suddenly dimmed a bit. A ck mark appeared on the back of Aria''s left hand, and although she tried to hide it, Charles noticed it. A broken nation, a n wiped out. A royal family once revered by all, now exiled and hunted as criminals. With such a tragic fate, if Charles were in her shoes, he might have lost the ability to smile long ago. Aria gently crouched down, picking up the body of a blue butterfly from the ground and carefully burying it in a small dirt mound. Her teary eyes were filled with guilt. As she stood up, dusting off her hands, she paused for a moment before turning. She suddenly looked at Charles and said, "You''re my only friend, Charles. No matter what I be, I won''t hurt you. Promise me you won''t hate me in the future, okay? Otherwise, I''ll be very sad." With that, the girl raised her fair arm, waved at Charles in the glow of the setting sun, and a sh of light surrounded her. In an instant, she transformed into a serpent nearly ten meters long, disappearing swiftly into the forest. Charles stood there, staring in the direction where she had disappeared, momentarily lost in thought before slowly pulling himself out of his feelings of sadness. He and Aria came from twopletely different worldsdifferent kingdoms, different races. Perhaps their paths would never cross again. And with problems that even Joshua couldn''t solve, there was no way he could interfere. Aria had her path to follow, and Charles had his own. Clenching his fists slightly, Charles swallowed a miraculous speed pill and darted toward the valley. The trial had less than three days remaining, and time was running out. The previously quiet valley was soon filled with a whirlwind of dust. ... [Ding! You have defeated ferocious beast [Green Insect] (Lv19, Silver Grade)!] [Ding! You have defeated ferocious beast [Roke Lizard ] (Lv18, Bronze Division)!] [Ding! You have defeated ferocious beast [Little Ginseng Spirit ] (Lv20, Bronze Division)!] The notifications shed before his eyes as Charles fought from dusk until nightfall. It wasn''t until Mousie was utterly exhausted, panting heavily on top of his head, that Charles finally stopped. "Chirp chirp... I can''t take it anymore, if this keeps up, Mousie is going to turn into a dried mouse..." Mousie said with a pitiful expression. Max, looking equally exhausted, had already jumped into a small nearby pond to soak. "I''ll make something delicious for you all," Charles said with a smile as he patted Mousie on the head, then pulled out a grill from his storage space. Gurgle gurgle... Steam rose from the pot, and soon, a mouth-watering aroma filled the air. During the time of making dinner, Charles was not idle. He checked the [forging] section in the system, taking advantage of this moment to familiarize himself with the crafting system''s operations. As he opened the [forging] feature, a block of pitch-ck iron appeared before his eyes Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Eighty-One Hammer Technique A few days ago, when he unlocked the [forging] feature, Charles had already obtained some basic knowledge about forging from the instructional prompts. Therefore, he was quite familiar with the forging equipment. He took out a piece of mystic iron ore from his storage space. Mystic iron was the most basic forging material, perfect for practice. Until he improved his forging skills, Charles didn''t dare to use the Nine Nether Gold Scales or Sacred Boneif he failed to forge with those, he might just cry. He ced some firewood into the makeshift furnace he had built in the dirt, then worked the bellows. With a series of crackling sounds, the mystic iron he had ced inside gradually began to glow red. Once heated, mystic iron bes soft, making it the perfect time to forge it into any desired shape. ng, ng, ng, ng... The rhythmic and powerful sound of hammering echoed through the valley as Charles pounded the palm-sized piece of mystic iron into an iron sheet. An hourter, the sheet had taken shape, vaguely resembling an armguard. "It''s done!" With a crisp sizzle, the armguard was quenched in a bucket of water, releasing a cloud of steam. As the temperature cooled, Charles held up his perfectly crafted piece with a proud grin, admiring his handiwork. "You think something like this can be called armor?" Just as Charles was basking in his pride, a voice suddenly echoed from the entrance of the cave. Before he could react, a small stone shot towards him, striking the armguard in his hand. Crack! Charles''s "masterpiece" instantly shattered into pieces on the ground. Annoyed, he looked towards the entrance of the valley. When he saw that it was Joshua, Charles froze for a moment. Recalling Joshua''s earlier words, he couldn''t help but feel a bit deted. "So, what do you think I should do?" Joshua slowly approached Charles, his voice cold as ice. "A piece of iron that hasn''t even had its impurities removed doesn''t deserve to be called forged metal. And anything made from such trash can only be called garbage!" "Uh... cough..." "Your words are just as sharp as your looks..." Charles couldn''t help but mutter under his breath. "Hmm?" A fierce re from Joshua''s jet-ck serpentine eyes made Charles quickly shut his mouth. Although he wasn''t sure what Joshua''s intentions were, it seemed... he might be an expert in forging? Without wasting time, Charles quickly offered up the best food and wine he had. "Senior, could you teach me?" Joshua nced at the wine and meat in Charles''s hands, hesitated for a moment, then finally picked up the hammer lying on the ground. "You work the bellows. Watch my forging technique carefully, and listen to what I say. Remember, I''m only going to show you once!" Seeing Charles nodding eagerly, Joshua sighed in exasperation. Just a while ago, the princess had been obsessively practicing cooking, and he''d developed a psychological aversion to food... Might as well teach him, as repayment for the mealthough Joshua doubted Charles would actually learn anything. Joshua casually pulled a piece of red-hot mystic iron from the furnace and ced it on the anvil. He raised the hammer in his right hand, striking a pose that reminded Charles of the Greek statues from his previous life: "There are three crucial aspects of forging: the forging hammer, heat control, and forging technique. A good forging hammer is rare toe by, but heat control and technique can be improved through diligent practice..." ng! With a loud bang, sparks flew from the mystic iron as Joshua brought the hammer down with tremendous force. Each swing of the hammer was powerful and deliberate, yet, astonishingly, Joshua showed no signs of straineven without using elemental power. "Every forging material in the world has impurities. If the impurities aren''t removed, the material is nothing but trash. And brute force alone is useless in forgingyou have to learn how to use the hammer''s rebound off the material to conserve energy..." Even whilepleting another round of forging and returning the mystic iron to the furnace to reheat, Joshua still managed to share his forging insights with Charles, his effortless demeanor leaving Charles in awe. Two hourster, Joshua had repeated the forging process forty-nine times, transforming the original basin-sized piece of mystic iron into something the size of a palm, and eventually, as small as an egg... What astonished Charles the most was that he could see the quality of the material improving before his eyes! [mystic iron] [Gray Quality] [mystic iron] [White Quality] [mystic iron] [Green Quality] ... Finally, after the mystic iron had been reduced to a small piece about the size of a block of wood, Joshua stopped. After quenching it, he tossed a still-warm metal sphere to Charles. Eighty-one rounds! Joshua had pounded it with full force for eighty-one rounds! Staring at the now slightly translucent material in his hand, which the system disyed as mystic iron [Orange Quality], Charles''s jaw nearly hit the floor. Joshua had actually transformed a piece ofmon gray-quality material into orange-quality just through his forging skills! If Charles could learn this technique, he''d neverck high-quality materials again! Seeing the look of envy in Charles''s eyes, Joshua couldn''t help but smirk. "That ice and fire supreme spear of yours must have cost you a pretty penny, huh? But to me, it''s just trash. Back when Imanded the pce guards, this kind of thing would''ve been thrown to the cooks and kitchen staff..." The ice and fire supreme spear was a blue-quality weapon, the highest-grade weapon in Lsengard! Charles had spent 100 silver coins to buy it! But Joshua called it trash, something fit only for cooks and kitchen staff?! Charles was so shocked he almost cried, realizing how little he knew of the world. He looked at Joshua with pure admiration. "Joshua, Senior, Master! Could you forge a weapon for me? I don''t need muchjust make it gold-quality!" Joshua had just taken a sip of the beast meat stew Charles had cooked when he heard Charles''s request and nearly spit it out: Gold-quality! Did this kid think gold-quality weapons were asmon as cabbages on the ground? However, having already boasted, it was a bit awkward to tly refuse. "Kid, forging a gold-quality weapon takes a lot of time, and the materials requireddo you even have them?" Seeing the disappointment in Charles''s expression, Joshua gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "No need to feel down. I can teach you the skills." "If you master what I teach you, forging gold-quality equipment yourself won''t be a problem. What I just showed you was my signature skill, the [Eighty-One Hammer Technique]. Next, I''ll teach you how to control the heat..." ... The night passed in silence, with the moon rising and setting, and the first light of dawn breaking in the east. The ng of hammering echoed through the valley all night long. Charles couldn''t quite remember when exactly Joshua had left in the middle of the night. After demonstrating once, Joshua had handed the reins over to Charles. As Charles brought his hammer down, sparks flew from the red-hot piece of mystic iron, dislodging a small amount of impurities. Following Joshua''s instructions, Charles noticed that after a round of hammering, the material became more translucent and slightly smaller. Ssh, ssh, ssh As water sshed in the quenching bucket, Charles looked at the mystic iron, now reduced to half its original size, and felt a deep sense of aplishment. "This [Eighty-One Hammer Technique] is really something. Even as a beginner, I managed to raise the quality of mystic iron to white. Once I get the hang of this, I''ll be rolling in wealth!" Charles chuckled to himself. In his past life, Charles had been a businessman with a sharp mind formercehe could see opportunities in everything. If he took these high-grade materials to the weapon shops or auction houses in Lsengard, he could surely make a tidy profit! "With my current skill level,pletely removing impurities from the material is still a bit challenging. Over the next couple of days, I''ll keep practicing the [Eighty-One Hammer Technique] while searching for the beast core needed to forge the Nine Netherworld Armband," Charles thought to himself. After soaking in the tub for a while and changing into clean clothes, Charles left the cave and headed toward the wooden cabin by the pond. He had already taken some miracle drugs to resist the serpent poison and was relieved to find that there was no trace of the purple poison mist in the area this time. The cabin looked like it had been recently repaired, likely Joshua''s work from the night before. Charles knocked on the door, and after hearing Aria''s response, he stepped inside. Today, Aria was wearing a light green chiffon dress. Perhaps due to her life in the desert, she seemed particrly fond of this type of attire. Her waist-length, silky hair was tied at the waist with a matching light green ribbon. Her long eyshes fluttered slightly, resembling the delicate wings of a butterfly. Aria was happily engrossed in her cooking, humming softly to herself. When she saw Charles, she smiled and greeted him, "Take a seat, I''ve prepared breakfast for you. Don''t worry, nothing''s burnt this time." Thatstment made Charles''s face twitch as he remembered yesterday''s "fish soup." It seemed that after a good night''s rest, Aria''s mood had improved significantly. Seeing her so cheerful, Charles felt a sense of relief. "Please don''t start crying again, or this cabin that was just repaired might end up in pieces again," Charles joked, ncing at the tiny figure of Joshua on a hill a few hundred meters away. Aria covered her mouth with augh and gently pushed a te of pastries toward Charles. Her eyes sparkled with a soft light, full of anticipation. Charles took a bite. Despite being a person with a discerning pte, he couldn''t help but give a thumbs up. "Delicious!" Who would''ve thought this little girl''s cooking skills would improve so quickly? "Really?" Aria propped her chin in her hand, watching Charles quietly as he tasted the food. Seeing that Aria was doing well, Charles felt it was time to say goodbye. He handed her a small gift box. "I''ll be heading back to Lsengard in two days. I bought this in Lsengard as a little souvenir. I hope you don''t mind." Charles had initially thought of exchanging phone numbers with Aria, but from what he had observed, the serpent people, being a rtively secluded and traditional group, didn''t seem to use phones. When Aria heard that Charles was leaving, she seemed momentarily dazed. Then, with a hint of excitement, she carefully opened the gift Charles had prepared. Inside was a small, delicate jade pendant, a deep green in color. Upon seeing the pendant, Aria''s hand flew to her mouth in surprise, her fair face flushing all the way to her ears. Her shy expression left Charles feeling a bit flustered. "Is... is something wrong? Do you not like the style of the pendant?" Aria took a deep breath to calm herself, then looked at Charles with astonishment. "You''re the first friend I''ve ever made, Charles. I''ll cherish this gift!" Aria epted the jade pendant, then softly reminded Charles, "In our serpent tribe, jade pendants are gifts exchanged only between couples. So, in the future, be careful not to give this kind of gift to just any other girl." Thud! The half-eaten pastry in Charles''s hand dropped onto the table as he scratched his head awkwardly, finally understanding why Aria had blushed. But despite having a lot of items in his storage space, this was the only thing remotely suitable as a gift for a girl. He couldn''t exactly say: "Aria, here''s 10 kilograms of resurrecting serpent meat as my parting gift!" "Aria, this 1000 milliliters of steel-spiked hedgehog blooddon''t be offended!" The images were too ridiculous for Charles to even imagine... Fortunately, Aria epted the gift in the end. Otherwise, the situation would have been unbearably awkward. After quickly finishing his breakfast, Charles waved at Aria as if making a hasty escape. "I''m leaving tomorrow! Heading to the valley for some training first!" Just as Charles stepped out of the cabin, he heard Aria''s voice from behind him. "Charles, I have a gift for you too." His foot, mid-stride, froze in midair... Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Why Are You Showing Off? To be honest, this was the first time Charles had ever received a gift from a girl. In his previous life, even though he had achieved great sess in the business world, his focus on work left him clueless about rtionships. He always thought that money could win the hearts of all women, but in the end, he was yed by a woman to the point of losing everything... A pure-hearted girl''s affection is rare and precious, and when that girl is a beautiful serpent maiden, it''s something beyondpareeven more stunning than the most beautiful actresses he had ever seen in his previous life. While Charles was lost in thought, Aria handed him a small jade bottle. Charles gently shook it, noticing it was empty, and curiously asked, "What is this?" "An antidote." "An antidote?" Charles looked puzzled. He had been taking some medicine to resist the serpent poison over the past few days, and those purple mists didn''t seem to have affected him. As Charles stared at the little jade bottle in confusion, a faint scent of pure heart flower filled the air. Before he realized it, Aria was standing right in front of him. Just as Charles was lost in confusion, Aria suddenly opened her mouth and sank her fangs into his neck. ... By the small valley near the pond, Charles applied healing ointment to his neck, feeling a bit dazed. "The riginal serpent venom, so this is how to detoxify it..." Charles gently gritted his teeth due to the stinging from his neck. The venom must have been from when Charles had "stolen a kiss" from Aria back in the ancient tomb. Fortunately, Joshua hadn''t poisoned himCharles couldn''t even begin to imagine what it would have been like if Joshua had been the one to administer the antidote. Thinking back, Charles recalled how Aria had tilted her snow-white chin, crossed her arms over her chest, and looked utterly satisfied, as if she had finally gotten her revenge. That little jade bottle she''d given him had been nothing more than a distraction. Charles nced at the points ranking. [Ferocious Beast Mountain Training Points Leaderboard] 1st ce: Grace[25,426 points] 2nd ce: Thomas[20,149 points] 3rd ce: Charles[19,684 points] ... Nearby, there was also a countdown: [Time Remaining Until Lsengard Training Data Collection Ends: 1 day, 16 hours, 25 minutes, 38 seconds!] Seeing the countdown ticking away, Charles instantly snapped back to focus. "Just a little over 5,000 pointsI''m not about to let that little brat Grace look down on me!" Every rank higher on the leaderboard meant gaining ess to more precious treasures in Lsengard''s Vault after the training ended. With Max and Mousie both at Level 18, and Charles on the verge of breaking through to be a Level 3 Beast Master, if he could secure 1st ce, he might even win a high-quality mystical beast egg from the Vault! No matter what, Charles was determined to im that top spot. He started jogging towards the valley. "Max, Mousie, get ready for battle!" Charles issued themand mentally. Standing on the path leading to the pond where the ferocious beasts came to drink, Mousie activated the skill [Mimetic Illusion], transforming into a massive giant freshwater crocodile. After leveling up to Level 18, Mousie''s illusions now possessed thebat power equivalent to a Level 18 ferocious beast. Seeing the obstruction, the pack of ravenous and thirsty gray wolves became extremely agitated and began to attack the giant freshwater crocodile. However, the crocodile''s tough hide was as imprable as a fortress wall. No matter how fiercely they bit and wed, the crocodile remained unmoved. Whizz, whizz, whizz While the crocodile held their attention, Max unleashed a barrage of ranged attacks on the gray wolves. Under the onught of Max''s relentless assault, the pack of Level 15 to Level 17 gray wolves quickly found themselves overwhelmed, their bodies covered in blood as they tried to flee. "Trying to run? Not that easy!" Charles sneered, pulling out his ice and fire supreme spear from his storage space and activating his skill, [Puncture Thorn]! In the narrow confines of the canyon, there was nowhere for the wolves to hide. With a powerful thrust of his spear, Charles skewered the gray wolves like a row of shish kebabs. [Ding! You have defeated ferocious beast [Gray Wolf] (Lv16, ck Iron Quality)!] [Mystical Beast Max (Lv.18) Loyalty +0! Experience +100!] [Mystical Beast Mousie (Lv.18) Loyalty +0! Experience +100!] [Acquired Gray Wolf Hide 1!] [Acquired Gray Wolf Fangs 4!] ... [Ding! You have defeated ferocious beast [Gray Wolf] (Lv18, Bronze Division Quality)!] [Ding! You have defeated ferocious beast [Gray Wolf] (Lv15, ck Iron Quality)!] ... The notifications kept shing before his eyes, making Charles feel dizzy with excitement. The smile on his face was uncontroble as he genuinely marveled at how Aria had chosen such a perfect spot for him! This oasis was thergest water source in the area, attracting a constant stream of ferocious beasts to drink. Arge number of ferocious beasts gathered in this region. In less than half an hour, Charles had already in nearly 30 low-level ferocious beasts that hade to drink, boosting his points by almost 500! At this rate, overtaking Grace was just a matter of time! As Charles made his way through the valley, he continued to rack up points while collecting valuable ferocious beast materials. Just as he was nearing the other end of the canyon, the ground suddenly began to tremble, and he could faintly hear cries for help in the distance. Deciding to investigate, Charles swallowed a miraculous speed pill and reached the other side of the valley within minutes. With a light tap of his foot, heunched himself onto a nearby cliff wall. Just as his strength was about to give out, he found a protruding rock to push off from, and with another swift leap, hended securely on top of a hill. From his vantage point, Charles could finally see what was happening. A ferocious beast was savagely pursuing a group of people, some of whom appeared to be injured. Charles quickly checked the ferocious beast''s status panel. [Bloodthirsty Rhino] [Attribute]: Water [Level]: 23 [Quality]: Bronze Division [Skills]: Rhino Horn Rips,Water Cannon Attack, Emerald Prison [Mood]: Agitated [Health]: Healthy [Weakness]: Earth Attribute [Description]: Rhinos are typically herbivorous, but this mutated rhino seems to have developed a taste for meat. Beware of its restrictive skill [Emerald Prison]. Charles wasn''t exactly the heroic type, and facing a Level 23 ferocious beast was risky given his current strength. He was just about to retreat when he suddenly recognized a familiar figure among the fleeing group. "Daniel?! You''re still alive!" Charles couldn''t contain his excitement and leaped down from the hill,nding atop a giant tree below. In the dense forest ahead, a group of students dressed in Lsengard Beast Mastery High School uniforms were desperately fleeing. Their torn clothes and the wounds on their arms suggested that their time in the Ferocious Beast Mountains had been anything but easy. "Help me..." In the chaos of the fleeing group, a slender girl at the back of the pack tripped over some shrubs. She turned to look at the massive beast charging toward her, her eyes filled with despair. The others around her were too terrified to act. Most of them had only recently advanced to Level 2 Beast Master, and with such a formidable ferocious beast bearing down on them, they were more concerned with saving themselves than risking their lives to rescue her. Charles was moving swiftly through the trees, pushing himself to his limit. But as he saw the situation unfold, it seemed he might be toote to save the girl. Just as he braced himself to witness the girl get crushed, a chubby figure suddenly stepped in front of her. "Are you crazy, Daniel!" Charles shouted in shock as he quickly assessed Daniel and his mystical beast''s stats. [Name]: Daniel [Age]: 19 [Height]: 176 cm [Skill]: Petrified Skin [Beast Master Level]: 2 ... [Rock Turtle] [Attribute]: Earth [Level]: 12 [Quality]: Bronze Division [Skills]: Petrified Skin, Rock Smash Daniel activated his skill, [Petrified Skin] causing his skin to turn a deep brown, like granite, with rough, cracked textures forming on the surface. He stood in front of the girl alongside his mystical beast, prepared to take the full force of the beast''s charge. "Charging in like this is suicide!" Charles cursed inwardly. Daniel''s mystical beast was only Level 12, which meant Daniel himself was effectively also at Level 12. Facing a Level 23 ferocious beast, especially one in a berserk state, was nothing short of suicidal. Charles immediately summoned his mystical beasts, Max and Mousie, but it was already toote Boom! With a dull thud, Daniel''s round body was sent flying like a ser ball by the Bloodthirsty Rhino. He crashed through the trees with a series of splintering sounds before mming into a nearby rock, blood pouring from his mouth. "Daniel is the strongest among us, and even he couldn''t stop it. What are we going to do?" "Who said there aren''t any powerful ferocious beasts on the outskirts of the Ferocious Beast Mountains? The guild really messed up with this location!" "That beast is about to hit Lyra! Oh no..." The strongest member of their group, Daniel, had been easily overpowered by the savage ferocious beast, leaving the fleeing students in a state of panic. Some of the girls even covered their eyes in fear. At this moment, the girl named Lyra stood frozen, her face drained of all color. She stared nkly at the powerful ferocious beast charging toward her, her expression one of utter shock. Thud! A dull, sickening sound echoed through the forest, mingled with the noise of flesh being torn apart. The girls who had covered their eyes went pale, their legs giving out beneath them, their cries stifled by sheer terror. A gasp rippled through the surrounding students. The girls hiding behind a rock peeked through their fingers, and to their surprise, they saw that Lyra was unharmed. Standing in front of her was a familiar figure. A tall, handsome young man with a sturdy build stood protectively in front of Lyra, holding a dark blue spear. The spear''s tip gleamed coldly, dripping with fresh blood... Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Reunion with Daniel "Charles?!" Several students from the same school recognized the figure and couldn''t help but cry out in astonishment. Just in the nick of time, a spear had descended from above, striking the Bloodthirsty Rhino and altering its course, saving Lyra from certain doom. "Thank you for saving me..." The girl who had fallen to the ground still looked shaken, her lips slightly bluish from fear. Charles helped her to her feet and, after offering a fewforting words, guided her to a safe spot nearby. Then, gripping his spear tightly, he approached a pile of rocks. His previous strike had been hurried, merely diverting the ferocious beast''s charge without hitting a vital spotit was likely still alive. From the pile of rocks came a sound, and the massive beast''s body began to rise again. Though the earlier strike wasn''t fatal, it had left a gaping wound in its chest. The pain from the injury only made it more enraged: Roar! Roar! Roar!!! The Bloodthirsty Rhino let out a furious roar and activated its skill [Rhino Horn Rips]. Its horn extended to a length of two meters, like a giant bay, and charged straight at Charles. The ground trembled with the force of its enormous body as it ran. "Mousie! Mimetic Illusion!" Charlesmanded. "Got it!" At the exact moment the rhino was within 30 meters of Charles, an identical rhino appeared in front of him,plete with a bay-like horn, charging headlong toward the Bloodthirsty Rhino. "What the..." The surrounding students were stunned by what they saw, especially those who had once attended the same school as Charles. In their memory, Charles''s mystical beast had been a useless frost wolfhow did he suddenly have a Bloodthirsty Rhino? "Could it be that Charles has tamed a Bloodthirsty Rhino as his mystical beast?" one boy eximed. Boom!!! A deafening crash echoed as the two identical rhinos collided at full speed, their sharp horns tearing into each other''s faces, turning them into a bloody mess. Despite mimicking the exact same skill, the ferocious beast Mousie had transformed into was of a lower level, and it quickly fell to the ground, dead. "No..." Seeing this, Lyra, who had just started to calm down, covered her mouth in fear, letting out a gasp. Through her tear-filled eyes, she saw Charles summon a massive crocodile nearly 10 meters long! "Charles... has he already be a Level 3 Beast Master? How is that possible?" Another boy eximed, his face full of disbelief. A talent this terrifying was something only the city lord''s family in all of Lsengard could boast. But bing a Level 3 Beast Master was supposed to mean the ability to form a contract with a third ferocious beasttaming such a ferocious beast was no easy feat! Ignoring the puzzled looks from those around him, Charles issued battlemands through [Mind Communication]. These past two months of constantbat had given him a wealth of battle experience. As the giant rhino charged toward him again, Charles remainedpletely unflustered. The rhino unleashed its most powerful skill, [Emerald Prison], causing a wave of water-attribute energy to materialize into a massive blue that lunged toward Charles. Just as the was about to trap him, the giant freshwater crocodile stepped in front of Charles, bing ensnared by the [Emerald Prison]. A dull thud echoed as the rhino collided with the crocodile. Despite sustaining some injuries, the crocodile''s massive, sturdy body, like a thick mountain of flesh, managed to absorb the impact and neutralize the attack. Twin-headed Tiger. Timberwolf. Rumbling sounds. ... One after another, mystical beasts were summoned by Charles, seemingly as easily as pulling out consumables. The students watching finally realized this was just one of Charles''s skills. These mystical beasts, while not particrly strong and even prone to shattering with a single hit, had one overwhelming advantage: numbers! Under the relentless assault from this endless horde, the once-mighty Bloodthirsty Rhino began to falter. In the brief moment it was distracted, Charles''s spear shot forward with explosive force, piercing straight through the rhino''s heart, causing blood to spray in all directions. Rumble, rumble... To the shock of everyone present, the massive body of the Bloodthirsty Rhino copsed. The ferocious beast, which had moments ago seemed unstoppabledefeating even the strongest among them and killing two of their ssmateswas now lying dead at the tip of Charles''s spear! Everyone stared at Charles in stunned silence, unable to utter a single word. [Ding! You have defeated ferocious beast [Bloodthirsty Rhino] (Lv23, Bronze Division Quality)!] [Mystical Beast Max (Lv.18) Loyalty +0! Experience +500! Your mystical beast has leveled up!] [Mystical Beast Mousie (Lv.18) Loyalty +0! Experience +500! Your mystical beast has leveled up!] As these notifications shed before his eyes, Charles couldn''t help but feel a surge of joy. After killing hundreds of ferocious beasts and now defeating a Level 23 beast, both Mousie and Max had leveled up simultaneously! Without even taking the time to harvest materials from the Bloodthirsty Rhino, Charles dashed over to a nearby pile of rubble. Clearing away the stones and branches, he found Daniel lying there, barely conscious. Charles frowned as he checked Daniel''s condition. But when he saw that the system panel disyed his health status as "Minor Surface Injuries," his frown deepened... If he had been at Level 12 and faced such a powerful ferocious beast head-on, he would have either been seriously injured or killed! What kind of physique does this guy have to only be knocked out? At that moment, Daniel suddenly opened his eyes. Seeing Charles, he rubbed them with his dirty hands. "Charles, it''s really you! Am I in hell?" "Idiot!" Charles retorted, pulling out a few healing pills from his backpack and tossing them at Daniel. "You''ve got some nerve, surviving when the rest of your squad didn''t." Swallowing the healing pills, Daniel hesitated for a moment before clenching his fists and gritting his teeth. "That scumbag Robert lured us into the valley. If it weren''t for my thick skin, I''d be dead under the beast stampede by now." "Was it really Robert? I heard... he''s dead," Charles said, pretending to be nonchnt. "Robert''s dead? Don''t let me find out where he''s buried, or I''ll make sure to take a dump on his grave!" Daniel''s face lit up with glee upon hearing the news. He suddenly shed a triumphant grin, showing off the hexagram mark on his palm. "You used to mock me, but look at thismy mystical beast really does have thick skin and can take a beating!" Seeing Daniel''s smug expression, Charles was speechless. He couldn''t help but recall how, before leaving Lsengard, Daniel had said, "I''ve got a few mines and ranches back home waiting for me to inherit. This whole training thing doesn''t matterjust surviving and getting back to Lsengard is enough." Charles couldn''t help but genuinely admire the foresight of Daniel''s father! As the two of them continued their light-hearted conversation, the people who had scattered earlier began to regroup. Lyra, supported by a few other girls, approached Charles with a grateful smile. "Thank you so much. If it weren''t for you, I don''t know what would''ve happened to me..." Seeing a girling over to talk, Daniel, who had been lying on the ground looking miserable, suddenly sprang to his feet: "Ah, dealing with low-level mystical beasts like that is nothing! You saw meI didn''t even move, and it just ran into me and died! Hahaha!" Daniel shook his golden hair and pulled out his phone. "Mind if we exchange contact info? If you ever find yourself in danger again, just give me a call, and I''ll be there in a sh!" "Uh... actually..." Lyra and the other girls exchanged nces with Charles, then awkwardly looked at Daniel, swallowing the words they had been about to say. After the few girls walked away, Daniel strutted up to Charles with a smug look on his face, raising his eyebrows yfully. "So, what do you think? With my looks and skills like this! If you can''t make it in the future, juste and rely on me!" "Oh, by the way, do you have a sr charger? I lost mine on the way here. If it weren''t for the fact that the trial cards don''t need power, I wouldn''t even be able to upload my points." Charles chuckled softly but didn''t have the heart to burst his bubble. Once Daniel charged his phone and saw his 20,000 points, he''d probably be in for a shock. This was the same guy who, back when they were 16 and in their first year of high school, dragged Charles to a red-light district, unting a VIP gold card and telling him to pick any girl he liked. Charles had never seen anything like it before, and when a half-naked woman approached him, he ran away in a panic. Despite his shameless bravado, Daniel wasn''t a bad person. Charles nced at his watch, realizing he''d already spent over an hour here. The time left for him to climb the leaderboard was running out. Just as Charles was about to leave, a shout rang out from the crowd ahead: "A beast core! There''s a second-tier water-attribute beast core inside this Bloodthirsty Rhino!" A beast core! And a second-tier one at that! At this explosive revtion, the crowd erupted in excitement. Beast cores were incredibly rare materials that could not only help mystical beasts advance but also enhance the attributes of equipment. They were so rare that the probability of a ferocious beast producing one was said to be less than 1%. Charles hadn''t paid much attention at first, but when he heard it was a second-tier water-attribute beast core, he jolted to full alertness. Isn''t this the final material needed to forge the [Nine Netherworld Armband]? Following the direction of the voice, Charles indeed spotted a blood-streaked, azure beast core in the crowd. "This ferocious beast was killed by Charles, so naturally, this beast core belongs to him," Lyra suggested. As soon as Lyra spoke, most of the surrounding people quickly agreed. "Exactly! Whoever kills the beast deserves the core. I''d like to see anyone try to take it!" "Hey, Charles, if you don''t mind sharing a bit of the beast meat or blood, I''d be more than satisfied..." Charles wasn''t one to be overly modest, especially since he had been the one to kill the ferocious beast. He was about to step forward and im the core when a deep voice suddenly called out from a short distance away: "Is that a second-tier water-attribute beast core? My mystical beast just advanced and could really use it. Lyra, you wouldn''t mind handing it over to me, would you?" Another group of students approached, with a tall, muscr boy at the center, surrounded by hispanions like a king among his subjects. The boy was handsome, though his skin was tanned from the harsh sun. His eyes gleamed with a fierce intensity as they locked onto the beast core in Lyra''s hand. Chapter 64: Chapter 64: The Challenge "Thomas... the second-ranked student on the leaderboard. I never thought we''d run into him here! Hey, does the big shot need any more followers?" someone in the crowd remarked. The mention of Thomas''s name caused an already buzzing crowd to erupt with excitement. Having just been saved by Charles, the third-ranked student, and now encountering Thomas, the second-ranked, everyone marveled at their luck today. As Charles looked at Thomas, a few lines of information appeared on the screen before his eyes. [Name]: Thomas [Age]: 19 [Height]: 188cm [Beast Master Level]: 2 "Given that he''s ranked second on the leaderboard, he must be quite formidable. His strength is likely close to the peak of a Level 2 Beast Master," Charles spected, assessing Thomas''s capabilities. Charles had already defeated a Level 3 Beast Master like Bradley, and now that Max and Mousie had reached Level 19,bined with the ability to see his opponents'' weaknesses, Charles was nearly unbeatable against anyone below a Level 3 Beast Master. He had no reason to fear Thomas. This beast core was the crucial material for forging the [Nine Netherworld Armband], so there was no way he would give it up. Stepping forward, Charles said, "I killed this Bloodthirsty Rhino. From the way you''re talking, it sounds like you''re nning to take it by force?" Hearing this, Thomas turned, his eyes sweeping over the speaker, a hint of killing intent shing in them. But when he heard from the surrounding crowd that this was Charles, the third-ranked student on the leaderboard, his expression softened slightly, and a faint smile yed on his lips. "Heh, since it was Charles who killed it, I wouldn''t dream of taking it from you. However, this beast core is very important to me. If you''re willing, I''d like to offer you these materials in exchange, along with a gold coin." Thomas''s lips curled into a smirk as he pulled out a pouch from his backpack, revealing more than ten first-tier beast cores. "If Charles is willing, consider it a gesture of friendship from me." The first-tier beast cores in Thomas''s hand radiated a strong energy, and the gold coin gleamed brightly in the sunlight. "Gulp!" The sound of people swallowing their envy was audible, and the surrounding crowd''s eyes turned green with jealousy. While a second-tier beast core was indeed valuable, it didn''tpare to the worth of over ten first-tier beast cores plus a gold coin. It seemed like an unbeatable deal. However, Charles merely smiled lightly. "Sorry, I''m not interested in trading." Charles urgently needed this beast core. While second-tier beast cores weren''t impossible toe by, finding one with a specific attribute was much harder. He was in desperate need of a water-attribute core for forging equipment. Besides, Charles found Thomas unpleasant in every way, making him even less inclined to trade. Caught between the two, Lyra was visibly conflicted. She nced at Thomas, then at Charles. After a moment of hesitation, she handed the azure beast core to Charles. This was nothing short of a public p in the face, and Thomas''s expression turned dark, as if he had just suffered a great loss. Daniel arrived just in time to see Thomas, and couldn''t resist mocking him. "Well, if it isn''t Thomas! I heard your family''s business has been strugglingtely. Thosemercial streets are just being wasted on the Draven familywhy not sell them to the Smith family instead?" The Smith family, the Taylor family, and the Draven family ran the three most prominent merchant guilds in Lsengard. The rivalry between them was fierce, with frequent underhanded tactics used topete for limited customers, making their rtionships far from harmonious. Just six months ago, a scandal erupted when it was revealed that the Smith family''s jewelry store was selling counterfeit goods. Later, David discovered that it was the Draven family behind the fake news campaign. Unfortunately, due to ack of solid evidence, the Smith family had to swallow the loss. The tension between the two families was palpable, and Daniel''s eyes practically rolled back in his head with disdain. Thomas, however, didn''t show much reaction, but one of his friends bristled at Daniel''s taunt. The faint sound of swords being drawn could be heard. "Thomas, these punks are getting way too cocky. Should we just take them out? No one would know in this remote ce, and we could just say the ferocious beasts got them," someone whispered behind him. Thomas considered it for a moment before shaking his head slightly. This Charles guy had managed to climb from nearly the bottom of the leaderboard to third ce in just a month, indicating that his strength was likely on par with Thomas''s. Moreover, the Draven family wasn''t powerful enough to openly dere war on the Smith family. Killing Daniel would be like kicking a ho''s nest. "It seems Charles isn''t interested in being friends with me," Thomas sighed softly, shaking his head before turning to Daniel with a mocking expression. "You know, some dogs just love to bark from behind their master. But once the master''s gone, they won''t even dare to whimper." "Who are you calling a dog?" Daniel roared, enraged at Thomas''s insinuation. The silver hexagram in his hand shed as he summoned his mystical beast, the [Rock Turtle]. He was about to charge forward, but Charles held him back. It wasn''t that Charles thought Daniel was in the wrongThomas had clearly shown a desire to kill, but hesitated because he couldn''t gauge Charles''s strength. Charles had no intention of showing mercy to someone who wanted him dead. However, with the trial nearing its end, Charles didn''t want to waste a single second. His points were slightly below Thomas''s, and he knew that dragging this out would only benefit Thomas. He had bigger priorities than engaging in a pointless skirmish. Thomas had already conjured a hexagram magic array in his palm. Seeing Charles hold Daniel back, he assumed it was a sign of weakness, and a smug expression spread across his face. "I''ve heard that someone''s been making quite the waves recently. In just a few days, you''ve managed to knock Emily out of third ce. Your points have risen so quicklycould it be... you''re boosting your score by killing people?" Whoosh Before Thomas could finish his sentence, a dark blue spear flew through the air, grazing his neck by mere millimeters. He could almost feel the tip of the spear brush against his skin, sending a chill down his spine. A centimeter closer, and he''d have been dead on the spot. Thomas''s shocked expression drewughter from the students around Charles. Having lost face in front of so many people, Thomas''s face twitched with anger as he red coldly at Charles''s back. "Charles, all you know how to do is sneak attack, huh? After the trial, those who are admitted to one of the three major academies in the imperial capital have half a day to ept challenges from others. Do you dare to fight me fair and square?" From a distance, without even turning around, Charles waved dismissively. "Not interested." "You...!" Beingpletely ignored by Charles from start to finish, and nearly getting taken out by his sneak attack, Thomas''s temper red. He mmed his fist into a nearby tree, and with a loud crash, the tree, which took several people to encircle, copsed. "Boss, are we just gonna let someone from Lsengard High show off in front of us from Second High?" one of his followers grumbled. "How about we go take care of themter?" another person suggested. Thomas gritted his teeth, watching as Charles''s figure faded into the distance, and shook his head. "Too many people saw what happened, and some even recorded it and posted it online. It''s toote to make a move now, especially with Daniel backed by the entire Smith family merchant guild." "But during the post-admission challenge, anything goes. I''ll kill that kid in front of all of Lsengard!" Forcing himself to suppress his anger, Thomas waved his hand, leading his followers in the opposite direction. ... In stark contrast to the tense atmosphere surrounding Thomas, the crowd around Charles was filled withughter and cheer. "Charles, how did you pull off that move just now? I couldn''t even see what happened, and your spear flew right past Thomas''s neck!" "That scumbag Thomas probably wet his pants, haha!" "Thomas has been used to being domineering at Second High School because of his family''s influence. Today, Brother Charles really gave us students of Second High School a chance to vent our frustrations!" "By the way, I heard you guys mention that Charles fought and defeated a second-tier ferocious beast on his own. Can someone tell me more about that?" "You should''ve seen it! Charles summoned a 50-meter-long crocodileI waspletely stunned!" "..." As Charles walked at the front of the group, he couldn''t help but feel exasperated listening to the chatter behind him. How did these stories get so exaggerated? A 50-meter-long crocodilewhat did they think this was, a dinosaur? He nced at the time. The dy had cost him valuable points. When they reached the campsite, Charles suddenly turned to the group and said: "The trial ends tomorrow. My tent is set up on the other side of the mountain, and I need to pack up. Let''s part ways here for now." Waving off their pleas for him to stay, Charles headed toward the canyon. With all the materials for the [Nine Netherworld Armband] now in hand, he couldn''t wait to start forging it. Watching his figure gradually disappear, Danielwho had just learned that Charles was ranked third on the leaderboardwas left in awe. "Back in school, who would''ve guessed this guy had such talent?" Lyra smiled, her eyes filled with admiration. "Someone this talented wouldn''t be content to stay in a small ce like Lsengard, would they?" Noticing Lyra lost in thought, another girl waved a hand in front of her face, teasing her, "Don''t get your hopes up. With his talent, all three major academies in the imperial capital will be vying for him! Unlike us, who probably won''t even make it into Vendantia Academy. With Charles''s Beast Master talent, he''s destined to be someone great, someone we''ll always look up to." Hearing this, Lyra felt a pang of disappointment, but she quickly regained herposure and summoned her mystical beast. Geniuses have their own lives, but even the ordinary have their paths to follow. Even if she couldn''t get into one of the three major academies, a future working at The Beast Master Guild in Lsengard would still offer a life that many would envy. Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Double the Good Fortune After parting ways with Daniel''s trial group, Charles moved swiftly through the forest, making his way back to the oasis where Aria was. It was early evening, and the ferocious beasts, having been scorched by the sun all day, were now making their way to the pond to drink. This was the perfect time to rack up some points. Charles drank a bottle of [Regenerating Potion] and gave a few bottles to Max and Mousie as well, instantly feeling re-energized. Like a bandit, Charles positioned himself near the narrow entrance that led from the Ferocious Beast Mountains to the pond, effectively demanding a "toll" from any beast that wanted to drink. After six hours of intensebat, Charles still had some energy left, but Max and Mousie were struggling. In their state of extreme exhaustion, even the miracle drug that restored energy was losing its effectiveness. They could only recover slowly through sleep. Forcing his mystical beasts to continue fighting in this condition could lead to exhaustion or even a decrease in their loyalty. Not wanting to take that risk, Charles recalled them to the mystical beast space to rest. After returning to the cabin and having dinner prepared by Aria, Charles headed to a cave several kilometers away to begin forging the [Nine Netherworld Armband]. From his storage space, Charles retrieved the [Devouring Serpent''s Golden Scale][Gold Quality] and [Devouring Serpent''s Sacred Bone][Gold Quality]. The cave was bathed in a soft golden light as he held the materials in his hands. These materials were hard toe by, and Charles had originally nned to wait until his [Eighty-One Hammer Technique]had further improved before using them for forging. However, his two months of training in the Ferocious Beast Mountains had made him acutely aware of the dangers in this Beast Mastery world. In a world teeming with ferocious beasts, there was no guarantee of safety, even within the city walls. More pressing was the fact that Robert''s death, though indirect, was tied to Charles. Sooner orter, word of this would reach the Taylor family, and given how doting his father Sly was, Charles knew he wouldn''t be let off easily. ording to public records, Sly was a Level 3 Beast Master. If it came to a confrontation, Charles had no chance of winning at his current level. But with the [Nine Netherworld Armband], Charles would have an ace up his sleeve. When embedded with a second-tier beast core, the [Nine Netherworld Armband]could absorb up to 97% of a Level 4 Beast Master''s normal attacks before it became damaged. Without this piece of equipment, Charles wouldn''t even dare return to Lsengard, let alone participate in the entrance exams for the various academies. "No matter what, I have to seed!" Charles silently encouraged himself and then shifted his gaze to the system''s [forging] section. [Nine Netherworld Armband] [Crafting Materials]: [Devouring Serpent''s Golden Scale] 20/18, [Devouring Serpent''s Sacred Bone] 10/8, Water Attribute Beast Core [Second Tier] 1/1 [Materials are ready. Begin crafting?] Charles selected ''Yes, and an anvil and hammer appeared before him out of thin air. He added some firewood to the forge and worked the bellows. Despite being called a [sacred bone], it looked very much like metal to Charles. Under the intense heat of the mes, the golden-hued sacred bone gradually turned red and softened. ng, ng, ng! The crisp sound of hammering echoed through the valley. With each strike, sparks flew from the sacred bone, signifying the reduction of its impurities. Charles knew this meant the material was being refined. Before Joshua''s guidance, Charles would be out of breath after just a few swings of the hammer. But now, even after 18 consecutive high-intensity strikes, his movements were still precise and controlled. He recalled the forging principles Joshua had taught him and visualized the statue-like hammering posture Joshua had demonstrated. Charles repeated the process over and over. While his current forging skills weren''t advanced enough to elevate the gold-quality materials to an even higher level, he could at least remove the impurities. That alone was enough to satisfy him. Stoking the fire, hammering to remove impurities, quenching, and cooling... Charles repeated this process again and again. When his muscles grew sore, he took some miracle drugs to repair them; when he felt tired, he drank a bottle of [Regenerating Potion] to replenish his energy. By the time the night was half over, he had repeated the entire process 49 times. The palm-sized piece of [Devouring Serpent''s Sacred Bone]had shrunk to half its original size, and iridescent patterns began to appear on it, with the material bing somewhat translucent. ng, ng, ng! After another round of grueling hammering, on the 81st attempt, the sacred bone had been reduced to the size of an egg. It was clear that the impurities hadn''t beenpletely removed, but this was the best Charles could do with his current skills. And this was only 3% of the total crafting processseven more pieces of sacred bone and 18 golden scales still awaited his attention... "Impressive. In just one day, you''ve managed to push your [Eighty-One Hammer Technique]to this level." Leaning against arge tree, Joshua observed Charles diligently forging the sacred bone near the cliffside, feeling a sense of amazement. When he had originally learned this hammering technique from his master, it had taken him an entire year to master it. But this kid had grasped the essence of it after watching just one demonstration. Charles was so engrossed in his work, and with Joshua concealing his presence, he had managed to approach Charles without being noticed. Gently cing a te of snacks beside Charles, Joshua sighed softly. This guy was tirelessly forging day and night, while the youngdy was obsessively experimenting with making better snacks. Joshua couldn''t help but marvel at how relentless the younger generation seemed to be. ... As the sky began to lighten, Charles was drenched in sweat, his hands swollen and covered in blisters. His relentless forging had pushed his body to the brink, to the point where the hemostatic powder he used couldn''t keep up with the wear and tear on his hands. When the first rays of dawn, tinged with a faint purple, touched Charles''s body, a look of joy spread across his face. "I finally did it!" Holding up the armguard, thin as a cicada''s wing and fitting perfectly with his right arm, Charles''s hands trembled slightly, partly from physical exhaustion and partly from the excitement surging within him. As Charles admired his masterpiece, a line of text shed before his eyes. [Nine Netherworld Armband] [Purple Quality]: Effect Enhances arm muscle strength by 100%. Effect Reduces the damage of attacks from Beast Masters below Level 4 by 97%, consuming one golden scale per use. After reading the brief description, Charles felt a wave of mixed emotions. Gray, white, green, blue, purple, orange, gold... The fact that gold-quality materials had only produced a purple-quality item was likely due to the beast core being only second-tier. If he reced it with a higher-tier core in the future, the quality of the [Nine Netherworld Armband]should also improve. "So, this isn''t unlimitedit consumes one golden scale each time it''s used," Charles thought, feeling a bit regretful. But on further reflection... reducing 97% of the damage from 18 attacks in life-and-death situations was almost like having 18 extra lives! When he thought of it that way, it seemed more than worth it. Just as Charles was about to put on the [Nine Netherworld Armband]to test its power, he suddenly felt the energy in the world around him begin to surge wildly into his body. The warm andforting sensation dispelled his fatigue, leaving him feeling invigorated. It was a feeling he had experienced before, back when he had broken through to be a Level 2 Beast Master. "Could it be that I unknowingly broke through while forging the [Nine Netherworld Armband]?" Charles thought, his face filled with surprise. He flexed his muscles, noticing that both their definition and strength had significantly improved since the previous night! Could this be what people mean when they say good thingse in pairs? Without realizing it, all those thousands of hammer strikes must have strengthened him. This kind of breakthrough is incredibly rare and hard to achieve! Worried about being interrupted, Charles dragged arge boulder to block the entrance of the cave and stationed Max and Mousie to guard it. He then retreated to the deepest part of the cave. ... Sitting quietly on a stone tform in the pitch-ck cave, Charles felt as though his body had turned into a vortex, continuously drawing in the ice, fire, and dark elemental energies from the surrounding environment. As these energies entered his body, they began to nourish and strengthen him, while the excess energy started to umte in his lower abdomen. It was as if his body were a balloon, steadily inting with the absorbed energy. Soon, Charles began to experience a slight pain, and for a moment, it felt as though he might burst. Despite the intense pain, Charles gritted his teeth and persevered. This was the trial that every Beast Master had to endure with each advancement. Only by withstanding the intense energy refining could one handle the shock of contracting with a third mystical beast and be a Level 3 Beast Master! In the darkness, beyond the green, red, and ck energies, Charles noticed a faint trace of something golden. "Golden energy... what is this?" He recalled that in Lily''s theory sses, she had never mentioned energy of this color, leaving him puzzled. "Could I be imagining things?" Charles rubbed his eyes, but the thin strand of golden energy, like a delicate thread, continued to weave itself around him. Although it was barely noticeable, it was undeniably there, encircling him. If it weren''t for the pitch-ck surroundings of the cave, Charles might not have noticed it at all. As Charles puzzled over the origin of the golden energy, another wave of excruciating pain surged through his body, turning his skin bright red. "It feels like I''m going to explode!" "Ahhh!!!" With a roar of agony, Charles copsed unconscious on the stone tform. In his semi-conscious state, Charles thought he heard the sound of a balloon bursting. The once sparse elemental energy within his body had now pooled into a small reservoir. [Ding! You have sessfully leveled up. Current Beast Master level: 3.] Chapter 66: Chapter 66: The End of the Trial A system notification echoed in his mind as Charles slowly opened his eyes. The muscles that had been strained from his all-night forging hadpletely healed. Filled with excitement, Charles made his way to the cave entrance, intending to push aside the boulder that had been blocking it. With just a gentle push Rumble, rumble!!! The massive boulder, which weighed several tons and had taken Charles most of the previous day to roll into ce with the help of logs, now tumbled effortlessly down the mountainside, smashing through trees as it went. "So this is the power of a Level 3 Beast Master..." Charles stared in amazement at the scene, clenching his fists slightly. The sound of crackling energy echoed from his muscles, and a thin, visible mist of elemental energy formed around his arms. It was exactly as described in the theoretical lessons Charles had attended! A Level 3 Beast Master possessed the ability to condense elemental energy into tangible forms. Joshua''s dark, gleaming spear, for example, was formed from concentrated poison energy. However, with Charles''s current strength, he could only generate a faint mist. Though a Level 3 Beast Master was still considered low-tier among Beast Masters, within the context of Lsengard, there weren''t many who had reached this level by the age of 18. Charles knew that if he were given just one more year, he could surpass his peers, and perhaps even overtake the president of Lsengard''s Beast Master Guild! "Those old-timers who''ve spent most of their lives stuck at Level 2 Beast Masterif they knew I''d advanced two tiers in just two months, their jaws would probably drop!" Charles chuckled to himself, eager to find a ferocious beast to test his newfound strength. After calming his excitement, Charles turned his attention to Max and Mousie, who had been guarding the cave entrance during his breakthroughst night. However, he noticed something unusual and quickly opened the [Pets] panel to check. [Nine-Tailed Demon Wolf] [Name]: Max [Attributes]: Ice, Fire [Level]: Lv19 [View Promotion Materials] [Description]: Max waited outside the cave all night and is very happy to see that you''ve sessfully broken through. Its current experience has reached the storage limit for a first-tier mystical beast and can now advance to a second-tier mystical beast. ... [Shadow Flying Squirrel] [Name]: Mousie [Attributes]: Dark [Level]: Lv19 [View Promotion Materials] [Description]: Mousie hasn''t eaten any nuts all night and is starving. Its current experience has reached the storage limit for a first-tier mystical beast and can now advance to a second-tier mystical beast. ... "Could it be that when I broke through, Mousie and Max leveled up too?" Charles stared at the notifications on the screen in amazement, his face lighting up with joy. He remembered that when Max advanced to Lv10, it enabled him to be a Level 2 Beast Master. Now, it seemed that there was some kind of bond between a Beast Master and their mystical beastshis advancement had triggered Max and Mousie''s progression as well. After calming his excitement, Charles checked the promotion materials for both mystical beasts, and two popup windows appeared on the screen. [Promotion Materials] (Max): Ice Attribute Beast Core [Second Tier] 1, Fire Attribute Beast Core [Second Tier] 1, Regenerating Potion [White Quality] 2, Fusion Heart 1 [Promotion Condition] (Mousie): Dark Altar Charles quickly read through the prompts. The materials required for Max''s promotion were more or less what he had expected. While second-tier beast cores were rare, they could be bought if you had the money. White-quality Regenerating Potions were something Charles could make himself given some time. The [Fusion Heart] seemed to be a type of mineral that might be found near an erupting volcano; he could look into it when he returned to Lsengard. But when he saw Mousie''s [Promotion Condition], which simply said "Dark Altar," Charles was puzzled. There was no quantity specified, so it didn''t seem to be a material. It sounded more like a location, but there were no coordinates or details on where to find itwhere was he supposed to look? Moreover, in Genosha, dark attributes were highly taboo, with very few records avable. It seemed that promoting Mousie would be an incredibly challenging task. Charles didn''t have much time to ponder over it. With less than a day left in the two-month trial, any thoughts of promotion would have to wait until the trial was over. He nced at the countdown on his phone screen: 0 days, 17 hours, 21 minutes, and 32 seconds. Then, with a swift leap off the cliff, hended steadily on arge tree. It was early morning, and the nocturnal animals were heading to the pond for a drink before returning to their nests to rest. The narrow valley echoed with the roars of ferocious beasts. "Perfect, time to test the power of my new equipment!" Charles murmured with a faint smile as he retrieved the gear he had personally forged from his storage space. As he pulled out the [Nine Netherworld Armband], an orange glow shed across the area. The armband, thin as a cicada''s wing, fit snugly around Charles''s right arm. Due to the water-attribute beast core, the armband had a bluish, semi-transparent appearance, with faint golden scale patterns visible underneath. It looked almost as if Charles''s right arm had been adorned with a tattoo. ... In the narrow valley, an adult Bloodthirsty Rhino was charging forward at full speed, its throat parched, desperate to reach the water near the pond. But just as it reached the mouth of the canyon, about to exit the valley, a human boy blocked its path. The sudden appearance of an obstacle didn''t cause the slightest panic in the Bloodthirsty Rhino. Its massive size gave it all the confidence it needed. The rhino activated its skill [Rhino Horn Rips], extending its horn to a length of two meters. It raised its hooves and began to elerate, ready to smash the obstructing human into pieces. However, the boy facing its charge showed no fear. Instead, he stood calmly in ce, which the Bloodthirsty Rhino perceived as nothing short of a challenge! As it charged at full speed, the ground beneath it trembled. "Let''s see just how powerful this orange-grade equipment really is!" Charles muttered with a cold smile, standing firm at the mouth of the valley. He clenched his fist as he watched the charging rhino approach. The golden tattoo gradually began to solidify, enveloping Charles''s entire right arm and eventually forming into a protective armband. With a sharp breath, Charles nted his foot firmly on the ground and charged directly at the Bloodthirsty Rhino. Crack! With a crisp sound, Charles''s right arm collided with the rhino''s razor-sharp horn, which was as thick as a man''s thigh. The horn snapped clean off at the base. In the Bloodthirsty Rhino''s horrified gaze, Charles''s fist came crashing down on its head, creating arge, gaping hole from which blood and brain matter spewed out. The once formidable Bloodthirsty Rhino fell dead with just a single punch from Charles! [Ding! You have defeated ferocious beast [Bloodthirsty Rhino] (Lv19, Silver Quality)!] [Mystical Beast Max (Lv.19) Loyalty +0! Experience +200 (Stored)!] [Mystical Beast Mousie (Lv.19) Loyalty +0! Experience +200 (Stored)!] It only took one punch to take down a Level 19 ferocious beastthis orange-quality equipment was indeed incredibly powerful! Impressed by the armband''s strength, Charles didn''t linger. He quickly summoned Max and Mousie, and together they continued their fierce battle against the wave of beasts heading to the oasis to drink. [Ding! You have defeated ferocious beast [Swamp Frog] (Lv18, Silver Quality)!] [Ding! You have defeated ferocious beast [Shadow Wolf] (Lv20, Bronze Division Quality)!] [Ding! You have defeated ferocious beast [Steel-Spiked Hedgehog] (Lv17, Bronze Division Quality)!] ... System notifications shed continuously before his eyes as Charles fought from dawn until noon, from the zing heat of midday until the evening. Just as the sun was beginning to set, Charles''s phone buzzed with a vibration. [Ferocious Beast Mountain Trial Countdown: 0 days 0 hours 0 minutes 0 seconds] [Trial Complete!] "It''s over?!" After a full day of intense battle, Charles was battered and bruised all over. Even as a Level 3 Beast Master, this level ofbat had pushed him to his limits. The tension that had kept him going finally released, and Charles felt an overwhelming urge to rx. He stripped off his blood-soaked clothes, took a deep breath, and dove into the pond, swimming all the way to the center before surfacing, gasping for air. "Ahh" "Ahh" Lying back on a moss-covered rock, Charles felt a wave of contentment wash over him. The past two months of trials shed through his mind like a movie reel. There were several moments when he hade dangerously close to losing his life, but it was precisely these perilous situations that had fueled his rapid progress. Feeling a surge of excitement, he picked up his phone and opened the points leaderboard. --- [Ferocious Beast Mountain Trial Points Leaderboard] 1st ce: Grace [26,752 points] 1st ce: Charles [26,752 points] 3rd ce: Thomas [19,655 points] ... --- "So close, just one more ferocious beast and I would''ve surpassed her," Charles sighed, feeling a twinge of regret as he looked at the leaderboard. He had been pushing himself to catch up over the past few days, but the gap between him and Grace had been significant. The fact that he had managed to tie the score was already a considerable achievement. With this ranking, he had secured his ticket to the entrance exams for the three major academies in the imperial capital. However, this didn''t guarantee admission. At the awards ceremony and recruitment event in two weeks, the top 20 students would have the chance to challenge each other, akin to a live interview in front of the recruitment officers. Winning these challenges could earn additional points, and Charles knew that many would be eager to take him on. Especially Graceshe was probably fuming when she saw that he had caught up to her in points. She might not get any sleep tonight. His phone buzzed continuously as dozens of people, who had never contacted him before, suddenly started sending him messages after the leaderboard was published. But Charles ignored them. After drying off and putting on fresh clothes, he leaped effortlessly to the pond''s edge, several meters away. Two weeks until the recruitment event... "Heh, I bet plenty of people suspect that I, like Robert, racked up points by killing others. They''re all waiting to see me fail, aren''t they?" Charles chuckled coldly, ncing at the flurry of messages in the group chat, then turned and made his way to a small cabin at the foot of the mountain. Chapter 67: Chapter 67: He Must Have Cheated At the exact moment the trial ended, the leaderboard was published on the official website of the Lsengard Beast Master Guild, instantly attracting tens of thousands of viewers. "26,752 points! As expected of the city lord''s daughter, Grace. She''s absolutely terrifying!" "Thomas did great too, with 19,655 points, ranking third on the leaderboard. No wonder he''s considered the top genius at our Beast Mastery Second High!" "Wait a minute... where''s Robert? I''ve gone through the entire leaderboard and I don''t see his name anywhere!" The most talked-about topics, naturally, revolved around the top six on the leaderboard, all of whom were seen as potential candidates for admission to the three major academies in the imperial capital. Beyond that, people were alsoparing the list of the 1,050 participants who started the trial two months ago with the current leaderboard, specting about those who were missing and whether they might have met with some misfortune. "I heard that Charles''s points only started skyrocketing in thest few days. Aren''t you guys curious about that?" This message, sent by one of the students who participated in the trial, quickly pushed Charles into the spotlight. Soon, several of Charles''s former ssmates began openly expressing doubts about his points. "I was in the same elementary ss as Charles. His Beast Master talent was terrible, and his mystical beast was nothing but a useless frost wolf. If he really earned those points on his own, I''ll do a handstand andwell, let''s just say it''s impossible!" "Yeah, exactly! How could he tie with Grace? She''s universally recognized as a once-in-a-century prodigy in Lsengard! I''m not buying it..." "Could it be that Charles is actually a hidden genius, and we just never noticed before?" Awakening as a Beast Master was already a rare and remarkable feat. But the battle talent Charles disyed hadpletely stunned Lsengard''s onlinemunity. Most people were just jumping on the bandwagon for fun, stirring the pot, until one particrly eye-catchingment floated to the top of the leaderboard discussion thread. "Wait, are you saying that Charles might have cheated to get such a high score?" A short, pointedment like that stood out sharply among the many messages discussing the trial results. "Cheated? Are you suggesting he hired a ferocious beast hunter to follow him around, have the hunter take down the beasts, and then Charles just swooped in for the final blow?" "Hiring someone to cheat? What''s the point? The people in charge of admissions aren''t stupidthey''ll definitely recheck everything during the enrollment ceremony!" "But that''s the only exnation that makes sense. Think about it: even someone as strong as Grace took the full two months to reach 26,752 points, yet Charles barely gained any points in the first month and suddenly caught up in just half a month? Something doesn''t add up..." "Looks like Charles is desperate to get into one of the three imperial capital academies!" "I thought Charles was some dark horse who came out of nowhere, but now it seems he used such underhanded tactics. Just wait until the enrollment ceremonyhe''s going to get beaten up for sure!" "What a disgrace to our Beast Mastery First High..." The forum erupted with debates over whether Charles had cheated. Meanwhile, in the "Trial Group Chat," the discussion took an even darker turn. "I heard that if you kill a fellow trial participant, you can take their umted points. Is that true?" "No wonder so many people died in this trial. One of my friends has been missing, and I''m really worried..." "That bastard Charles, he''d even kill his ssmates! Just wait until the enrollment ceremonyI''m going to gut him myself!" "Count me in!" ... Charles nced at the chat messages. Some people thought he cheated, some believed he gained points by killing others, and there were even rumors that he hacked the system and cracked the chip... "These people sure have vivid imaginations. It''s a shame they''re not writing novels," Charles sneered, not taking the usations seriously. When he arrived back at the small cabin, he noticed the door was slightly ajar. Through the crack, he could see Aria inside, asleep with her head resting on the table, surrounded by a feast of food. Hearing him at the door, Aria lifted her head. When she saw Charles, her eyes sparkled with warmth. "You''re back? I made some dinner for us. Let''s eat together." Charles nced at the dishes on the table. They looked untouched, some even slightly cooled, which tugged at his heartstrings. Aria must have been waiting for him for quite a while. Sitting down beside her, Charles served himself a small piece of meat and took a bite. The moment the meat touched his tongue, it melted, bursting with vor. The familiar taste evoked a sense of nostalgia, like meeting an old friend in a foreignnd. Charles''s eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Aria Masaman Curry! This was a dish from Earth, one that, as far as he knew, didn''t exist in the world of Beast Mastery! Noticing Charles''s gaze, Aria blushed slightly and quickly looked away, her voice tinged with disappointment. "What''s wrong? Does it taste bad? You made it for me once in the ancient tomb, and I tried to recreate it from memory... but I guess it''s still not quite right." "No, it''s delicious!" Charles waved his hands, feeling a wave of relief. For a moment, he almost thought Aria might be another transmigrant like him. So she had learned it by watching him back then? A sh of admiration crossed Charles''s eyes. Without being told the ingredients or cooking methods, Aria had managed to recreate the dish with over ny percent uracy based solely on taste. Her intelligence was truly remarkable! "I wanted to ask you to teach me more dishes, but tomorrow..." Aria''s voice trailed off, and her beautiful golden eyes dimmed slightly with sadness. Taking another bite and sensing the silence settling between them, Charles suddenly asked, "I heard from Joshua that you''ll be leaving in a few days as well. Where are you nning to go?" "After leaving here, I might head to the Atacama Desert... or perhaps to the Ster Empire," Aria replied softly, her head slightly lowered, revealing her uncertainty. "Atacama..." Charles felt a pang in his heart. The Ster Empire and Atacama were enemies, and the factions within Atacama likely dreamed of eliminating Aria. A fallen princess on the run, with only a single loyal bodyguard remaining by her side... Putting himself in her shoes, Charles felt a heaviness that made it hard to breathe. He could see that Aria was forcing a smile, but he didn''t know how tofort her. "Why the long face? Is something bothering you?" Aria asked, standing in front of Charles before he even realized she had moved. Without waiting for an answer, she gently tugged on his arm. "How about... I take you somewhere to clear your mind?" Feeling the smooth touch of her hand on his arm, Charles hesitated for a moment, ncing back at the half-eaten Masaman Curry before looking up at Aria. "Where are we going?" Aria smiled softly. "You''ll see when we get there." ... After leaving the small cabin, Aria transformed into her serpentine form and led the way. Charles followed behind her for what felt like an eternity, his breath growing heavier as he struggled to keep up. He had to take a [Miraculous Speed Pill] just to maintain the pace, and they continued ascending the mountain until they finally reached the summit. To his surprise, the top of the mountain was a t meadow. The warm summer breeze rustled through the grass, creating waves in the sea of green that stretched out before them, a breathtaking sight. Aria was already lying on the soft grass near the edge of the cliff, gazing up at the starry sky with a look of contentment. Charlesy down a short distance away, inhaling the mixed scents of fresh grass and the delicate fragrance of the girl beside him. He felt his spirits lift instantly. "So, do you feel better now?" Aria''s clear voice drifted over from beside him. He turned his head to see a butterfly resting on her fingertip, but his eyes were drawn to a strange ck mark on her pale hand. "Yeah, this is a great spot," Charles replied, lifting his gaze to the sky, where fireflies danced among the stars, their greenish glow blending with the starlight. The vast expanse of the night sky did wonders for his mood. As Charles was lost in thought, Aria suddenly sat down next to him, holding a jade-green pendant in front of his eyes. "You gave me a gift yesterday, so this is my return gift to you." "Heh, didn''t you say that jade pendants are a symbol of love among snake people? Are you saying you''ve fallen for me?" Charles teased, unable to resist as he admired Aria''s wless, porcin-like face. Aria''s cheeks flushed red, and she gave him a light re. "You''re so full of yourself. This is a [Fragment of Jade Tablet]. It contains three remnants of Joshua''s will that can protect you in times of danger." Hearing this, Charles sat up abruptly, taking the pendant from Aria''s hand as his eyes lit up with excitement. [Fragment of Jade Tablet] [Orange Quality]: Can be activated by infusing any attribute energy. Although it contains only remnants of Joshua''s will, it possesses thebat power equivalent to a Level 5 Beast Master. Usable three times (3/3). Charles was astonished as he read the descriptionthis was an incredibly powerful artifact! Gently rubbing the jade pendant in his hand, still warm from Aria''s touch, Charles felt a wave of gratitude. "This was meant to protect you, a gift from Joshua. How can I ept it?" Aria stood up and yfully stuck out her tongue at him. "I''ll just tell him I lost it. Then, in a few days, I''ll ask him to make another one!" After a moment of hesitation, Charles decided to ept the [Fragment of Jade Tablet]. With the news of Robert''s death eventually reaching Sly, Charles knew he would need something to protect himself. But Charles wasn''t one to take things from others, especially from a girl, without giving something in return. Reaching into his pocket, a sh of golden light appeared. "What''s this...?" Aria looked surprised as she epted the two golden scales and the two crystalline sacred bones that Charles handed her. "These are materials dropped by the Davouring Serpent. I used most of them to forge some equipment, but these were left over. I thought you might have a use for them," Charles said, scratching his head awkwardly. Most of the materials had been used to craft the [Nine Netherworld Armband], and although there were only two golden scales and two sacred bones left, they were the most valuable items he had to offer. Noticing the small quantity, Aria bit her lip and stomped her foot in mock frustration. "Oh, so after we chased it for so long, you''re the one who ended up with the spoils!" "The Davouring Serpent didn''t have your name on it! Firste, first served! Haha, firste, first served!" Charles teased, ncing at Aria, who had transformed back into her serpentine form. He bolted,ughing as he ran. Aria chased him from the mountain top to the foot of the hill and back again. By the time it waste into the night, Charles finally gave up, lying on the grass like a defeated fish. Seeing his exhausted state, Aria lost her desire to chase him. She gentlyy down beside him on the grass, gazing up at the stars. The cool night breeze swept across the hillside, carrying a hint of chill. A strand of Aria''s hair brushed against Charles''s face, and he turned his head slightly. At some point, Aria had fallen asleep beside him, a faint smile on her lips. The silver moonlight cascaded down from the sky, draping her in a soft, ethereal glow. As if afraid to wake her, Charles even slowed his breathing. Aria''s sleeping face under the moonlight was breathtaking, like a masterpiece carefully crafted by the Creator, perfect in every detail, with no w to be found. Unable to resist, Charles took out his phone and discreetly snapped a photo to keep as a memory. --- Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Return to Lsengard "Achoo" Charles sneezed and jolted awake. The sky was beginning to lighten, and the early morning breeze felt chilly against his face. He noticed a familiar ck nket draped over him. Taking a deep breath, he caught the faint scent of pure heart flower, the same fragrance that clung to Aria. "This is the nket I gave Aria in the ancient tomb... She kept it all this time?" Charles thought, slightly stunned as he looked around. Aria was nowhere to be seen, but the grass beside him bore a shallow indentation, still warm from where she had been lying. As Charles made his way down the mountain, a powerful force suddenly struck him. Instinctively, he drew his ice and fire supreme spear and summoned Max and mousie. But the oppressive force was so overwhelming, like a thousand-pound weight pressing down on him, that he couldn''t move an inch. Even Max and mousie were frozen in ce, unable to budge. Just as he was puzzling over this, a figure d in ck appeared before him. Though the figure was masked, Charles recognized the voice immediatelyit was Joshua. "Kid, this is where we part ways. A word of advice: don''t harbor any unnecessary thoughts. It''s better for you and for mydy," the masked man said in a cold, detached tone. Charles was momentarily taken aback. He understood what Joshua was implying. But he had no ulterior motives; he merely saw Aria as a friend, someone from a different race who had be close to him. He could sense that Aria felt a certain affection toward him, likely because she had so few friends. Feelings like these, born quickly and fading just as fast, are the least enduring over time. He wasn''t foolish enough to confuse them with something deeper. At most, it was just a bit of vor in the otherwise monotonous journey of his training. "Charles." From a distance, he heard a familiar voice. He looked up to see a figure in purple waving at him. Hearing the girl''s voice, Joshua faded into a shadow and disappeared from Charles''s sight. In that same instant, the suffocating pressure that had been weighing down on him vanished as well. When he looked up, Aria was already standing in front of him, wearing a light-colored gauzy dress with a thin veil covering her face. Though it was meant to conceal her identity, her breathtaking beauty was still faintly visible through the delicate fabric. "Have you packed everything?" Aria asked, her voice tinged with a hint of reluctance. Charles nodded, patting the heavy backpack slung over his shoulder. "I just finished. I don''t have much to carry." Aria handed him a small, ornate box. Charles could tell by the warmth and the faint aroma that it contained something edible. Curious, he asked, "What''s this?" "I made some snacks for you. You can eat them on the road," Aria replied. Through the veil, Charles couldn''t quite make out her expression. She then waved her small hand at him, "Goodbye, Charles!" With that, Aria transformed into her serpentine form, her body stretching nearly 10 meters long. Her tail flicked gracefully as she quickly caught up with the ck figure ahead. Watching the two snake-like figures gradually disappear into the distance, Charles stood there momentarily, then cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "Aria, take care! Safe travels!" In the distance, the purple figure paused and waved back at him. Though he could no longer hear her words clearly, he could see her gesture. Judging by the direction they were heading, it seemed they were bound for Atacamaa vast desert world, entirely different from the vibrantnds of Genosha. A gust of wind swept by, carrying with it a bit of sand. Charles watched until the two figures vanished from his sightpletely. He took a moment to nce back at the oasis and the small cabin by the border post. Memories of the past two months shed through his mindmeeting Aria, bing friends, and the many experiences they shared. A wave of mncholy washed over him as he realized it might be a long time before they would see each other again. With a sigh, Charles shook off his lingering sadness andposed himself. There was no point in dwelling on the past. He summoned his cloud leopard from the mount space and, with a final look in the direction Aria and Joshua had gone, he turned and sped off in the opposite direction. ... The agile cloud leopard darted through the forest, leaping effortlessly over hills and rivers. As Charles nced at the coordinates on his phone, he realized he was getting closer to Lsengard with each passing moment. If he were to travel on foot to the training rendezvous point in York and then take a train back to Lsengard, it would take at least ten days, just barely enough time to make it to the admission ceremony in two weeks. But with the cloud leopard, Charles could reach Lsengard in just three days, giving him plenty of time to preparepared to everyone else. This uing admission ceremony was shaping up to be quite the grand event. Normally, a small ce like Lsengard wouldn''t even register on the radar of the three imperial capital academies. However, surprisingly, they had been allocated six admission slots! The briefing on the admission process made it clear that these three academies were prestigious in every sense. [Aredale Academy]is renowned for producing top-tier wind attribute Beast Masters and boasts imperial royal backing. Most of Genosha''s most powerful Beast Masters possess wind attributes. Bing a student at Aredale Academy would not only grant ess to invaluable resources but also provide a prestigious alumniwork, allowing one to ascend the ranks of Genosha''s elite. It was even rumored that the empire''s princess was among this year''s iing students. [Nova Academy], specializing in water attribute Beast Masters, was slightly less prestigious than Aredale Academy but still held in high regard. With three Level 7 Beast Masters on its staff, Nova Academy was a powerhouse in its own right. Charles also had a letter of rmendation from Vice Principal Emma, which practically guaranteed him a spot at Nova Academy if Aredale Academy didn''t ept him. Then there was [Cyber Academy], which was the most unconventional of the three. The admission brochure for Cyber Academy wasnk! Information about it online was scarce, but it was still considered one of the top three imperial capital academies alongside Aredale and Nova. Cyber Academy''s motto was equally strange: "We don''t wee the ordinary; we only wee monsters." "Cyber Academy really lives up to its name," Charles muttered, unable to suppress a chuckle as he read more about the academy online. This entric institution had the smallest student intake and the most stringent admission requirements: prospective students had to reach Level 3 Beast Master status before the age of 20! Because of this, fewer than 50 individuals in all of Genosha met the criteria each year. Although the student body was small, those who graduated from Cyber Academy invariably became renowned Beast Masters not just in Genosha but across the entire Abyssal Depths. Thanks to the reputation brought by its graduates, [Cyber Academy]gradually rose to prominence alongside [Luminara Academy]and [Nova Academy], bing one of the three prestigious imperial capital academies. Noticing that the cloud leopard beneath him was starting to pant heavily, Charles put away his phone. After traveling for an entire day and night, the creature was clearly exhausted. Charles slowed the cloud leopard down and found a t spot to set up camp, deciding it was time for a rest. While preparing to take a break, he began to n out his next steps for the uing two weeks. "Although I''m now a Level 3 Beast Master, I haven''t yet bonded with a third mystical beast. To perform well at the admission ceremony in two weeks, I need to figure out how to advance Max and mousie..." Mousie''s advancement requirements were a bit troublesome, but Max''s seemed more manageable. He could brew the white-quality [Regenerating Potion] himself, and if the [Fusion Heart] wasn''t avable for purchase in the city, he could search near the volcanic crater to the north of Lsengard. The most challenging task seemed to be acquiring the two second-tier ice and fire [Beast Cores]. Over the next two weeks, Charles would need to frequent The Beast Master Guild or the auction houses. If necessary, he might even have to visit the ck market. One way or another, he had to secure those two second-tier Beast Cores. "I wonder how much money I have left?" Charles checked his bank ount via his phone. A few secondster, he received a text message: [Dear customer, your ount ending in 9527 has a current bnce of: 0 gold coins, 5 silver coins, and 510 copper coins.] If this amount had been avable to him in the past, it would have been enough for Charles to livefortably for five years. But now, as a Beast Master, his mystical beasts consumed money as quickly as water flowed. A decent first-tier Beast Core could easily cost dozens of silver coins, while a second-tier Beast Core would undoubtedly fetch a high price on the market. "Five silver coins won''t get me far, let alone cover the cost of a Beast Core. I need to find a way to earn more money." During the two-month ferocious beast mountain training, Charles had hunted over a thousand ferocious beasts, collecting materials that could be sold. He hadn''t had the time to sort through them yet. "Once I get back to Lsengard tomorrow, I''ll make sure to sell those ferocious beast materials and free up some storage space. If that doesn''t bring in enough money, I can always turn to alchemy or crafting equipment to sell!" Charles devoured several skewers of roasted meat, letting out a satisfied belch. Instead of sleeping, he gave the cloud leopard a [Regenerating Potion] to restore its energy and continued his journey back to Lsengard through the night. After two months of living in a tent, Charles was eager to lie down on a proper bed again. ... After another day of speeding through the [Ferocious Beast Mountains], Charles could finally see the towering walls ofLsengard in the distance. Compared to when he left, the walls appeared to be taller and thicker, a clear indication that attacks from ferocious beasts had be more frequent during his absence. After his credentials were checked at the city gate, Charles hailed a taxi and headed straight for his old house. Though the house was a bit rundown, it had been his home for many years. For someone who has been drifting around, having a home gives a sense of belonging. Half an hourter, Charles arrived at an old residentialplex. The peeling paint on the apartment building''s walls gave Charles a sense of warmth and familiarity. But when he reached his front door, he was stunned! The rusty iron door had been kicked in, leaving Charles''s first thought that his house had been robbed. But as he rushed inside, he realized something was off. The refrigerator, television, washing machine, and furnitureeverything that could be smashed was shattered into pieces. Items that couldn''t be destroyed were either coated in ck tar or sprayed with red paint. Staring at what now looked more like a garbage dump than his home, Charles copsed onto the floor, overwhelmed. But after a few moments, anger red up in his eyes. Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Wanted The disarray at home was clearly not the work of thieves, but rather appeared to be an act of vengeance or fury. Charles'' parents were frequently away, engaged in freight business, leading simple social lives that hardly warranted enmities. Charles spected that his recent killing of Robert and offense towards Thomas during his ordeal might have provoked the two families, though he wasn''t sure which was responsible. "They haven''t found me yet, and they won''t just let this go," Charles mused, peering cautiously through the window at several unfamiliar figures near the entrance of theplex. Reluctantly ncing back at his home, now reduced to ruins, Charles clenched his fist, his nails digging into his skin. Although the old house was modest and of little mary value to the present-day Charles, it held the memories of his childhood. Now, someone had destroyed those memories. "I will make them pay a hundred, a thousand times over for today''s grievance," Charles muttered coldly, a murderous intent rising in his eyes. With a swift movement, he ducked into the bathroom and activated his skill, [darkness cloak], vanishing into the shadows in the blink of an eye. Shortly after his disappearance, a series of rapid footsteps echoed up the stairs, and the door was kicked open with a loud bang. Several men wielding psychic weapons swiftly entered. "Search! Don''t let the kid escape!" barked a tall, thin man harshly. They kicked open the doors to the bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom with brute force, overturning the refrigerator, wardrobe, and ransacking the entire ce, yet they found no trace of Charles. "Damn it! I saw the kid enter the house with my own eyes. What, did he sprout wings and fly?" The thin man was infuriated, smashing a te on the table to pieces. Then, in a sudden moment of panic, he realized that all sounds in the rooms had ceased... He detected a faint smell of blood in the air, puzzled, he pushed open the bathroom door, only to find in horror that all the men who had entered to search were now lying on the floor, each with a strangtion mark around their necks. "Ghost! There''s a ghost!" the tall, thin man screamed in horror, trying to flee, but a figure already blocked his path. A sh of cold light revealed a supreme spear, its eerie blue de pressed against his neck. Looking up, he saw the handsome young man he had longed to killCharles. The sight of him, with the spear aimed, drove the man to his knees in fear. "Speak, who sent you here?" Charles''s gaze was icy, his face expressionless. "Tell me! I''ll tell you everything! Please, just spare my life!" The thin man pleaded, his face pale with terror as he bowed repeatedly. Charles had just silently eliminated several of his brothers, all second-level Beast Masters. How was Charles''s strength so different from the intelligence they had received? Charles remained expressionless, nodding slightly, "Tell me who sent you, and I''ll spare your life." Hearing this, the thin man sighed in relief. Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, he hesitated for a moment before revealing, "Slythe elder of the Taylor familysaid anyone who captures Charles alive gets 10 gold coins. Decapitating Charles is worth 5 gold coins! You can check the detailed mission description on the dark web!" "I''ve told you everything, can you let me go?" The thin man''s eyes darted around, not ready to give up so easily, nning to call more of his brothers as soon as he was released. Seeing Charles nod in agreement, the man quickly ran towards the door, but before he could exit, his body was enveloped by a pale white me. Engulfed in fierce mes, the man fell, wailing in the white fire: "You! You broke your promiseyou said..." ck! A crisp sound rang out as the spear tip sliced through his neck, ending the man''s agony. The pale mes spread through the room, burning the mess and the bodies to ashes without a trace. "Hmph, thinking they can trade my head for a bounty without weighing their own worth," a chilling murderous intent shed in Charles''s eyes. From the tall man''s revtions, Charles learned of the ''dark web'' and that Sly, Robert''s father, had indeed ordered his death. Given the Taylor family''s intelligence capabilities, Sly must have already known that Charles was the one who killed Robert. This feud had now been firmly established. Although the ambush had failed, Charles knew the Taylor family would not easily give up. He would have to be more cautious with every move he made in Lsengard from now on. Donning a baseball cap and a face mask, Charles vanished into the shadows once again. ... Moving through the dark, Charles avoided the crowds, gliding like a silent ghost through the shadows of the streets. By now, he was a marked man, with a bounty ced on him by the Taylor family on the dark web, possibly watched by countless eyes. "Sly is a fourth-level Beast Master, and in all of Lsengard, probably only a few, including the city lord, can match him. I haven''t even bonded with my third mystical beast yet; I''m not ready to confront him directly." "It seems I must keep my movements secret from now on." Half an hourter, Charles arrived at a luxurious riverside vi on the outskirts of Lsengard city, an address once given to him by Lily. Standing at Lily''s doorstep, Charles hesitated before knocking. He feared bringing trouble to her, but he could think of no safer ce than her home. "May I ask... who are you looking for?" Lily opened the door halfway, peering out at the strangely bundled-up young man in the heat of summer. "I''m looking for you," Charles replied softly. Lily, fresh from a shower, was dressed in loose home attire, her long hair tied back in a simple ponytail with a hair clip at the front. The sight was starkly different from the alluring figure Charles had seen at school; beneath her enchanting appearance, there was a hint of innocent charm. "Charles?!" Lily eximed, covering her mouth in shock, hardly believing her eyes. "Why are you dressed like this?" Despite his disguise, his familiar eyes and voice confirmed to Lily that she had not mistaken him. "It''s... a bitplicated to exin." With a swift move, Charles stepped inside, closing the door behind him. Before he could even remove his mask, Lily gently embraced him. This embrace was significant, with Lily boasting an impressive bust of 97 cm, leaving Charles momentarily breathless under the soft pressure against his chest. He could even feel that Lily wasn''t wearing a bra... Cough, cough! With a light cough, Charles gently pushed Lily away, looking at her with a reproachful expression, "Miss Lily, you shouldn''t just embrace a man like that in the future. I''m pure-hearted and wouldn''t harbor any ulterior motives, but others might take advantage of you." Lily''s face froze for a moment, then flushed with embarrassment as she retorted, "Hmph, I think that''s exactly what you were thinking, right? And how many times have I told you, call me Miss Lily in private. I''m not that much older than you, you know!" Leading Charles into the house, Lily gestured for him to watch TV while she cheerfully headed to the kitchen, "You must have had a tough time eating and sleeping in the ferocious beast mountains these past two months. Sit tight, I''ll cook something delicious for you!" Charles nodded, reclining on the plush sofa. The physical strain from two months of rigorous training had kept him on edge, and this rare moment offort made him moan softly. Lily hummed a tune as she cooked, and soon a delicious aroma wafted from the kitchen. Charles,fortably nestled on the sofa, listlessly turned on the TV, catching a news broadcast. "Lsengard''s high school seniors have sessfullypleted their trials! In three days, a recognition banquet will be held at Lsengard Red Mansion, personally convened by the city lord, with representatives from the Misubi auction house also in attendance..." The announcer''s voice lulled Charles into drowsiness. The banquet seemed quite grand, with attendance from the Taylor family, the Smith family, the Draven familyalmost all the notable families of Lsengard, even the typically reclusive Misubi family sent representatives. Though called a recognition banquet, it more resembled aworking event. The top-scoring graduates from the trials, even those not securing a spot in higher education, were considered rare talents in Lsengard. Many families attended the banquet with the intention of recruiting these individuals to strengthen their own power. Charles wasn''t particrly interested in the banquet three days away. With his top score on the leaderboard, he was not content to stay in a small ce like Lsengard. What interested him more was the enrollment ceremony half a month away. As Lily brought over a table full of sumptuous dishes, Charles lowered the TV volume. Steak, hot dogs, apple pie, and cream soupa simple meal, but one that greatly appealed to Charles'' taste buds. "Can you tell me what troubles you''ve encountered?" Lily asked, seating herself next to Charles, her stunning figure entuating an impressive curve. She looked at Charles with concern. After Charles had topped the training leaderboard, rumors about him had spread online. Some imed he had cheated during his trials, others used him of tampering with scores, and there were even whispers of him using underhanded methods, like assassinating fellow students to climb the ranks. Given Charles''s unusually discreet attire earlier, it was hard for Lily not to worry that he might be in some sort of trouble. Charles took a bite of the steak, which was delicious and thoughtfully pre-cut by Lily. After a moment of silence, Charles looked up at Lily, his expression serious: "During the training, I killed Robert. Now his father, Sly, has put a bounty of 5 gold coins on my head on the dark web." tter! Lily''s utensils dropped upon hearing this, her pupils trembled slightly, and her eyes filled with disbelief as she stared at Charles. --- Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Stay with Me for Now? In Lily''s memory, Charles and Robert had always had a poor rtionship at school. Robert, leveraging the Taylor family''s influence in Lsengard, frequently bullied other students, with Charles being one of his regr targets. However, she found it hard to believe that Charles, harboring resentment, had seized the opportunity during the ferocious beast mountain trials to kill Robert. Although Robert surely deserved his fate, his death was still a vition of Genosha''sws. Moreover, with the vast power of the Taylor family behind him, their retaliation could be unpredictable. Watching Charles calmly sip his soup, Lily was stunned, unsure of what to say. "You must be thinking whether I am like the rumors say, a heartless killer, right?" Seeing the peculiar look in Lily''s eyes, Charles gently set down his utensils and sighed, "Robert was colluding with Bradley and Felix, who had defected from Lsengard. They were involved in murderous dealings in the ferocious beast mountains. I have evidence that Robert was responsible for the deaths of no less than a hundred people. If Robert had lived, more would have died!" "If I hadn''t killed him, he would have killed me. Besides, it wasn''t me who finished him off. He was weak enough to be devoured by a group of man-faced spiders..." Listening to Charles recount his experiences in the ferocious beast mountains, Lily''s eyes gradually reddened. She wanted to offer somefort, but struggled to find the right words. Charles continued to speak when suddenly, a sh of white appeared before him. Lily had embraced him unexpectedly, the heavy weight making his heart skip a beat. Buried in her soft, snowy chest, Charles almost wanted to remind her, "Hugging is fine, but could you consider this overwhelming bust size?" Sensing the amorous atmosphere building, Charles gently pushed Lily away, shifting his focus from her chest, "Um, I can''t go home for now. Would it be okay if I stayed here temporarily?" Lily, getting up from the sofa with a cheerful smile, didn''t hide her delight: "Of course! The house is too empty with just me, and I get scared. If you don''t mind, treat this like your own home." Charles nodded, "Thank you. I''ll stay in my room for the next few days. It''s best if I''m not disturbed." ... ck. Heading upstairs to a room, Charles gently closed the door behind him. The room was filled with a pleasant floral scent and was immactely tidy, even the trash bin was spotless. Lying back on the soft,fortable bed, Charles let out a long sigh of relief, finally feeling the trials of living rough for two months hade to an end! These past two months had been fraught with danger, with several near-death experiences. Yet, it was in these crises that he had made rapid progress, not only advancing hispanions, Max and Mousie, to Lv19 but also sessfully bing a third-level Beast Master. "There''s a personal strength demonstration segment at the victory banquet in three days. Heh, the entire Lsengard will tremble because of me," Charles smirked. While he preferred to keep a low profile, fitting his nature across two lifetimes, the current situation with the Taylor family, and Sly''s bounty of 5 gold coins for his head, made hiding indefinitely unappealing. The best strategy was to rely on a major power in Lsengard! Charles wasn''t worried about his safety; he would soon leave Lsengard. However, there was always the chance that his parents would return to Lsengard. By aligning with a local power, Sly would have to think twice before targeting his family. Right now, he wished he could share the joy in his heart with someone. "Hello, the number you have dialed is currently unavable. Please try againter." Buzz Charles felt a pang of disappointment as he put away his phone. It had been over two months since he''d lost contact with his parents. Charles called them twice daily, but it was always the same; no one answered, and he had grown ustomed to the chilly automated message. Charles pped his cheeks lightly, trying to lift his spirits. The world of Beast Mastery was vast, but he believed that with enough strength, he would eventually leverage his influence to locate his parents. The immediate priority was to excel at the enrollment ceremony in half a month. The three major academies in the imperial capital not only boasted the best Beast Masters in Genosha but also attracted the nation''s top schrs. From Emma''s independent development of the five major theories of Beast Mastery, which were as revolutionary as E=MC^2 in a previous era, the depth of these academies was evident. Recently, Charles had been particrly interested in one of the academies, Cyber Academy, rumored to have once educated Nathaniel, a peak eighth-level Beast Master of Genosha! The admissions criteria for this institution were extremely stringent. To secure a spot, Charles needed to produce outstanding results at the uing enrollment ceremony. "Securing the first ce at the ceremony not only grants ess to the deepest vaults of the Treasure Pavilion, where I might find a high-quality mystical beast egg," Charles mused with anticipation about the ceremony. "In a few days, I''ll visit the guild to see if there are any second-tier beast cores for sale and sell the materials I''ve collected over the past two months. That should earn a substantial amount of money!" From the neighboring room came the sound of water sshing. Lying on the soft,fortable bed, Charles excitedly checked his storage space. [Storage Space]: [Weapons]: Ice and Fire Supreme Spear (Blue) [Equipment]: Divine Scale Armor (Blue), Nine Netherworld Armband (Purple) [Daily Use]: Tent, bedding, barbecue grill... [Food]: Water 51 tons, Bloodthirsty Rhino meat 2000kg, Lightning Demon Ape meat 500kg, Steel-spiked Hedgehog meat 5000kg... [Ferocious Beast Materials]: Bloodthirsty Rhino tusks 20, Giant Freshwater Crocodile skin 1, Steel-spiked Hedgehog skin 32, Red-eyed Rabbit bones 16... [Beast Cores]: Gold [Tier 1] 3, Wood [Tier 1] 3, Water [Tier 1] 4... [Alchemy Ingredients]: Spirit Root 52, Blue Lotus Root 15, Revival Flower 32, Anesthetic nt 232... [Alchemy Miracle Drugs]: Spirit Essence Pill (Orange) 1, Miraculous Speed Pill (White) 31, Regenerating Potion (Gray) 52, Hemostatic Powder (Gray) 65 [Common Medicines]: Painkillers 165, Spirit-Replenishing Pill 21, Serene Fluid 45, Beast-Driving Wine 5... [Forging Materials]: Mystic Iron 21 [Treasures]: Bronze Division Sword (Unidentified), Bronze Division Cauldron (Unidentified), Bronze Division Armor (Unidentified), Night Pearl... [Special]: Map Fragment (Unknown), Fragment of Jade Tablet "With so many materials, if I take them to the market, not only could I get the two second-tier beast cores needed for Max''s upgrade, but I''d also have a tidy sum left over!" Charles grinned, barely containing his excitement as he looked at the treasures filling his storage space. He nned to visit The Beast Master Guild after the victory banquet in three days. ... Next door, in arge bathroom, the bathtub was already filled with water, steaming lightly. Lily tested the water with her hand, finding the temperature just right, her cheeks flushing slightly: "Charles, the water in the bathtub is perfect now. Would you like toe and take a bath?" "No... no, you go ahead," Charles''s voice came from next door. He sounded a bit nervous, prompting a chuckle from Lily, who whispered softly, "Coward." Although they had already been intimate, Charles still acted shy around her. Lily sighed softly, recognizing that he was still just a boy who needed gentle guidance. Lily took off her shirt, admiring her perfect figure and the impressive curve of her bust in the mirror, reminiscing about their tender moments in the office two months ago. Patting her slightly heated cheeks, Lily finally removed thest piece of clothing and stepped into the tub, causing a gentle ssh. Sitting nkly on the bed, Charles, even with a wall separating him from the bathroom, found his hearing exceptionally sharp since advancing to a third-level Beast Master. He could discern the subtle changes in sound, imagining Lily applying lotion to her skin. Swallowing hard, Charles reminded himself that he was a guest in Lily''s home and that it wouldn''t be right to betray her hospitality. Yet, he found it impossible to control his thoughts when the faint sshing from next door sparked vivid fantasies of Lily''s bare perfection and her voluptuously unmanageable chest. Recalling their encounter in the office, Charles''s heart started to pound wildly, his blood boiling with excitement. "I shouldn''t... I can''t be like this..." Reason was fiercely battling his physical urges. Charles wasn''t the type to be reckless with emotions, and without any clearmitment to Lily, this ambiguous rtionship could only harm them both. "Charles, help!" Suddenly, a cry from next door startled him like a bucket of cold water, snapping him back to reality as he sprang from the room. Could it be... his presence had been discovered and Sly had sent someone after him? Grabbing the ice and fire supreme spear from his storage space, Charles didn''t hesitate and burst into the neighboring bathroom. But when he pushed open the door, he realized he had been tricked. Lily stood at the bathroom entrance, shyly looking up at him, her wet hair cascading down her back, a lock of hair draped across her snow-white, ample chest. Her skin was smooth and glowing like polished jade, water droplets tracing down her body in a tantalizingly perfect curve. Before Charles could react, Lily had already embraced him tightly, herrge eyes moist, seemingly conveying her longing of the past two months. --- Chapter 71: Chapter 71: The Victory Banquet Lily, entirely bare, whispered into Charles''s ear, "I took a pill tonight~" That simple sentence set off a tumult of emotions in the young man''s heart, his body igniting with uncontroble mes... In the next moment, Charles''s clothes were reduced to ashes by the fire, and he found himself in a tight embrace with that soft, radiant body. For two months in the ferocious beast mountains, Charles battled daily with bloodshed, gradually wearing down his sanity and pushing him towards the brink of madness. Now, embracing the near-perfect body before him, feeling the softfort against his chest, this warm andforting haven allowed Charles to sink deeply into its embrace... Uncontrobly, his arousal became evident, intensely heated. Holding Lily, with a slight thrust of his hips apanied by her soft moan, he entered her. The tight, slippery, and moist sensation enveloped him, washing away the exhaustion and negative emotions umted over the months. "This savage world!" "This ruthless, bone-crushing world!" "This damn, stupid, rotten world!!" Months of pent-up negativity exploded in that moment, with a thousand beasts roaring in Charles''s heart. His suppressed emotions unleashed, he ravaged Lily like a storm. A sh of lightning streaked across the sky outside, followed by a thunderous roar that seemed to pierce the eardrums. The lightning illuminated the two intertwined bodies, From the bathroom door, they intertwined passionately, moving to the nearby vanity and finally culminating in the bathtub, stirring up tumultuous waves. Under this stormy assault, Lily could barely contain her moans. From Charles''s furious movements, she felt anger, pain... and notably, aplete absence of love. She understood clearly that Charles harbored lust for her body, but it wasn''t love. Yet, she loved him unreservedly and hopelessly. From the first time they were intimate, she had braced herself for this reality. Even if she couldn''t be Charles''s true lover, just providing himfort when needed was enough for her. Since seeing Charles rank first on the leaderboard, Lily''s initial reaction was one of loss, as if the boy who once needed her protection was drifting away from her. She knew very well that with Charles''s talents, he would not remain in a small ce like Lsengard. Perhaps in the future, when he stands at the pinnacle of this world, she would only be able to look up to him from afar, silently. The uncertainty of the future made Lily desperately cling to the happiness before her. Her hands wound around Charles''s waist and then traveled up to his neck as she leaned in close to his ear, her low moans escting with his movements. Hearing this spine-tingling sound, Charles''s body froze momentarily, then exploded into action like a lit keg of gunpowder,pletely losing his reason and driven by instinct to sprint furiously, seeking to release all pent-up emotions. The sounds of their union mixed with Lily''s moans. In the throes of pleasure, Lily climaxed multiple times untilte into the night, until she was nearly fainting and pleading for mercy, at which point Charles finally released everything inside her. ... Three days shed by, and Charles guessed that today would be the day the trial team returned to Lsengard, given the train''s schedule. He left Lily''s home early in the morning. Wearing a baseball cap and sunsses, Charles navigated through the crowded train station, waiting until the evening when the distant sound of a train whistle could be heard. At Lsengard''s south station, the tform was already swarming with people. Countless citizens, along with the rtives of the trial participants, had been waiting for a long time. Everyone was looking forward to the heroes'' triumphant return. The whistle blew A train encased in heavy armor slowed down, gradually pulling into the station. As the train appeared, the entire station erupted in excitement. "Young master! You''re back alive; I thought I''d never see you again" "Son, you advanced to a second-level Beast Master? Our Smith family must have the ancestors looking out for us. Tonight, we''ll offer incense to our ancestors at home!" "My daughter, you''ve suffered, how have you be so thin in just two months? Mom will cook something delicious for you tonight" There were tears of joy and of sorrow. Charles roughly estimated that out of the original 1050 participants, fewer than half had returned alive. Even those who returned bore exhausted faces,cking the youthful vitality typical of their age, their eyes filled with deep fear. Charles scanned the crowd, finally resting his gaze on a red Ferrari. Daniel had just disembarked from the train when a fleet of limousines, driven by a team of ck-d maids, arrived to enthusiastically wee him. Charles lowered the brim of his hat and walked over to tap on the car window. "May I ask who you are?" Daniel looked puzzled at the strangely dressed man before him, but upon seeing his eyes, he instantly recognized him: "My God, it''s you..." Before he could finish his sentence, Charles made a ''shush'' gesture and then climbed into the car. Daniel gently pressed the elerator, and the Ferrari roared deafeningly as it sped down the streets. Once they were away from the station, Daniel couldn''t contain his excitement: "Charles, where have you been thesest few days? You weren''t at the roll call in York, and we all thought something had happened to you. And this outfit of yours..." "I''ve been targeted by the Taylor family, hence the disguise. Let''s go, we''re off to the victory banquet at Red Mansion. I doubt Sly would dare touch me in front of the city lord." As they approached arge red building, Charles removed his mask and sunsses. "Damn, that Robert lured us into a valley and nearly got all of us in the first squad killed, and the Taylor family has the audacity to use you first?" Recalling the events in the ferocious beast mountains, Daniel clenched his teeth in anger. Parking the car near a grand building, Daniel smiled at Charles: "Charles, you''ve got to show them what you''re capable of today. Once they see your strength, those rumors will crumble." Charles nodded, a barely noticeable defiance crossing his face. He was well aware of the rampant rumors about him online. With a slight smile, Charles responded: "They say I cheated during the trials and used underhanded tactics to get my scores? Well, today they''ll see who the real trash is!" "Charles, I trust you, man. You could never stoop to Robert''s level," Daniel chuckled, patting Charles''s shoulder. "If you''re worried about Sly''s retaliation, you can stay at my ce. Let that bastard daree after you at the Smith family''s home!" Charles looked confidently reassured, seemingly not needing anyfort. Reflecting on hisst encounter with Charles, Daniel wondered: "How can there be such a disparity between people? We''re from the same ss, taught by the same teacher. Howe in less than a month, while I''ve been chased around by a first-tier ferocious beast, Charles is already taking down third-level Beast Masters?" ... At eight in the evening, the sky hadpletely darkened, yet the Red Mansion, situated in the heart of Lsengard, was as bright as day. Inside the venue, the tens of thousands of square meters were dotted with hundreds ofrge round tablesden with delicious dishes, but the most eye-catching feature was the huge projection screen set up on the central tform. Hundreds of young men and women entered in session. Those who ranked at the top of the leaderboard naturally entered the venue with pride; those who had performed poorly in the trials, doomed to miss out on higher education, hoped to use this opportunity for a personal showcase to attract the attention of prominent families and ns. Invited to this banquet were Lsengard''s most prominent figures, including distinguished Beast Master families and business magnates who dominated various industries in Lsengard, all eager to witness the neers'' talents and hopefully recruit some potential Beast Masters for their families. In such a grand asion, everyone seemed tense, except for a young man in the middle of the room who was heartily indulging in his meal. "Who is that person, acting so grandly? Why are so many people toasting to him?" Charles asked, biting into a hamburger, looking towards a middle-aged man in the front row wearing gold-rimmed sses. "You don''t know him? That''s Matthew, the lord of Lsengard. See, that''s Grace sitting next to him," Daniel said, somewhat exasperated. "The city lord? No wonder so many people are sucking up to him," Charles remarked in surprise. The line of people waiting to schmooze with the city lord was incredibly long. Charles even recognized many familiar faces in the queue, like Daniel''s father David, and Stone and Thomas Draven from the Draven family conglomerate. Of course, there was Sly from the Taylor family, currently ring at him with a look of venom, his malevolent intent palpable even across the room. However, Charles wasn''t overly concerned; this event was filled with influential figures from Lsengard, and with Lord Matthew''s power not being inferior to Sly''s, Charles doubted Sly would dare make a move against him here. In the first row of the VIP section, Sly withdrew his gaze and, with a sycophantic smile, raised a ss to Matthew: "Lord, Charles is used of cheating during the trials. Should we have him arrested and sent to The Beast Master Guild?" As soon as Sly''s words fell, David quickly interjected: "Mr. Sly, whether Charles cheated or not, and whether those missing hundreds were killed by him, is for the lord to judge. Why are you so concerned? Do you think you know better than the lord?" Sly''s face turned pale with embarrassment as he lost face in front of the city lord: "Humph, David, everyone knows what level Charles is at. You surely don''t believe that he could catch up to Grace in just a few days without cheating, but rather through talent? Only your good-for-nothing son would stoop to associate with him." "You!" Sly''s insults left David trembling with anger, yet he restrained himself in front of the city lord. Seeing the atmosphere turning tense, city lord Matthew intervened to smooth things over: "Alright, we''ve nearly finished our dinner, and now it''s time for the young sessors to showcase their talents." "True gold does not fear fire. Whether Charles has cheated or not, we will soon see." Lord Matthew''s voice, infused with wind elemental energy, carried clearly to everyone in the venue, instantly quieting the previously noisy banquet hall. Hundreds of eyes turned simultaneously towards Charles''s direction. Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Stay Away from Her! These past few days, rumors about Charles hunting down ssmates in the Ferocious Beast Mountains have spread like wildfire online. Now, looking in the direction where Charles was standing, many students'' eyes flickered with both fear and resentment. "How can Charles have the nerve to attend the banquet? Why hasn''t the defense squad arrested him yet?" "Ugh, that monster haspletely disgraced our Lsengard High." "It must be Miss Lily who saved him. Does he really think he can do whatever he wants in Lsengard with Miss Lily and the Smith family backing him?" Charles'' arrival caused quite a stir at the venue, and even his former ssmates scoffed, keeping their distance. Charles found it somewhat amusing to see a five-meter radius around him that no one dared enter. The seating at the banquet was arranged ording to social status, and Charles, being amoner, could only sit at the back, at the least desirable table. "Charles!" A voice, clear as a bell, suddenly rang out from the front of the hall. Everyone looked astonished as a girl dressed in the Lsengard Secondary School uniform left her seat. All eyes followed her as she walked towards the back of the hall where Charles was. "Charles, I''m so d you''re alright. I was afraid that you might have..." The girl ran up to him, standing shyly before him with her pale hand covering her mouth, her cheeks flushed with excitement. Despite her simple school uniform, her elegant demeanor was undeniable. Soon, several other girls left their seats to join them; surprisingly, they were all members of the original Squad 7. They gathered around Charles, chattering incessantly. Looking at the charming girl in front of him, Charles scanned the room and noticed the intense stares from the male students. With a hint of resignation, he said, "Aurora, you''re doing this on purpose, aren''t you? I''m already an outcast, and now you''re putting me on the spot like this?" After Aurora''s arrival, Charles felt the surrounding gazes be even more hostile. "Giggle." Ignoring the stares, Aurora sat down next to Charles, unting her phone in front of him with a pout. "I''ve sent you so many messages. Why didn''t you reply to any of them?" Charles cleared his throat, masking his difort: "Well... I was busy trying to climb up the leaderboard and didn''t check my phone." "Alright... How about we take a walk by the river after the banquet?" Aurora asked, her face full of anticipation. "Hmm... Depends on what time it ends..." Seeing Charles surrounded by a group of girls like a star amidst his fans, the male students at the venue red with eyes red with jealousy. Bang! Seated in a dark corner at the front of the venue, Thomas punched the wall, causing a crack to appear. His clenched fist trembled slightly from the pain. As the recognized top genius of Lsengard Secondary School, Thomas had always been confident. Not only was Aurora the belle of Lsengard Secondary, but she also came from the prestigious Jiang family. The elders of both families had long intended for a marriage, just waiting for the young people''s consent. Although Aurora had always politely declined his advances, Thomas believed it was only a matter of time. In his mind, Aurora was already his wife-to-be... Yet here she was, chatting intimately with another man right before his eyes. How was this different from being publicly cuckolded? Thomas''s face was filled with rage, his eyes bloodshot: "Back in the Ferocious Beast Mountains, you stole my second-tier beast core, and now you dare steal my woman too... You little bastard, just wait till I expose your hypocrisy. Let''s see how you''ll face Aurora then!" Among the many resentful gazes towards Charles, one at the front of the venue was particrly venomous. The middle-aged man''s face was weathered, his eyes sharp as an eagle''s. "Lord Mayor, I think it''s time to start the testing phase. If Charles has indeed cheated, I hope you won''t cover for him," Sly turned his head and chuckled at a man wearing gold-rimmed sses sitting nearby. He was eager to strip away Charles''s disguise. Though he had no evidence that his son Robert had been killed by Charles, if Charles''s strength did not match his leaderboard scores, it would prove he had tampered with his chip, using murder to boost his points. Once Charles''s guilt was confirmed, Sly had countless ways to make his life a misery. "Mr. Sly, don''t be too sure of yourself. It would be quite embarrassing to get pped in the faceter," David, sitting not far from Sly, couldn''t help but taunt him, seeing his rage. When Charles was young, he often visited Daniel''s house to y, so he knew what kind of person Charles was. He couldn''t believe that Charles was capable of the cruel acts that were being discussed online. "Mr. David, ever heard the saying ''birds of a feather flock together''? To associate with Charles, your young master''s taste could certainly use some refining!" Sly couldn''t resist scoffing. David was no pushover and promptly stood up, mming his hand on the table: "Sly! Your worthless son was probably devoured by a ferocious beast, and by now, I''d wager he''s been turned to dung. Isn''t that also a case of ''birds of a feather''?" "You''re asking for it!!!" Sly''s eyes turned bloodshot with rage. Boom!!! The table in front of him shattered into pieces due to his force. "Gentlemen! Calm down. There are many young folks watching. What kind of example are we setting?" Mayor Matthew, sensing the escting tension, quickly intervened. He cleared his throat and infused his voice with wind energy, ensuring it resonated in every corner of the hall: "Everyone here tonight is part of the young elite of Lsengard! We, the older generation, are also eager to get to know you. Thus, there will be a segment for demonstrating your abilities. If you''re interested, feel free to invite your peers to the center of the hall for a friendly spar." As soon as Matthew finished speaking, the lights in the hall dimmed, leaving only a spotlight shining on the center of the venue. Simultaneously, a tform slowly rose in the middle of the banquet hall. The venue quieted down instantly. Looking at the arena-like tform, which was thousands of square metersrge, the faces of the young men and women tensed up. Those with strong abilities naturally hoped to seize this opportunity to show off in front of others. Those of average strength also wanted to showcase their best in hopes of attracting the attention of the major families of Lsengard, possibly securing a respectable position in the city. In the back middle of the venue, Charles'' face remained remarkably calm. He had seen too many skeptical and hateful gazes, yet his mood was hardly affected. After tonight, those who doubted him and ndered his name would forever hold their peace. Just after the mayor announced the start of the individual demonstration segment, Charles saw a row of reporters carrying cameras enter the venue, many of them from media outlets outside Lsengard. The shbulbs went off continuously, resembling arge-scale talent audition scene. In this tense atmosphere, surprisingly, no one dared to step forward, creating an incredibly awkward moment. "I''ll go!" With a shout, a dark-skinned young man leaped onto the stage in a few bounds. As he appeared, several lines of text were projected onto therge screen in the middle of the venue. [Name:]Thomas [Trial Points:]19655 [Rank:]3rd "Thomas?" Charles remembered their encounter during the hunt for a bloodthirsty rhino when they had disputed over the ownership of a second-tier beast core. The entire venue erupted into excitement with Thomas''s appearance, clearly not expecting that the first to perform would be the star contestant, ranked third on the leaderboard! "Do you know him?" Aurora asked Charles, herrge sparkling eyes showing surprise. Charles nodded, "We met once in the Ferocious Beast Mountains, but it wasn''t a good impression. He seems to be from your school, so you might know him?" Aurora nced at the dark-skinned man on the stage, her eyebrows slightly furrowed as she sighed wearily, "Sort of..." Under the spotlight, surrounded by endless praise, Thomas slightly lifted his chin, like a hero returning triumphant. He raised his right hand, and two silver-white hexagram arrays appeared in front of him, summoning tworge mystical beasts. Aser scanned quickly, and the host of the venue couldn''t contain her excitement as she screamed: "Rock Boulder Bull, Silver quality, Level 16!" "Rock Eater, Silver quality, Level 17!" "Second-tier Beast Master!" Envious gazes from around the venue focused on Thomas on the stage, with shbulbs shing non-stop! To break through to a second-tier Beast Master in just two months and even contract a second mystical beast, such talent was not just rare in Lsengard but across all of Genosha, a one-in-a-million prodigy! No further demonstration was needed; the level of the mystical beasts said it all. A Level 17 mystical beast was an overwhelming force among these newly adult young people. Amid the screams and shing lights, Thomas walked down from the stage with a smug look, deliberately passing by Charles and Aurora. "Psh, what''s so great about that?" Aurora muttered, clenching her fists irritably, though she felt a twinge of disappointment deep down. She had barely survived hertest ordeal and had just managed to break through to a second-tier Beast Master, while Thomas was rmingly strong. The fact that she intensely disliked him only made his sess more irritating to her. Handing a pastry to Aurora, Charles said disdainfully, "It''s just Level 17, nothing special." "Hmm?" Aurora was taken aback. What did he mean by ''just Level 17''? Could Charles be stronger than Thomas? Charles didn''t exin further, instead focusing on indulging in a hearty meal. The participants who followed were mostly of average talent. A few managed to break through to second-tier Beast Master, but after Thomas''s dazzling performance, they hardly caught much attention. "Grace?!" From somewhere in the venue, a voice roared, stirring up excitement once again. Hearing that name, Charles finally set down his food and looked up towards the figure in blue at the center of the venue... Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Is That Why? With a light tap of her toe on the ground, Grace moved like a graceful butterfly, tracing a beautiful arc through the air andnding smoothly on the tform. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her face like a crescent moon, and her eyes like shimmering water. Coupled with her tall and elegant figure, Grace captured the attention of all the boys in the venue as soon as she appeared. Following Daniel''s gaze, Charles noticed Grace on the stage in her blue attire. Her beauty, along with her cool and noble demeanor, made all the girls in the venue pale inparison. In his memory, only the beautiful serpent-woman could rival her. "She''s a third-tier Beast Master already? If she didn''t rely on a miracle drug to boost her abilities, this girl''s talent would be terrifyingly strong!" Charles was slightly surprised as he nced at Grace''s information panel, then quickly looked away. He wasn''t about to swoon over her like the other boys around him. After all, he had seen her haughty side beneath her beautiful exterior on that afternoon in his freshman year, and he felt no affection for Grace whatsoever. Everyone was talking about itafter a two-month trial in the Ferocious Beast Mountains, this once-in-a-century prodigy from Lsengard had reached an astonishing level of prowess. Amid this buzz, Charles, who was voraciously devouring a table full of delicacies, stood out rather conspicuously... Atop the tform, Grace immediately noticed Charles, who was isted by the crowd, and a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. Well aware of her own stunning beauty and charisma, she was annoyed by Charles''s appearance, as if he were starving to death. She slowly extended her right hand, her sleeve sliding down to reveal her pale, slender wrist, and three golden hexagram arrays appeared in front of her. "A third-tier Beast Master! How is this possible?!" The venue''s host screamed, the microphone dropping from her hand in shock. Not just her, everyone at the banquet who witnessed this was stunned, their eyes incredulously fixed on the beautiful girl on the stage. At just 18 years old, bing a third-tier Beast Master was unheard ofnot just in Lsengard but in the entire history of Vendantia Province. Aser quickly scanned Grace''s three mystical beasts, and the host, picking up the microphone from the floor, trembled as she tried to suppress her excitement: "Azure Butterfly, Gold quality, Level 20!" "Wind Chime Bird, Gold quality, Level 20!" "Crystal Spring Sword, Gold quality, Level 20!" Gasps of awe resonated throughout the venue as these details were disyed on the projection screen. An 18-year-old third-tier Beast Master with such extraordinary talent was rare even in Genosha, a truly phenomenal existence. Previously, many prominent families, captivated by Grace''s beauty, had pondered proposing an alliance through marriage. However, upon witnessing her talent, nearly all abandoned the idea, realizing their own heirs were no match for her. "Ha ha, congrattions to the Mayor! Congrattions to the Mayor''s daughter for topping this year''s trials! Not only is Grace beautiful, but her Beast Mastery talent is also astonishing. Whoever manages to have Grace as a daughter-inw is truly blessed by the ages!" Prominent families flocked to Mayor Matthew, offering toasts andpliments, hoping to use this opportunity to forge a closer rtionship with the Mayor. Everyone was witnessing the emergence of a prodigious Beast Master in Lsengard. With Grace''s talent, her admission into Aredale Academy was all but assured, and with royal connections soon to be established, the Garcia family would likely hold significant sway throughout Vendantia Province. From a quieter spot towards the back of the venue, Aurora sighed despondently as she watched the crowd''s adoration for the stunning girl: Why could someone be so beautiful, born into the mayor''s family, and also possess such extraordinary Beast Mastery talent? In the spotlight, Grace moved like a regal swan, lightly stepping down from the central stage and walking towards the back of the venue, under the gaze of all present. Many hoped that this noble princess would pause near them, and several young heirs of prominent families wished for an opportunity to converse with the mayor''s daughter. However, Grace ignored everyone and walked straight past the VIP seats, continuing towards the back until she stood in a nearly secluded area. "Charles, I thought you were eaten by a ferocious beast. Surprising to see you''re still alive." "I hope you haven''t forgotten our bet. If you concede now, maybe I''ll consider letting you off easy." Her voice chimed like a bell. Grace had already be the center of attention at the venue, and her words instantly sparked a flurry of whispers around her. Seeing Grace approach Charles, many young men spected about the ''bet'' she mentioned. Facing the beautiful girl before him, Charles couldn''t help but feel amused. When he transferred to Lsengard High, not only did he top the citywide joint exams, but he also surpassed Grace, the perennial top student, by 50 points. Charles couldn''t understand why a single exam would leave such asting impression. Seeing Grace as just a teenager, Charles didn''t feel the need to argue with her. He responded coolly, "Miss Garcia, if you came all this way just to say that, then you can leave now. I''m not interested in child''s y promises." Taken aback by Charles''s blunt dismissal, Grace''s pale face turned a shade of livid. ustomed to being the center of attention at the mayor''s residence and among the nobility, she was not used to being treated this way. Grace crossed her arms in front of her chest, her snow-white chin lifted in an arrogant curve: "If you want to break the bet, you could kneel down and beg me right now. Perhaps I might just let you off if I''m in a good mood." The delicate earrings on the young girl''s ears jingled crisply as she spoke, lending a touch of fragility to her demeanor. "Could you move aside, please? It''s my turn," Charles said, rising from his seat with a forced smile. His impression of the girl had plummeted to an all-time low, and he just wanted toplete his test and slip away. "You..." Despite the three years that had passed, Charles''s face still wore that same dispassionate expression, infuriating Grace enough to stamp her foot. Ignored again. Her pampered upbringing came to the fore in that moment, and without any regard for noble etiquette, Grace red at Charles and said pointedly, "Charles, if you are a man, ept my challenge at the enrollment ceremony! I''ll show you the gap between us. The offspring of lowly peasants will always remain just that!" With these words, the previously quiet venue fell into a stunned silence. Everyone stared at the boy who paused, not finding anything amiss with Grace''s remarks. Instead, they felt a thrill hearing them from her. The looks they gave Charles were now tinged with mockery. Beast Mastery is a profession deeply concerned with lineage, and among the hundreds of Beast Masters at the banquet, nearly all had noble titles going back three generations. And there was Charles, a poor boy from the countryside, whose parents were mere peasants running a long-haul trucking business. His equal ranking with Grace on the trial leaderboard was an affront to them all. "So, it''s because of this..." Charles''s face twitched slightly, growing somewhat distorted with realization. He finally understood why he had always been unpopr at school, why Robert had chosen him as a target for bullying, and why he had so few friends throughout high school. Why just one exam had made Grace resent him for three years. Having lived two lives, Charles had a moreposed nature than most youths, but he had his sore spots. Grace''s words were a harsh insult to him and his parents. His parents were missing, their fate unknown, whether alive or dead. Grace''s words tore open the wounds in Charles''s heart and cruelly salted them. The blood within him surged uncontrobly like that of a wild beast. "ck!" A vast surge of elemental energy erupted from Charles, shattering the nearby tables and chairs into fragments with its force. Charles spun around and stomped the ground,unching towards Grace like an arrow released from its bow. His hand clutched the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear, gleaming coldly, while pale mes burned in his eyes. "Ah..." Startled by Charles''s lightning-fast assault, Grace sensed the chilling intent to kill. She couldn''t summon her mystical beast in time and instead conjured a wind shield in front of her using her wind energy. ng!!! Just as the spear''s tip was about to pierce Grace, a cyan longsword intercepted it. Sparks flew as the spear shed against the sword. Although the sword hadn''tpletely blocked his attack, it diverted the direction of his strike. The Supreme Spear struck a nearby seat, shattering it and leaving a half-meter deep crater in the marble floor. Everyone thought they were merely sparring, but Charles''s strike had been without restraint! The audience was stunned by the terrifying destructive power. The one who had protected Grace was none other than Lsengard''s mayor, Grace''s father Matthew. When Charles looked at him, several lines of information appeared before his eyes: [Name:]Matthew [Age:]42 [Height:]185 cm [Beast Master Level:]Fourth-tier At that moment, Sly approached Charles, his face grim as he roared, "You little brat, think you can run wild here?" Surveying the gathering Lsengard defense squad, Charles looked indifferently at Grace and her father. He tightly held a cyan jade slip in his hand, ready to activate the remnants of Joshua within it should he sense a life-threatening danger. Charles sneered, "The mayor''s daughter is right. I, Charles, am just a peasant''s son and clearly don''t belong at this banquet." Hearing this, Matthew''s face turned livid, and he shot Grace a fierce look before bowing slightly to Charles, "My daughter spoke out of turn. It reflects poorly on my parenting. Please forgive us, Charles." One of the three great families of Lsengard, the Draven family head Kevin, also approached. Seeing the shocked Grace, he sensed a perfect opportunity to curry favor with the mayor. Kevin approached Charles and pulled out a shimmering gold card, "Brother Charles, here''s a bank card with 500 silver coins, consider it an apology from my niece, and please ept it aspensation for our misstep!" 500 silver coins! Upon hearing Kevin''s generous offer, the eyes of everyone at the banquet widened in disbelief. True to the stature of one of the three great families of Lsengard, such avish gesturethis sum could sustain a thousand peasant families in Lsengard for a year! With this money, Charles''s parents wouldn''t have to toil away at long-haul deliveries anymore, would they? Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Do Those Gentry Truly Have Blue Blood? p! Contrary to everyone''s expectations, the golden bank card loaded with 500 silver coinsenough to ensure a lifetime offortwas pped to the ground by Charles. Kevin''s face darkened immediately, marred by humiliation. He had intended to show off in front of the mayor, but he hadn''t anticipated Charles''s stubbornness, publicly embarrassing the Draven family. Ignoring Kevin and his son Thomas, Charles walked straight to Grace. Now calm, he was not averse to epting Grace''s challenge; his concerny in his mystical beast Mousie''s dark attributes, which were absolutely forbidden in Genosha. At the enrollment ceremony, with many high-level Beast Masters from the three major academies present, they would undoubtedly realize that his second mystical beast was merely a projection and might deduce Mousie''s existence. Should they discover it was a creature of dark attributes,plications would arise. Grace had already bonded with two mystical beasts and inherited the family''s mystical beast, Crystal Spring Sword. Relying solely on Max, Charles facing a 1v3 was certainly not feasible. Only if he advanced to a fourth-tier Beast Master could he potentially offset the disparity inbat power due to the number of mystical beasts in a 3v4 scenario. "Charles, though you managed to tie my score during the trials, I must say, you will never defeat me! Resorting to such underhanded tactics is all you''re capable of!" Taking a deep breath, Grace finally recovered from her initial fright and looked at Charles, speaking deliberately, "Let me also inform you that I have received a handwritten rmendation letter from the vice chancellor of Aredale Academy. I will be his closest disciple, and the gap between us will only widen!" Facing the imposing young woman who, though only as tall as his chin, looked down on him with a condescending gaze, Charles chuckled coldly: "Ha, I have no interest in your so-called bet, or even in you. You can scorn my background and even call me ''lowborn,'' and I couldn''t care less to argue with a girl like you. But you should never have publicly insulted my parents. Just because you''re from a marquis'' family doesn''t mean you stand above everyone else. Have you ever heard the saying" "Do those gentry have blue blood certainly?" Are nobles and high officials inherently superior? Are the lowborn doomed to remain so forever? Looking at Grace, Charles''s eyes could kill. Lightning demon ape! His words struck like thunder across the banquet hall. Though spoken softly, they rang clear and resounded in everyone''s ears. "Do those gentry have blue blood certainly..." Daniel, standing not far behind Charles, pondered the phrase. Although it was his first time hearing it, he instantly grasped its meaning. Born into a noble family, he disliked the arrogant demeanor of his peers. His father, David, always taught him not to look down on anyone, which is why he had stood up for Charles when he was bullied. He hadn''t expected someone of his age, like Charles, to speak such bold words. Seeing the steely gaze of Charles in front of him, Sly felt a chill. This young man''s spirit was formidable; befriending him was one thing, but being his enemy was a terrifying prospect. "We must eliminate him before he rises further!" A vicious thought flickered through his mind as immense elemental energy swirled around him. Sly swiftly moved in front of Charles: "You impudent boy, daring to speak such madness, let me, on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor and the lord mayor, end you here!" "Halt!" Matthew shouted, stopping Sly. He didn''t want a promising youth from Lsengard to fall over a mere jest, which would also tarnish his reputation as mayor: "It''s just the impulsive words of youth; Lord Earl, take no offense!" Recalling the scene just moments ago, Matthew was filled with regret and self-reproach for not having disciplined Grace properly. From his brief encounter with Charles, he could tell that Charles''s strength was exceptional among his peers at the event. Yet, such an ideal son-inw candidate had been alienated by his own daughter during their high school years. Now, not only had he potentially lost a son-inw, but he had also gained a formidable potential adversary. The more Matthew thought about it, the angrier he became. He pulled Grace in front of Charles and said sternly, "Grace, stop this nonsense! You started this mess, now apologize to Charles right away!" "I will not!" With a cold expression, Grace lifted her snow-white chin, her face carrying her innate nobility, "Am I not speaking the truth? I merely voiced what everyone knows but is too afraid to say! He, Charles, is just a nobody from a lowborn family, how dare he surpass me, Grace! Charles, you said ''Do those gentry have blue blood certainly,'' then do you dare to make a bet with me?" As she spoke, a red hexagram appeared under their feet. "Is that...a Blood Pact?!" People who recognized the red hexagram gasped in shock. This artifact, rumored to be from the dwarven kingdoms, was used to control ves. Once the pact terms were met, it could bind a person as a mystical beast with a loyalty rating of 100%. Grace sliced her fingertip with a dagger, and the hexagram touching her blood immediately turned crimson. She looked up at Charles, "Two years. If you defeat me within that time, I, Grace, will serve you for the rest of my life! But if you fail, you will forever be my servant. Do you dare to enter this Blood Pact?" ... As soon as Grace made this deration, the sound of male students swallowing nervously rippled through the venue. Many eyes roamed from her smooth legs up to her slender waist and then to her soft, shapely chest. Grace''s figure was considered exemry, and many Lsengard youths went to sleep at night gazing at her photos. To them, not just a lifetime of servitude, but even risking their lives for a single night with her seemed a worthy tradeif only Grace would agree, there would be a line of volunteers ready to meet their fate. "You scoundrel!" Watching Grace''s blood-drenched palm, Matthew felt both hatred and anger surge within him. He regretted spoiling her so much; how had he allowed her to develop such a haughty and willful personality! If she truly entered into a Blood Pact and became someone''s servant for life, wouldn''t the Garcia family lose all its dignity? What face would he, Matthew, have left to continue as the mayor of Lsengard? Seeing Matthew about to intervene, Grace pressed the de against her neck: "Dad, if you try to stop me, you won''t have a daughter anymore!" Facing the resolute young woman, Charles''s face twitched. He had not expected Grace to be so stubborn. Damn it! He wished he had been more low-key during the citywide joint exams and not surpassed her by over fifty points. Regret filled Charles to the core, but things had escted to this point, and if he backed down now, he feared he would be theughingstock of the town. ng A sh of cold light, and Charles made a cut on his fingertip. A few drops of blood emerged from the wound, and instantly, a system alert popped up. [Warning! You are entering into a human contract. If you fail the challenge in two years, you will be an essory, akin to a puppet, and the system will be unable to dissolve this pact!] Charles hesitated, although he had not yet subdued a third mystical beast, his abilities were already at a third-tier Beast Master level. His Beast Mastery talent was no weaker than Grace''s! And with the system''s optimal growth path nned out, each of Charles''s mystical beasts could evolve and grow at the fastest possible rate. Moreover, he possessed a powerful soul force that no one else in this world had, giving him the potential to be a multi-elemental Beast Master! Assessing his advantages, Charles felt confident that he could defeat Grace in two years. His blood dripped onto the other half of the hexagram, turning it crimson, and a clock appeared above the hexagram. The red light faded, and a dark red imprint appeared on the palms of both participants, disying a countdown: [1 year 364 days 23 hours]. At that moment, everyone in the hall looked at the fading red hexagram with either astonishment or mockery, mostly scoffing at Charles. "Ha ha, he can''t seriously believe he can beat Grace, can he?" "It''s possible he resorted to some unsavory tactics during his trial in the Ferocious Beast Mountains, and that fluke allowed him to catch up to Grace, giving him some unrealistic fantasies." "If he really has to spend the rest of his life as someone else''s servant, that would be a total disgrace to his entire family, ha ha ha!" "With Grace''s monstrous leveling speed, Charles can''t beat her now, and the gap will only widen in two years!" Amid the surroundingughter, Charles took a deep breath and no longer paid attention to Grace. He lightly leaped onto the stage. Using [Mind Communication], Charles instructed his mystical beast Mousie to take the form of a giant freshwater crocodile and then summoned his two mystical beasts. [Name:]Charles [Trial Points:]26752 [Rank:]Tied for 1st At this moment, all eyes in the venue were focused on the projection screen and on Charles. Rumors about Charles cheating had been rampant on Lsengard''s online forums these past few days, and all the students at the venue were curious about his true abilities. The noble families seated at the front were also holding their breath, wondering about Charles''s strength and who would win between him and Grace in two years. The event host, seeing Charles approaching, also looked nervous. He pressed a button, and aser scanned Charles and his two mystical beasts. Momentster, several beams of light flickered on the projection screen. When the results appeared, the previously noisy venue fell eerily silent, the air itself seeming to freeze. [Nine-tailed demon wolf, tinum quality, Level 19 (Advancing)!] [Giant freshwater crocodile, Gold quality, Level 19 (Advancing)!] Third-tier Beast Master! ..... Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Another Level 3 Beast Master The entire banquet hall fell silent, with everyone staring in disbelief at the astonishing results disyed on therge screen at the center of the venue. Thissted for a full minute. Then, a chorus of gasps rippled through the room. "hiss" "He''s... also a Level 3 Beast Master!" From the front row, in the middle, Matthew looked up at the words on the stage, recalling the scene of his daughter Grace and Charles signing the human contract, his heart suddenly trembling: To rise two major ranks in just two months and reach Level 3 Beast Masterthis indicated that Charles''s talent was no less than Grace''s, perhaps even greater! If Charles really did defeat Grace in two years, would that mean she''d have to spend the rest of her life by his side, virtually a ve? "Heh, who would have thought, thed''s got quite the talent." From a seat slightly to the right in the front row, Sly couldn''t help but cough twice, his lips twitching slightly as he looked at Charles on the stage. At just eighteen, Charles had be a Level 3 Beast Master. Given more time, he might be unbeatable. Although there was no concrete evidence to prove that Robert was killed by Charles, Charles was undoubtedly involved. Allowing such an enemy to grow unchecked was exceedingly foolish! With these thoughts, a trace of bitterness shed through Sly''s eyes. Not far from Sly, David, the head of the Smith family from the same prestigious Lsengard lineage, looked appreciatively at Charles and mockingly towards Sly: "Who was it just now who said my son Daniel was mingling with ''riff-raff''? If such talent doesn''t catch Mr. Sly''s eye, I suppose everyone here, including the city lord, must also be ''riff-raff'' in your view?" David''s words drew mutedughter from those nearby, as they too looked admiringly at this bright young sessor, already contemting making his acquaintance. Sitting in the first row were all shrewd individuals, well aware of the endless benefits of forging good rtions with a high-level Beast Master before he fully came into his power. tter! The microphone fell to the ground again, and the host, too excited to remember to pick it up, roared with a strained voice: "Charles, a senior student from Lsengard High, tied for first ce in this trial, Level 3 Beast Master. His Beast Mastery qualities are Gold and tinum, at level 19!" He had hosted countless celebratory banquets after training sessions, and although he was well-versed and experienced, he found himself unable to control the excitement in his heart. As everyone listened to the host''s impassioned announcement, they once again turned their eyes toward theposed young man on the stage, unable to stop marveling. "Am I seeing things? Charles has actually advanced to a Level 3 Beast Master, and he''s already bound with a tinum-quality mystical beast?" "What on earth has Charles been through in these past two months? The progress he''s made is something many could not achieve in a lifetime!" "His mystical beast''s quality surpasses Grace''s. If he binds a third mystical beast and fights Grace fairly, he might actually win." "Holy shit! I''m in the same ss as Charles, how did I never notice that his Beast Mastery talent was so incredible?!" "..." The venue buzzed with conversations about Charles, but most were too shocked to speak, especially those who knew him. Daniel''s eyes widened, his jaw almost hitting the floor, unaware of the cutlery he had dropped. Back in the ferocious beast mountains, when he saw Charles instantly kill the [bloodthirsty rhino], he had a vague sense that Charles was unfathomably strong, estimating his level to be at the peak of Level 2 Beast Master. But his imagination fell shortCharles breaking through to Level 3 Beast Master in just two months was beyond even his wildest dreams. Aurora, Lyra, and the other girls who had been in high school with Charles now looked up to him with admiration. In the ruthless world of Beast Mastery, strength was everything, and every woman hoped to be protected by a man with great talent. Upon learning that Charles was still single, many harbored the idea of asking him for his contact detailster. Thomas''s expression, however, was quite a spectacle. At this moment, he still couldn''t ept the fact that Charles was stronger than him. Known as the top Beast Mastery talent of Lsengard High and never having regarded any of his peers except Grace as a threat, he simply couldn''t believe Charles''s trial results. Yet, the oues now starkly contradicted his disbelief, effectively pping him in the face. After retracting Max and mousie back into the Beast Mastery space, Charles lightly leapt down from the stage. He nced back at the big screen and, seeing mousie''s details disyed as [giant freshwater crocodile], he breathed a sigh of relief and smiled knowingly. In the past few days, the rumors about him online and in chat groups had almost gone viral. Some said he had cheated to achieve such high scores, others imed he used hacking techniques to manipte the final results, and there were even rumorsparing him to Robert, using him of killing ssmates to steal points. No one truly believed that he had secured first ce in the trial through his own strength. But now, this result was the best rebuttal to all those doubts! "Congrattions, Charles!" Before he could even return to his seat, several former ssmates, particrly the girls, came up to greet him, with a few bold ones even asking for his contact details directly. However, Charles politely declined. Rather than being the center of attention, he much preferred the days when he sat quietly at the back of the ssroom by the window, unnoticed. ustomed to others'' cold remarks and mockery, he found it somewhat ufortable to hear theirpliments now. "The results are in," announced the banquet host from the stage. "Of the 1050 students who participated in this trial from Lsengard, 219 have advanced to Level 2 Beast Master, earning eligibility for college admissions, and will participate in the admissions ceremony in half a month..." As the host finished speaking, cheers erupted from the venue, especially loud from those who had qualified for the admissions ceremony. The host cleared his throat to signal for silence and continued: "ording to the rules, all students will be ranked based on their points, receiving a ''trial score''. To gain admission to a higher educational institution for Beast Mastery, however, this trial score alone is not enough. They must also earn a bat score'' from the admissions teachers during the ceremony. Whether or not you can enter the college will depend on your performance in 12 days." "The celebration banquet concludes here. Those who wish to leave may do so now. Of course, you''re also wee to continue enjoying the banquet or invite ssmates to the central stand for a friendly spar as a preview for the admissions ceremony in 12 days." As the host''s voice faded, people began to trickle out of the venue. Others invited ssmates to the stands for a friendly match. Watching the mystical beasts battle it out at the center of the arena, Charles finally understood why such arge central stand was needed for a dinner that was followed by sparringit was the main event of the evening. Evaluating a Beast Master''s strength involved more than just the level of their mystical beast. The beast''s skills, the synergy between beast and master, and practical experience were also critical factors. Many students who scored high in the trials performed poorly after entering college, pejoratively termed ''high scores but low ability.'' To avoid admitting such students, colleges had introduced the admissions ceremony, which ounted for 50% of the total score. At the front rows of the venue, many important figures from prestigious families hadn''t left; they were keen to assess the practical abilities of the new generation and scout potential Beast Masters to recruit into their families. Charles, however, wasn''t particrly interested. He had only attended to prove that his top score in the trials was earned through genuine skill. More than sparring, he was concerned about the admissions ceremony in 12 days, which would be the real test of ability. Although he had scored a perfect 100 in the trials, it didn''t guarantee his admission into any of the three highlypetitive colleges in the imperial capital. A poor performance at the admissions ceremony could very well mean getting cut, so it was best he prepare in advance. As Charles was about to leave, a few male students suddenly blocked his path, looking quite hostile. "Charles, I''d like to challenge you to a match on the stage. Are you interested?" the leader of the group, a pale-faced young man with ck hair, asked with a slight smile. Charles intended to decline, but upon recognizing the neer, he tensed and clenched his fists. It was none other than his ssmate Carlos, who had been Robert''s topckey back in school, always swaggering behind him and making Charles''s life miserable. Although these events had urred before Charles''s transmigration and technically had nothing to do with him, after merging with his predecessor''s memories, seeing Carlos ignited an inexplicable anger in him. Seeing Charles hesitate, Carlos assumed he was scared and smirked, the corners of his mouth turning up: "Charles, you''re a Level 3 Beast Master, surely you''re not afraid to spar with me, are you? Are you just being considerate of our old friendship, not wanting to hurt me, or... do you actually dare not fight me?" With Carlos''s taunt, more eyes turned towards them, filled with curiosity. In Lsengard, there''s a banned drug called [strengthening pill] avable in herbal shops, which temporarily enhances a Beast Master''s strength. In previous years, some students had used this method to try and deceive the detection devices. However, this method, much like ''bone-stretching'' for height enhancement, is merely for show and doesn''t hold up in realbat. Clearly, more people were willing to believe Charles had taken a [strengthening pill] rather than ept that he could be a Level 3 Beast Master in less than two months. "If Brother Carlos wishes to spar, then naturally, I am more than happy to oblige," Charles chuckled. He relished such opportunities to stretch his muscles. --- Chapter 76: Chapter 76: This Move is Specially for Dogs Lightly stepping on the ground, Charles leapt into the air, capturing everyone''s attention as he ascended the stage once again. On this spacious marble tform, about a dozen people were already sparring, using simple wooden weapons without summoning their mystical beasts. As soon as Charles stepped onto the stage, he drew the attention of most of the crowd below, even causing many students in the stands to pause their own sparring to watch him. The controversy surrounding Charles was significant. The strength test had proven his score''s authenticity, but it still hadn''t silenced everyone''s doubts. After all, there were precedents of people passing tests using [strengthening pills], and many remained skeptical. "Charles, pick a weapon quickly. Since we''re sparring, don''t me me if you get hurt," Carlos said, picking up a wooden supreme spear from the weapon rack and looking at Charles with a forced smile. "Make sure you don''t hold back. I really want to see the true strength of my ssmate Charles." Charles scanned the array of weapons, Worried that he might identally kill Carlos with any of them, he eventually looked towards a nearby trash bin. Casually, he picked up a broomstick, detaching one of the wooden sticks from it. Seeing Charles choose a broomstick as his weapon, Carlos''s face twitched slightly. Was Charles mocking him, treating him like trash? Ignoring Carlos''s murderous re, Charles slowly approached him and raised the wooden stick: "Let''s begin. You said it yourself, casualties are normal in a spar." Charles had no intention of holding back against someone who wanted to harm him. The tense atmosphere on the stage drew a crowd of spectators. However, when they saw that Charles''s weapon was just a piece of a broomstick, they couldn''t help but be taken aback. "Has Charles always been this audacious? Howe I never noticed! Is that even a weapon?" Daniel couldn''t help butment on Charles''s choice of "weapon." Nearby, Thomas crossed his arms, looking down on Charles: "Relying on strengthening pills to temporarily boost strength might deceive the detectors, but I didn''t expect him to fool himself too. Just wait and see how he pretends now in realbat!" Among the crowd, skeptical voices dominated. Now seeing Charles about to fight Carlos, everyone was curious about his true abilities. Carlos''s achievements, although not on par with Grace, certainly made him one of the standout young talents in Lsengard, with both his mystical beasts at level 17. Only by defeating him could Charles prove his genuine strength. Some of the prestigious families who were about to leave, including Lsengard''s city lord Matthew, and the heads of the three major familiesRobert, David, and Kevinpaused their departure to watch Charles take the stage again. Even media reporters who had started to leave came back, cameras in hand, to capture Charles in action. What was initially a minor sparring match had now be the focus of thousands, both online and offline! Everyone was eager to see whether this controversial young prodigy truly had remarkable abilities or if he was as wed as the rumors on the inte suggested. "With One Sword!" Carlos shouted as he raised his long sword. Golden energy swirled around him, gradually coalescing into dozens of long sword phantoms that looked like real des. In the blink of an eye, these phantoms materialized, and dozens of swords shot towards Charles''s position... "How despicable, we agreed to a spar, why unleash a skill?" Charles cursed under his breath, swallowing a [miraculous speed pill] as the swords drew nearer. Spars can be conducted at various levels of seriousness, and this one, involving wooden weapons, was clearly meant to be light and non-lethal. However, Carlos had unleashed his powerful skill right from the start, clearly aiming to embarrass Charles publicly. As the numerous swords came closer in Charles''s vision, he remained calm. With a swift sidestep, he dodged the onught, his movements ghostly and nimble. ng!!! Dozens of swords flew perilously close to Charles, none striking him, all embedding themselves in the marble floor with a harsh metallic screech. While dodging the swords, Charles had already closed the distance to Carlos. Thud!!! Before Carlos could react, Charles struck him squarely in the chest with the stick, sending out a dull thud and the sound of breaking bones. The terrifying force twisted Carlos''s face with pain, and his body, under the overpowering impact, was flung from the stage, tumbling and crashing through a dozen tables beforeing to rest, barely conscious, in a corner. One move! To be precise, Charles had defeated Carlos with a single strike. The noisy banquet hall fell eerily silent again, save for the shing cameras. Everyone''s mouths hung open as their gaze shifted back and forth between the boy with the wooden stick on the stage and the disheveled Carlos, profoundly shaken. If the earlier strength test could still be dismissed as possibly rigged with miracle drugs, Charles''s defeat of Carlos with a single blow was a lethal blow to those rumors. Carlos''s strength was roughly equivalent to Level 17. Charles''s ability to defeat him so effortlessly proved that his own strength was definitely above Level 17, affirming his credentials as a Level 3 Beast Master! In the front of the crowd, having silently witnessed the fight, Matthew''s face was grim, his heart sinking with anguish. When Charles had disyed his ghostly movements, Matthew had already braced for Carlos''s defeat, but he hadn''t expected it to be so decisively swift and brutal. After Charles''s single-move victory over Carlos, the only thought left in the Lsengard city lord''s mind wasthis young man is an extraordinary genius! Although his daughter Grace was a genuine prodigy, if Charles continued to develop at this rate, it was uncertain who would win or lose in the future. Could he really just watch, helplessly, as his daughter potentially lost to him in two years? "Cough, since someone has been injured, I think it''s best to end today''s sparring here. There are only 12 days left until the admissions ceremony. Everyone should go home, rest up, and prepare," Matthew said, ncing at Carlos''s injuries. To knock someone down so fiercely was perhaps too harsh? But this was a contest among the younger generation, and it wasn''t his ce toment. Medical staff quickly arrived, gently lifting Carlos off the ground, administering first aid, and then carting him off to a nearby hospital. Several minutes after his departure, the exmations finally began to subside, followed by a flurry of camera shes. Charles had undoubtedly be Lsengard''s star! Sitting in the VIP area, watching the very popr Charles, Sly felt an itchy hatred but was powerless to do anything about it. With city lord Matthew there, along with several members of the Beast Master Guild sitting nearby, despite his deep desire for revenge against Charles, he was helpless. "Just wait, you little brat, your time wille!" Sly cursed under his breath and stormed off from the banquet hall. As the crowd gradually dispersed, Charles also returned to his seat to pack up his things. "Charles, what was that stick technique you used? I''ve never seen anyone use that kind of move before," Daniel approached him impatiently, his eyes wide with astonishment. "That move is called ''Dog-Beating Stick Technique.'' It''s not very effective against people, but it works wonders on dogs. Against Robert''sckeys, I guess the effect is doubled!" Charles couldn''t help butugh as he looked at Daniel. The move was not very damaging but highly insulting. With the [nineherworld armband] boosting his strength by 100%, even a light strike was more than his peers could handle. Daniel''s face twitched as he realized Charles was joking, but he couldn''t helpughing along: "Carlos has the strength of Lv17, and yet you knocked him down with a single strike. He''s probably lying in his hospital bed right now, grinding his teeth in anger! Haha!" Before setting out on his journey, he had mocked Charles, saying he coulde to him for help if he couldn''t beat a ferocious beast. Little did he know, Charles was the real powerhouse! Charles patted Daniel on the shoulder: "Fatty, you''re doing pretty well yourself. I thought you were gone without a trace, but your rock turtle is almost Level 15 now, isn''t it?" "Don''t make fun of me. I''m hardly a match for you, not even close!" Daniel replied with a somewhat mncholic stick out of his tongue. The two left the banquet hall amidstughter and walked out of the Red Mansion. ... In the front row of the VIP seats, Grace watched Charles''s departing figure, her face still marked by defiance. Charles''s rapid advancement had indeed surprised her, but after a brief moment of astonishment, her anger red anew. Three years ago, she had already lost to Charles in theoretical achievements, but she had not expected that three yearster, his Beast Master talents would rival hers. She couldn''t tolerate her pride being so vited! "Grace, I''ve long warned you to temper that temper of yours. Now look, you''ve not only offended others but also formed a [human contract]. If you really lose to Charles in two years, won''t you have to spend your life as his servant?" Watching the still unmoved Grace, city lord Matthew couldn''t help but explode: "The human contract was your own doing. In two years, if you win, all well and good. But if you lose to Charles, don''t call yourself Matthew''s daughter!" "Dad... do you really have so little faith in your own daughter?" Grace felt uneasy, demeaned by her father''s low expectations. With a sigh, Matthew said, "This boy''s rate of improvement is indeed abnormal, and what''s more, his luck is outrageously good! I''ve put so much effort into helping you contract three Gold-quality mystical beasts, but that boy, he managed to contract a tinum-quality mystical beast!" "Dad, my mystical beast can evolve and upgrade its quality. Plus, haven''t I already received a rmendation letter from Aredale Academy? You know as well as I do that just having talent as a Beast Master isn''t enough. Once I be the vice dean''s personal disciple, the resources I''ll have ess to, including theoretical guidance in Beast Mastery, are something Charles can''tpare with!" Grace retorted with a pout, clearly unconvinced. Looking in the direction where Charles had departed, Grace slowly extended her left hand. On her pale wrist, there was a blood-red countdown resembling a clock: [1 year, 365 days, 19 hours] She had already secured a guaranteed admission and no longer needed to participate in the admissions ceremony in 12 days. She nned to set off for the imperial capital the next day. "Less than two years left until the human contract takes effect." "Charles, I will wait for you in the imperial capital, until the moment I see you kneeling before me!" Chapter 77: Chapter 77: The Motorcycling Beauty When Charles arrived at the entrance of Red Mansion, he saw a group of students d in Isengard Secondary School uniforms, clustering around a young man like stars around the moon. The boy was strikingly handsome with tanned skin from exposure to the sun, and Charles recognized him immediately as Thomas, who ranked third on the leaderboard. However, Charles had no intention of making his acquaintance; they had had a disagreement over a second-tier beast core in the Ferocious Beast Mountains. Just as he was about to turn away, a charming figure suddenly broke away from the crowd and approached him: "Congrattions, Charles! With your trial points, you should easily get into one of the three major academies in the Imperial Capital at the enrollment ceremony." "Thank you," Charles responded with a slight smile, recognizing Aurora from Squad 7. Following her, several ssmates crowded around him, giving him thumbs up in admiration. "Charles, that punch you threw at Carlos, knocking him downthat was so satisfying! That guy used to bully us around in school, backed by Robert!" "Two months'' time! Advancing a mystical beast to Lv19 and bing a third-level Beast Masteryou''re terrifying, Charles!!!" "With this talent, you''re probably on par with the prodigy Grace. Man, Charles, you really showed those noble students!" "Um Charles, could I perhaps get your contact information" Soon, a crowd gathered, including ssmates who usually had no contact with him, all trying to brown-nose and even a few female students asking for his contact details. Behind the crowd, a group of reporters with cameras rushed over, eager to interview him. Seeing themotion, Charles could only helplessly spread his hands towards Aurora, indicating that now was not the time for a private chat. "Charles, are you free to visit the amusement park tomorrow? I happen to have two tickets," Aurora asked, her cheeks tinting red, a shy look on her face as she held the tickets. Amusement park tickets Was this her way of asking him out? Watching the girl''s cheeks flush with shyness, Charles seemed a bit hesitant. While Charles was hesitating, a motorcycle sped towards him, showing no signs of slowing down, and executed a sleek drift to stop right in front of him. "Wow, that''s a Triumph Bonneville, a high-end bike that costs hundreds of silver coins!" "The rider is a stunning beauty! With that figure, she''s absolutely gorgeous and so coolmust be a motorcycle vlogger from some tform." As the Triumph Bonneville came to a halt, a statuesque beauty, standing 5 feet 8 inches tall with a sexy figure, positioned herself in front of Charles. Dressed in a form-fitting sports outfit and yoga pants, she exuded a sultry and mature aura, starkly different from the youthful female students around. The beauty tapped the back seat of the bike and then gave Aurora a slight smile: "Sorry, but Charles has some things to take care of tonight. If you have any questions about Beast Mastery, perhaps you can ask another day." This remark left Aurora slightly stunned. She considered herself one of the most beautiful in all of Isengard, but now she feltpletely overshadowed by the woman before her, especially by her sexy figure, eliciting a hint of envy. So... does Charles prefer more mature women? The arrival of the motorcycle beauty instantly dimmed the allure of the other girls, many of whom had been about to approach Charles for his contact info, now abandoning the idea. As everyone watched in astonishment, Charles got on the back of the motorcycle, and with the roar of the engine, they sped away. The girls regretted not getting Charles''s contact, and the boys looked on with envy, especially Thomas, who had been the center of attention just moments ago. As the first prodigy of Isengard Secondary, Thomas had long considered Aurora his betrothed, and Charles had once again shamed him in his presence, a direct insult. Watching Charles be so popr, nearly stealing all his limelight, Thomas clenched his teeth in rage. Watching Charles disappear into the distance, Thomas clenched his fists, his eyes flickering with a cold glint: "You little bastard, let''s see how long you can keep this up. I have a thousand ways to erase you from this world!" ... The motorcycle raced along the riverside highway, with Charles''s dark hair fluttering in the wind, caressing his face with a faint scent. Although she wore sunsses and her outfit waspletely different from usual, Charles recognized her instantly. Gently embracing Lily''s soft waist, he shifted his gaze from the city''s neon lights back to the familiar yet unfamiliar face reflected in the rearview mirror. "Who would''ve guessed, you used to be a motorcycle girl, huh?" Charles felt that Lily was there to protect him. Around Red Mansion, Sly''s assassins must have been lying in wait, ready to strike the moment he left. By riding the motorcycle and speeding along the ring highway with him, Lily made sure any assassin would be left far behind. Lily''s disguise was entirely different from her usual appearance, clearly a lot of thought went into his safety. "It''s been years since I''ve ridden one. Ever since bing a lecturer, I rarely ride motorcycles." Stealing a nce at Charles through the rearview mirror, Lily''s face lit up with delight, "I just saw from a report in Lsengard that you''ve be a third-level Beast Master now. That breakthrough speed... it''s just terrifying, isn''t it?" "It''s all thanks to Miss Lily''s great teaching! Otherwise, even ten years wouldn''t have been enough for me to be even a second-level Beast Master." Charles replied lightly, his casual smile eliciting a gentleugh from Lily. His words were light, but his heart was heavy with emotion. Achieving such a breakthrough in just two months had been perilous, and the hardships were known only to him. After demonstrating his prodigious talent as a Beast Master, many factions that wanted to recruit him and ssmates who normally had no contact with him, including some who had previously looked down on him, now crowded around, eager to deepen their connection. He had anticipated the cold indifference of the Beast Mastery world, but the speed at which people changed their faces around him still chilled his heart. However, if there was one thing that hadn''t changed, it probably was Lilythis woman seemed to have had purely physical intentions towards him from the very beginning! The Triumph Bonneville sped through the night, eventually arriving at a luxurious vi by the river. Charles had just returned to his room and hadn''t even had the chance to rest when a knock came from outside his door: "Charles, your sister has prepared mutton soup for you, along with roastedmb kidneys, beef kidneys, and pork kidneys. Come and try them while they''re hot?" Charles was taken aback by the menuthese dishes all sounded like potent tonics, perhaps even aphrodisiacs? Eating this could mean going non-stop for hours! ... Three hourster, amidst almost wail-like moans, Lily passed out. Exhausted, Charles climbed out of bed, covered Lily with a nket, and then made his way to the bathroom. Before closing the door, he nced back at Lily on the bed: "This physique, it''s really too much! Damn it, I should think about moving out. If I stay any longer, this woman might just drain me dry." After filling the bathtub with water, Charles rxed in the cool bath, feeling the heat gradually dissipate from his body. He sighed deeply and his gaze involuntarily drifted to the dark red mark on his left hand. [Remaining Time]: 1 year, 364 days, 11 hours This was a high-stakes gamble. In two years, if he couldn''t defeat Grace, he would lose his free will and be a puppet by her sidean oue he could not ept under any circumstances. The past two months had made one thing increasingly clear to him: in this world, power was everything. Being a Beast Master was a profession that heavily tested one''s talent. Although Charles felt his understanding was above average, he was not among the elite. Even here in Lsengard, Grace was clearly much stronger. In just two months of trials, Grace already had three mystical beasts, one of which seemed to be a familial legacy mystical beast called ''Crystal Spring Sword''. Even Thomas wasn''t far behind him. With so many prodigies just in Lsengard, not to mention the whole of Genosha and beyond in the Abyssal Depths, there were countless talented individuals. To stand at the pinnacle of this world and glimpse its profound truths, Charles could already foresee the multitude of difficulties awaiting him. Charles shook his head, clearing all the distracting thoughts from his mind as he rose from the bathtub. Despite his efforts, the image of Grace''s haughty face and her condescending demeanor involuntarily came to mind. Her disdainful attitude made him feel a fire burning in his chest: "Grace, you look down on themon folk, don''t you? In two years, I''ll make you regret your actions today. Just give me some more time, and I''ll show you if the gentry really do have ''blue blood'' or not!" He clenched his fists tightly as he stood up from the bathtub. For some reason, just thinking about Grace filled him with determination. With 12 days left until the enrollment ceremony, Charles had no intention of sitting idle. Whenever he could, he nned to hunt ferocious beasts outside the city to train, even though low-level ferocious beasts offered little experiencethey still counted for something. Moreover, Charles''s most urgent task was to gather the materials needed for Max''s advancement to the second tier! To avoid exposing Mousie, with only one mystical beast allowed inbat, advancing Max to the second tier would alleviate a lot of pressure at the enrollment ceremony. "First, I''ll check the Beast Master Guild for the right materials. If that fails, I''ll have to look in the ck market." After getting dressed, the sky outside the window was gradually lightening. Charles nced around the bedroom where Lily was still sound asleep. After locking the door, Charles made a slight disguise by putting on a mask and a baseball cap before heading towards the Beast Master Guild... Chapter 78: Chapter 78: The Student Representatives from the Imperial Capital As dawn just began to break, Charles stepped out of Lily''s vi and felt the cool, moist breeze from the river on his face. He nced at the screen for the list of materials needed for Max''s advancement. [Advancement Materials]: Ice attribute beast core [Tier 2] 0/1, Fire attribute beast core [Tier 2] 0/1, Fusion heart 0/1, Regenerating potion [White grade] 1/1. "Now I''m missing two beast cores and a fusion heart. These materials should be avable on the market, but they won''te cheap. I need to figure out a way to make some money first." With that thought, Charles hailed a taxi. His recent venture into the Ferocious Beast Mountains had yielded a considerable amount of ferocious beast materials. While these lower-tier materials weren''t very valuable, Charles had them inrge quantities. Even selling at the market''s lowest price could turn a tidy profit! After purchasing the materials needed for Max''s advancement, he would even have a substantial amount left over. ... Upon reaching amercial street near the Beast Master Guild, Charles asked the driver to stop, then booked a room in a nearby hotel. With so many materials to handle, directly pulling them out of thin air would certainly expose the existence of his system. Thus, he had prearranged to stack today''s goods for sale in the hotel room. Once everything was properly organized, Charles crossed the street to enter the pointed building of the Beast Master Guild. Inside the guild hall, there were already many people, some carrying bags of materials for trade, still stained with blood, which showed the great effort they had put into obtaining these materials. In the heat of summer, Charles'' heavily covered appearance quickly drew the attention of the staff. However, upon seeing his membership badge and the list of materials for sale, their demeanor instantly changed to one of respect: "Sir! Please take a moment to rest, I''ll arrange the fastest selling channel for you right away!" The staff member crossed the street to the hotel, checked the materials without any issues, and then posted sale ads in the hall and on the official website. [Freshly hunted batch of ferocious beast materials, firste first served!] [70 steel-spiked hedgehog fangs, priced at 300 copper coins each!] [50 spectral wolf steel des, priced at 500 copper coins each!] [50 resurrecting serpent skins, priced at 300 copper coins each!] [500 kg of lightning demon ape meat, priced at 10 copper coins per kilogram!] [Gold, Wood, Water, Wind, two Tier 1 beast cores each, priced at 5000 copper coins each!] [...] Seated in thefortable leather chairs of the VIP area, Charles nced at the guild''srge screen, and sure enough, his advertisement was prominently disyed at the top. These materials, while not difficult for seasoned hunters to obtain, were challenging to transport out of the Ferocious Beast Mountains, especially in the heat of summer. The meat of ferocious beasts would spoil within a day, and other materials were also prone to mold. However, time stood still in Charles''s [Storage Space], so these concerns were nonexistent. Even though more than a month had passed, the materials were as fresh as if they had just been hunted. Given that the prices were also quite reasonable, it didn''t take long for the materials to be snapped up by the Beast Masters in the hall! Charles''s phone vibrated repeatedly with notifications of sessful transactions and deposits into his bank ount. [Dear customer, your ount ending in 9527 has received 4500 copper coins. Current bnce: 0 gold coins, 6 silver coins, 200 copper coins.] [Dear customer, your ount ending in 9527 has received 25000 copper coins. Current bnce: 0 gold coins, 31 silver coins, 200 copper coins.] [...] Watching the funds in his bank ount steadily rise, with over 100 silver coins umted in less than two hours, Charles couldn''t help but beam with joy. Given the pace at which he was making money, Charles estimated that he could earn at least several hundred silver coins just today, and potentially much more if he sold all the ferocious beast materials he had collected. Charles figured with that much money, purchasing two second-tier beast cores and a fusion heart should be feasible. Pulling out his phone, he quietly asked, "Where can I buy a fusion heart in Lsengard?" After a brief analysis, the AI assistant set the navigation to a location 10 kilometers away at a shop called [Front Material Trading Center]. Looking at the address, Charles frowned slightly. The Front Material Trading Center was notorious for its exorbitant prices. Although it sold all kinds of rare and unusual materials, they were invariably priced outrageously! Charles suspected that his few hundred silver coins might disappear into the depths of that predatory store without even making a sound. He was pondering his next move when he suddenly remembered that during their time in the Ferocious Beast Mountains, Aurora from Squad 7 had mentioned she had worked a summer job at the Front Material Trading Center and knew some people there. If he needed to buy something, he could contact her for an inside deal. So, he made a call. ... At 10 AM, standing at the bustling main entrance of the Front Building was a graceful young girl. Dressed in a light-colored academy-style skirt and a pair of long, slender legs, she was undoubtedly the center of attention on this warm summer day. Her delicate makeup and sparkling eyes only added to her natural beauty. Many people entered the Front Building, but this young girl turned heads at an astonishing rate of over 90%! Several boys could hardly keep walking after glimpsing her fair, long legs. The girl seemed somewhat anxious, asionally checking her phone, seemingly waiting for someone. Just then. A Lamborghini, a limited edition model worth over 500 silver coins, slowly pulled up in front of the Front Building. "Holy smokes, that limited edition Lamborghini must have cost over 500 silver coins!" "That beautiful girl at the door, she must be waiting for him! I envy him. Those long legs would be incredible in bed!" Amidst the envious stares of the crowd, a young man about six feet tall, with medium-length hair parted in the middle, stepped out of the sports car and walked straight up to the young girl: "Aurora, long time no see! It''s a nice day today. Would you like to join me for a ride along the river?" "No thanks, Benjamin, I have ns today!" Aurora shook her head, her gaze not lingering on the young man for a moment. "ns? Is it with your best friend? That''s perfect then, I''ll treat you guys. We can go anywhere you want to eat, y, or shopI''ve got it covered!" "Today really isn''t a good day!" Aurora''s expression grew increasingly impatient. Back when she started high school, this senior named Benjamin had been as persistent as a fly. Hadn''t he gone off to study at the Imperial Capital? Why had he suddenly returned? Benjamin''s face turned sour. He hadn''t expected that after two years, Aurora would still treat him so coldly. During his senior year at Lsengard Beast Mastery Secondary School, he had fallen for the new freshman girl at first sight and had fervently pursued her. In his mind, as the young master of the Miller family, having be a third-level Beast Master at just 19, along with his handsome looks, he had never failed in pursuing a girl before. He had even bet his friends that he would win over the new school beauty within a week, but almost three yearster, he hadn''t even managed to hold her hand, which infuriated him. Being rejected by a girl in front of so many people, Benjamin''s face showed extreme embarrassment, unsure whether to advance or retreat. At that moment, a taxi pulled up to the Front Building. The driver was extremely cautious, careful not to scrape the luxury car parked at the door. The car door opened, and a young man wearing a mask got out, his eyes and brows revealing a strikingly handsome face. "Aurora, I''m sorry I''mte. It''s my first time here, and I didn''t ount for the time properly, plus there was some traffic on the way," Charles apologized as he approached Aurora. Noticing the unfriendly gaze from the man, Charles looked over and saw several lines of information appear before him. [Name]: Benjamin [Age]: 21 [Height]: 185 cm [Beast Master Level]: Third-level "A 21-year-old third-level Beast Master, this guy''s Beast Mastery talent isn''t too shabby," Charles thought to himself, though it was only a fleeting thought. He was also a third-level Beast Master now, but at just 18 years old, his talent far surpassed that of Benjamin. However, that thought was fleeting, as his mind was entirely focused on gathering the upgrade materials for Max. Two second-tier beast cores and a fusion heartnone of these items came cheap. Charles wondered how much money Aurora''s "inside channel" could save him. Moreover, if he couldn''t find the items in the store, assembling the necessary materials for Max''s upgrade would prove quite difficult. He nced at Aurora and was struck by how meticulously she had dressed today. Her tall figure and delicate features stood out among the other girlsing and going. Perhaps it was having seen Aria''s breathtaking beauty, but now other girls no longer amazed him. "Sorry, Benjamin, I have to go!" Aurora gave a slight smile to the young man with the middle-parted hair. Then, under the stunned gazes of the onlookers, she and Charles entered the Front Building. After the pair disappeared from view, exmations erupted around them. "Holy crap, am I seeing this right? She chose a guy who came in a taxi over one with a Lamborghini!" "Sobbing... Isn''t there a saying about rather crying in a BMW thanughing on a bicycle? I suddenly believe in love again!" "Damn, my ex-girlfriend just scammed me out of over a hundred silver coins. Why can''t I find such pure love?" Hearing the murmurs of the crowd, some teasing, some genuine, Benjamin was furious. He could ept losing to Thomas, who came from a good family and shared a ss with Aurora, giving him many advantagesafter all, proximity often breeds favor. But... losing to a loser, who looked at best like a second-level Beast Masterhow could he stand it? Watching Charles''s retreating back, Benjamin clenched his fists, his nails digging into his flesh: "Damn it, even a loser tries to act like a hero. I''ll make sure you won''t even know how you die!" Benjamin''s eyes were icy as he fiercely punched the Lamborghini, instantly creating arge dent in the luxury car. He was back in Lsengard as a student representative and could stay until the end of the enrollment ceremony. During this time, he figured he''d have plenty of opportunities to deal with that kid! Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Inside Channels Charles entered the Front Building with Aurora, pressing the elevator button for the 7th floor, which housed Lsengard''srgest material trading center. Not only ferocious beast materials but also alchemy ingredients and forging suppliesthis ce had it all, like arge shopping mall for all kinds of oddities. The trading area was bustling, with people crowding around various stalls, picking out their desired materials. It didn''t take long for Charles to find an ice attribute second-tier beast core and a fire attribute second-tier beast core,pleting the list of evolution materials for Max except for one fusion heart. "This is definitely the right ce; I just hope the prices aren''t too outrageous!" he muttered to himself. "Aurora, it seems like your family is quite well-off. Why do you often work here?" While searching for the fusion heart, Charles suddenly became curious about the girl apanying him. Aurora nced around at the surrounding shops, then back at Charles, unsure how to answer him, so she pretended not to hear anything. Her gaze drifted over the colorful essories around, asionally picking one or two, holding them in her hands to admire. This floor not only sold various materials but also some essories, and Aurora used to frequent it for shopping. "Charles, do you think this hairpin looks nice?" Standing in front of a mirror, Aurora examined a light blue hairpin in her bangs, checking if her makeup was still intact. But when she turned around, she was taken aback! Charles had disappeared without her noticing. "What the..." Aurora puffed her cheeks, her fair face filled with exasperation. After receiving Charles''s invitation to go shopping, she had spent a long time choosing from among 30 dresses before leaving home, finally selecting one she was satisfied with, and her makeup had taken nearly an hour. Yet when Charles met her, he hadn''t evenplimented her once, and now, while they were shopping, he had simply vanished. Who shops like that? ... Charles''s gaze swept over the various items around him. Information shed before his eyes like a scanner, assessing the details of the products surrounding him. He could not only identify what each item was called but also clearly see the quality of the materials and the suggested market prices. "Too bad the store hasn''t marked any prices; the haggling skills I honed on shopping apps in my past life can''t be put to use here," Charles sighed with a hint of frustration. The reason why the ''Front Material Trading Center'' was nicknamed a ''rip-off'' was that most of the materials inside had no marked prices. You had to pick what you wanted and then take it to the cashier for a manual appraisal. Knowing you want these items gives them the perfect opportunity to charge exorbitant prices. Yet, many of the rare materials here in Lsengard, and even in the entire Vendantia province, are exclusively sold at Front, and nowhere else. This monopoly allowed them to deliberately overcharge customers. As Charles''s eyes passed over a misceneous stall, several lines of system information shed before him. [Fusion Heart] [Blue Quality]: Harvested from deep within the Alexander Volcano, 3000 kilometers away from Lsengard, contains pure fire attribute energy, ideal for crafting fire attribute equipment, and a necessaryponent for the evolution of some fire attribute mystical beasts. Suggested market price: 50 silver coins. Upon seeing the system''s prompt, Charles''s heart racedthis was precisely thest material he needed for Max''s evolution. However, the thought of the small dark red stone being priced at 50 silver coins made him wince. If it''s worth that much, who knew how ridiculously high the rip-off shop would mark up its price. His ferocious beast materials had been listed at the Beast Master Guild for half a day, and he had only earned 150 silver coins so far, still needing to buy two beast cores. If he didn''t have enough money, and by the time he managed to gather more, the material might have already been sold,plicating Max''s advancement. Securing the fusion heart, Charles was about to head to the cashier when suddenly a big question mark shed before his eyes. In his experience, only certain items that required a verifier''s confirmation or were extremely unique would prompt a "?" indicator. As Charles looked more closely, the item with the "?" appeared right in front of him on his system screen. [Map Fragment] [Unknown]: ??? Seeing this familiar prompt, Charles suddenly remembered that during his time in the Ferocious Beast Mountains, near their of a Resurrecting Serpent and close to the remains of a group of tomb raiders, he had also found a piece referred to as a ''map fragment.'' He wondered if it could be part of the same map. However, this was merely a guess. The world was full of treasure maps; who knew if it could actually be pieced together with another? If the price was right, Charles felt it might be worth taking home to try out. But if the price was exorbitant, he would passafter all, today''s main goal was to gather the materials needed for Max''s advancement, and everything else was secondary. Packing the two second-tier beast cores and the fusion heart together, along with some other less important items, Charles headed straight to the cashier. An elderly appraiser with graying hair near the cashier looked over Charles''s items and slowly held up five fingers. Charles smiled lightly: "50 silver coins?" The appraiser nearly dropped his teacup, his eyes bulging like bells: "Young man, are you joking with me? It''s 5 gold coins, and that''s firm!" "What?" "5 gold coins!" "You must be robbing me!" Hearing the exorbitant price quoted by the appraiser, Charles nearly lost his bnce. He had heard rumors that the [Front Material Trading Center] was a rip-off, but this was his first personal encounter with their outrageous pricing. The mention of ''five gold coins'' made it impossible for him to hold back his shock. He now fully understood why monopolistic industries were so profitable. For something like the fusion heart, if not bought here, one would have to travel personally to a location 3000 kilometers away, and that too into an active volcano, to see if they could find one. The seller was clearly trying to take advantage of him. Seeing Charles hesitate, the shop clerk seemed very distressed: "Young man, those two beast cores are worth at most 100 silver coins, but that treasure map in your hands, that''s a priceless artifact. It could potentially hide untold treasures..." Hearing the clerk''s relentless spiel, Charles''s face twitched involuntarily. Even if he were sold for scrap, he doubted he could muster up the five gold coins. Just as Charles was about to give up, he noticed a young girl standing beside himAurora had quietly returned to his side. Seeing her, Charles grabbed her like a lifeline and pulled her aside. Startled by Charles''s sudden grip, Aurora''s cheeks flushed slightly, but she did not pull away. She nced at Charles, her fair face tinged with pink, and asked, "What''s up?" Charles scratched his head and lowered his voice to nearly a whisper, "They''re trying to sell me this old sheepskin for five gold coins. Isn''t that just highway robbery? Didn''t you say you had an inside channel? Could you please check for me?" Aurora chuckled at his remark, then confidently took the materials from Charles and approached the cashier. With a graceful smile, she said, "I''d like these items, including this piece of sheepskin. How much would that be?" The clerk nced at the young girl, his previously slouched posture straightening instantly, and he dered, "500 silver coins!" Seeing Aurora still seemed unsatisfied and smiling slyly at Charles, he quickly revised his offer, "50 silver coins, everything in your hands, that''s roughly 10 silver coins each, how does that sound?" "Cough... If you''re still short on cash, just make it 10 silver coins!" From five gold coins. To 500 silver coins. To 50 silver coins. And finally, to 10 silver coins. Charles had never seen such an unheard-of method of bargaining before! He wasn''t suspecting that the items were counterfeitthe system had already provided a suggested market price, and just one second-tier beast core was worth 50 silver coins! To get all these treasures for just 50 silver coins was an unbelievable bargain! ... "Aurora, your insider connection is incredibly effective!" Standing at the entrance of the Front Building, Charles''s face was nearly split with joy. He ended up feeling too embarrassed to take advantage of the deal for items worth over 200 silver coins and forcefully paid 50 silver coins instead! He decided from that day on topletely change his view of the ''rip-off shop.'' This ce wasn''t a rip-off at all; it was practically charity! Seeing Charles''s delighted expression, Aurora chuckled lightly, her eyes curving into crescents: "I heard the chairman of the Front Group has no sons, only a daughter. Why don''t you try to get to know her? Marry her one day, and you won''t just save 50 silver coinsyou''ll own the entire Front Building." "You''re joking, right? As if she''d be interested in me!" Charlesughed, then looked at Aurora somewhat apologetically, "I''m really sorry, Aurora. I asked you out to hang out, but I ended up focusing on finding materials and left you on your own." Aurora paused for a moment, then her face brightened with a radiant smile: "It''s okay, Charles. I was just happy that you asked me toe along." The evening breeze tousled Aurora''s long hair, a small blue hairpin nestled in her bangs, and her clear eyes seemed to shimmer with colorful light as she looked at Charles. Charles was momentarily captivated, but his attention soon returned to the materials in his hands. With these materials, Max could advance to the second tier before the enrollment ceremony started, and with the capability to face the onught of two first-tier mystical beasts, even if Mousie didn''t participate, he''d be fully confident! He leisurely strolled with Aurora, shopping until the sun set, and then they had dinner together. Standing at the crossroads, Charles waved to Aurora: "You''ve been such a great help today, I don''t even know how to thank you! If there''s ever anything you need help with, just ask, as long as it''s within my capabilities!" He couldn''t wait to get home and help Max advance, happily sprinting towards his house. Watching the exuberant figure of the young man, Aurora smiled quietly to herself and gently kicked a stone on the ground: "What a blockhead... who needs your thanks." Looking up, a ck stretch Maybach slowly pulled up in front of her. An elderly man in a Front Group official uniform stepped out of the car, bowed slightly to the young girl, and then opened the passenger door... Chapter 80: Chapter 80: The Remnants of the Mythical Beast After saying goodbye to Aurora, Charles found a deserted alley. He activated his skill [darkness cloak]. In the shadows, he returned home at the fastest speed, repeatedly checking to ensure no one was following him before closing the door behind him. Charles extended his right palm, and a white six-pointed star shed. A creature,pletely snow-white with threerge tails, was summoned. Having not seen Charles for several days, Max appeared unusually excited, circling around him and making soft whimpering sounds, constantly licking Charles''s face with its icy tongue. "Alright, alright, Max, stop it!" Ruffling Max''s fluffy head, Charles gently pushed it away and rummaged through his storage space, taking out the materials needed for Max''s advancement. Max stood in front of the table, clearly curious about the dark red stone on it, likely sensing the abundant fire attribute energy within it. A series of system notification sounds rang out, and lines of prompts shed across Charles''s screen. [Ding! Your mystical beast Max has reached level 19. The materials required for advancement are:] [Ice Attribute Beast Core [Second Tier] 1/1, Fire Attribute Beast Core [Second Tier] 1/1, Regenerating Potion [White Quality] 23/1, Fusion Heart 1/1] [Do you want to begin the advancement?] Without the slightest hesitation, Charles chose [Begin Advancement] in the pop-up panel! In an instant, the fire attribute energy in the surroundings began to gather around Max, forming visible strands that intertwined, eventually creating a dark red cocoon thatpletely enveloped Max''s body. When Max had advanced to the first tier of a mystical beast near the Pr Cold Spring, Charles had seen a simr light cocoon. He couldn''t help but feel a surge of anticipationhow powerful would Max be when it broke free from the cocoon? When a mystical beast is advancing, it is often at its most vulnerable. Joshua had sessfully ambushed Charles during the advancement of the Davouring Serpent, so Charles knew he had to stay close to Max during this time. As night fell, the next morning came and went, then evening arrived, and still, the light cocoon showed only some peculiar patterns without any signs of breaking open. Feeling quite bored waiting, Charles took out the piece of parchment he had bought from the ck market, attempting to piece it together with the fragment he had found in the Ferocious Beast Mountains. To his surprise, the two pieces fit together perfectly. Charles examined the two pieces of parchment closely, turning them over several times. They were covered in strange writings he couldn''t understand, and he could faintly make out a map. Feeling puzzled, he muttered to himself, "I wonder what kind of treasure this map is recording?" As he checked the notification on his screen, he suddenly noticed that the update had beenpleted. A series of "???" on the parchment had transformed into words he couldprehend. [Map Fragment](2/3): This is a map that records the location of the fallen ancient gods'' beasts. Due to the absence of the final third, only a rough location can be discerned. [Click to view detailed information] "Ancient gods'' beasts?" Charles''s eyes lit up at the mention of this name. "I can''t help but wonder how powerful these divine beasts are." The term was not unfamiliar to Charles; he had heard about it during theoretical lessons with Lily. In the Beast Mastery World, the mystical beasts varied greatly in potential, and the determining factor for a mystical beast''s ultimate limit was its [quality]. ck Iron, Bronze Division, Silver, Gold, tinum, Emerald, Diamond, Legendary, Mythical. With each increase in quality, a mystical beast''s understanding of their abilities grew stronger, making them more powerful in theter stages. Those mystical beasts ssified as [Mythical] were referred to as ''divine beasts,'' and they were the absolute rulers of the Beast Mastery World. Once, there were eight nations in the Abyssal Depths. The westernmost one, called Yarutania, was wiped out by a single powerful Beast Master who possessed a [divine beast]. After that, only seven nations remained in the Abyssal Depths. Divine beasts also had a remarkable characteristic: their souls existed independently of their physical forms. Even if their bodies were destroyed, their souls would remain in the world, immortal and indestructible. Moreover, if a Beast Master formed a contract with the soul of a divine beast, the divine beast would gain a new body and be reborn... "Could this map indicate the possible location of a divine beast''s lingering soul?" Charles read the notification on his screen carefully, and his heart raced with excitement. Max and Mousie were not weak inbat, and they had the potential to evolve, bing quite formidable in theter stages. However, they still fell significantly shortpared to the upper limits of divine beasts. If he could tame a divine beast as his mystical beast, not only would Genosha be within his reach, but he would likely have no rivals throughout the entire Abyssal Depths! Once he became a powerful Beast Master, wouldn''t he have everything he desired? Since the map fragment was missing one piece, the 2/3 of the map information was iplete, and there were no specific details about the divine beasts. However, one location on the map was circledCelestial City, the Infinity Isles. "It is said that there are only about 50 divine beasts in existence, most of which are aggressive and not easily tamed by ordinary people. This fallen divine beast''s soul might be my chance," Charles thought, swallowing hard as he gazed at the map with anticipation. He had already advanced to a level 3 Beast Master, and he needed to bind his third mystical beast. If he could form a contract with a divine beast, even if Grace had a higher talent than him, he would still be able to outshine her in two years! However, trying to find the lingering soul of a divine beast in the vast swamps of Celestial City, the Infinity Isles, was like trying to find a needle in a haystack, unless he could locate thest missing piece of the map. At this point, it seemed more practical to look for a Gold quality mystical beast egg in the treasure vault of Lisengard. ... After putting the parchment back into his storage space, Charles squinted, ready to take a nap, when suddenly a bright light shed before his eyes. The calm air in the room turned turbulent in an instant. Threads of dark red energy seeped from the atmosphere and began to gather around the cocoon. The cocoon grewrger, and the dark red patterns on its surface became increasingly radiant. Crack! A crisp sound rang out as a crack appeared on the cocoon, and a beam of light shot forth from the fissure. A wave of intense heat washed over him as a snow-white figure stepped out from the red light. When the brightness faded and Max reappeared in front of Charles, he could clearly sense the changes: Max''s once pure white fur now shimmered brilliantly, and two markingsone red and one bluehad appeared on its sides. Its azure eyes were clearer and more radiant than before, and most importantly It had grown tremendously, nearly matching Charles in height, with three long tails that took up nearly half the room. As Charles looked over, Max''s information panel appeared before him. [Nine-Tailed Demon Wolf] [Name]: Max [Attributes]: Ice, Fire [Level]: Lv20 [Quality]: tinum [Skills]: [Ice Pick Throwing], [Bone-Achingly Cold], [Energy Bomb], [Ice and Fire Barrier] [Weaknesses]: Neck, Abdomen / Poison Attribute [Favorite Food]: Honey Soy zed Meat [Emotional State]: Happy [Health]: Good [Loyalty]: 92 [Evolution Paths]: 4 [Description]: Max has advanced once again! It is now excited and eager to share its joy with you. This is a moment worth celebrating, and it would be even better if you could enjoy a hearty meal of honey soy zed meat together! As Charles reviewed Max''s information, a gentle smile spread across his face. Max had sessfully advanced to Lv20, bing a second-tier mystical beast! While there was only a single level difference between 19 and 20, the gap inbat power was like a chasm. Charles had already felt this during his battle with Bradley in the Ferocious Beast Mountains. What excited him even more was that Max seemed to have acquired a new skill upon leveling up. [Ice and Fire Barrier]: The inneryer consists of a shell of ice, while the outeryer forms a barrier of mes, providing protection against rigid and corrosive attacks. Determined to test the new skill, Charles lightly jumped from the window to thewn below. Once Max activated Ice and Fire Barrier, ayer of hard white ice crystals enveloped both him and Max, while an orange me barrier appeared in front of them. "Most of my current skills are attack-rted, so I really need a defensive skill. Ice and Fire Barrier is just what I was looking for!" Charles eximed, feeling the changes in his body. During his training in the Ferocious Beast Mountains, he had often sustained injuries, especially in chaotic battles where Max and Mousie sometimes overlooked enemies getting too close. With this defensive skill, he now had another means of protection inbat. "Mousie, project the Bloodthirsty Rhino and have it attack me," Charlesmanded, summoning Mousie and issuing the battle order through Mind Communication. Now that he was a level 3 Beast Master, even if the barrier couldn''t withstand the attack, his speed would allow him to dodge. Mousie, who was currently munching on a bag of nuts in mid-air, froze upon hearing Charles''s strangemand: "Attack you? Are you sure about this? Just so you know, if you get hurt, don''t me me!" Despite its reluctance, Mousie dared not disobey Charles''s order. It projected the image of the Bloodthirsty Rhino and initiated the skill [Rhino Horn Rips]. The Bloodthirsty Rhino reared up, its horn transforming into a two-meter-long steel de, charging straight toward Charles. Inside the illusion, as the rhino''s horn approached ready to pierce through Charles, Mousie panicked and attempted to brake, but it was clearly toote. The massive body of the Bloodthirsty Rhino had too much inertia to stop in time. Boom! With a crisp sound, Mousie felt a wave of dizziness as if it had crashed into a solid wall. When it regained its senses, Charles was unharmed, while the seemingly indestructible rhino horn hadpletely shattered! Looking up at Charles, Mousie saw him standing perfectly still, without a single scratch on him... Chapter 81: Chapter 81: An Endless Source of Experience? Charles stretched out his hand in surprise, the ice crystals on his body faintly cracked, refracting dazzling colors in the sunlight. "The defensive power of these two barriers is unbelievably strong, isn''t it?" Seeing the bloodthirsty rhino copsed nearby, Charles couldn''t help but marvel. He knew Mousie had been worried about his safety and hadn''t used full power, yet the shadow summoned by Mousie still possessed the strength of a level 19batant. Its attack had only managed to break through his barrier and had caused no physical damage. In this sh of spear against shield, the shield had undoubtedly triumphed! Although the duration of the barrier was brief, it was fortunate that it didn''t consume much energy. Max could activate it whenever needed, unlike the energy bomb, which could leave him weakened after use. Comforting him, Charles gently cradled Mousie in his palm, just as several system notifications flickered before his eyes. [Ding! Your mystical beast Max Lv. 20 has defeated a bloodthirsty rhino Lv. 19, experience gained +10!] [Ding! Your mystical beast Mousie Lv. 19 has grown frombat training, experience gained +10 (total stored 210)!] "This..." "Can experience also be gained this way?" Charles, visibly surprised, watched the fleeting notifications. In his understanding, mystical beasts could only gain experience through defeating ferocious beasts. Could it be that defeating a ferocious beast projected by Mousie also counts? Charles fed Mousie a bottle of regenerating potion and two spirit-replenishing pills. The previously dazed Mousie gradually came to. As it opened its eyes, Charles looked at it with a mischievous grin: "Mousie, can you do that move you attacked me with again?" "Again?" Though stunned, Mousie projected a steel-spiked hedgehog and engaged inbat with Charles and Max. Predictably, the steel-spiked hedgehog was quickly defeated. [Ding! Your mystical beast Max Lv. 20 has defeated a steel-spiked hedgehog Lv. 19, experience gained +8!] [Ding! Your mystical beast Mousie Lv. 19 has grown frombat training, experience gained +8 (total stored 218)!] "Good heavens! It really works!" Charles''s smile was unstoppable, as if he''d discovered an incredible ''bug.'' By defeating ferocious beasts projected by Mousie, Max could gain equal amounts of experience, and Mousie could also improve through this repeated ''death'' training. From now on, Charles could use this training method anytime, anywhere to increase his mystical beasts'' experiencean inexhaustible source of experience! Having tasted sess twice, Charles was now unstoppable, continually having Mousie summon phantoms for Max to battle. Hey back leisurely in a chair nearby, overseeing the ''battle,'' feeding them miracle drugs to recover whenever they got injured or tired. Through repeated defeats and ''deaths,'' Max and Mousie gradually noticed changes in their bodies and began to understand Charles''s intentions. From day to night and back to day again, Charles spent his time in the expansive grounds of Lily''s estate, overseeing the battles between Max and Mousie on a spaciouswn. A week passed this way. The sun seemed less scorching, and the intense heat of midsummer gradually gave way to a hint of coolness. ... On the expansive grass of the estate, two identical silver-white creatures with threerge tails wrestled and bit at each other. Beside them, a young many in a chair, enjoying grilled meat and red wine, asionally shoutingbatmands: "Mousie! Use ice pick attack on Max!" "Max! Use bone-achingly cold to defeat the phantom projected by Mousie!" The two silver-white figures intertwined briefly inbat, after which one of them retreated, transforming into a phantom that vanished. A small, brown creature fell to the ground with a ''plop'' from where the phantom had disappeared. "No, I can''t take it anymore, I''m going to turn into a dried rat at this rate!" Mousie protested from where ity panting heavily at Charles''s feet, decrying what it considered to be almost abusive training: "I''m going to the Beast Master Guild to file aint about you abusing a mystical beast!" Seeing Mousie''s dazed expression, Max sat down gently on the grass, chuckling lightly: "Although it''s indeed tiring, this training method really is effective! Max feels like it''s almost there!" Charles gently rubbed Max''s head, then fed them grilled meat and nuts. Since discovering this extraordinary training method, he had made Max and Mousie fight continuously for a week, not even sparing their sleep time. Despite Mousie''s constantints, Charles did not dare rx his demanding training regimen. Compared to losing their lives in battles with ferocious beasts, what was a little hardship? Having witnessed hundreds of his peers disappear before his eyes in the Ferocious Beast Mountains, Charles understood all too well how crucial strength was in this dog-eat-dog world. While Max and Mousie battled, Charles also kept busy with his own speed and strength training. This nearly brutal training regime yielded significant progress: Max advanced to Lv21, and Mousie had umted over 3000 experience points! A week''s time, from Lv20 to Lv21the rate of leveling up would surely drive the Beast Masters in Isengard mad if they ever heard of it. It''s important to know that from Lv1 to Lv99, the experience required for each level-up of a mystical beast grows exponentially. Initially, a few hundred experience points could advance a level, but after reaching Lv20, Max needed over 5000 experience points per level. This rate of leveling up is truly staggering! ... After eating and drinking their fill, Max and Mousie resumed their battles. Despite his constantints, Mousie was quite satisfied with his rapid progress. Meanwhile, Charles, adeptly setting up his [alchemyb], simultaneously directed the battle between Max and Mousie while concocting miracle drugs. This method of rapid progress was incredibly costly, necessitating a steady intake of miracle drugs to restore energy or heal wounds. Charles nced at the [storage space], noticing his [alchemy ingredients] were almost depleted, and couldn''t help but grimace: "Damn, this training method is fast, but it''s also incredibly expensive!" The money left over from purchasing Max''s advancement materials had almost entirely been turned into miracle drugs, consumed by the two mystical beasts. A sh of white light shone on the alchemyb, and after using thest bit of ingredients, Charles crafted 30 spirit-replenishing pills. Under such intense training, his alchemy skills became ever more proficient. The white pills now showed faint traces of green, a sign that the miracle drugs were nearing green quality. "Phew, all done!" Taking a deep breath, Charles checked the time on his phoneit was 10 AM: "I''ll go to the Beast Master Guildter, sell thest of the ferocious beast materials to buy more ingredients. It''s about time Mousie and Max took a proper rest..." After returning Max and Mousie to the Beast Mastery space, Charles put on a mask and cautiously surveyed his surroundings before leaving Lily''s house. On his way to the Beast Master Guild, Charles could distinctly feel the streets growing more crowded. Most were young students, not yet mature, apanied by their parents. In less than a week, it would be the annual enrollment ceremony of Genosha. As a major city in the southern part of Genosha, Lsengard sees all its high school seniors participate in a ceremony that could determine the course of their lives. Even if they don''t secure admission to a university, being noticed by prestigious families at the ceremony can offer an extraordinary opportunity for social mobility for somemoners. In the heart of Lsengard, near the Beast Master Guild, it''s especially crowded. Some are here to register, while others are looking to select suitable materials. At the martial arts field in front of the Beast Master Guild, the sounds ofbat can be heardapparently, a sparring match is taking ce, with the onlookers asionally apuding and cheering, creating a vibrant scene. However, Charles is here to sell materials today and isn''t particrly interested in the spectacle. After much effort, he finally makes his way through the crowd to the guild''s entrance. At the entrance, a guild attendant in a sash robe is startled upon seeing Charles''s insignia and respectfully bows: "Sir, please follow me!" Several staff members from the Beast Master Guild quickly arrive to lead the way for Charles, taking him to the VIP entrance. This preferential treatment sparks discontent among other Beast Masters waiting in line. ess to the VIP corridor of the Beast Master Guild is granted to Beast Masters of level three and above, although it''s also essible to those who are wealthy enough. However, given Charles''s age, it''s improbable that he''s a level three Beast Master, and his modest attire hardly suggests he is wealthy. "Why the special treatment? Aren''t we all Beast Masters here?" "I''m a level two Beast Master, why can''t I use the VIP entrance? Don''t tell me this kid looking like a student is a level three Beast Master?" "Exactly, we all pay the annual fees, why do we have to wait in such a long line?" ... Ignoring the surrounding dissent, Charles reaches the VIP entrance and unexpectedly bumps into a pretty young girl. It''s Aurora, whom he hasn''t seen in a long time. She''s dressed in a breezy summer outfit, looking somewhat puzzled as she sizes up Charles. Her sparkling eyes curve into beautiful crescents: "Charles, what a coincidence seeing you here at the guild! What''s with your outfit today..." As soon as Aurora speaks, the previously noisy crowd quickly falls silent. "Charles?" "Where''s Charles?" In the span of a week, the name Charles had be a household word in every corner of Lsengard, discussed by young and old alike over tea and meals as the tale of the talented young man spread. Charles was not of noble birth, and this fact inspired many of his peers, making him a role model for the youth in Lsengard. Hearing the name ''Charles'' was like throwing a boulder into a pondthe ripples were immense! Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Not Necessarily the Strongest, but Definitely the Toughest The area around was already chaotic, but upon hearing the name Charles, the entire entrance of the guild became a frenzy. Charles nced around at the crowd with a sense of resignation and sighed internally, "Indeed, the moment I became strong, the whole world changed." A long time ago. When he was cornered and beaten up in the bathroom by Robert, not a single person dared to speak out in his defense. In fact, many joined Robert''s group to bully him, eager to curry favor. Almost overnight, those who had mocked and bullied him fell silent, reced bypliments and praises. The number of ''friends,'' ''old acquaintances,'' and ''fellow countrymen'' around him gradually increased. Ignoring the noise around him, Charles simply nodded gently to Aurora and entered the guild through the VIP corridor. ck! The moment the corridor door shut, the morous noise was finally left outside. Charles checked his bank ount and soon received a text message. [Dear Customer, your bank ount ending in 9527 currently has a bnce of: 0 gold coins, 13 silver coins, and 900 copper coins.] "Just this much money left?" Seeing his dwindling savings, Charles looked pained. He hadn''t anticipated that in just a week, he would nearly go bankrupt. Indeed, being a Beast Master is an expensive profession; just the alchemy for Mousie and Max has cost dozens of silver coins recently. How will I survive once I get to the imperial capital for university? I''ve heard that the cost of living there is outrageously high, with many items starting at one gold coin... After spending nearly half an hour at the guild''s front desk filling out forms, I finally listed almost all the unnecessary ferocious beast materials from my storage space, leaving only some of the beast meat I like to eat. I wasn''t too upset about it; as long as I keep battling ferocious beasts, I''ll continuously obtain more materials. Because the materials were exceptionally fresh due to the time-sealed nature of the [storage space], especially the ferocious beast meat, they were immediately in high demand when I posted them on the guild''s notice board! Sitting in the VIP lounge, my ount kept receiving payments, and my phone was constantly vibrating, bringing a smile to my face. "Now that I have some money, I should buy some alchemy ingredients. It''s going to be a busy night again, prepping for the journey to the imperial capital. I''ll probably need a lot of miracle drugs on the way." After wrapping up, I checked the time; it was already afternoon. By the time I reached the guild''s main entrance, the crowd had thinned out somewhat, most likely drawn to the martial arts field ahead. This martial arts field was muchrger than the one at the celebration dinner, and it was surrounded by energy barriers, presumably to protect the spectators from any stray attacks. In a nation that revered martial prowess, such martial arts fields were abundant in Genosha; Lsengard alone boasted no fewer than tenrge ones, facilitating exchanges among Beast Masters. This particr field was thergest in Lsengard, already crowded with thousands of spectators. From a distance, I could see familiar figures like Daniel and Aurora. With the recruitment ceremony approaching, everyone wanted to gauge each other''s strength. However, I wasn''t too interested; my time was precious, and there would be plenty of opportunities to spar at the recruitment ceremony. "Charles, are you interested in a match with me?" I turned around to see a muscr, dark-skinned young man slowly approaching, who suddenly chuckled, "Oh, never mind. Let''s not spar after all. I heard you cheated, and it wouldn''t be good if something happened to you from one punch, haha!" Thomas didn''t hide the scorn in his eyes. Although Charles had proven his strength at the celebration dinner, some still doubted him. After all, Carlos wasn''t particrly strong, and even Charles''s victory over him hadn''t dispelled some people''s suspicions. Charles''s face showed no change in expression: "I know you''re jealous because I''m handsome, and you always want to fight me to catch the attention of the girls around. But let me tell you something... even if you win, no girl will be interested in you!" Thisment elicitedughter from the other boys around, and Thomas''s face instantly darkened. Hearing that Charles was around, several girls gathered around him, looking infatuated, with a few shyly asking for his contact information. Seeing this scene made Thomas''s expression even more sour. Before Charles arrived, he had been the star of the martial arts field, but now, Charles had stolen all the attention that should have been his! Forcing himself to calm down, Thomas managed a very strained smile: "Didn''t realize you had such a high opinion of me. Why don''t we stop talking and go up on stage to show what we''ve got?" With his back to Thomas, Charles waved his hand dismissively, clearly uninterested, as he was in a hurry to get back to his alchemy. Thomas saw Charles''s attitude as cowardice. He mocked Charles''s retreating figure, and a few others joined in, hurling insults at Charles. Amidst the jeering, a stout figure slowly stepped forward, standing in front of Thomas: "Thomas, I''ll fight you. Do you dare?" Hearing this voice, Charles halted mid-step, turning around. It was Daniel, a young man with golden blonde hair and a slightly plump build, who had now stepped onto the martial arts field with Thomas. During their time in the ferocious beast mountains, he must have also developed a grudge against Thomas, unable to swallow the mockery aimed at Charles. However, Charles was genuinely worried about Daniel''s strength. Daniel had only recently advanced to a level two Beast Master and was considered quite weak among his peers. Thomas, on the other hand, was a top contender among level two Beast Masters! Not just Charles, everyone around thought the same: With such a disparity in strength, Daniel was undoubtedly doomed! But before Charles could dissuade him, Daniel had already entered the martial arts field. After each summoned their mystical beast, the big screen in the arena disyed their basic stats. Daniel - [rock turtle] (Lv.12) vs Thomas - [lightning demon ape] (Lv.17) As the two level two Beast Masters began their match, the already buzzing martial arts field erupted with even more excitement. More spectators flocked to the event, eagerly watching the duel. However, upon seeing the big screen, some expressed disappointment with the anticipated oue of the fight. "No way, Qin Shao is really brave, huh? Taking on a Lv.17 at Lv.12, he probably doesn''t even know how he''s going to get beaten!" "Hey, you don''t understand, they almost came to blows back in the ferocious beast mountains. This has been brewing for a long time; it''s old grudges and new grievances all in one!" "Holy smokes, from what you''re saying, today''s going to be quite the show, but I think Daniel''s going to get thrashed. Revenge is all about strength..." The crowd overwhelmingly supported Thomas, given the clear disparity in their levels; the oue seemed a foregone conclusion. The referee pressed a button, and a 10-minute countdown timer appeared in the center of the arena. Just as the clock hit 9:59, Thomas had already charged towards Daniel. "Boom!" A dull thud resounded as Thomas unleashed his skill [arc swing], his fist crackling with electrical sparks as it heavily struck Daniel''s chest. Therge body arced through the air like a cannonball, then mmed heavily against the energy barrier at the edge of the arena. Just from watching, Charles could feel the pain. Amid the crowd, a wave of jeers broke out, clearly uninterested in such a one-sided fight. "Holy crap, he took Thomas''s full-powered hit and he''s still able to stand up?" someone in the crowd eximed. Then, to everyone''s astonishment, Daniel shakily stood up, his body turning the color of granite. Charles immediately recognized that Daniel had activated his defensive skill [petrified skin]. However, less than a second after he stood up, Thomas''s fist mmed into his face again, the electrical sparks turning his golden blonde hair into a charred ck. Daniel fell down once more. But then He quickly stood up again! "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom! Boom! Boom!" Daniel''s body was being mmed around the arena by Thomas like a basketball. Each time everyone thought he was defeated, he would shakily stand up again. This scene not only stunned the onlookers, but even Charles was astonished! He finally understood why Daniel was the sole survivor of the first squad... 0:09! 0:08! 0:07... The countdown on the big screen relentlessly ticked down, and panic began to show on Thomas''s face! In the final second before the countdown ended, Thomas charged at Daniel again, his fist carrying a whistling sound as it crashed into Daniel''s chest. Daniel staggered and fell to the ground, his chest visibly deformed. Then... under everyone''s gaze, Daniel stood up once more! "Time''s up, it''s a draw!" As Daniel, with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, slowly walked to the edge of the arena, there was a brief moment of silence around, soon followed by deafening cheers! A newly promoted level two Beast Master had just drawn with Thomas, ranked third on the scoreboard? This was truly dramatic! "Lv12 vs Lv17, and it''s a draw! Brother, I didn''t let you down, did I?" Standing in front of Charles, Daniel wiped the blood from his mouth, his face breaking into a goofy smile, then he puffed and copsed in front of Charles. Charles quickly fed Daniel some [Hemostatic powder], ncing at his deformed chest, estimating a few broken ribs. Thomas really didn''t hold back; with a rib broken, just [Hemostatic powder] might not be enough, an ambnce needed to be called to take him to the hospital. At that moment, Thomas walked over, like a victor, burning with jealousy upon seeing Aurora helping Charles. He sneered, "If you ask me, you two brothers are quite the pair, both turtles; one tougher than a turtle shell, and the other a shrinking turtle too scared to fight." Charles ignored Thomas, merely lifting Daniel onto a stretcher and helping him into an ambnce. Injuries during sparring weremon, but Thomas had clearly intended to seriously harm Daniel, necessitating immediate hospital care. Watching the retreating figures, Thomas was seething with rage, grinding his teeth. Having just drawn with Daniel, he was already fuming, but Charles''s disregard felt like punching into cotton, leaving him unable to vent his anger. What he found even more intolerable was Aurora''s closeness with Charles. Watching their departing backs, Thomas''s face turned a shade of purple: "Charles, you''re nothing but a country mutt who lucked out in the tests by using dirty tricks like [strengthening pills]! You better stay away from Aurora, or at the recruitment ceremony, I''ll make sure you meet an ugly end!" Hearing Thomas''s words, Charles didn''t even bother to respond; he found it almost amusing. Facing away, he raised a middle finger, then boarded the ambnce. Aurora turned back, giving Thomas a look of extreme disdain, ring at him as if he were something filthy, then followed Charles into the ambnce. Seeing how close Aurora was with him, Thomas felt a pain as if his heart was being torn apart. With a roar, he punched a nearbymppost. The steel casing of themppost actually bent and snapped, emitting sparks. He looked up towards the direction the ambnce was heading: "Charles! Three days. In three days, I''ll make you join Daniel in that hospital..." Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Strength Training "At the recruitment ceremony, there are no restrictions on the use of any skills, and no responsibility is assumed for any idents that ur during the matches. By then, I will make sure your fate is a thousand times worse than Daniel''s!" A voice echoed faintly from behind the ambnce. Through the rearview mirror, Charles caught a pair of icy eyes staring back at him. With the siren ring, the vehicles on the street made way, allowing the ambnce to speed through, rushing Daniel to thergest hospital in Lsengard. Fortunately, after examination, it turned out he only had broken ribs and a slight dislocation of his internal organs, nothing too severe. Hearing this news, Charles breathed a sigh of relief. Half an hourter, Daniel''s father, David, along with a few others, arrived at the hospital. After Charles exined the cause and sequence of events, he noticed David''s face turn shades of blue and purple. It was understandable; any father would be heartbroken to see their child injured, especially since the Smith family was one of the top three families in Lsengard. Such an act was a tant provocation against the entire Smith family! Sensing the tense atmosphere, Charles politely declined the man''s invitation, took his business card, and quickly left the hospital with Aurora. Afterwards, he spent some time with Aurora browsing a jewelry store and then stopped by a shop to purchase alchemy ingredients. It was getting dark by the time Charles finally returned home. Recalling the scene at the martial arts field, he clenched his fist lightly: "Looks can be deceiving. What was just a minor friction during training turned into deep-seated resentment. Thomas harbored a murderous intent?" Charles didn''t much care for those who still doubted him or even challenged him openly. However, if someone dared to harm his friends, that crossed a line for him. After storing the purchased ingredients in his storage space, Charles took a deep breath to steady his emotions, picked up a booklet from the table, and began preparing for the assessments at the recruitment ceremony three dayster. Although he had ranked first in the ferocious beast mountains training, scoring 100 out of 100 points, the total scoring was out of 200. A poor performance at the recruitment ceremony could still risk his chances of admission into one of the three major academies of the imperial capital. The assessments at the recruitment ceremony consisted of three parts: Mystical beast aptitude, 30 points. Personal assessment, 30 points. Practical sparring, 40 points. With only three days left, Charles could focus on strengthening exercises for the Beast Master individual assessment. Whether it be agility, team enhancement, or even defense, any unique standout performance could earn high marks in the individual assessment. After reading the recruitment ceremony guidelines in the manual, Charles pondered, "My explosive strength is exceptional, otherwise, I wouldn''t have been able to develop the [puncture thorn] technique during battle. Targeted strength training could be a good choice." Thinking this, he summoned Max and Mousie from the storage space, handing Mousie a pair of boxing gloves: "Mousie, project the double sword praying mantis, then put on these gloves and join me for strength training." "Training? What does Mousie need to do?" Mousie rubbed his sleepy eyes. "Attack me, hold nothing back," Charles chuckled. ... In the early morning by the river, enveloped in a thick, cold mist, dull sounds asionally pierced the air. On thewn of a riverside estate, Charles stood in a horse stance, fists clenched, his body drenched in sweat, arms marred with mottled scars. Before him, Mousie, transformed into a bloodthirsty rhino, charged with unstoppable momentum, its massive body kicking up dust and whooshing air. The pain from the collision had be somewhat numbing, but Charles stood his ground, gritting his teeth as he faced the oing attack of the bloodthirsty rhino head-on. Boom! A muffled sound echoed as Charles''s right arm collided with the rhino''s horn, the intense impact stirring up a wave of air. [Ding! You have killed a ferocious beast, bloodthirsty rhino (Lv.19)!] [Your mystical beast Max (Lv.21) gains +5 experience!] [Your mystical beast Mousie (Lv.19) has grown frombat training, gaining +10 experience (total stored 830)!] Watching the massive body of the bloodthirsty rhino vanish into a phantom, Charles exhaled deeply, clenching his fist, his bones cracking softly. Although the experience gained from training was diminishing, Charles''s strength continued to be enhanced through repetitive training sessions. "Again!" Charles issued thebatmand, and Mousie projected the double sword praying mantis. After exchanging blows with Charles and the demise of the praying mantis, Mousie conjured up a lightning demon ape... the projections Mousie transformed into seemed endless! The dull thuds of impacts continuously echoed across the courtyard, from sunrise to sunset, and back to sunrise, until both Charles and Mousie were utterly exhausted. Even consuming regenerating potions couldn''t restore their energy anymore. They finally copsed onto the grass, gasping for breath. "Phew" Taking a deep breath, Charles tossed a pack of nuts to Mousie, then got up and headed to the bathroom for a shower. Passing a mirror, he nced at his physique, a slight smile curving his lips. The intensive training, though grueling, had honed his muscles, particrly the sculpted lines on his arms, which radiated palpable strength just from a nce. Stripping off the remainder of his clothes, Charles plunged into the bath, the cool water enveloping him, sweeping away the umted fatigue from his body. Lying back in the bath, Charles looked up at the starry sky visible through the window. In this ruthless world, only absolute power could provide a sense of security. He used to feel like an ant on the ground, but as his strength grew, he increasingly felt as if he held his fate in his own hands. With his growing power, Charles''s curiosity about the Beast Mastery World deepened. Lsengard, though not small, was just one city on the southern edge of Genosha. He had never been to the imperial capital of Genosha, nor had he ever left the Vendantia Province. And that was just in Genosha. In ces like the Abyssal Depths, there were seven such nations. Gazing at the myriad stars, Charles imagined the world beyond the Ethereal Grove. Yet, as he watched, those stars seemed to form into Grace''s face... Shaking his head to clear the illusion, Charles nced at the fresh red human contract on his left hand. [1 year, 351 days, 2 hours] If Charles didn''t defeat Grace before this countdown ended, he would be her servant, a puppet at her whim, and vice versa. "With less than two years left, Grace, I hope you don''t regret what you said that day." He snorted coldly, his view of this woman having soured to an extreme. Recalling that night, her haughty demeanor, and the insults she hurled at him and his parents, Charles couldn''t help but clench his fists tightly. In two years, he would prove to Grace that neither she nor her so-called noble status held any value in his eyes. "Butit''s indeed daunting. With her Beast Mastery talent, defeating her within two years would require bonding with a mythical beast." Thinking this, Charles''s interest in the imperial capital''s three major academies waned, since there had been no news of mythical beasts throughout all of Genosha. Just a few days ago at the Beast Master Guild, he heard that Grace had been directly admitted to Aredale Academy as the deputy dean''s protege. As someone with connections, Grace would undoubtedly receive the best training resources. If Charles were to merely study at an academy, the gap between them would likely widen further. But... the map he possessed, indicating the location of a mythical beast''s spirit, was iplete. It wasn''t feasible to just go to the Infinity Isles on a whim, was it? "" Charles felt his mind growing increasingly muddled, he sighed lightly: "Well, I''ll worry about itter. There''s an exam to attend tomorrow." Ovee by the fatigue that had built up in his body, a wave of dizziness hit Charles, and his consciousness began to blur. He had fallen asleep lying on the edge of the bathtub. ... A ray of sunlight pierced through the curtain andnded on Charles''s face. He suddenly opened his eyes and nced at the time on his phone. 9:32 AM. "Damn it! How did it get sote?" He cursed, hurriedly got dressed. The recruitment ceremony in Lsengard began at 9 AM, and he was definitelyte now. With no time for breakfast, Charles grabbed a piece of bread in his mouth and rushed to the venuethe Hall of Heroes. From a distance, Charles could see a structure resembling a massive stadium, the venue for this year''s recruitment ceremony. He could faintly hear the voice of Lord Matthew, probably reciting some guidelines for the ceremony. Charles felt a surge of relief; although he had missed the opening ceremony, the assessments had not yet started. Although it was his first time at the Hall of Heroes, andmark in Lsengard, he could imagine the grandeur inside. Judging by the size of the hall, it could amodate tens of thousands of people. In his daze, Charles almost felt like he was on his way to the Olympics. After showing his guild credentials, Charles jogged towards the entrance of the venue: There were two paths; one was crowded with spectators and media journalists. Judging by the congestion, if Charles tried to squeeze through, he would definitely miss the exam. His gaze shifted to the left path, which was almost deserted, appearing to be a shortcut. Following the nearly empty path, he reached its end, and Lord Matthew''s voice grew louder. Charles nced at the time on his phone, then suddenly pushed open one of the doors... ng! In the grand hall''s stands, Lord Matthew was giving the final speech of the recruitment ceremony. However, before he could finish, the door behind him was forcefully openedor more urately, flung open. The interruption left the ceremony''s host somewhat flustered, and when it became clear that Charles was the one who had barged in, he was visibly taken aback. Not just him, but the entire ceremony fell silent, as tens of thousands of eyes simultaneously turned toward the high tform in the great hall, where the young intruder had made his sudden entrance... --- Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Sister, This Is All For You "Damn, I didn''t hold back..." Charles cursed inwardly, looking at the broken door handle in his hand. After several days of intensive training, his strength had significantly increased, and he was still adjusting to the changes in his body. With just a little effort, he hadn''t expected to tear the door off its hinges. Looking up, Charles found himself right in the center of the entire grand hall, surrounded by a fighting tform built of white marble that looked incredibly majestic. In the outer stands, there were tens of thousands of people, including thousands of high school seniors attending the recruitment ceremony. Every significant power within Lsengard''s jurisdiction had sent representatives. The tens of thousands of eyes in the stands all turned toward him. The hall, previously quiet, became somewhat noisy due to this misstep by the young man. "My goodness, isn''t that Charles? To bete to such an important event, and using the lord''s private passage, tootruly, geniuses are a bit crazy!" "I saw recent news that he is now a level three Beast Master at 18. I can hardly believe it!" "Hehe, the professors from these universities aren''t fools. You can''t hide the truth; just wait for the drama to unfold!" "..." Ignoring the dissent around him, Charles apologetically nced at Lord Matthew, then lightly leapt down from the high tform and headed towards the outskirts of the great hall. It must be said, the poprity of this recruitment ceremony had far exceeded Charles''s expectations. Scanning the circr stands around him, he only spotted a few remaining seats in the front row. Just as he was about to sit down, a foot suddenly shot out from the crowd, blocking his path: "Charles, this isn''t where you''re supposed to sit." The voice was familiar. Charles turned his head and saw a dark-skinned man looking at him with ill intentit was Thomas, the one who had injured Daniel! "Sorry, the first three rows are reserved for VIPs, only family members of viscounts and above may sit there." Thomas looked up, a smug expression on his face as he pointed Charles towards the back of the stands: "Back there, that''s where you belong." With Charles having been in the spotlight these past few days, many of the boys were already displeased with him. Seeing Thomas picking on him, they joined in theughter, eager to see how Charles would handle the situation. If Charles chose to submit to Thomas, he would lose face in front of everyone; but if he tried to sit down anyway, he would offend all the nobles around him. Just as everyone was waiting for Charles to embarrass himself, a soft voice came from not too far away: "Charles, why don''t you sit next to me? There''s a spot free." Hearing this voice, those who had been waiting to see Charles''s misfortune were taken aback. Their gazes shifted to Aurora at the front of the stands, her face wearing a gentle breeze-like smile, inviting and charming. Charles paused, then walked over amid the envious and jealous stares of the other boys. He nodded at Aurora and said quietly, "Thank you for getting me out of that spot." "It''s no big deal, we''re friends after all." Aurora smiled lightly, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear where a cute blue hairclip rested. "You must have been really busytely; I sent you quite a few messages, but I guess you haven''t had time to check." "Cough... I''ve been busy preparing for the recruitment ceremony, and I''ve had my phone on airne mode," Charles chuckled awkwardly. "Oh, I see... Well, there''s nothing much, but about that ''shady shop'' you mentionedFront Group, they''ve recently received a new batch of beast cores. If you need any, I could also help you get them through internal channels! If you''re free after the recruitment ceremony, maybe we could go check it out together?" Aurora smiled faintly, her face full of anticipation as she looked at Charles. Seeing their close interaction, many of the boys around them couldn''t hide their envy, their eyes turning red. "Yeah, let''s see after the recruitment ceremony! The imperial capital is miles away from Lsengard, and we''ll definitely need to prepare quite a bit for the journey." Charles responded softly, then shifted his gaze to the very front of the stands. Those seated at the front were the heads of Lsengard''s major powers or representatives of the strongest corporations, like Sly, David, Kevin, and others. In the VIP section, a separate area held about a dozen young men and women, clearly highly valued by the city lord''s office. Their attire, distinctly different from that of Lsengard''s local style, caught Charles''s curiosity. As he scanned them, his screen popped up with their basic information. ncing briefly, Charles was astonishedthey were all top-level experts. Any one of them could defeat everyone in Lsengard. Their badges indicated that they were from the three major academies of the imperial capital. "A level five Beast Master? No wonder the three academies are considered a sacred ce for Beast Masters in Genosha. Any recruitment tutor from there could easily overpower anyone in Lsengard; that''s a bit terrifying." Charles marveled internally. The power of these individuals was even greater than that of Lsengard''s lord. Lord Matthew, a level four Beast Master, was already more than qualified to govern this frontier town. To reach level five in Beast Mastery in all of Aldania was indeed a remarkable feat, no wonder even the lord showed them great respect. Behind these three tutors, sat a dozen young men and women. Charles immediately noticed a tall woman dressed in a silver-white academy uniform. Her impressive physique drew many admiring nces from the males around. As he looked over, several lines of information shed before him: [Name]: Celestine [Age]: 21 [Height]: 171 cm [Measurements]: 93/58/82 [Beast Master Level]: Four "A level four Beast Master at just 21 years old, her talent for Beast Mastery is impressive, though not quite on par with Grace''s, but still remarkable." Observing the information on the screen before him, Charles was inwardly astonished; indeed, those who entered the three major academies of the imperial capital were no ordinary individuals. As if sensing something, the woman suddenly turned around, her eyes meeting Charles''s gaze. Following his line of sight, she nced at her chest and her brow furrowed slightly. She was well aware of her own attractiveness and was ustomed to the leering looks from men, but this was the first time someone had stared so openly. With a slight lift of her pale chin, the woman, showing clear disdain, noticed the girl who seemed very close to him. A flicker of anger crossed her face, and she immediately left her seat and walked towards Charles''s location. Noticing the woman approaching, Charles snapped out of his focus on the system prompts, looking surprised at the woman standing with hands on hips, named Celestine: "I don''t believe we''ve met... or have I somehow offended you?" Although Charles admitted she was attractive, surely a mere look shouldn''t be an issue? Especially since he was merely checking a screen prompt. Ignoring Charles, Celestine grabbed Aurora''s arm, pulling her aside while she wore a baffled expression: "Sister, is this the handsome guy you were telling me about on the phone? I don''t think he looks like much of a good person." "Ah... What are you talking about, sister? Do you know Charles from before?" Aurora was utterly confused, especially since it was supposedly the first time her sister and Charles had met, yet there was such hostility. Watching Aurora''s naive expression, Celestine sighed heavily, "My dear sister, I don''t know what love potion he''s fed you, but... I took a dislike to him the moment I saw him." Knowing her words might seem a bit harsh, Celestine''s tone suddenly softened: "Sister, wait until you get to the imperial capital and you''ll see. There are countless handsome and strong men in this world, why be blinded by a country boy? Just... you''d better stay away from him." "Sister, what are you talking about? Charles and I aren''t even..." Aurora looked nervously towards Charles in the distance, then calmly addressed Celestine, "Charles is my best friend, and I don''t appreciate you speaking about him like that!" Rebuked by Aurora, Celestine felt somewhat annoyed. Indeed, love could cloud judgement, and her sister was still too naive. Since their mother''s death, she had taken on the role of the elder sister, unable to bear seeing her sister hurt. Celestine lectured Aurora further. The usually gentle Aurora suddenly became angry, "Enough, this is my personal matter. If you continue to speak ill of Charles, I will really get angry!" With a sharp tug, Aurora broke free from Celestine''s grasp and ran back to where Charles was. Seeing her younger sister''s disobedient behavior, Celestine stomped her foot in frustration. ... "It''s about time. Thus, the recruitment ceremony assessments officially begin!" As Lord Matthew''s voice echoed from the high tform, the atmosphere in the great hall immediately tensed up, diverting attention away from the minor incident in the stands. Watching the young men and women proceed to the center of the hall, the assessors on the high tform activated their scoring devices, smiling at the students passing before them. They would soon select the top 300 students from these thousands, so they couldn''t afford any distractions. The standards of the three major academies of the imperial capital were even stricter, only the top six overall scorers would qualify for admission. "Theron, you seem less enthusiastic than usual. I''ve heard Lsengard has some remarkable talents this year," a man in a silver cheongsam said with a smile to a woman sitting next to him. "Don''t tease me. Lsengard''s top Beast Master, Grace, has already been directly admitted to your Aredale Academy. You must be quite pleased," Theron huffed, her face showing a hint of resentment. The man chuckled, "Mr. Theron, don''t be upset. I''ve heard about a young man named Charles from Lsengard this year, whose talent in Beast Mastery is said to rival that of Grace. Rest assured, I won''t be poaching this candidate for Nova Academy." Upon hearing the name ''Charles,'' a spark of interest finally appeared in Theron''s eyes. Before leaving Nova Academy, Vice Chancellor Emma had instructed her to keep an eye on someone named Charles. No student had ever been so highly regarded by the vice chancellor, which piqued her curiosity. What kind of abilities did he possess? --- Chapter 85: Chapter 85: A Complete Enigma! Holding his candidate number te, Charles walked through several electronic gates surrounding the great hall, curiously observing these unusual devices. The process seemed incredibly intricate, yet these devices served only one purpose: to ensure that candidates had not taken any performance-enhancing drugs or worn any equipment that could boost theirbat abilities before participating in the recruitment ceremony. "Heh, it feels like being at the Olympics, getting tested for doping," Charles chuckled as he watched the staff diligently verify each piece of data. However, he understood the necessity of these borate procedures. For example, his purple-quality [nineherworld armband] would be overwhelmingly unfair to others if allowed, not to mention the myriad of miracle drugs he had in his storage space, surpassing even sugar pills in quantity. After storing all his equipment back into his storage space, Charles passed through the screening devices without any issues. As he reached the other side, a dark-skinned young man was already waiting for him. Arms crossed over his chest, Thomas smirked at Charles: "No [strengthening pills] to cheat with today, Charles? I''m here to see firsthand how Lsengard''s ''genius'' turns into aughingstock everyone wants to beat up!" Seeing Thomas was like spotting a fly. Charles turned his back to him and flipped him off, then headed to the preparation room. "Charles, why don''t you look nervous at all? I''m so worried something might go wrong..." Aurora''s anxious voice came from behind him in the prep room. Charles wanted to reassure her, but considering he had a rmendation letter from Emma, anyfort seemed somewhat feeble. Fortunately, just then, the name [Charles] appeared on the big screen, sparing him further awkwardness. Seeing that it was Charles''s turn to perform, Aurora pumped her fist in encouragement: "Go for it, Charles! You can definitely get into one of the top three academies!" Nodding slightly to Aurora, Charles gently pushed open the door, this time controlling his strength so it didn''t break. As soon as Charles stepped onto thebat tform, the area erupted with a roar like a tidal wave, and shbulbs flickered non-stop, nearly blinding him. The fervor surrounding him far exceeded his expectations. With tens of thousands of people eagerly focusing on him, it was hard not to feel nervous. From the VIP seats in the front row, he saw many familiar faces looking at him, such as Lord Matthew, Brown from the Misubi Auction House, David from one of Lsengard''s top three families... Of course, he also saw Sly from the Taylor family, Kevin the chairman of the Draven family group, and Benjamin, Celestine... But surely, they were here to see him fail? After verifying Charles''s identity, the examiner nodded at him: "Charles, get ready to start the first assessment, the mystical beast aptitude evaluation." ... As the examiner''s words fell, Charles extended his right palm, summoning from a magic array a snow-white nine-tailed demon wolf with red and blue stripes along its sides. Dozens of students were participating in the mystical beast aptitude evaluation, but the audience in the stands unanimously turned their attention to the white demon wolf with three tails. This year''s recruitment ceremony had attracted so many powerful attendees because it was rumored that Lsengard had produced a second Beast Mastery talentparable to Grace. Everyone wanted to witness the emergence of this second prodigy, or perhaps... debunk this improbable myth. "A naturally born mystical beast with both ice and fire attributes! This little guy is indeed extraordinary." Theron, seated among the assessors, couldn''t help but sigh softly. The moment the tri-tailed demon wolf appeared, she sensed something unique about it. "A mystical beast with innate dual attributes... How is that possible? Surely it can''t survive the chaos of conflicting elemental energies!" an instructor from Aredale Academy eximed in surprise, staring at the center of the hall. He could feel two distinctly different types of energies emanating from the demon wolf, his eyes widening in amazement. "Not necessarily. If the soul force is strong enough, it might control and prevent the chaos of these energies," Theron stated confidently. One of Nova Academy''s core theories posits that different elemental energies can coexist. She began to understand why Vice Chancellor Emma had instructed her to recruit Charles to Nova Academy at all costs. With such a powerful soul force, there were probably no more than ten individuals like this across all of Genosha! Hearing the discussion among the instructors in front, Benjamin''s face on the VIP seats turned exceedingly grim: "Such pretentious antics. I can''t believe he managed two breakthroughs in just two months!" As a distinguished representative of Aredale Academy, Benjamin had once shone brightly at Lsengard''s recruitment ceremony. However, his pride was shattered right at the entrance of Front Building by Charles. In terms of family background, talent, social status, and even looks, he always considered himself superior to Charles. He simply couldn''t fathom why Aurora would be interested in Charles. "Just wait for the test results toe out and show that you cheatedst time, then we''ll see if you can still pretend..." Benjamin scoffed, but before he could finish his sentence, he was abruptly silenced. After more than a dozen scans, the results of Charles''s mystical beast evaluation were finally disyed on therge screen in the hall, showing several lines of bold text: [Assessment 1: Mystical Beast Evaluation] [Name: Charles] [Species: Nine-tailed Demon Wolf] [Level: Lv21] [Quality: tinum] [Evolution: 1 Evolution Completed] The moment the results appeared, the previously noisy hall seemed to freeze in time. At that moment, everyone quietly stared at the lines of text on the screen. "This... tinum quality! Level 21?" Someone in the VIP seats couldn''t help but exim in shock. Sly''s eyes widened as he stared straight at the big screen! There were rumors that his son Robert had been killed by Charles, and his hatred for Charles ran deep. He came here hoping to catch Charles in a scandal, confirming him as a murderer among his peers. But instead, Charles had squarely pped him in the face. The demon wolf had initially been captured by hunters from his own Taylor family, back then merely a level 5 frost wolf. How did it evolve into a nine-tailed demon wolf and climb to level 21 in just two months under Charles''s care, and to top it off, achieve tinum quality? What was going on? After a brief silence, the entire hall erupted. "Let''s see who dares to use Charles of cheating in the trials now, with this level of strength, even the low-level mystical beasts of the ferocious beast mountains aren''t enough for him to kill!" "This guy is exceptionally talented, truly fortunate! With such a treasure, his parents must be waking up smiling in their dreams!" "With this level of Beast Mastery talent, I dare say that in a few decades, Lsengard will produce a level six Beast Master... no, a level seven Beast Master!" In the profession of Beast Mastery, talent, effort, and resources are indispensable. Those who stand at the pinnacle of power in Genosha today all showed extraordinary Beast Mastery talent early on. With such strength, Charles''s entry into the imperial capital''s three major academies is almost a certainty, and with the vast resources of these academies, his future achievements are bound to be limitless! At this moment, in the front row of the VIP area. Matthew''s eyes widened as he stared at the information about the nine-tailed demon wolf on the screen, his heart almost bleeding. Charles was from Lsengard, and as the lord of Lsengard, he could have tried to enlist Charles to bolster the Garcia family''s influence in the Vendantia Province. However, his headstrong daughter Grace had managed to offend him. And it wasn''t just any offense; Charles possessed a monstrously high level of Beast Mastery talent, potentially surpassing even his daughter Grace in the future! "I should never have let my daughter act so capriciously, forming a human contract with Charles. How are we supposed to resolve this now?" As a lord, he had seen many grand scenes, but he was somewhat taken aback when Charles''s evaluation results were revealed. With the talent Charles had shown, his future achievements were unlimited, and he was someone they absolutely could not afford to offend. He was already thinking about when to persuade his daughter to properly apologize to Charles. ... "30 points!" "30 points!" "30 points!" After the results of Charles''s mystical beast evaluation were revealed, all the recruitment instructors present awarded him the full score of 30 points! Seeing this result, Thomas, who was undergoing the second strength test, twitched uncontrobly, clenching his fists in frustration: "Damn it, it''s only been a few days, and his mystical beast has leveled up again, and even advanced to a second tier? That''s absurd!" Thomas couldn''t ept this reality. Initially, with his level 18 silver-quality mystical beast, he was definitely the most dazzling among the students at this year''s ceremony, except for Grace. But then Charles came out of nowhere, stealing all the limelight. Now, seeing the adoring looks directed at Charles around him, a fire of anger burned in his heart. What was supposed to be his moment had beenpletely taken over by Charles. "Hmph, you''re just relying on that high-quality mystical beast you lucked into. For the second event, I''ll make sure you''re beaten ck and blue." Rising to head towards the strength testing arena, Thomas clenched his fists tightly. In his eyes, the testing arena transformed into Charles''s face, and he aimed a fierce punch at that infuriating visage! The numbers on the testing screen soared, finally stopping at 4200 kg. This strength was nearly five times the maximum impact force a normal person could produce with a punch! [Assessment 2: Beast Master Combat Power] [Name: Thomas] [Event: Strength Test] [Result: 4200 kg] Seeing this number on the testing equipment, Thomas appeared extremely pleased with himself. He had chosen ''strength'', his strongest suit, for the personal assessment. This score wasn''t just outstanding among level two Beast Masters, but would pose a challenge for most level three Beast Masters. He couldn''t believe Charles could surpass this! --- Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Impossible! Absolutely Impossible! The result of 4200 kg in the strength test caused quite a stir in the great hall, with many young spectators casting envious nces at Thomas. "Tsk tsk, 4200 kgthat could probably smash arge rock. That''s terrifying..." "No wonder he''s considered the top talent of Lsengard Secondary. It probably won''t be long before he breaks through to level three Beast Master." Amidst the admiring murmurs from the crowd, the recruitment instructors scored Thomas''s personal test, awarding him a high score of 29 points. Seeing his score, Thomas''s expression was smug as he scanned the crowd, his gaze eventuallynding on Aurora. However, he noticed that Aurora was intently watching Charles on the other side of the arena, not having nced his way even once, which fueled his irritation. "Charles! That bastard!" "Damn it!" The pain of being ignored by Aurora overshadowed the joy of his high score. Grinding his teeth, Thomas watched Charles slowly approach the testing area. "A punch of 4200 kg, just average..." Charles remarked nonchntly after seeing Thomas''s score on the big screen. While others might find the number impressive, it didn''t seem like much to him. After receiving [a drop of dew] under the statue of Ares, he had felt a significant increase in his strength, which wouldn''t just make tossing a supreme spear a unique skill. After his recent intensive training, Charles''s muscr strength had improved yet again, and he was curious to see how powerful a punch he could deliver without any external aid. Under the watchful eyes of tens of thousands at the recruitment ceremony, Charles slowly approached the testing arena. Clenching his fist, his muscles and bones cracked audibly as the ambient elemental energies converged around his fist. He had trained tirelessly, day and night, for this very moment! Charles''s right arm coiled like a tight spring, then suddenly released, delivering a thunderous punch so fast it created an afterimage! Boom!!! A dull thud echoed, and a number appeared on the disy above the testing arena [4000kg!] Seeing this number, Thomas finally allowed a satisfied smile to spread across his face. Though he felt inferior to Charles in many ways, at least he had outdone him in this aspect. However, his smile froze the next second, as Charles''s punch was so fast it had caused a dy in the testing arena''s measurement. [5000kg!] [6000kg!] [7000kg!] In the stands, David had just taken a sip of water and sprayed it out in disbelief, rubbing his eyes as if they deceived him. As a level four Beast Master who had climbed the ranks step by step, he knew what strength a newly minted level three Beast Master should have. However, Charles''s punchpletely shattered his understanding! He had already been shocked by Charles''s level 21 mystical beast, but now, he felt a twinge of fearwhere did this freake from? Yet, the numbers on the testing arena kept climbing! [8000kg!!] [9000kg!!] [9999kg!!!] The testing arena began to emit ck smoke, then buzzed distressingly before it fizzled out in a shower of sparks. Perhaps even the designers of the testing equipment had never anticipated that a high school student''s punch could exceed the machine''s limits. The disy on therge screen halted at 9999, not because that was Charles''s real score, but because his punch had literally smashed the testing equipment... The hall fell deathly silent. Then, some people in the back of the stands stood up, peering through the rising smoke to see exactly what had happened. And many, especially those in the front who had witnessed Charles''s punch firsthand, were utterly stunned, a single word echoing in everyone''s minds Monster! An absolute monster! Among ordinary humans, the strongest punch is famously attributed to the boxer Mike Tyson, who at his peak could deliver a punch with a force of about 800 kg. In stark contrast, Charles''s punch just clocked in at over 9999 kg, conservatively estimated to be more than 12 times stronger than Tyson''s! At the Beast Master Guild, Charles''s former team leader and the vice president, Fletcher, couldn''t help but stand up, his eyes bulging in astonishment. He was even more shocked than others. With a single punch from Charles, it seemed probable that some low-level, first-tier mystical beasts could be instantly killed. Back when he led Charles into the ferocious beast mountains for training, he had sensed that this young man was extraordinarily talented. But more astonishing than the exaggerated figure on the testing equipment was the speed of Charles''s growth! In just two months, Charles had advanced from level 5 to level 21, and now a punch breaking 9999 kg+ had shattered the testing arena. Even novels wouldn''t dare to write it like this! For anyone else, not just two months, but 20 years might not suffice to achieve such progress! Not far from Fletcher, Kevin, the director of the Draven family corporation, looked visibly upset. He had been secretly pleased when his son Thomas had hit 4200 kg, hoping it would shine a light on his son''s talents in front of the representatives from the imperial capital''s three major academies. However, within less than a minute, Charles had stolen the spotlight! Kevin''s face twitched uncontrobly, unable to believe the result, and he said to someone from the Beast Master Guild nearby, "Impossible, absolutely impossible! How can an 18-year-old high school senior have such muscr strength? The equipment must be faulty!" It was a joke to him; as a level four Beast Master, his maximum punch only barely generated a 9000 kg shockwave. Could he really be inferior to that kid? It seemed utterly imusible! As soon as Kevin voiced his skepticism, many others at the scene quickly echoed his sentiments. Many attendees of the recruitment ceremony were Beast Masters themselves and understood that the increase in strength should be a gradual process. Charles''s punch seemed too good to be true. At the front row scoring table, many recruitment instructors questioned the validity of Charles''s score. Aside from instructors from the imperial capital''s three major academies who insisted on giving him a perfect score of 30 points, most others awarded zero. Seeing the situation bing chaotic, Lord Matthew quickly stood up: "Since everyone thinks there might be an issue with the testing arena, let''s have the Beast Master Guilde and check it." Following the mayor''s suggestion, several staff members arrived at the testing tform to inspect the testing arena that Charles had just used. --- In the grand hall, Charles, now at the center of attention, appeared calm andposed on the surface, but internally he was equally thrilled. Although he had anticipated significant strength gains under the influence of [a drop of dew], the fact that he actually blew up the testing equipment was somewhat beyond his expectations. Unsurprised by the surrounding voices of skepticism, he felt no need to exin himself. He would wait for the results from the Beast Master Guild''s inspection. Shortly, the staff from the Beast Master Guild concluded: Charles had not cheated; the testing arena was functioning normally, but it had simply been overwhelmed by the power of his punch. The result was valid! [Assessment 2: Beast Master Combat Power] [Name: Charles] [Event: Strength Test] [Result: >9999kg!] When this figure appeared on therge screen, Charles effortlessly scored 30 points in the second assessment event, bringing his total to 160 points and cing him first overall! With the endorsement from the Beast Master Guild, no one doubted Charles''s scores any longer. Only then did many truly believe in the extraordinary nature of Charles''s talents. Inside the grand hall, those who had once dismissed him now looked at Charles withplex expressions, mixing envy with a fair amount of fear. Everyone understood that the Charles of today was no longer the boy who could be bullied in high school by someone like Robert. At this moment, many recalled the scene from the celebration banquet where the once isted young man had boldly entered into a human contract with the duke''s daughter, proiming, "Do those gentry have blue blood certainly?" "Charles, I challenge you!" In the quiet hall, a voice suddenly broke the silence. A dark-skinned young man slowly approached Charles, instantly drawing the attention of everyone in the hall. Seeing Thomas challenge Charles, Kevin almost fell off his chair. As a level four Beast Master, he could recognize the true extent of Charles''s abilities, and he knew Thomas was not in the same league. "Dammit! You could easily make it into the imperial capital''s three academies, why would you choose to challenge Charles?" Kevin cursed under his breath, his anger uncontainable. However, the rules of the recruitment ceremony stipted that only students participating in the ceremony could enter the arena. Having an idea of what the oue of the fight would be, Kevin couldn''t help but worry for his son. In the central dueling tform of the grand hall, as Thomas approached, Charles''s expression gradually turned icy. Time and again, Thomas had caused trouble for him, and he had even sent his friend Daniel to the hospital. Charles was ready to teach him a lesson. Oblivious to the shift in Charles''s demeanor, Thomas looked up, his eyes bloodshot, and stared at Charles: "Charles! The third practical assessmentis a real fight. Do you dare to face me?" In just two months, such progress seemed impossible to Thomas. Since the Beast Master Guild couldn''t find anything wrong with Charles, he decided it was time to beat him in realbat. If Charles lost to him, all the lies would copse, and he could regain Aurora''s admiration. Before entering the ferocious beast mountains, Charles might not have been a match for Thomas, but now... With a cold smile, Charles slowly approached Thomas: "Alright, I ept your challenge." After signaling to the examiners, the two moved to an adjacent circr tform. As they entered, transparent protective barriers rose around the edges. After Grace had been fast-tracked to Aredale Academy and left for the imperial capital, Charles and Thomas had be the two strongest contenders among Lsengard''s new students. The tension between the two on the tform instantly captured the attention of everyone at the recruitment ceremony. Even many students who were sparring stopped to watch as all eyes turned to the showdown on the tform... Chapter 87: Chapter 87: The Arena Shakes Standing on one side of thebat tform, Thomas stretched out his right hand, summoning two silver hexagram arrays in front of him. From these, he called forth his mystical beast, the Lightning Demon Ape, along with the Dual-Headed Electric Eel. As Charles looked on, a screen before him shed with several lines of information. [Lightning Demon Ape] [Element]: Lightning [Level]: 18 [Quality]: Silver [Abilities]: Arc Swing, Ball Lightning [Weakness]: Wind Element ... [Dual-Headed Electric Eel] [Element]: Lightning [Level]: 17 [Quality]: Silver [Abilities]: Lightning Strike, Death Coil [Weakness]: Wind Element/Lower Abdomen ... Having read the details about Thomas''s mystical beasts, Charles, unruffled, raised his right arm. A single white hexagram array appeared before him, summoning his own mystical beast, the Nine-Tailed Demon Wolf. With his current strength, facing Thomas, merely using Max was already sufficient. Around them were senior Beast Masters from the three major academies of the imperial capital, each possessing powerful scouting abilities. In the brief test moment earlier, Charles had already sensed several subtle energy probing waves. Summoning Mousie at this time would surely reveal its true form, which could not be hidden from their keen eyes. The dark attribute, in Genosha and even throughout the Abyssal Depths, was absolutely forbidden! If his dark attribute energy were exposed, there would be no need for Sly to act; the members of the Beast Master Guild would not let him off. To the audience in the great hall, Charles''s actions appeared to be a provocation towards Thomas. In the VIP seats, Lily looked on at Charles with some concern. Although Charles''s performance at today''s enrollment ceremony had been full of surprises, was using just one mystical beast to challenge Thomas, a pinnacle second-level Beast Master, too reckless? From the recent scans, Charles''s Nine-Tailed Demon Wolf was at Level 21, indicating that Charles had not been a third-level Beast Master for long. This situation did not give him an overwhelming advantage over Thomas. "Do you think Charles or Thomas will win this battle?" asked a tutor from Nova Academy, smiling at Theron who was seated next to him. Theron pondered for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the two youngpetitors on the tform: "I believe Charles will win." "Oh, you have that much confidence in him?" The man was somewhat surprised by Theron''s assured tone. "With only one mystical beast summoned, hisbat strength can barely reach 60%. Facing a pinnacle second-level Beast Master, he''s at a significant disadvantage. Although his power is formidable, realbat isn''t just about brute strength." He quickly analyzed the situation unfolding on the tform. Theron''s long eyshes fluttered as her gaze settled on the resolute-faced young man, sensing a calmness about him that seemed far beyond his peers. "Your analysis makes sense, but I don''t think Charles is the type to act rashly. Moreover, I trust the vice-chancellor''s judgment in people," Theron responded with a serene smile, looking forward to what kind of spectacr match Charles would bring. ... In the center of the grand hall, on thebat tform, the tension between the two young men was palpable. Thomas''s eyes swept over Charles and his mystical beast, his face reddening with anger. Not summoning an equal number of mystical beasts was the greatest mockery to a Beast Master. Thomas was immediately enraged and issued abatmand to his beasts: "Show no mercy, kill him!" From the outset, Thomas had not nned to let Charles off, intending to eliminate him as quickly as possible. As for the consequences, given the Draven family''s influence in Lsengard, he reckoned it would be swiftly dealt with. Receiving thebat order, the already impatient Lightning Demon Ape and Dual-Headed Electric Eelunched their most powerful abilities. The Lightning Demon Ape, thundering toward Charles, swung its colossal arms, crackling with electricity. Behind it, an electric arc formed between the two heads of the Dual-Headed Electric Eel, its body''s voltage surging... "Roar!!!" With an angry roar, the Lightning Demon Ape''s tree-like thick arms swung at Charles, and at the same time, the Electric Eel initiated its long-range ability [Lightning Strike], beginning to charge up its attack. Watching Thomas''s attack with an unruffled expression, as they came within three meters of him, a barrier appeared around Charles. "Ice and Fire Barrier!" Boom! The attack from the Lightning Demon Ape hit Charles''s barrier, dissipating like a fist into cotton, its force instantly neutralized; meanwhile, the Dual-Headed Electric Eel hadn''t evenunched its attack before being impaled by an ice spear descending from the sky! Pale mes burned across the ground, devouring everything in their path. Atop the high tform, Kevin looked on in surprise at the scene unfolding on thebat tform, his grip on the armrest so tight it cracked. He had thought Charles was merely a brute, but he hadn''t expected hisbat skills to be so formidable! Seeing Charles dodge Thomas''s attack and begin to counterattack, Kevin abruptly stood up from his seat: "Oh no! This kid''s going for the kill!" "He couldn''t even break his defense..." Watching as a man and a beast continued to advance toward him, Thomas''s heart raced uncontrobly. He never imagined that his strongest attack would be so effortlessly neutralized by Charles! Whizz, whizz, whizz! With a crisp sound, Thomas couldn''t even see what happened before his two mystical beasts were riddled with ice spears, their bodies full of gaping wounds, with blood spurting continuously. "Charles, you bastard!" Thomas bellowed, clenching his fist andunching his ability [Arc Swing]. A vicious punch aimed directly at Charles''s face smashed forward... This punch, with a force of 4200 kg, would explode Charles''s head like a watermelon if it connected! Feeling the wind-breaking force from Thomas approaching, Charles''s expression remained utterly calm, his heart not even skipping a beat. To him, this speed was no faster than a turtle''s crawl; he easily dodged Thomas''s punch. Before Thomas could even react, Charles had already closed the distance. High in the air, after dodging another of Thomas''s attacks, Charles''s palm forcefully pressed down on Thomas''s head, and the two plummeted to the ground like a meteor... Boom! With a dull thud, Thomas''s head was smashed directly into the ground!!! On the marble floor, cracks spread like a spider web, and within those cracks, blood began to seep through... Looking down at Thomas, whoy twitching slightly on the ground, Charles scoffed coldly: "I didn''t want to strike so hard, but you should never have harbored a killing intent during a spar!" ... 50 seconds! Someone nced at the big screen. In less than a minute, Thomas had been defeated by Charles! Seeing the time on the big screen, all the students in the great hall stared at Charles, cold sweat beading on their foreheads. Thomas, as a powerhouse from Lsengard''s second highest-ranking high school, was well known among his peers for his strength. Now that even Thomas couldn''tst a minute against Charles, it was clear they wouldn''t stand a chance against even a single move from Charles! The resolute and ruthless aura Charles disyed had genuinely chilled everyone to the core, immediately dissuading any thoughts of challenging him. Up in the stands, Celestine, who had been quietly watching everything, suddenly widened her eyes in disbelief. Could Charles, who just defeated Thomas in a single strike, really be just a recently advanced third-level Beast Master? "Hard to tell, this young man''s strength ismendable, easily the strongest graduate this year from Lsengard," Celestine''s heart raced as she watched the handsome young man walk down from the tform, though her face still bore a trace of disdain: "But... he''s still a bit behind the real monsters at the academy." ... "It seems, Charles''s strength isn''t just on paper, his practicalbat ability is equally formidable!" David, sitting in the VIP section, appeared calm, but inside he was overjoyed seeing Thomas''s disgraceful defeat on the ground. He had no love for the Draven family; Thomas had broken his son Daniel''s ribs during a sparring session three days ago, and Daniel was still in the hospital. Seeing Thomas suffer a simr fate was immensely satisfying! If it weren''t for the sake of family dignity, he would have loved to rub it in Kevin''s face. Beside him, Brown, the chief appraiser from Misubi, looked at the young man on thebat tform and couldn''t help but marvel: "Last time I saw young Charles, he had just be a Beast Master, his mystical beast at only Level 5!" "Just two monthster, to see such astonishing progress is truly astounding." Charles''s impressive performance hadpletely won over the admissions tutors in the judges'' seats, with everyone awarding him a perfect score of 40 points! [Assessment Three: Practical Combat] [Name: Charles] [Score: 40!] [Total: 200!] [Rank: First ce!] Lines of text scrolled across the screen in the grand hall, causing another wave of excitement! Charles had scored an impressive 200 points, undeniably marking him as this year''s rookie king among Lsengard''s graduates! As the crowd buzzed about which academy in the imperial capital such a talented young man would choose, a sudden shout erupted through the great hall: "A youngster so ruthless in his attacks, if we don''t deal with you today, who knows what you''ll be!" "An uncouth brat, let me teach you the lessons your parents failed to give you!" Before Charles could even react, a middle-aged man had already shed in front of himit was Kevin from the audience?! The terrifying oppression from a fourth-level Beast Master almost suffocated Charles. In his bloodshot eyes, Charles saw a clear intent to kill... Noticing the chaos on stage, the crowd realized that Kevin, who should have been in the stands, had somehow made his way to thebat tform. "Kevin, how can you raise your hand against a junior? Where is your honor?" Matthew, the lord of Lsengard, bellowed, simultaneously summoning his four mystical beasts. If Lsengard''s most talented youth were to be killed, he as the lord would undoubtedly be held ountable! Meanwhile, Theron on the judges'' panel had already drawn her sword and leaped toward the center of the hall. Beforeing to Lsengard, Vice-Chancellor Emma of Nova Academy had entrusted her with Charles''s safety, instructing her to bring him back to Nova Academy. How would she face the vice-chancellor if something happened to Charles under her watch? "Boy, your life is mine!" In the great hall, Kevin charged at Charles with lightning speed, and being at the peak of fourth-level Beast Masters, killing Charles was as easy as squashing an ant. Thomasy in a pool of blood, his fate unknown, and hatred had driven Kevin beyond reason. This strike was merciless; he intended to kill Charles! --- Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Is This All a Fourth-Level Beast Master Can Do? The shouts from the crowd did nothing to stop Kevin; he summoned his mystical beast, the Lightning Demon Ape, and both charged at Charles, roaring: "Hypergravity Field!" As Kevin''smand echoed, Charles, who had been in mid-air, crashed down like he was burdened with a massive boulder, smashing the solid marble floor into a web of cracks. The intense pressure made it difficult for Charles to breathe, and the rapidly increasing gravitational field around him made it nearly impossible to straighten his back. In the blink of an eye, Kevin was less than 5 meters away from him, leaving Charles with no escape. A newly promoted third-level Beast Master facing off against a peak fourth-level Beast Master was a battle with nearly two whole ranks of difference, and it seemed there was no suspense to the oue. Everyone in the audience held their breath for Charles... "Boy, you''re dead!" Seeing that Charles waspletely subdued, Kevin''s bloodshot eyes gleamed with murderous intent, his hatred rendering him irrational: "Lightning Demon Ape, tear him to shreds!" "Roar! Roar! Roar!!" With a ferocious roar, the Lightning Demon Ape raised its robust arms, its fist whistling through the air towards Charles. Anticipating the gruesome scene of Charles''s flesh being pulverized, several girls like Aurora in the audience already covered their eyes. "Boom!!!" Just as the Lightning Demon Ape''s fist was about to crush Charles, he extended his right arm to block in front of him. In the instant his arm met the fist, his [Nine Netherworld Armband] sprouted fine golden scales. He faced the strike head-on, and a deafening collision echoed through the hall. "ck!!!" The five-meter-tall Lightning Demon Ape''s arm broke offpletely, blood spurting from the break, as it fell to the ground wailing in pain. As the audience''s gaze turned back to the young man in the center of thebat tform, they saw him casually leap out of the crater in the ground, evidently unharmed by the recent strike. "Ah, this..." Witnessing this scene, everyone in the great hall fell silent, even Kevin in front of Charles was momentarily dazed, staring at him in disbelief. "How is this possible! I am a fourth-level Beast Master, why does that kid lookpletely unscathed?" He had held nothing back. The Lightning Demon Ape had even unleashed its most powerful ability, [Arc Swing]. Given the gap in their strengths, that move should have been lethal, but not only was Charles unharmed, his mystical beast''s arm had been shattered instead? Failing to exact revenge and instead injuring his mystical beast only fueled Kevin''s fury. "Stop!" Just as Kevin was about tounch another attack, a woman dressed in a white cheongsam stepped in front of him: "Since Kevin likes to spar with those far weaker, perhaps he would like to try a match with me, how about that?" Sensing the dangerous aura emanating from the woman, Kevin''s fury abruptly deted like air being let out of a balloon. The woman was a recruitment tutor from Nova Academy, a minimum of a fifth-level Beast Master; he was no match for her! Seeing that Kevin had abandoned the idea of attacking again, the woman then stood up and approached Charles, helping him up from the ground: "Are you alright?" Charles retracted his [Nine Netherworld Armband] into his storage space, still somewhat shaken as he looked at the woman and shook his head. In the nick of time, he had equipped a purple-quality item he had crafted himself from his storage space, using a scale from a [Devouring Serpent] to dissipate 97% of Kevin''s attack, only suffering some minor external injuries. After a quick examination to confirm that Charles was unharmed, the woman finally rxed and smiled at him: "From now on, you are my student, Theron''s. If anyone dares to bully you, they''ll have to ask if I agree first!" With that, Theron nced at Kevin beside her as if warning him. Charles''s performance had been too striking. Being able to instantly defeat Thomas proved his strength far surpassed his peers; surviving an attack from a fourth-level Beast Master was a delightful surprise for her. A student with such extraordinary talent would be a loss for Nova Academy if not enrolled. At this moment, Matthew arrived btedly and sternly chastised Kevin: "Kevin, you publicly interfered in a junior''s spar. Have you no shame at all? Do you not respect my authority as lord of this city?" Faced with the lord''s rebuke, Kevin said nothing but silently picked up Thomas, who was barely alive, and then approached Charles, bowing slightly: "Earlier, my son Thomas initiated the challenge and was severely injured; it was hisck of skill. I also acted impulsively just now. I hope you, young brother Charles, won''t hold it against him." An apology? Surprised by Kevin''s respectful demeanor, Charles found it unexpected to hear such words from him. However... Charles was no na?ve idealist. Having fought his way through the cutthroat business world in his past life, he had seen all types of people. He adhered to only one principle [Never give people a second chance.] Kevin, now apologizing under the pressure from Theron and the city lord, couldn''t be expected to protect Charles foreverwho knows if Kevin might strike from the shadows someday? Despite these thoughts, Charles maintained an easy smile on his face: "Senior Kevin, there''s no need for such words. It was I whocked restraint in our spar with Brother Thomas. Injuries in sparring are inevitable; you should rush Thomas to the hospital." With a few words, Charles deftly shifted any me from himself, while also checking on Thomas''s injuries. Given Thomas''s frail condition, even if he recovers, he''s likely reached his peak as a second-level Beast Master. Seeing Thomas''s pitiful state, Charles almostughed out loud, were it not for all the eyes on him. "I''ll take my son to the hospital now and take my leave." Kevin, holding Thomas, turned and jumped down from the white marble tform. Standing at the entrance of the great hall, once out of everyone''s sight, Kevin''s expression turned fierce, and he nced back coldly at Charles: "Such malice at a young age, and so cunning. If he''s not eliminated soon, he will surely be a great threat!" With the backing of the people from the three academies, it won''t be easy to kill him, but I will not let this go! Watching Kevin''s disappearing figure, Lord Matthew coughed lightly: "Since you''ve resolved the matter among yourselves, and everyone is satisfied, I see no need to intervene. Injuries in sparring are unavoidable, and I hope, Mr. Charles, you don''t me yourself too much." Looking at the young man before him, who was only 18, Matthew couldn''t help but admire him. Charles''s performance in the arena hadpletely astonished him; his talent was on par with, if not superior to, his daughter Grace''s. If he were to choose a son-inw from those present in the great hall, Charles would be the most suitable candidate. But, unfortunately, his daughter Grace had managed to offend Charles and had even formed a [human contract], turning a potential son-inw into an enemya shift too great for Matthew to ept at the moment. He had already nned to call his daughter in a couple of days to suggest she apologize to Charles and then dissolve the [human contract]. "So, with Charles''s outstanding performance today, I think everyone agrees that he deserves a perfect score at the enrollment ceremony, right?" Matthew''sment was just a formality; in reality, the judges had already given Charles a perfect score, and there were no objections from anyone. [Name: Charles] [Total Score: 200] [Ranking: First ce] The moment these results appeared on the central screen of the great hall, what had been a quiet venue instantly erupted into cheers. "Both trials and assessments with perfect scores, that''s never happened before in the entire history of Lsengard, has it?" "We''re all the same age, how can the gap be so wide? I''m still struggling to advance to a second-level Beast Master, and Charles is already preparing to tame his third mystical beast!" "It''s a pity that the goddess Grace got a direct pass to Aredale Academy. If they couldpete on the same stage, it would definitely be a thrilling fight!" "I''m so envious of Charles, now any of the three major academies in the imperial capital would pick him without a second thought..." "What''s the use of being envious? If you had his skills, wouldn''t all the colleges in Genosha be at your disposal?" "Charles, can I be your sister? I find shelter when it rains and I don''t pick up random things from the ground to eat!" "..." As the crowd buzzed with discussion, the enrollment ceremony continued, but after Charles''s show-stopping battle, all subsequent participants seemed somewhatckluster. The only one who could havepared to Charles was Thomas, who was now third on the leaderboard but unfortunately had been hospitalized by Charles. Meanwhile, Theron in the VIP seats was no longer focused on the ceremony. Charles''s talent, to say the least, wasn''t just extraordinary for Lsengard; even throughout Genosha, there wouldn''t be more than ten of his peers who could match him. Securing such a genius was a must! Theron stood up from the judges'' panel and walked over to where Charles was sitting. Her cheongsam split as she moved, revealing swathes of pale skin. She sat down next to Charles and smiled: "Before I came here, the Vice-Chancellor repeatedly instructed me to look out for someone named ''Charles.'' I must admit, the Vice-Chancellor''s foresight is impressive. Young man, you''ve really caught my eye. Congrattions, you''ve earned admission to Nova Academy!" Seeing Theron write the admission letter on the spot, the surrounding students cast envious nces at Charles. Being admitted to Nova Academy meant a lifetime of opportunities! At the judges'' panel, an admissions tutor from Aredale Academy envied Nova Academy for securing Charles, though it seemed she had a connection with Vice-Chancellor Emma, making it difficult to contest his cement out of respect. At that moment, the sole instructor from Cyber Academy sent to Lsengard, dressed in a ck robe, slowly stood up... Chapter 89: Chapter 89: The Enigmatic Man in the Black Robe The instructor from Cyber Academy, as mysterious as the academy itself, captured the attention of all the faculty and students around him as he rose. Cyber Academy, true to its name, is an extraordinarily unique institution that recruits only ''monsters.'' With exceedingly stringent admission criteriabeing a third-level Beast Master by the age of 20 is just the basic requirement, plus one must possess a unique ''monster'' attribute to qualify for enrollment Each year, less than fifty students are admitted in Genosha, and more than half of them do not manage to graduate. To be admitted to Cyber Academy is to be recognized as a one-in-ten-thousand genius, and those who graduate invariably be influential figures. Some hold key positions in the Genoshan royal family, others establish schools of thought that even the imperial capital of Genosha can only acknowledge as equals. Most of them, not content to remain in Genosha, venture to more expansive and exciting realms beyond. Rumors say that Genosha hosts only a branch campus; the real headquarters of Cyber Academy lies beyond Genosha, not even in the Abyssal Depths... As the man in the ck robe made his way to where Charles was seated, onlookers cast curious nces his way. Despite it being summer, he wore a thick ck robe, and a chill seemed to follow him as he passed. "How so, you''re trying to poach a student from Nova Academy?" Theron''s eyebrows furrowed and she red at him unhappily. She had already been tasked by the vice-chancellor to bring Charles back to Nova Academy, and having witnessed his talent, she was even less inclined to let him go without a fight. The man in the ck robe approached silently, making no sound with his steps, stopping a few meters away from them: "You misunderstand, I''m not here to poach. I am merely extending an invitation from Cyber Academy to Mr. Charles. The final choice lies with him, and I would not insist upon his decision." Hearing the man in the ck robe''s words and seeing that Charles seemed uninterested in Cyber Academy, Theron finally rxed. Charles had indeed already nned to further his studies at Nova Academy. Emma''s intentions were clearshe nned to take him on as her private disciple. As the Vice-Chancellor of Nova Academy and a seventh-level Beast Master, the resources she could offer him were unparalleled. Moreover, Emma''s "Five Theories of Beast Mastery" aligned perfectly with his potent soul force, and he was eager to learn the remaining four theories from her. In contrast, Cyber Academy had nothing but mysterious urban legends. The fates of those who graduated and left Genosha were unknown, and Cyber Academy''s status among the top three academies in the imperial capital was more due to theck of prestigious alternatives in Genosha than anything else. Considering the pros and cons, Nova Academy was clearly the better choice. However, out of curiosity, Charles covertly sized up the man in the ck robe, and a few lines of information shed on his screen. [Name]: ??? [Age]: ??? [Height]: 182 cm [Beast Master Level]: ??? When Charles saw these lines, he was startledit was only the second time he had encountered a situation where the information was full of question marks. "Thest time this happened was when I was hatching Mousie, because everything inside the mystical beast egg was indeterminate, making it impossible to predict precise information. But now, this is a living person; why can''t I detect any results?" Charles was puzzled, but it was clear that this person was not a ''mystical beast egg.'' Could there be something in this world beyond the ''system''? Charles quickly dismissed this thought; it was as meaningless as asking if God exists in the world. Since everything he currently knew was given by the mysterious ''prompt system'' before him, he had to assume the system''s existence was supreme. There was only one possibility left: the man in front of him was [amorphous], possessing an ability to project illusions, much like Mousie! Noticing Charles''s gaze, the man spoke again, his voice refreshingly clear: "You may call me [Ezra]. I will be in Lsengard for a month. If you decide you want to join Cyber Academy, you can find me anytime." Having spoken, the man did not wait for Charles''s response and was about to turn and leave when he suddenly looked back and said, "Oh, and I have a message for your friend: A flying squirrel that sneaks drinks of kerosene is not a good flying squirrel, haha." Lightning Demon Ape! This casual remark struck Charles like a thunderp. Flying squirrel... was he referring to Mousie? How could he know what Charles''s second mystical beast was before Charles had even summoned it? And... could it be that he knew why Mousie transformed from a regr little flying squirrel into a shadow flying squirrel? These questions flooded Charles''s mind. He wanted to follow up for rity, but by the time he looked up, the man had already left the audience and the hall. "What flying squirrel, kerosene... It''s all so bizarre; why can''t I understand anything you''re talking about?" Overhearing their cryptic conversation, Theron felt a bit dizzy, her ample chest heaving slightly. "Uh... I didn''t quite catch it either..." Charles pretended to be confused, ready to engage in some small talk with Theron when she coughed lightly, adjusted her cheongsam, and moved towards the front where the other instructors were seated, seemingly trying to avoid someone. Shortly after Theron left, a delicate figure hurried over to a spot not too far away, fixed her hair with her phone, and then slowly came to sit next to Charles. "Charles, your performance today was truly spectacr, congrattions on your admission to Nova Academy!" Auroravished praise on Charles, but from her expression and tone, Charles sensed she was not happy, even somewhat downcast. Guessing what might be on her mind, Charles spoke softly tofort her: "Congrattions to you too, Aurora! Didn''t you say your parents didn''t want you to go too far from home? Once you graduate from Vendatia College, whether you stay in the provincial city or return to Lsengard, you''ll have your family''s support." "That''s true, but..." Aurora looked up, her eyes slightly moist and her fair face blushing with emotion. She seemed to want to say something more but eventually swallowed her words and changed the subject: "Oh, are youing to the treasure vault in Lsengard tomorrow? I heard it''s opened only once a year and only to the top 200 Beast Masters in the rankings!" "The vault? Sure, let''s go together tomorrow." Charles nodded, clearly interested as well. Lsengard, while not arge ce, is crucially positioned near the border of Genosha, making it an important international trading port. Rare and exotic treasures from various nations across the Abyssal Depths converge here. The Beast Master Guild and the city lord''s office frequently acquire treasures from foreign traders, storing them in the Lsengard Bank''s vaults. By reselling these treasures, they earn a profit of thousands of silver coins each year. To encourage young Beast Masters, the top 200 students in the overall rankings of the enrollment ceremony are granted the opportunity to choose a treasure. Naturally, the quality of the treasures varies with one''s ranking. Ranked first overall, Charles will have the chance to enter the deepest part of the Lsengard Bank''s vault tomorrow. Just the thought of it excites him. He is currently in need of a suitable mystical beast. Finding a high-quality mystical beast egg in the vault could significantly boost his capabilities! Snapping back to reality, Charles checked the timeit was already 3 PM. He prepared to leave the Hero''s Hall to buy some essentials for his departure. He had decided to attend Nova Academy, and once his bags were packed, he could leave Lsengard at any moment. Seeing him stand up, Aurora also rose and quietly followed him. Several times she seemed about to draw closer but hesitated and eventually refrained. Aurora secretly turned her head to see Charles walking earnestly, his attention not on her, which deted her spirits somewhat. The walk from the VIP seating to the exit wasn''t long, but under the weight of the awkward atmosphere, it felt interminable. Finally, they neared the exit. "Charles." Just as Charles was about to step through the doorway, Aurora suddenly spoke up. The thought of possibly never seeing him again after leaving Lsengard gave her the courage to speak. "What is it?" Charles paused, sensing the subtle tension in the air, and turned to look at the anxious young girl beside him. Aurora, dressed in a simple academy-style skirt uniform, exuded a pure and refined charm, like a snow lotus from the celestial mountains. Her cheeks flushed, she bit her lip and looked up at Charles with hopeful eyes filled with anticipation. "How about we hang out a bit more... maybe grab dinner together?" When invited by such a beautiful and innocent young girl, a wave of guilt unexpectedly rose within Charles''s heart. "Sure!" The agreement came, but strangely, it was a woman''s voice. Aurora looked up, her face lighting up with joy, but when she saw Celestine, who had appeared out of nowhere, her expression changed slightly: "Sister, when did you get here?" "When did Ie? If I were anyter, something serious might have happened." Celestine motioned for Aurora to step aside for a moment, then crossed her arms and red fiercely at Charles: "Hey, if you know what''s good for you, stay away from my sister." Charles found himself somewhere betweenughter and tears at Celestine''s rebuke. "You sure are involved as a sister!" Clearly, Charles was not someone with a particrly patient temperament, and despite Celestine being Aurora''s elder sister, what right did she have to interfere in Aurora''s life? Besides, he and Aurora were just friends; nothing was set in stone yet. "I''m telling you, don''t think you''re so great. ''Geniuses'' like you are a dime a dozen at Cyber Academy," Celestine said with disdain, her tone condescending. At 21 years old and a fourth-level Beast Master, Celestine had the arrogance to back up her ims, and she might very well be telling the truth. But Charles was not easily intimidated. He suddenly closed the distance between them, pinning her against the wall in the narrow corridor. His eyes brazenly swept over her full, prominent chest, and Charles snorted coldly, "Why would you say something so childish? Can some of that volume in your chest be allocated to your brain instead?" At his words, Celestine''s fair face turned a shade of livid blue. --- Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Doing What Scoundrels Do Charles''s remark undoubtedly struck a nerve in Celestine, who began to gather the power of water elements in her palm, forming a dark green whip. Due to developing physically earlier than her peers, she had been well-endowed since elementary school, which often led to mockery from her ssmates. Consequently, she deeply resented being called "busty but brainless." "You little brat, if you stare again, believe me, I''ll gouge your eyes out!" Celestine''s whipshed through the air, the water elemental energy gradually forming into a blue ribbon-like whip that tightly bound Charles like a rope. Charles swept his gaze over Celestine, and facing the attack of a fourth-level Beast Master, he did not hold back. His right arm sprouted fine golden scales and a semi-transparent bracer could be faintly seen. With a forceful tug, Charles, using his arm enhanced by 100%, broke the water-formed whip Celestine had conjured. The rope turned into a stream of water, soaking himpletely. "Hmm, seems like you do have some skills," Celestine scoffed, as four golden hexagram arrays appeared before her, and four green water-element mystical beasts were summoned from her space. Seeing this disy, Charles was somewhat unable to hold back. Even Kevin, that bastard who wanted him dead, had only summoned one mystical beast for a fair fight, yet Celestine summoned four right from the start? Not to mention the disparity in levels, how could he, with only Max to rely on, stand a chance against 1v4? "Hey, what''s the meaning of this, ganging up like this isn''t honorable!" Charles gripped a jade slip in his hand, uncertain if Celestine truly intended to kill him. If she attempted anything extreme, he would have no choice but to shatter the jade slip to protect himself. Once Joshua''s remnants were summoned, what uncontroble events might ur, he couldn''t be sure. The situation was tense, but at that moment, the door suddenly opened, and a delicate figure stepped in front of Charles. Aurora''s eyes were reddened as she spoke to Celestine, "Sister, what are you doing? How can you treat Charles like this!" When Aurora appeared, the mystical beasts behind Celestine instantly dissipated into points of light, leaving her somewhat flustered as she looked at Aurora, "Sister, you''re misunderstanding me, it was him who attacked first..." At that moment, Charles wore an innocent expression: "Celestine, please don''t make false usations. How exactly did I attack you first? Could you describe it?" Upon hearing this, Celestine''s face turned alternating shades of red and white with anger. She couldn''t believe Charles could be so shameless, especially since his actions just moments before had been clearly provocative. How could she exin to her younger sister, who had only juste of age, that Charles had pinned her against a wall while tantly staring at her chest and using her of being brainless? How could she openly say: Charles pinned me against the wall when I wasn''t looking, then ogled my chest and insulted me? Feeling indignant but unable to voice her feelings, Celestine gritted her teeth in frustration: "You little scoundrel, all you have is your quick tongue! Do you dare to fight me in a proper match on the battle tform in the great hall?" Charles ignored her challenge, and her words immediately brought tears to Aurora''s eyes, who looked as if she''d rather die than let anyone harm Charles. Seeing her sister''s distressed state softened Celestine''s heart. With a snort and a resentful shake of her fist at Charles, Celestine turned unwillingly and left. After she had gone, Aurora wiped the tears from her eyes and said apologetically to Charles, "Ever since our mother left us when we were very young, my sister has been a bit odd, especially protective of me, sometimes almost irrationally so. Please, don''t take it to heart." Hearing of their sad family background, Charles suddenly understood why Celestine was so fiercely protective of her sister, although he wasn''t quite sure what to say about this kind of ''protection.'' After leaving the Hero''s Hall, Charles spent some time walking with Aurora, then went to the ''ck market'' shop in the Front Building to pick out some needed materials. Of course, when it came time to pay, Aurora still used her ''internal connections'' to get him a discount on all the purchases! Only then did Charles realize that he might be inadvertently associating with a wealthy benefactor. The owner of Front Group also had the surname Jiang, and from an online search, Charles discovered he had been widowed many years ago and had two daughters. The so-called ''internal channel'' wasn''t a discount promotion at all; was this young girl naively giving him gifts? Standing at a crossroads, Aurora waved somewhat reluctantly at Charles: "See you tomorrow, Charles. And remember, we''re going to the Lsengard Bank vault together! Don''t forget!" Charles nodded, watching as Aurora disappeared into the sunset. ... Back home, Charles luxuriated in a warm bath, letting the water wash away the fatigue of the day. The intense months of college recruitment were finally winding down. With a month to go before enrollment, he could finally rx. Throughout these months, he had been like a tightly wound spring, constantly on edge. Now, fully rxed, he felt somewhat at a loss. Yawning, Charlesy down on his bed, but his mind involuntarily drifted to the mysterious man in the ck robe he had encountered earlier in the day: Who was he, and how did he know about Mousie? With these thoughts swirling in his head, Charles found himself unable to sleep. He got up to practice the miracle drug technique and reviewed the ''Eighty-One Hammer'' forging method taught by Joshua. Late into the night, as he began to feel drowsy, Charles suddenly heard a faint noise outside. Although soft, his keen hearing as a third-level Beast Master detected it instantly. "Who''s there?" he called out sharply, dashing from his room. Lily had mentioned earlier that she had to return home due to some family matters, leaving Charles alone in therge vi. Anyone intruding at this hour was either a burr or Sly had found him. Immediately, Charles retrieved the ice and fire supreme spear from his storage space and summoned Max. With the enhanced vision shared by Max, Charles''s surroundings were as clear as day. He quickly spotted someone hiding in a tree in the courtyard. The person''s face was masked, and though they were well-concealed, Charles still managed to locate them. Boom! Maxunched an ice spear, shattering the tree where the intruder was hiding into splinters. Debris scattered across the sky, then cascaded down to the ground. In the instant the wooden splinters settled, the masked figure, wielding a long sword, charged at Charles. ng The assant moved swiftly, leaving Charles no time to check the system prompts on his screen. He hastily defended himself with his ice and fire supreme spear. As the sword shed with the spear, sparks flew, and the mystic iron forged spear shaft bent under the formidable force. "Such formidable might, definitely at least a fourth-level Beast Master," Charles thought to himself. He then took a [miraculous speed pill], which greatly increased his speed and allowed him to put some distance between himself and his opponent. Facing such a high-level enemy, Charles had little chance of winning; at best, he could use the [nineherworld armband] for defense. However, the nineherworld armband had a limit on uses; each time it defended against an attack, it lost one Gold Scale. Once all the scales were depleted, the armband would be mere decoration, losing all its defensive capabilities. Realizing he couldn''t overpower his opponent head-on, Charles resorted to other tactics, turning and fleeing toward the estate''s perimeter. The assant, unwilling to let him go, quickly pursued him all the way to the riverbank, trapping Charles with no way out. Under the cold moonlight, only their two silhouettes were visible by the river. ng! As if resigned to his fate, Charles dropped his supreme spear. The masked person, still holding the long sword, cautiously approached Charles, then slowly moved closer. "Heh, you''ve fallen for it!" In the darkness,rge shadows were cast by the riverside trees. As the masked figure neared the shadows, Charles activated the [darkness cloak] skill, much like he had in his underdog battle against Bradley, appearing suddenly behind his opponent. Quickly seizing the assant''s wrist, Charles then tripped them, pinning them to the ground as he demanded harshly, "Talk! Who sent you to kill me, and how did you find me?" Shrrrk With a sharpmand, Charles ripped off the person''s mask along with the ck robe they were wearing. As the mask was torn away, thousands of strands of hair cascaded down, carrying a faint fragrance. Underneath the ck robe was an astonishingly beautiful woman! Charles was momentarily stunned. The cool moonlight poured down, silently brewing over her delicate face. The woman''s skin, enveloped in moonlight, seemed to emit a soft glow. Feeling the softness in his hands, Charles''s gaze naturally drifted downward, catching sight of a pair of partially exposed, full breasts. Just a nce sent a rush of adrenaline through him. "You scoundrel, I knew you were no good! Even if it kills me, I won''t let my sister fall into the hands of trash like you!" Her face a mix of embarrassment and anger, the woman bit her lip, ring fiercely at him. Only then did Charles realize that the intruder was none other than Aurora''s sister, Celestine. She tried to make hand signs to summon her mystical beast, but Charles had her hands firmly under control. Deprived of her mystical beast''s power and against Charles''s strength of over 9999 kg, Celestine, even if a level above him, waspletely subdued. "Celestine, ying the victim, are you? You nt a tracker on me, sneak into my house to spy, and then ask who the scoundrel is?" Charles coldly looked at Celestine, removing a button battery-sized device from his person, which Celestine must have secretly ced on him when they met at the entrance of the Hero''s Hall. Considering how gentle and sweet her sister was, how could this woman be so unhinged? After repeated provocations from her, Charles couldn''t help feeling irritated. "What are you trying to do?" Detecting the dangerous look in Charles''s eyes, Celestine''s fair face turned anxious, and she struggled desperately, but she couldn''t break free from Charles''s grip. "What do I want to do? Weren''t you the one calling me a scoundrel? If I don''t act the part, wouldn''t that be letting you down?" Charles chuckled lightly, his gaze brazenly fixed on Celestine''s chest, which under the moonlight heaved slightly with her heartbeat. After her struggles proved futile, Celestine''s face showed signs of defeat, her beautiful eyes fiercely ring at Charles: "You dare, you bastard, scum!" Chapter 91: Punishment Charles gazed down at Celestine with a sense of resignation, baffled by her intense animosity towards him. She had secretly installed a tracker on him and followed him around. Who knew what else she was capable of? As his eyes drifted over Celestine, Charles couldn''t help but silently marvel at her. The Stokes sisters were truly cut from the same clothboth possessed devilish figures. However, Celestine had a charm Auroracked; less innocent but more seductive, surpassing any celebrity he had encountered in his previous life. Unfortunately, her personality was less than ideal... Celestine struggled fiercely, but after several attempts, she couldn''t break free from Charles''s grasp. Her chest heaved dramatically, and she red up at him furiously. "You little punk, trying to y tough before your hair''s even grown in? If you dare do anything today, do you believe I''ll chop off your little manhood?" Charles inhaled sharply at Celestine''s threat, a chill running down his spine. He wasn''t so depraved tomit atrocious acts. Today, he had caught Celestine simply to teach her a lesson. Her provocative words irked Charles, and he sneered, "It seems you''re quite eager to find out?" He gently pinched Celestine''s smooth cheek, contemting how to ''punish'' her, when suddenly, a burst of white light enveloped her. Sensing a sudden increase in strength in Celestine''s hands, Charles cursed internally. This madwoman had activated [bestial soul merge]! Was she nning to take them both down? Breaking free from Charles''s hold, Celestine''s eyes turned icy as she clenched her teeth and flicked her wrist, sending her whip slicing towards him as a phantom shadow. The whip, powered with surging water energy, moistened the air as it passed. A fourth-level Beast Master using [bestial soul merge] in a full-force attack could cripple or kill. Feeling its terrifying power, Charles swallowed a [miraculous speed pill], his speed boosting dramatically as he darted to the side... Charles could feel his hairs stand on end as the whip narrowly missed him, then violently struck a rock beside him. Lightning demon ape! The rigid riverbank boulders instantly turned to rubble. Witnessing the terrifying destructive power, Charles looked at Celestine with a face full of horror. This woman was ruthlessly aggressive! With that in mind, Charles decided not to hold back any longer. He summoned Mousie and Max, and as Celestineunched another attack, Max activated its skill [Ice and Fire Barrier], while Mousie projected an ethereal lightning demon ape to shield Charles. St! The muscr projection of the lightning demon ape was instantly bisected, copsing into a pool of blood foam. Although Mousie couldn''t withstand the attack, it managed to dissipate much of Celestine''s assault. When the whip struck Charles''s barrier, it made a dull thud, and Charles staggered back several meters before stopping. "So strong! Is this thebat power of a fourth-level Beast Master..." Charles steadied himself, gasping for air, and nced at the [nineherworld armband], which had lost another piece of Gold Scales, still shaken. This was the first time Charles had truly battled a fourth-level Beast Master, one rank above him, feeling an unprecedented pressure, nearly beingpletely overwhelmed. A dozen meters away, Celestine also looked at Charles with some surprise. Logically, her strike should have severely injured or even killed a third or fourth-level Beast Master. Yet Charles appearedpletely unharmed? "You little rascal, you''ve got some skills..." Celestine eyed Charles, surprise etched on her face, but she had no intention of holding back. Water energy continuously gathered around her. "Water cannon attack!" With a shout, the river behind Celestine began to churn, gradually forming a giant wave, and finally a towering water tornado. Momentster, the water tornado swept towards Charles with terrifying force, slicing through rocks and trees into fragments. Facing the approaching water tornado, Charles gritted his teeth, feeling an unprecedented pressure from Celestine''s move. Celestine''s move probably wasn''t her full strength, but Charles was already at his wit''s end. Seeing Max and Mousie shielding him, he thought about fleeing. Losing to a fourth-level Beast Master wasn''t a disgrace, but he couldn''t let Max and Mousie die in vain. Just as he was about to activate the skill [darkness cloak], several notification lines shed before his eyes. [Water Cannon Attack]: A skill mastered by third-tier mystical beasts and fourth-level Beast Masters, turning water energy into a tornado. It devastates everything in its path, slicing like thousands of des. The only w lies in the center of the water tornado, where the water flow is zero. "My God, how did I not think of that!" After reading the system''s notification, an epiphany struck Charles. Whether it''s a typhoon, a tornado, or the water cannon attack before him, the closer to the periphery, the stronger the destructive power, but at the ''eye'' of the storm, there''s no lethality. With this realization, Charles clenched his fists, a faint golden pattern emerging on his right arm. He nned to rush into the eye of the tornado within the momentary protective effect triggered by the nineherworld armband. "Boom!" The water tornado swept past, ultimately mming into Charles''s body with a heavy, muffled sound, sending water sshing everywhere. Watching this scene, Celestine''s lips slightly curled, assuming Charles had been defeated by her move. However, she was puzzled. Normally, anyone seeing her [Water Cannon Attack] would think to run as far away as possible. Why did Charles not only stay put but also charge towards it as if seeking his demise? "Who cares about that little rascal, better if he''s dead," she muttered, though a hint of regret suddenly crept into her heart. If something really happened to Charles, her sister might do something foolish. Sheathing her whip, Celestine lightly leapt towards the dissipating mist, eager to see if Charles was still alive. Just as she approached, a mechanical arm covered in golden scales reached out from the mist and firmly grasped her arm. As the mist faded, a drenched Charles, his gaze icy, stared at her: "Pretty harsh move there. If it weren''t for my purple-grade armor, I''d probably beid up in a hospital for half a year. I was careless before, but this time, I won''t let you get away." Staring at the young man standing amidst the mist, shock filled Celestine''s face. Before she could react, a small pill was already being pushed into her mouth. "Damn you, what did you give me..." As soon as Celestine''s words fell, she felt a wave of dizziness and her legs began to weaken. She tried to activate her powers, but was shocked to find that she could no longer summon any elemental energy. "This pill will make you lose control of your body for an hour, leaving just a bit of consciousness. However, an hour might not be quite enough for me!" Charles said with a sly grin as Celestine slumped to the ground, limp. He supported her head with one hand and her legs with the other, lifting Celestine from the ground and carrying her to a nearby grassy area. With her head spinning, Celestine''s pale face blushed slightly as Charles held her. She struggled desperately, but her efforts felt like nothing more than gentle caresses against Charles. "...Bastard!" Despite herck of strength, Celestine still red venomously at Charles, her voice faint. Charles, whose calm had been restored, felt a surge of anger at Celestine''s insults. He flipped her over, and suddenly her perfect curves and perky backside were disyed before his eyes. Recalling her shrewish behavior just moments before, Charles felt a surge of irritation. He raised his hand and swung it down without hesitation: "Calling me a ''bastard,'' ''scum,'' today I''ll teach you how to speak properly!" The sound of ''smack, smack, smack'' began an exhrating story... ... An hourter, Charles shook his now numb arm. Guessing that the anesthesia was about to wear off, he swiftly fled the ''scene of the crime'' just before Celestine regained mobility. Hiding in the bushes a distance away, Charles watched as Celestine slowly regained her ability to move. The first thing she did was smash a nearby rock, then limped towards the town. Seeing her pitiful state, Charles chuckled to himself: "I hope today''s lesson teaches her a thing or two. I really don''t know what I did to make her hold such a grudge!" Celestine had insulted him repeatedly. To do nothing seemed uneptable, yet going too far didn''t sit right with him either. Striking a bnce, Charles chose a method that was dignified yet thoroughly humiliating for Celestine. Charles calmed his nerves and set up a tent in a secluded spot on the outskirts of town. Knowing that Celestine was aware of his whereabouts, he was concerned about potential retaliation and resigned himself to spending the night by the river. "It seems my instincts were correct; you do possess the ability to wield dark energy." Charles was momentarily startled and nced around in rm, but there was no one in sight. Just then, he noticed some movement in the shadows not far from him, and the voice hade from there: "Heh, have you forgotten your own techniques?" The shadows began to twist and gradually morphed into a middle-aged man d in a ck robe, who quietly stood before him. Chapter 92: The Man in the Shadows [Name]: Ezra [Age]: ??? [Height]: 182 cm [Beast Master Level]: ??? The moment the robed man appeared, Charles saw several screen prompts sh before his eyes. He recognized him immediatelyit was the mysterious instructor from Cyber Academy who had attended the recruitment ceremony yesterday. "Why are you following me?" Charles asked, looking warily at the man in the ck robe, a sense of helplessness welling up inside him. To be an instructor at Cyber Academy meant that the man''sbat abilities were overwhelmingly superior to his own, leaving Charles with no intention to struggle. However, he was curious about one thingthe man seemed to share the same ability to move stealthily in darkness. "Weren''t you just bullying a female student from Cyber Academy? As an instructor there, shouldn''t I intervene?" Ezra sneered, his eyes, dark as voids, peering at Charles from beneath his hood. "Ah, that..." Charles recalled the ''punishment'' he had inflicted on Celestine, his face reddening slightly before he regained hisposure. "She attacked me first, and I was merely teaching her a lesson. Are you here to seek retribution on her behalf?" Ezra chuckled softly and waved his hand dismissively. "I have no interest in meddling in the affairs of you youngsters. Besides, I''ve already said that I want you to join Cyber Academy, so I''m inclined to be somewhat lenient towards you." Charles eyed the man, feeling no fondness for this instructor who wouldn''t even show his true face. Moreover, he was acquainted with Vice Chancellor Emma from Nova Academy. It seemed to him that joining Nova Academy would likely offer a brighter future. Charles shook his head, "I still feel that Nova Academy is a better fit for me." Seeing Charles''s disinterest in his words, the man in the ck robe sighed lightly before saying, "You want to defeat that girl in two years, right? But do you really think, with your current level of Beast Mastery, you can win against her in that time?" This question left Charles speechless. With the system''s help, his progress had been rapid, but despite that, Grace had already be a third-level Beast Master ahead of him during her training in the ferocious beast mountains, and had also contracted her family''s third mystical beast. In terms of pure Beast Mastery talent, Grace was undoubtedly superior. If it weren''t for his transmigration and the system he received, he would likely never surpass her. Somewhat surprised by the robed man''s knowledge, Charles, having lived two lives, knew well that every good deal had its price: "Of course, I want to defeat Grace and be stronger, but why should I trust you? You''re so eager to have me join Cyber Academy, there must be a reason for that, right? Besides, you won''t even show your true face. How can I trust you?" Charles''s tone was neither servile nor overbearing, not showing any inferiority despite the gap between them. The robed man looked at Charles with a hint of surprise. His courage and the maturity of his disposition were remarkable for an 18-year-old. "Indeed, I need something from you. But don''t worry, I won''t force you to do anything. As for my true face..." With a serene smile, the robed man slowly lifted the mask covering his face. It was... not human? More urately, it was a dark shadow or perhaps an energy body. Seeing this eerie sight, Charles instinctively took a step back. No wonder the robed man had the ability to move stealthily in darkness; he was essentially a shadow! But Charles wasn''t easily fooled by a few words; he remained skeptical: "Let''s say I consider your help as a sort of transaction, but how can I be sure that following you to Cyber Academy will offer me faster growth than at Nova Academy? Grace has been guaranteed entry into Aredale Academy, where she can be mentored by the vice chancellor himselfa peak powerhouse in Genosha. Why should I believe you?" "Peak powerhouse?" At Charles''s words, the shadow quivered slightly, emitting a scoff that sounded almost disdainful. "These days, even a mere seventh-level Beast Master dares to show his face and call himself a peak powerhouse? He''s just trash from a backwater like Genosha." Trash? Charles nearly lost hisposure upon hearing this. In all of Genosha''s history, not a single Beast Master had broken through to the eighth level. A seventh-level Beast Master in Genosha was considered an absolute powerhouse, one against ten thousand. And yet, he was being called trash? Curiously, Charles examined the shadow before him: "From what you say, you must be a higher-level Beast Master. May I ask, what level are you?" "What level? It''s been so long I''ve forgotten. All I can say is that I could have taken on a hundred of them back in the day, but now..." With a light sigh, the shadow re-cloaked himself in his ck robe and donned his mask once more, swiftly changing the subject. "Charles, at Cyber Academy, everything is about bing stronger. You can wield dark energy without any taboos. Aren''t you even a little tempted?" With that, the robed man slowly extended his palm, with dark energy swirling between his fingers. Indeed, it was the same kind of energy that Mousie used! A spark of interest lit up within Charles. In all of Genosha, or rather, among most of the human race, there was a respectful yet distant attitude toward dark energy, with outright hostility toward those who wielded it. A ce where he could freely use dark energy was certainly appealing, and Mousie could benefit from better growth opportunities there. "The imperial capital is merely an office for Cyber Academy; the real Cyber Academy isn''t in Genosha, not even in the Abyssal Depths," the robed man continued. Suddenly, he threw a jade casket towards Charles, "Here, I''ll help you out, since I need something from you. Take this miracle drug; with your current strength, you''re hardly qualified to enter." Charles caught the jade casket handed by the robed man and gently opened a small crack, immediately a burst of golden light seeped out, and a notification shed before his eyes. [Tribtion Golden Pill] [Gold Quality]: Upon ingestion, it will trigger a cmity. If you pass the test, you will gain one level advancement. Effective only for mystical beasts of the third tier or lower that are in a state of advancement. After reading the effects of the miracle drug, Charles''s eyes nearly popped out of his skull. He had been fretting about where to find the [dark altar] to help Mousie advance to a second-tier mystical beast, and this[Tribtion Golden Pill] was a godsend. Watching Charles''s wide-eyed astonishment, the robed man chuckled lightly and turned, stepping into the shadows: "As I said, joining me at Cyber Academy will provide you with the best guidance and enhancement training." "A reminder," "The Lsengard flight to the city near Cyber Academy departs in one month. If you miss this flight, you''ll have to wait until next year." No sooner had the man''s voice faded than he disappeared right before Charles''s eyes. Staring dumbfounded at the golden miracle drug in his hand, Charles''s heart pounded with excitement. Ezra had casually handed him a gold-quality drug; such generosity was staggering! Now, Charles was even more curious about this instructor from Cyber Academy and found himself intrigued by the idea of journeying to the distant Cyber Academy he spoke of. ... The eastern sky was turning pale as dawn approached, and Charles checked the time on his phoneit was 6 a.m. Deciding against sleeping, he grabbed some breakfast and headed for the location of Lsengard Bank. Eager to have Mousie advance to the second tier, he knew the process could be time-consuming, but with the[Tribtion Golden Pill] in hand, Mousie could level up anytime. Charles nned to pick some treasures from the vault first. An hourter, Charles arrived at a grand building. ncing at the sign that read [Lsengard Bank], he noted the heavily armed security teams patrolling the perimeter, their vignt eyes sweeping through the crowd. The security team was led by two second-level Beast Masters, a testament to the stringent security at Lsengard Bank. In this world of Beast Mastery, money was no longer the most important asset. Items like ferocious beast materials, high-grade miracle drugs, weapons, armor, magical treasures, and secret realm treasure keys were far more valuable. Those worried about safety at home opted to store their valuables in the bank''s vaults. Thus, it was more apt to call this ce arge-scale storage facility rather than just a bank. After showing his ID, Charles entered the Lsengard Bank and waited inside. About two hourster, the top 200 Beast Masters from the recruitment ceremony began to gather. "Let me make this clear: when we enter the underground vault, you can only take items from the public areas. Those ranked 150-200, you''re limited to the first basement level; those ranked 100-149, your area is in the second basement level..." "Remember, do not go to any floor outside your designated area, and you can only pick one item." Standing at the entrance to the bank''s vault, City Master Matthew exined the rules to all the Beast Masters gathered there. Everything in the vault, whether coins or precious treasures, was tagged. Taking more than one item would trigger the bank''s rm. These treasures weren''t easy toe by. The Beast Master Guild giving away 200 items annually was already quite generous. ck, ck The vault door, thicker than the walls themselves, slowly opened, and the Beast Masters proceeded to their respective levels ording to their rankings. With each lower level, fewer people continued down, and by the time Charles reached the seventh basement, he waspletely alone. Breathing in the slightly stale air, Charles slowly stepped into the corridor, and his footsteps echoed back at him. Since Grace had already headed to the imperial capital, Charles was the only one on the empty seventh basement level. Just as Charles was about to continue forward, he noticed a passage leading even further down... --- Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Take Everything, Leave Nothing Behind "This doesn''t seem to be the bottom level of the vault," Charles paused at the top of the stairs leading further down, his mind momentarily stunned. He recalled what Matthew had said at the entrance to the treasure vault: the higher your rank, the lower the level you can ess. Did this mean that the items stored on lower levels were even more valuable? With this thought, Charles suddenly felt that his ''seventh level'' was inadequate. There must be even more valuable treasures below! He paused at the entrance, observing a few security personnel patrolling the seventh basement of the vault; he guessed the lower levels would be simrly guarded. For safety, he found an unupied blind spot and activated his [darkness cloak] skill to blend into the shadows. He then followed the stairs down to the tenth basement level, the core area of the Lsengard vault. Judging by the family crests on the st-proof doors along the corridor, Charles surmised that this area contained important items stored by Lsengard''s major families. He wandered around, noticing that the Stokes and Smith families had stored many significant items here. Charles wasn''t interested in petty thievery. Just as he was about to leave, he spotted a st door marked with [Sly], which appeared to be the private vault of the Taylor family! With a meaningful smile, Charles, shrouded in shadow, seemed to exist in another dimension as he passed directly through the thick metal door. As soon as he entered, the scent of potent herbs hit him. Inside, materials were piled high, not as many as he had once seen in [Herbal Shop], but all were the culmination of years of effort by the Taylor family! He remembered that, aside from jewelry, the Taylor family''s shop also sold some low-quality miracle drugs. Taking these alchemy ingredients would effectively cut off the lifeline of the Taylor family''s pharmacy. With a sweeping gesture, Charles transferred all the materials in the vault into his system''s [storage space], and a series of system notifications began to sound in his ear. [Acquired miracle drug: spirit root32!] [Acquired miracle drug: revival flower65!] [Acquired miracle drug: dragon''s blood23!] [Acquired miracle drug: nine-day revival5!] [Acquired miracle drug: heavenly dark38!] [...] So many! He had struck it rich! ncing at the miracle drugs now in his system storage, Charles was ted; with so many materials, he had enough to tinker with alchemy for half a year. And after converting these materials into miracle drugs, he could sell them for even more money! ... After leaving the Taylor family''s storage vault for medicinal materials, Charles headed to the neighboring vault that stored ferocious beast materials. Inside, ferocious beast materials were piled high, and devices simr to cold storage units prevented the decay of ferocious beast meat. These materials must represent years of effort from the Taylor family''s ferocious beast hunters in the ferocious beast mountains! Without hesitation, Charles also transferred these items into his storage space. [Acquired ferocious beast material: wooden bear skin64!] [Acquired ferocious beast material: tide-summoning merfolk tail fin21!] [Acquired ferocious beast material: steel-spiked hedgehog fangs35!] [Acquired ferocious beast material: emerald water frog meat546 tons!] [Acquired ferocious beast material: panthera tigris ws93!] "Sly, you put a bounty of 10 gold coins on my head on the dark web, huh? I''m emptying your vault, let''s see where you''ll get the money to keep up your bounty now, heh heh!" Chuckling to himself, Charles transferred all the treasures stored by the Taylor family in the vault into his storage space. Not a single item left! Looking at the Taylor family''s vault, now as clean as a licked te, Charles wore a satisfied smile on his face. ... Exiting the Taylor family''s vault, Charles came face to face with arge iron door marked with the name [Kevin]. The Draven family was a major yer in weapon forging in Lsengard, essentially monopolizing over 70% of the weapon business. This ce was likely where they stored rare forging materials. "These Dravens are no saints either!" Security guards asionally passed by the vault perimeter, but theycked ess to the vault itself and mechanically patrolled the corridors,pletely oblivious to Charles sneaking in from the shadows. But Charles wasn''t worried; even if they discovered the missing treasures, over 200 people had entered Lsengard Bank''s underground vault today. Let them try to figure it out slowly! And Charles had teleported all the treasures directly into his [storage space], leaving no trace of evidence! Charles looked around; the Draven family''s vault was filled not only with a vast array of forging materials but also with all sorts of fully crafted weapons and armor that hadn''t yet been sold. Armor, leather boots, helmets, swords, bows, and supreme spearsall were ready-made military gear. Among them, Charles even found an item of blue-quality! Thomas, you wanted to kill me, didn''t you? Kevin, you shameless old man, interfering in the affairs of the younger generation? Think I, Charles, am easy to bully? I''ll empty the Draven family''s armory; you can kiss your status in Lsengard goodbye! Gazing at the mountains of weapons and materials, Charles didn''t hesitate. "Whoosh..." In the blink of an eye, therge vault was empty. With all these forging materials, Charles would neverck the resources to craft weapons and armor of blue quality or lower. Next, Charles went to the treasure vaults of the Taylor and Draven families. "Whoosh..." He transferred all the gold, silver, and beast cores into his system''s storage space. [Acquired gold attribute beast core [tier 1]22!] [Acquired water attribute beast core [tier 1]18!] [Acquired fire attribute beast core [tier 2]1!] [Acquired wind attribute beast core [tier 2]2!] [...] A total clearout! An absolute clearout! Last time, to gather materials for Max''s advancement, Charles had almost sold off all the ferocious beast materials in his storage space. Now, that freed-up space was stuffed full with treasures from the vaults of the Taylor and Draven families. Just thinking about the expressions on Sly and Kevin''s faces when they discover their vaults emptied made him burst into uncontrobleughter. Footsteps sounded outside, startling Charles so much that he quickly covered his mouth. He emerged from the shadows on the -10 level, making his way up to the -7 level where he had initially slipped into the darkness. Exiting stealth mode, he then confidently entered the treasure room. By this time, all the vaults on the -7 level were unlocked, apparently opened just for him. Pity he could only take one item. Charles looked around; although everything was valuable,pared to the treasures from the Taylor and Draven families, the quality here was somewhat inferior. His [storage space] was already packed full, so Charles had no intention of emptying this ce as well. He checked the time; only five minutes remained for him to make his selection. He casually strolled through the vault, eventually picking up a silver mystical beast egg before leisurely heading upstairs. ... At the entrance to the treasure vault, after a security check by the staff, Charles was let out of the vault. At the entrance to Lsengard Bank, the 200 students who had gone to the vault were gradually emerging, each one sporting a joyful smile, clearly having secured some remarkable treasures. Charles''s expression, however, could hardly be described as merely a ''smile''; it was more like a grimace! While he understood the wisdom of not unting wealth, seeing the plethora of treasures in his storage space made it hard for him not to. But his smile suddenly stiffened when he saw Aurora approaching him, with Celestine unexpectedly in tow... "Charles, seeing you smile so happily, what treasure did you take with you?" Aurora came up beside Charles, her face beaming with curiosity. However, Charles''s attention was fixed on Celestine behind Aurora. She was dressed in a beige dress today, with a pretty butterfly knot in her hair, looking verydylike. But as she walked over, Charles could swear he heard her grinding her teeth. Seeing Charles, Celestine seemed to recall the hour they spent by the riverst night, and her face instantly flushed red. She desperately wanted to put an end to this despicable scoundrel, but with Aurora right there, she had to maintain her ''gentle big sister'' image, so she rolled her eyes at Charles and then looked away, deciding that out of sight was out of mind. Charlespletely ignored Celestine''s eye roll, pulling out a silver mystical beast egg from his pocket: "I found this in the treasure room. It seems pretty good." "Ahh..." Aurora''s face showed a hint of surprise; the seventh basement of the vault was a ce many dreamed of entering, and after all of Charles''s effort, he had only found a silver-quality mystical beast egga real waste of a good opportunity. However, considering Charles''s feelings, Aurora managed a polite smile: "A mystical beast egg is not bad either. Just having it close guarantees a 100% sessful contract, but..." "My father recently returned from the imperial capital with a Gold-quality mystical beast. If Charles needs it..." Aurora was interrupted by Celestine pulling her aside. Celestine was exasperated with her naive sister and didn''t know what to say. Celestine looked annoyed: "Aurora, that was acquired by father at a great cost from the imperial capital. It''s intended for your advancement to a third-level Beast Master. How could you think of giving it away?" "Celestine, if it weren''t for Charles, I might have died in the ferocious beast mountains. I haven''t properly thanked him yet." Aurora gently pushed Celestine away, stealing a nce at Charles in the distance, her expression troubled. "But, you can''t just give away a Gold-quality mystical beast..." The Stokes sisters seemed to be having an argument, but Charles wasn''t interested in listening in. This silver-quality mystical beast egg, if he didn''t find a more suitable one before leaving Lsengard, would just serve as a temporary solution. Later, if he found a better match, he could simply break the contract and release it. As Charles was preparing to leave, he saw a portly figure with a cane hobbling toward him... Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Mousies Tribulation "Charles, let me see what treasures you''ve managed to gather from the vault!" The voice rang out, and the crowd parted to make way. Charles looked in the direction of the voice and was surprised to find it was Daniel. He quickly went over to support him: "Daniel? Weren''t you in the hospital? You''ve been discharged already after just a few days?" Charles checked Daniel''s injuries, and several lines of information shed across his screen. [Name]: Daniel [Health]: Internal injuries and fractures [Healing...][Current recovery progress: 92%] It''s remarkable how resilient this guy is. That day, seeing him get beaten so badly by Thomas, several ribs broken, and now he''s already out of the hospital? "Heh, thanks to that [Hemostatic powder] you gave me to take, the doctors said if it wasn''t for that miracle drug, I might have been in real danger." Daniel grinned goofily, rubbing his nose, his eyes full of admiration as he looked at Charles. "By the way, I watched the entire recruitment ceremony live from the hospital. Seeing you take down Thomas in the great hall was so satisfying!" At this, Daniel paused: "You must be nning to go to Nova Academy, right? School starts in a month, when are you heading out?" Charles could see the mix of envy and loss in the chubby fellow''s expression and quicklyforted him: "Don''t be too sad, taking a gap year and re-entering the trials next year, maybe we''ll end up being ssmates!" With Daniel''s capabilities, getting into one of the three major academies in the imperial capital might be tough, but aiming for Vendantia Academy in the province next year was definitely doable. With his family''s business in the Smith family, returning to Lsengard after graduation would allow him to live quitefortablythe envy should be directed at him, really. Graduation season is always bittersweet. Daniel had reserved a private room at a restaurant near Lsengard Bank, inviting a few close ssmates for what amounted to a farewell meal. "Charles, your performance at the recruitment ceremony yesterday blew me away!" "To take on Kevin''s vicious attack head-on, Charles, I can hardly imagine your true strength!" "Daniel, don''t take this the wrong way, but I just have to say something. The moment Charles stood up in front of the city lord and said, ''Do those gentry have blue blood, certainly?''just for that alone, I''ll admire you for life!" one of the students eximed. As the ssmates around him continued to shower Charles withpliments and clinked sses with him, he quickly realized that he was now the center of attention at the gatheringfar more than Daniel, the actual host. For a moment, Charles felt a wave of mixed emotions. Not long ago, he was the least popr person in the ss, with only the trash can at the back of the room to keep himpany. But now, as his strength became more apparent, his ''friends'' suddenly seemed to multiply. Perhaps this was the cruel reality of this world: without power, you''re nothingeveryone treats you like dirt. But the moment you be strong, it feels like everyone wants to be connected to you. Aside from Daniel, Charles had no intention of getting closer to the others. After a simple lunch, he declined the invitation to join the party and returned alone to Lily''s vi by the riverside. When he arrived home, Lily was still nowhere to be seen. He hadn''t seen her for several days now, and Charles couldn''t help but worry that something might have happened to her family. ... After the recruitment ceremony ended, Lsengard became noticeably quieter. With almost a month to go before the new academic year began, many students who had just finished high school took advantage of the rare break to travel around Lsengard. As for those whose families were less well-off and whose universities weren''t in Lsengard, things were a bit tougher. They couldn''t afford the expensive tickets for flying beasts, so they had to leave early to make it in time for the opening ceremonies a monthter. In this more peaceful atmosphere, Charles allowed himself a few days off as well. Of course, in his mind, as long as he wasn''t training more than 12 hours a day, it counted as a vacation. One afternoon, after swimming a few leisurelyps in the vi''s pool, Charles retrieved a golden miracle drug from his storage space. He checked the weather forecastthere was a thunderstorm predicted forter in the afternoon. [Tribtion Golden Pill] [Gold Quality]]: Upon consumption, it triggers a tribtion. If the mystical beast sessfully passes the test, it will advance by one tier. Only effective for mystical beasts of the third tier or lower that are in an advancement state. Upon reading the detailed description, Charles learned that the so-called ''test'' required arge amount of energy to break through the energy barrier between tiers. Mousie had been stuck at Level 19 for a long time, and Charles had yet to find the mysterious ''dark altar'' that he needed for its advancement. He didn''t want to waste a precious gold-quality miracle drug, but it seemed like he had no other choice. With less than a month until university started, Charles would soon have to leave Lsengard. The world outside Lsengard wasn''t as peaceful and quiet as it was here. Before leaving, it was best to advance Mousie to a second-tier mystical beast to ensure an extrayer of protection in case of danger. After lunch, Charles left Lsengard and headed to a small hill on the outskirts, near the border of the ferocious beast mountains. There, he summoned Mousie. "Squeak!" Mousie, thrilled to be summoned again, was brimming with excitement. It had been a long time since it had been able to freely fly around in the open air. It spent quite some time soaring through the forest, only returning to perch on Charles''s shoulder after exhausting itself. "Master, is that some kind of treat?" Mousie''s eyes widened in curiosity as it stared at the golden pill in Charles''s hand, sensing the potent energy of lightning within. It felt confused. It was a dark attribute mystical beast, so why would Charles offer it a pill infused with lightning energy? Looking at the golden pill in Charles''s hand with some disdain, Mousie scoffed, "You''re not nning to experiment on me, are you? I''m not eating a lightning-based miracle drug unless you give me a bag of those delicious sunset fruits!" Charles grinned, clearly having anticipated Mousie''s reaction. "Mousie, look here!" With a shout, Charles tossed a handful of sunset fruit nuts into the air, skillfully mixing in the[Tribtion Golden Pill] among them. The moment Mousie saw the nuts, it shot off like a cannonball. Within seconds, it devoured everyst one of them before they hit the ground. ck A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by the rumble of thunder. Startled, Mousie dove onto Charles, clinging to him tightly as the predicted thunderstorm arrived. "Mousie, go up and check out that cloud." Mousie: ? In weather like this, isn''t it smarter to hide in a tree hollow? Flying into the sky right now is a surefire way to get struck by lightning! "Don''t worry, Mousie. It''s not that easy to get hit by lightning," Charles said with a sly grin. Hearing Charles''s reassurance, Mousie mentally braced itself, praying the lightning would miss, then reluctantly flew toward the cloud. Lightning demon ape! As soon as Mousie reached the sky, a bolt of lightning crashed down from the clouds, striking it squarely. Mousie wobbled and fell from the sky. Charles caught Mousie mid-fall. Its once vibrant body was now charred ck, but at the same time, a golden glow began to shimmer around it. "Looks like I was right. The lightning''s energy has activated the power of the[Tribtion Golden Pill] inside Mousie." Charles quickly retrieved several spirit-replenishing pills from his storage space and fed them to Mousie. He then applied recovery ster all over its body. Slowly, Mousie''s eyes fluttered open, and its fur, once singed ck, started returning to its usual brownish-yellow color. Mousie opened its eyes, still visibly shaken, and threw itself into Charles''s arms. "I was hit by lightning! My life almost ended! It was terrifying!" "Hmm but didn''t you notice something? You''ve got more energy flowing through you now," Charles said, gently scratching under Mousie''s chin. "Wait you''re right" Mousie straightened up, testing its dark energy. Sure enough, it was significantly more abundant than before. The golden miracle drug it had identally swallowed seemed to have the ability to convert the lightning''s energy into the dark energy it needed. "Ahem, Mousie, I couldn''t find any leads on the [dark altar], and I didn''t want you stuck at Level 19 forever, so I thought of this method," Charles exined. "By using the immense energy generated by the lightning and letting the golden pill convert it into the dark energy you need, you can break through the barrier between a first-tier and second-tier mystical beast andplete your advancement!" After hearing Charles''s exnation, Mousie''s eyes lit up with excitement. Upon seeing Max break through to Level 20, Mousie had been deeply envious. If it stayed stuck at Level 19, the gap between it and Charles would continue to widen, eventually making it nothing more than a burden. But now, an opportunity to break through that barrier was right in front of it. Even if the process was painful, Mousie was determined to push through! "Brave Mousie! Fearless of tribtions!" It seemed to be cheering itself on, waving its tiny fists before pping its wings and wobbling back up toward the ominous storm clouds. Boom! Lightning continuously struck Mousie, and with every hit, Charles could clearly feel its energy growing stronger. Each time Mousie was knocked to the brink of copse by the lightning, a single spirit-replenishing pill was enough to revive it, sending it back into the sky once more. With each lightning strike, Mousie felt the thick energy barrier within it start to show signs of cracking. ck! After another massive bolt of lightning, Mousie suddenly felt a rush of relief as something within it shattered! At that very moment, Charles''s system screen shed with notifications. [Ding! Your Mousie has sessfully advanced! 5300 experience points have been used. Current level: Lv21!] [Your mystical beast, Mousie, triggered a critical evolution during the advancement. Please choose an evolution path!] ... Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Evolution! God of Apocalypse! Seeing the two evolution paths pop up on the system screen, Charles was filled with excitement: Mousie had evolved during the advancement process? With a sh on the screen, two option boxes appeared before Charles''s eyes, along with a countdown timer. Since Mousie only had two evolution paths, the options weren''t as varied as they were for Max. [A. Critical Evolution]: Quality upgrade to tinum, evolving into a Dark Souls Flying Squirrel. Sess rate: 70%. Gains exclusive skill [Soul Sword], which can extract an enemy''s soul to forge a soul de, dealing damage to the enemy''s soul. Failure results in a downgrade to Silver quality. [B. Specified Evolution]: Quality upgrade to tinum, evolving into a Dark Demigod (infant stage). Sess rate: 100%. With each evolution, the Demigod form will grow until it reaches the ultimate form, God of Apocalypse, possessing terrifying domain skills. Requirement: Dark Sacrifice Candles 2, Humpback Whale Oil 10kg. "These evolution paths both look pretty impressive. Which one should I choose?" Charles frowned slightly. If the choices had been as distinct as Max''s four evolution paths, he wouldn''t have hesitated to choose the nine-tailed demon wolf for Max. Critical evolution could grant Mousie the ability to extract souls and wield soul swordsa rare and powerful soul-based attack. However, the 70% sess rate made Charles uneasy, especially since failure would result in Mousie being downgraded to Silver quality, a setback he found hard to ept. As for the specified evolution, bing the God of Apocalypse sounded incredibly powerful just from the name. Plus, it would gain a domain skill, boosting allies within the field while weakening enemiesexactly the kind of ability Charles needed. The only issue... the materials required were pretty demanding. He already had the Dark Sacrifice Candles, found among some grave robbers'' relics he had collected. But the Humpback Whale Oil, made from the oil of a humpback whale, was far harder toe by. "Both evolution paths are perfect. Even though the specified evolution requires rare materials, I can''t let Mousie take a 30% chance of failure." With the countdown timer quickly approaching zero, Charles decisively selected [B. Specified Evolution]! As someone with notoriously bad luck, Charles had learned not to trust in his own fortune. Even with a 70% sess rate, he wasn''t willing to gamble. Plus, specified evolution promised to turn Mousie into the God of Apocalypse one day, a being of immense power. At that moment, Charles began to understand why dark energy was so frowned upon in Genosha and among humans as a whole. Just from Mousie''s evolution paths, it was clear that everything rted to dark energy veered toward the sinister and forbidden. Either it''s aboutunching soul attacks or directly evolving into a Demigodboth seem like something straight out of a viin''s ybook. But, as the saying goes, Mousie is his mystical beast, and no matter what, it would never betray him. The stronger Mousie became, the stronger Charles would be, so why care if it was considered forbidden? Since Charles had chosen the specified evolution path but hadn''t yet gathered all the necessary materials, Mousie couldn''tplete its evolution just yet. Charles took a quick look at Mousie''s updated stats after the recent level-up. Shadow Flying Squirrel [Name]]: Mousie [Attribute]: Dark [Level]: Lv21 [Quality]: tinum [Skills]: [Mimetic Illusion], [Darkness Cloak], [Darkness Drawn] [Weakness]: Entire body is a weak point [Likes]: Scaring people [Mood]: Hungry [Health]: Weak [Loyalty]: 89 [Evolution]: 2 possible paths [Description]: After being struck by lightning all afternoon, Mousie is both physically and mentally exhausted. It longs for its cozy bed in the Beast Mastery space. Of course, a few words of praise from you would make it very happy. After reviewing the stats, Charles smiled softly and rubbed Mousie''s little head, unable to resist praising it: "Mousie, you were so brave today! I''ll make you a feast tonight to celebrate!" Mousie: [Nodding enthusiastically.] Hearing Charles''s praise, Mousie couldn''t help but lick its lips. If it hadn''t been for his encouragement, it would never have dared to face that terrifying lightning. [Ding! Your praise has made Mousie very happy. Loyalty +1.] Current Loyalty: 90. "Who knew that a simplepliment could boost loyalty? Mystical beasts are just as sensitive as humans. They crave recognition and appreciation," Charles thought with a chuckle. Once loyalty reaches 90 or above, a mystical beast bes absolutely loyal to its Beast Master, obeying everymand and following them to the end. In other words, just like Max, Mousie had be a battlepanion that Charles couldpletely rely on. Charles noticed that Mousie had gained a new skill, so he took a closer look at the skill panel. [Darkness Drawn]: Mousie drains energy from enemies to either restore its own stamina or boost its attack power. This skill is also effective on any summoned projections. After reading the skill description, Charles couldn''t help but feel a surge of excitement. In the past, while Mousie could summon mystical beasts, those summoned creaturescked the full strength of the original, making theirbat effectiveness much lower. Mousie had to rely on constantly summoning new creatures in a sort of war of attrition, which was a massive drain on its energy. But now, with [Darkness Drawn], both Mousie and its summoned creatures could regenerate energy during battle, significantly increasing their endurance and overallbat effectiveness. His primary battle beast was Max, and Max often relied on Mousie''s summoned creatures to distract the enemy. Mousie''s new skill had effectively transformed Charles''sbat potential! Charles was tempted to test out the new skill immediately, but seeing how exhausted Mousie looked, he decided against it. "Mousie, you''ve worked really hard today," Charles said gently, stroking Mousie''s sleek fur. After sending Mousie back to the Beast Mastery space, Charles couldn''t help but gaze in the direction of the imperial capital. A familiar figure shed through his mind. He extended his hand, revealing a prominent red mark in the center of his left palm. When he looked at it, a countdown timer appeared before his eyes: [1 year, 348 days, 3 hours]. This [Human Contract], which had once been a source of humiliation for the old Charles, now served as a powerful motivator for the new him. One day, he would go to Aredale Academy himself. And when he did, Grace would see that the phrase "Do those gentry have blue blood, certainly" was not just a bold statement from a boy but a promise. He would also finally break the human contract that bound him. But before that, there was still a long road ahead. Whether he ventured into the Abyssal Depths or journeyed to the imperial capital of Genosha, the path from Lsengard would be fraught with danger. He needed to be fully prepared, and ideally, he would gather all the materials needed for Mousie''s evolution before setting out. ... In the following days, Charles shifted from the leisure of his holiday to a more focused and intense routine. asionally, he would take Mousie and Max to the ferocious beast mountains near Lsengard to get ustomed to their newly acquired skills and sharpen theirbat instincts. During the rest of his time, he practiced in the garden of Lily''s estate, having Mousie project copies of ferocious beasts for Max to spar against in mock battles. On the expansivewn, two figures were constantly shingan adult [wood-eating fox] battling against Max. Normally, Max could effortlessly defeat the copies Mousie summoned in mere seconds. But ever since Mousie activated the [Darkness Drawn] skill, the copy could heal its injuries and restore stamina with every attack itnded on Max, while Max gradually grew weaker. As the battle continued, Max began to fall behind. "Watch out!" Charlesmanded through [Mind Communication]. The wood-eating fox summoned wood-elemental energy, forming arge wooden stake and smashing it toward Max. Seeing the stake flying toward him, Max pushed off the ground, leaping into the air to avoid the attack. At the same time, it activated its second skill, [Bone-Achingly Cold]. Pale mes ignited around its body, and snowkes began to fall. Forcing Max to use its second skill was a sign that Mousie''s summoned copy was starting to exert real pressure on Max. Whoosh! The pale mes spread rapidly, and under the icy fire''s assault, the wood-eating fox''s temperature plummeted. In that split second when its movements slowed, Max seized the opportunity and shed its throat with a sharp w. The wood-eating fox copsed to the ground and vanished into ck energy. [Ding! Your mystical beast Max has defeated a wood-eating fox (Lv. 21), experience +50, current level: Lv. 21!] [Ding! Your mystical beast Mousie has gained experience during battle training, experience +20, current level: Lv. 21!] "No fair! You''re cheating, bullying me because I only have one battle skill..." Mousie crossed its arms, clearly upset, and flew over to Charles forfort. Not to be outdone, Max also rushed to Charles''s side, barking incessantly. Seeing the two creatures, one big and one small, seeking his attention, Charles couldn''t help butugh. He reached into his storage space, intending to grab a few bottles of [Regenerating Potion], but suddenly realized he had run out. After both Max and Mousie reached Lv. 20, Charles noticed the experience required for leveling up increased exponentially, significantly slowing their progress. Max had been stuck at Lv. 21 for almost a month, with no sign of leveling up. To speed up their progress, Charles had been feeding them regenerating potions to restore their stamina, engaging them in relentless battle practice day and night. Yet despite the intense training, neither Max nor Mousie had leveled up further. Instead, Charles''s stock of miracle drugs was nearly depleted. Reflecting on theck of progress over the past weeks, Charles felt frustrated: "At this rate, I won''t even reach fourth-level Beast Master in two years. How am I supposed to defeat Grace?" Just as Charles was wracking his brain, a figure suddenly emerged from the shadows beneath a nearby tree. A man in a ck robe stepped forward, shing Charles a sly grin: "Young one, you seem to be in quite a rush. Need a little help?" Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Ten Suns As the man emerged abruptly from the shadows, Charles instinctively tightened his grip on the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear. "Senior? Could you give me a heads up before you visit next time? Your sudden appearances are quite startling!" Charles sighed in relief when he realized the visitor was Ezra. "You seem to be in some trouble. If you agree to be my student now, maybe I can help you," the man in the ck robe said with a faint smile. Although Charles had little interest in joining the Cyber Academy, his heart skipped a beat upon hearing Ezra''s offer. "No need, I can handle my own matters," Charles responded bluntly. He knew that nothing came without a reason; the more eager Ezra appeared, the more suspicious Charles was of his intentions. "I must admit, your talent in Beast Mastery is exceptional. But I''ve also heard about the wager you made with the city lord''s daughter. Her talent is no less than yours, and she has already started her training at the Aredale Academy. Do you truly believe you can defeat her in two years? And about your parents, I might know some clues about their disappearance if you''re interested... heh," Ezra said, clearly well-prepared, with each statement targeting Charles'' vulnerabilities. Charles'' hand, still gripping the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear, trembled slightly, surprised at how thoroughly Ezra had investigated him. But he was telling the truth; those who reach the pinnacle of their abilities often show remarkable strength from their youth. With Grace''s talent disyed in the Ferocious Beast Mountains, even if he were to study at Nova Academy, he might not surpass her in two years. And he knows something about my parents? Could he be lying? Looking despondently at the mysterious man, Charles, not fully certain if he was even human, quipped, "I needmp oil made from a humpback whale if you can help Mousie evolve, I''ll consider joining the Cyber Academy. How about that?" He decided to y along, to see if Ezra could indeed help Mousie evolve. After all, he had a rmendation letter from Emma of Nova Academy, allowing him to slip away at any time. "Hmm, since when do students threaten their teachers? People are usually desperate to get into Cyber Academy, but here you are, turning the tables," Ezra chuckled, incredulously unable to believe that this was merely an 18-year-old youth, slicker than some centuries-old creatures. Charles scratched his head and chuckled, "Heh, if you can''t handle this small task, how can I believe anything you say isn''t a lie?" "Fine, since I still need something from you, follow me." Sighing helplessly, Ezra stretched out his gaunt hand and pulled Charles into the shadows beside them. The surroundings plunged into chaos, startling Charles, but as he calmed down, he realized he was likely traveling through space within the shadows. It was somewhat simr to his [Darkness Cloak], but judging from the changing scenery around him, Ezra''s teleportation skill was faster and covered greater distances. "Goo-goo" After an indeterminate amount of time in the dark silence, Charles faintly heard the cries of seabirds, and a light appeared ahead, almost too bright for his eyes. As the rolling heat waves hit him, Charles moved his hand from his eyes and found himself standing in the shadow cast by a rock on the beach. Looking up, he saw a group of seagulls leisurely circling and ying in the calm bay, the blue sea shimmering like fish scales under the sunlight. "Where have you brought me?" Charles asked, stepping on the soft sand, his eyes wide with surprise. Just moments ago, it felt like he was in a temporal tunnel, everything around him turning into phantoms. Blinking open his eyes, he found himself suddenly at the seaside. Noticing the distinctly hotter weather around him, Charles pulled out his phone and found it located him over 1000 kilometers away at a beach in Lsengard! "Didn''t you say you needed the fat from a salivate over a humpback whale? Here it is," Ezra snorted. Following the direction of his pointing, Charles rubbed his eyes, but the sea was calm and stillno sign of a salivate over a humpback whale, not even a fish in sight. "You say we can hunt a salivate over a humpback whale here, but I don''t see anything..." Confused, Charles rubbed his head, looking bewilderedly at Ezra. However, as soon as he finished speaking, a dark energy flowed from Ezra''s fingertip into his eyes, and suddenly, everything around him seemed to change. "Now, look." As Ezra''s voice fell, Charles raised his head and witnessed a scene he would never forget. The eternal golden sun in the sky suddenly split into ten distinct spheres, no longer dazzling with light but transformed into ten bloody orbs. From each orb, a chain stretched into the boundless cosmos, clinking softly as they collided. The rays that should have radiated out turned into dark tentacles that enveloped and obscured the entire sky. No words could adequately describe the eerie and mysterious sight Charles beheld. He was so shocked that he found himself speechless. The ten orbs loomed over the world like creators, as if everything beneath them was merely a ything. Charles looked downward. The once calm bay had morphed into an unfathomable abyss, teeming with strange creatures he had never seen before, writhing within the depths... Not far from him, Charles indeed spotted a whale, its body dark and translucent, equipped with two long tentacles. [Salivate over a Humpback Whale] [Attributes]: Dark [Level]: 32 [Quality]: Gold [Skills]: Darkness Attacks, Tentacle Wraps, Gaping Chasm, Eerie Saliva [Mood]: Excited [Health]: Good [Weakness]: Silver Weapons [Description]: A dark, bizarre creature from the edge of the abyss, continuously devouring since its birth. Its greed is as vast as its body. Beware the pair of tentacles on its sides. This was Charles'' first encounter with a dark creature other than Mousie, and just seeing its massive form, he knew it would be a formidable opponent, especially at level 32. However, havinge this far, Charles was not ready to give up. He turned to Ezra and said, "Senior, could you help me hunt a Salivate over a Humpback Whale, or even just cut off a piece of its flesh... Don''t worry, I won''t let your efforts go unrewarded. I can offer something of equivalent value in exchange!" "I can''t interfere directly. If I summon a mystical beast, They will notice. And... we need to leave," Ezra said, pulling Charles back into the shadows before he could respond. After another disorienting bout of spatial teleportation, the overwhelming heat that enveloped them vanished. Stepping out of the shadows, Charles abruptly looked up at the sky where the ten suffocating orbs had disappeared, leaving only a dazzling golden sun. The nightmare-like world was gone. He looked around and seemed to be back in the Lsengard courtyard, with the sound of car horns beeping nearby. Everything he had just seen felt like a dream, and the salivate over a humpback whale that had been within reach was also gone. Noticing the disappointment in Charles'' eyes, Ezra slowly began, "If you want to hunt that thing, you''ll have to do it yourself, and you''ll need a [spirit nail]. Without it, even if you kill it, you won''t get anything." Not able to obtain anything after the hunt? Charles paused, lost in thought. He remembered the treasure chest in Ares'' tomb, where he had found first-order beast cores of ten different attributes, yet he had never seen a dark attribute beast core. Creatures of the dark attribute indeed possessed some peculiar qualities. Still unwilling to give up, Charles looked at Ezra, "Senior, you must have a way, right? And about that spirit nail, you can manage that, can''t you?" "I can craft a spirit nail for you," Ezra nodded. Just as Charles was about to rejoice at Ezra''s agreement, the extensive list of materials Ezra continued with instantly dampened his spirits: "You need to prepare one ton of mystic iron with a purity of 99.99% or more, three dragon crystals, one silver matrix, and a forge. Then, I can naturally craft the [spirit nail] for you." As Ezra finished speaking, Charles'' expression stiffened, and he hesitated, asking, "What''s the issue?" "You make it sound so easy. Do you know how much mystic iron with a purity over 99.99% costs per kilogram? You actually want me to find a ton of it?" Charles looked incredulously at Ezra, who was shrouded in his ck robe, almost rolling his eyes. "Dragon crystals? I remember seeing one auctioned on the news for a whole gold coin, and you want three? And silver matrixonly the most pure silver veins, formed over hundreds of millions of years, could possibly yield one. Where am I supposed to find all these things..." Charles looked at Ezra, spreading his hands helplessly, "The items you mentioned would conservatively cost ten gold coins. Even if you sold me, I couldn''t gather that much money!" Seeing Charles with a face like a bitter melon, Ezra chuckled lightly, showing no intention offorting him: "That''s your problem now. I''ve already helped you this much, even agreed to craft the spirit nail for you, that''s more than generous. You can''t expect me to cover the material costs as well, can you?" With that, Ezra stepped back into the shadows, waving at Charles over his shoulder, "Once you''ve gathered the materials needed for the spirit nail, I''lle find you." But before disappearing, he suddenly turned around and added, "Just a reminder, the salivate over a humpback whale only returns briefly to the vicinity of the abyss during its migratory period. Miss it and you''ll have to wait another year. You better hurry up." With those final words, his figure gradually became translucent until hepletely vanished into the shadows. "Damn, being a Beast Master really burns through money. Just for a second-tier evolution, it costs so much!" Watching Ezra''s disappearing shadow, Charles felt almost on the verge of tears. Where was he supposed to get that much money? --- Chapter 97: Chapter 97: The Exhibition The financial drain of being a Beast Master was on an tirely differt levelpared to ordinary people, far beyond Charles'' expectations. One gold coin could buy a luxury apartmt in the heart of Lsgard. Evolving Mousie once was equivalt to burning through t such apartmts! But Charles quickly perked up. Mousie was destined to be a Demigod; it was normal for the initial investmt to be high. Unlike those mundane mystical beasts with no evolutionary paths, Beast Masters like him actually had the opportunity to spd on such hancemts! And as Ezra had said, the salivate over a humpback whale was briefly returning from the abyss to the bay because of migration. If he missed this chance, he would have to wait another year. He needed to gather the materials for the spirit nail within three days. "Last time at the Lsgard bank ''raiding'' Sly and Kevin''s stash, I got quite a few treasures, there must be some valuable things in there, right?" Charles essed his system [Storage Space], and a panel popped up on the scre. [Storage Space]: [Weapons]: Ice and Fire Supreme Spear (blue), Silver Dragon Sword (), Furious Python Spear (), Iron Darts (grey)... [Equipmt]: Nine Netherworld Armband (purple), Divine Scale Armor (blue), Magic Stone Shield (gre), Wolf Skin Boots ()... [Daily Use]: Tt, Bedding, Quilts, Camping Lamp, shlight... [Food]: 4 tons of water, 546 kg of emerald water frog meat, 600 kg of bloodthirsty rhino meat, 400 kg of lightning demon ape meat... [Ferocious Beast Materials]: giant freshwater crocodile skin, 86 red-eyed rabbit bones, 64 wood bear skins, tide-summoning merfolk tail fins, 93 panthera tigris ws... [Beast Core]: Tier Gold 5, Wood 6, Water 4, Fire , Earth 6, Wind 3, Thunder , Ice , Light , Poison 3, Dark 0 Tier Gold , Earth , Wind , Ice [Alchemy Ingredits]: 5 spirit roots, 3 anesthetic nts, 3 dragon''s blood, 5 nine-day revival, 38 heavly dark... [Alchemy Miracle Drugs]: gold spirit essce pill, 3 miraculous speed pills, 5 regerating potions... [Common Medicines]: 39 painkillers, 9 fire-controlling elixirs, 8 spirit-replishing pills, 4 sere fluids, 0 beast-driving wines, 7 recovery sters... [Smithing Materials]: 5 kg of mystic iron, kg of ice silk, 6 kg of alloy, 96 kg of mica... [Treasures]: Night pearls, 38 moonstones, 5 red jaspers, crystals of frost... [Special Items]: /3 of a map, fragmt of a jade tablet Charles scanned through the items in his storage space, feeling a sse of aplishmt. This ''raid'' had indeed be fruitful. Although there wer''t many valuable items, the sheer quantity was overwhelming. Charles considered selling all the unnecessary materials from his storage space to purchase the materials needed to craft the [spirit nail]. "The migratory period of the salivate over a humpback whale is very short. Selling these items at market price might not be quick ough; perhaps it''s best to hold an exhibition and sell these materials at half price," Charles thought to himself. Managing to promote and sell hundreds of tons of materials and equipmt in a short time would be impossible for him alone. Moreover, organizing an exhibition with adequate vue, logistics, and staff arrangemts was no simple task. The only tities in Lsgard capable of such arge undertaking were the major family ns, and Charles couldn''t think of anyone else. The Misubi Auction House certainly wouldn''t be interested in such low-cost goods, and the Beast Master Guild''smission was too high. After pondering for a while, Charles rummaged through his storage space and pulled out a business card that David from the hospital had giv him earlier. ... At PM, in the high-level conferce room of the Smith Family Group''s headquarters building, David looked troubled as he faced the man dressed somewhat oddly. After carefully choosing his words, he regretfully said, "I''m very sorry, sir, but our Smith Family Group has always be in the jewelry business. We have little experice with selling weapons, ferocious beast materials, or miracle drugs..." "...As for your request to have an exhibition set up by 9 AM tomorrow, it is somewhat difficult." David delivered this in a very diplomatic manner, effectively a polite refusal. David, a seasoned businessman, was wary of this mysterious man who wouldn''t reveal his true idtity, his instincts hinting that he might be dealing with a fraud. The high-level executives of the Smith family group, including managers and supervisors, also looked skeptically at the man in front of them, who wore a mask and sunsses, as if the invtory list he prested was a joke. Over a hundred wood bear skins! More than three hundred panthera tigris fangs! And as for ferocious beast meat, hundreds of tons of it!!! In all of Lsgard, only the Taylor family, who primarily dealt in ferocious beast hunting, could possess such quantities. And those weapons and equipmt. Several hundred pieces from Tone Reproduction! Dozs of pieces of gre-quality gear and armor! Ev some blue-quality weapons and equipmt!!! Did you quietly rob the Drav family weapon shop''s invtory? Standing at the front of the conferce room, under the gaze of dozs of eyes, Charles pressed a button on his red bow tie, activating a voice changer that could alter his voice to sound like anything he wanted. "It seems everyone is quite skeptical of what I''ve said. If you don''t believe me, you can apany me to the warehouse to inspect the goods. Everything is in stock, and after verification, you can th decide whether or not to cooperate." The voice of a robust middle-aged man emanated from Charles''s bow tie, altered by the voice changer. Upon hearing this, David, who had be somewhat distracted, finally showed a spark of interest. Based on his experice, those involved in fraud or scams could never produce the goods, or could only show a small portion. This man named ''Charlie'' had appartly transported all the goods to Lsgard, and they were all readily avable? "Ahem..." David, who hadn''t spok for a while, slowly stood up from his executive chair, his voice much softer than before: "Would you mind if I invite Master Brown from the Misubi Auction House for an appraisal... Don''t get me wrong, I''m not suggesting your goods are fake. After all, with such arge quantity of goods, if a few defective items were to slip into the market, it would be bad for both our reputations..." Charles, having be a businessman in his previous life, understood David''s caution with such arge order and nodded in agreemt, "No problem, we''re both businessm here; transparcy is key." The group arrived at the main trance of the Smith family''s jewelry headquarters, where David oped the door of a luxurious sedan for Charles, th personally drove him. Sitting in a top-tier luxury car for the first time, Charles was somewhat excited and curiously inspected everything inside the vehicle. He was very fond of both the luxurious interior and the soft,fortable leather seats. It was in this momt that he truly felt the glory of being a Beast Master and understood why everyone in Gosha aspired to be one. The wealth, status, and most importantly, the respect that Beast Masters could attain were things ordinary people might never achieve in their lifetimes. Charles kept mostly quiet, and David did not force conversation, focusing on driving. An hourter, Smith family Group''s Presidt David, along with several executives, arrived at the warehouse Charles had mtioned. Master Brown from the Misubi Auction House, along with a doz appraisers, had arrived ahead of them and were meticulously inspecting the items. By eving, a panting Brown finally rushed out and dered, "Mr. David, I can assure you, as the chief appraiser of the Misubi Auction House in Lsgard, that all the miracle drugs, ferocious beast materials, weapons, and armor are guine!" Hearing this, David''s eyelids twitched, somewhat incredulous. He had never dreamed of countering such a substantial business deal in his life. Despite years of experice in the business world, he still couldn''t control his trembling hands as he took the appraisal report from Brown. All guine! Everything was guine! The Smith family''s jade mine was nearly depleted, and he had dreamed of expanding the business beyond just jewelry, but he never expected such an opportunity toe so easily! Inside the warehouse, standing before the mountainous piles of goods, there were faint sounds of people sharply inhaling, and several executives, while excitedly inspecting the goods, perked up their ears to list to what the chairman and Charlie were discussing. "Now that the goods have be verified, I hope Mr. David can sell them all within three days. I''m not concerned about the price; we''ll split the profits ny-one," Charles stated straightforwardly,ying out his demands. "Mr. Charlie, are you in urgt need of money? We could pottially earn more profit if we release these goods into the market in batches..." However, before David could finish, Charles interrupted him. "I need this exhibition set up by 9 AM tomorrow morning, or I might have to take this business to someone else," Charles said, his voice deep and devoid of emotion. The migratory period of the salivate over a humpback whale could d at any time, sding it back to the abyss. If he couldn''t gather the funds to craft the [spirit nail] within three days, more money wouldn''t mean much to Charles. After all, in this world, power is everything. With a powerful mystical beast, he wouldn''tck for money. Whether it was wealth, status, orpanionship... these things could only be secured with strong power. "I''ve also listed three materials I need on the invtory sheet. If Mr. David can procure them, just deduct their cost from the profits of the exhibition sales; there''s no need to contact me." "I have other matters to attd to and must step away for a bit. I''ll leave the exhibition tirely in Mr. David''s hands." With a nonchnt smile, Charles handed over the keys to David and left the warehouse. Watching the confidt figure stride away, the executives of the Smith family group and Brown were stunned. His t didn''t sound local to Lsgard; could he be some high-ranking official from elsewhere? But why would such a figure choose to do business in Lsgard? Everyone in the Smith family group showed signs of tion on their faces. This batch of goods could solve the crisis of their depleting jade mines! Perhaps the Smith family could be the strongest among Lsgard''s top three families. Brown, too, was visibly excited, staring dumbfounded at the warehouse now filled with goods, siltly resolving, "If such a promint figure hase to Lsgard, I must seize any opportunity to forge ties!" Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Business Acumen At t o''clock the next morning, Charles was awaked by a reltless barrage of message alerts on his phone. [Your ount ding in 957 has received a transfer of 8 silver coins, currt bnce: 0 gold coins, 37 silver coins, 800 copper coins.] [Your ount ding in 957 has received a transfer of 90 silver coins, currt bnce: 0 gold coins, 7 silver coins, 800 copper coins.] [...] Yawning, Charles got out of bed and started scrolling through his phone while eating breakfast. He was immediately struck by the flood of ads onlinefrom mainstream media like the Lsgard Forum and the Joint Morning Post, to streaming tforms like YOUBOTE. As long as the phone had inte, oping it up meant seeing a ring ad: [5 silver coins! Bet once for a chance to change your fate!] "Wow, talk about business savvy. I nned to host a sales expo, and David turned it into a blind box gambling evt?" Charles couldn''t help but smirk as he read the evt description. He had allowed David to sell materials and equipmt on his behalf, most of which were quite ordinary, with a total value he estimated at a gold coins. But David did something clever: he split these items into 4,000 blind boxes, selling every item, regardless of quality, for a uniform price of 5 silver coinsdoubling the profit! Flicking through some short videos, initially, not many believed in it, suspecting another sales scam. That was until someone unpacked a high-quality weapon, idtified as a [Blue Weapon]. That caught everyone''s atttion! For 5 silver coins, they could get a weapon worth 0 silver coins, a fortune that could set someone up for life. And with each box guaranteed to at least contain some ferocious beast meat or a low-grade miracle drug, worth about silver coins, they wer''t losing much! This was far better than buying lottery tickets! So, word spread from one to t, from t to a hundred, and ev people who hadn''t se the ad were hurrying towards the ctral square. Impatit, Charles too left his home, eager to see the spectacle at the expo! As he passed by the South City train station, he heard many with ts from outside Lsgardclearly, they had traveled from the suring areas. "Giv the intsity of this advertising campaign, I suspect all the materials will be sold out in less than three days, heh heh!" Charles grinned, looking out at the bustling street, feeling overjoyed. Who could be the biggest winner if not him? He was effectively getting money for nothing, just waiting for 0 gold coins to hit his ount! Imagine Sly and Kevin''s faces wh they realize those materials were from their own stock. Those old fools would probably have a fit! In just a short time, Charles received another 0 silver coins. He was gleefully checking his bank messages wh he ran straight into Thomas, who was sporting a bandage on his head and just out of the hospital. Seeing Charles, Thomas''s veins bulged with rage: "Hmph,st time at the rollmt ceremony, you beat me by a fluke! Dare to fight me again, fair and square, once I''m healed?" Seeing him acting tough as if he''d forgott past pain, Charles smiled, betraying no emotion: "I''m afraid you''ll never get the chance. You better focus on re-tering next year''s ferocious beast mountain trial. Who knows, maybe you''ll d up as my junior!" Beating Thomas half to deathst time at the rollmt ceremony had avged Daniel. Charles found it distasteful to ev spd another second a such a shameless person. However, thinking of the impding bankruptcy of the Taylor family brought a wicked smile to Charles''s face. Thomas could never have imagined that all the equipmt at this expo came from his family''s reserves stored in the Lsgard bank''s vault. Within a month, the Drav family would vanishpletely from Lsgard! From a distance, a figure in azure waved at him. Aurora approached Charles with a radiant smile: "Charles, you''re here to check out the expo too? Everyone''s oping blind boxes; it looks pretty fun. Should we give it a try?" "Cough... It''s just some ordinary stuff, probably a rip-off. Better not to join the crowd," Charles kindly suggested, not wanting to see a frid get duped. But he figured, with the wealth of the Stokes family, they probably wouldn''t miss a few items. "Ha, what''s this about not wanting to join the crowd? You''re probably just broke, can''t ev muster 5 silver coins, right?" A tall, shapely woman in a miniskirt suddly joined in from the crowd. Seeing her, Charles was momtarily startled, but quickly retorted, "Ah, Miss Stokes, you''re looking ev more spldid these days. Who are you dressing up so seductively for?" Hearing Charles''s remark, Celestine was reminded of that night by the river. She turned to Aurora and said, "Sister, how many times have I told you to stay away from this kind of person?" "What''s wrong with me? Your attitude stinks; don''t tell me you''ve never be in love, despite being well into your twties?" Charles responded unapologetically. "You! You little rascal, are you asking for a beating?" Celestine stamped her foot in anger, her hexagram talisman flickering faintly in her hand. "Bimbo, can you ev see the path wh you look down?" Charles snapped back. "..." Feeling the increasingly vtile ergy in the air, Aurora appeared helpless. She couldn''t understand it; they hadn''t known each other before, had they? Her memory of Charles was of a very polite young man, yet whever he saw her sister Celestine, harsh words seemed to fly effortlessly. And her usually gtle sister turned exceptionally irritable. Caught in the middle, Aurora became a sort of ''buffer zone'', finding it hard to side with either without offding the other. To the onlookers, however, the sce appeared quite differt. "Damn, where does this guy get his luck from, to have the Stokes sisters apany him on a shopping trip?" "Jealous, man! Marry either sister, and you''re set for life in the Stokes family, no need to work for at least fifty years!" "Sobbing, what does he have that I don''t? How can someone as handsome as me be single for 30 years?" The Stokes sisters were well-known beauties in Lsgard. Wh Celestine turned 6, suitors practically broke down the Stokes family''s doors trying to win her hand. Yet, not one of Lsgard''s elite young masters could catch her eye; all were st packing with the crack of her whip. As for the younger Miss Stokes, her beauty matched her sister Celestine''s, and her demeanor was calm and graceful, chanting and demure like a snow lotus from the mountains. Just one nce could invoke a deep sse of tderness. In the crowd, a pale pink rose quietly fell to the g at the trance of the expo... Bjamin''s face was already ash with fury. Bjamin had known beforehand that the Stokes sisters would be visiting the ctral square expo and had meticulously nned an idtal counter. But who could have predicted that Charles would swoop in and steal them away? ncing at his reflection in a shop window, examining the hairstyle he had carefully styled that morning along with his suspder trousers, Bjamin felt like a clown. Losing to aristocrats like Thomas or Robert was one thing, but being bested by Charles, amoner, was more than he could stomach. Despite Charles''s demonstrated exceptional Beast Mastery talts, Bjamin, who had be a ssation in Lsgard upon his admission to Aredale Academy, did not find that impressive. "Hmph, a loser daring topete with me for a woman, he must be out of his mind! Don''t let me catch you alone in Lsgard..." The pink rose on the g was forcefully stepped on and g into fragmts. ... In a conferce room within a high-rise building, the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive. Several figures looked anxiously at the bustling Lsgard square in the distance, one of them being Thomas, who had just be discharged from the hospital. At the head of the conferce table sat a middle-aged man with a grim expression, pacing back and forth impatitly before finally breaking the silce. "Son, you''ve checked everything out? The expo is really organized by the Smith family, with thousands of weapons and equipmt sold at low prices?" the middle-aged man asked in a hoarse voice, filling the room. "Dad, I wt there right after getting discharged from the hospital, and it''s all true! There''s a section dedicated to weapons and equipmt. I saw many people spding 5 silver coins on raffles, mostly for forging materials and Tone Reproduction equipmt. But some lucky ones got or gre items, and I heard on the news that someone ev pulled a blue item!" Thomas recalled, his forehead beading with sweat. Depding on a monopoly of 70% of Lsgard''s weapons and armor trade, the Drav family had be one of the top three families in Lsgard. The Smith family, starting from the jewelry business and now tering the weapons trade, was shaking the very foundation the Drav family relied on for survival. "You say there are thousands of pieces of weaponry and equipmt there; where did they get all this stock from!" Kevin furrowed his brows and looked towards the high-rise behind him, his eyes filled with confusion. "Boss, ording to the intelligce we''ve gathered, it''s a distant rtive of Charles, named ''Charlie,'' whomissioned David to handle the sales," a manager stepped forward, handing over a photo to his superior. "Charles? To think he has such a well-connected rtive?" Kevin looked doubtfully at the photograph of a man wearing sunsses and a mask, whose build was strikingly simr to Charles. A fierce look shed in Kevin''s eyes. Anyone aiming to shake the foundation of the Drav family was dering op hostility against him, Kevin. "It looks like he''s from out of town, trying to seize the weapons market in Lsgard. First, he tries using business tactics to see if he can survive this crisis. If that doesn''t work..." Kevin''s voice trailed off as he made a throat-shing gesture, his eyes glinting with cold intt. The Drav family''s monopoly over Lsgard''s weapons trade was maintained through ruthlessness. Kevin could scarcely remember how many rivals had died by his hand. And since this man was Charles''s rtive, an emy, there was no way he would let him off! "I''ll offer double the price to buy all those equipmt blind boxes. Under no circumstances can we allow those items to hit the market," Kevin clched his fist and issued orders to the sior executives a him. Subsequtly, the group left the meeting room with a fierce determination... Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Monopoly Operations In an antique courtyard, the head of the Taylor family, Sly, had just wok up from a nap and made himself a cup of coffee. A man in armor hurried up to him, "Mr. Sly, I just found outDavid is selling materials at low prices in the ctral square. Someone reportedly bought a third-tier ferocious beast''s skeleton for just 5 silver coins!" "Spit" Sly sprayed his coffee, staining the documts on his table a brownish-yellow, incredulous at what he had heard, he asked his subordinate to repeat, "A third-tier ferocious beast''s skeleton, for how much?" After confirming there was no mistake in the information, a brief nk filled Sly''s mind. Last month, to hunt down a third-tier ferocious beast [falco albici], they had sacrificed six ferocious beast hunters, including one second-level Beast Master, at a great cost. All for something now being sold for 5 silver coins? For a momt, Sly felt as though his intelligce was being insulted, but he quickly snapped back to reality, ssing that a new ferocious beast trader was gaging in malicious price undercutting. "Boss, there''s something odd about that third-tier mystical beast being sold at David''s expo. It''s a [falco albici] too, and it looks just like the one we caughtst month..." his subordinate voiced his concerns. "You suspect that someone stole our stock and is now reselling it?" Sly paused, th quickly dismissed the idea, smiling at the man, "How could that be possible? Our vault is at the very bottom of Lsgard Bank''s vault, protected by a three-meter-thick mystic iron steel te. Who could get in without the code?" "Besides, with Lsgard Bank''s security team patrolling 4/7, ev if someone could get in, how could they possibly transport so much right under their noses?" The man scratched his head, also finding it unlikely, and chuckled, "You''re right, Mr. Sly. That ce is more fortified than Lsgard''s city walls. Not ev a fly could get in there!" Sly waved his hand, signaling the man to leave. However, he remained cautious and had already st someone to Lsgard Bank to check his invtory. The more he thought about the Smith family suddly starting to sellrge quantities of ferocious beast materials at low prices, the more suspicious Sly became... ... At the temporary expo cter set up in Lsgard Square, the crowd of people looking to purchase equipmt and materials was growing. Many had ev sold their houses, hoping to change their destinies. Amid the increasingly crowded surings, Charles felt a mix of irritation and excitemt. Each vibration from his phone was a notification of money being deposited into his ount, which made him hope for ev more visitors to the expo. Sitting in a corner of the expo cter, Charles fanned himself from the heat and quietly waited for the day''s evt to d. "Celestine, you''ll be going to the inner court of Cyber Academy next year, right? I heard it''s beyond the Abyssal Depths. Does that mean I won''t see you at all next year?" Listing to the slightly mncholic conversation of the Stokes sisters, Charles couldn''t help but think of Ezra, a curious person to have as an admissions tutor at such a unique school. Long before he attded Lsgard''s rollmt ceremony, he had already thoroughly researched the three major academies in the imperial capital online. Among them, the most mysterious was the so-called ''Monster Academy,'' Cyber Academy. Cyber Academy has branches spread throughout the Ethereal Grove, embodying a unique educational philosophy of differtiated training, gathering ''monsters'' from across the tire Ethereal Grove. The admissions criteria for Cyber Academy are exceedingly stringt, requiring candidates to reach ''third-level Beast Master'' before the age of 0, effectively filtering out 99.99% of applicants. Thanks to these harsh admissions standards, those who sessfully graduate from Cyber Academy are invariably top-tier Beast Masters whomand respect wherever they go. After gaining promince, these individuals oft show gratitude for the training they received at the academy, providing various advantages to fellow Cyber Academy graduates. Graduating from Cyber Academy esstially means gaining ess to the most powerfulwork in the Ethereal Grove. The inner court of Cyber Academy is shrouded in ev greater mystery, with the exact location of the inner court still a secret. It is rumored that only the most exceptional graduates earn the privilege to continue their studies there, where they can ess cutting-edge theoretical research and the most pott resources. For many young Beast Masters in the Ethereal Grove, tering the inner court of Cyber Academy represts the ultimate dream. However, after such stringt selection processes, for most Beast Masters, this remains but a dream. ... "You must be joking again. Although my Beast Mastery talt is considerably stronger than ''some people''s,'' I''m still quite far from qualifying for the inner court," Celestine said, deliberately giving Charles a pointed look, her provocation clear. Charles, however, did not gage with her. He had a systemically nned optimal path, including evolutionary routes for mystical beasts and upgrade materials, requiring only a nce at system prompts wh necessary. For him, college was not an absolute necessity. "Charles, which academy do you n to attd? Aredale Academy, Nova Academy, or Cyber Academy? With your grades, you could easily choose any of the top three academies in the imperial capital," Aurora suddly leaned in close to Charles, her vy appart. With an indiffert wave of his hand, Charles kept his eyes on a disturbance ahead in the crowd: "To me, they''re all much of a muchness. I''ll just pick whichever academy catches my eye wh the timees. Of course, if ''certain people'' are the product of Cyber Academy, I guess it can''t be that great, right?" "Hmph, you''re quite arrogant, ar''t you? Don''t think getting into Cyber Academy is such a big deal. People like you are a dime a doz at the three major academies of the imperial capital. With your attitude, you might find university life quite challging!" Celestine couldn''t help but re at him vomously upon hearing this. The tsion betwe them was rising, but suddly, a wave of cursing from the crowd ahead interrupted their conversation. Charles moved closer to hear better. It turned out that a scuffle had brok out over the hoarding of weapon blind boxes. From a distance, Charles heard one of the quarrelers shout, "I''ll buy all the remaining weapon blind boxes for silver coins each!" The man''s deration instantly provoked a chorus of curses from the suring crowd. Although he didn''t reveal his idtity, nearly everyone guessed that he was st by the Drav family. Since the Drav family had monopolized the weapons trade in Lsgard, they had raised prices numerous times under various pres. Despite the esstial nature of these goods and the public''s frustration, there was little anyone could do about it. This expo organized by the Smith family had be apetitor to the Drav family conglomerate, who now aimed to consolidate their monopoly by buying up all the weapons at the evt. Despite paying double now, the prices would surely double at resaleno merchant ever intds to make a loss. Themotion soon caught the atttion of the expo organizers. David was very reluctant to sell the weapons to the Drav family''s represtative, but he still made a call to Charles. The call wt unanswered, but David soon received a message from Charles. If they were willing to pay double the price for the weapon blind boxes, th they might as well sell them all to them. 500 weapon blind boxes were ultimately bought for the high price of 5 gold coins each. Though reluctant, David chose to proceed with the shipmt. ... By eving, the crowd in the square had gradually dispersed, leaving only the transport workers bustling about. All the weapon and equipmt blind boxes were packed and transported unchanged to the Drav family''s equipmt store invtory, th one by one unsealed. - Silver dragon sword (). - Furious python spear (). - Iron darts (grey). - ... Watching as one blind box after another was oped, only to reveal junk, Kevin couldn''t help his mouth twitching in annoyance. Thomas looked on, equally baffled, "Dad, I feel like we''ve be duped. I reckon the total value of these over a thousand pieces of equipmt wouldn''t ev exceed 5 gold coins! And we paid triple the price for them." Kevin, trying to stabilize his emotions, patted Thomas on the shoulder, "Son, there''s still a lot you need to learn. We have thousands of pieces of equipmt in our warehouse. With this batch, we canpletely monopolize the tire equipmt market in Lsgard. Wh that timees, we can charge whatever we want, can''t we?" The two and a few weapon shop appraisers began to inspect the equipmt scattered on the floor. Minutester, the smile on Kevin''s face slowly stiffed. Something felt off... Why did these weapons look so familiar? Thomas, puzzled, remarked, "Dad, why do I feel like these weapons and equipmt are from our own store?" The smiths nearby voiced their doubts as well. "Boss, the tempering technique used on this silver dragon sword is unique to our shop. How could this be a coincidce?" "This furious python spear, I can guarantee 0% that I personally forged it. To save on materials, I made part of the handle hollow. You can cut it op and see for yourself!" Amid the screeching noise of the cutting machine, the spear handle was gradually severed. Wh the hollow inside was revealed, Kevin felt a heavy weight on his chest and his face turned pale. He had spt a total of 5,000 silver coins, 5,000 of which were from a high-interest loan. And now, to discover that he had bought his own goods? --- Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Everything Was Emptied? "Mr.Kevin, all our stock weapons were kept in the vault, which is more secure than Lsgard''s city defses, with 4-hour patrols. How could anyone have stol them?" Another smith, looking at the now-severed furious python spear, made his judgmt. Backing up a bit, ev if someone could sneak in, how could they possibly have transported all those weapons without anyone noticing? Kevin found this reasoning sound but still felt the whole situation was overly mysterious. He immediately drove at high speed to Lsgard Bank, heading straight for the private vault located t floors underg. Kevin first passed through an electronic scanner, th tered a password, and after numerousplicated idtity verifications, he finally reached the lowest level of the basemt. Seeing the vault door untouched without any signs of tampering, Kevin''s suspded heart finally settled, and he chuckled softly, "Haha, it seems we were overthinking it. With such strict security measures, how could anyone get in?" Lightning demon ape... The vault door slowly oped. Instead of the neatly arranged weapons and piles of forging materials he expected, the vast vault was empty, ev the shelves that disyed the weapons were gone! Kevin''s smile abruptly ceased, turning somewhat grotesque, his clched fist loosing and tighting repeatedly... "How is this possible? How is this possible!!!" Kevin began to mutter to himself, his words unclear, just repeatedly mumbling, "How is this possible... How is this possible..." Over a thousand pieces of weapons and materials, the fruits of decades of the Drav family''s efforts, had vanished overnight? "Next door! Quickly, check the next door!!!" Unable to restrain his shock, Kevin stumbled along, leading his m with keys to another vault. Boom!!! Wh the door to the next vault oped, all color drained from Kevin''s face. Seeing only the four walls remaining in the vault, his knees buckled: "My beast cores... my hides... my weapons... my armor... everything I''ve worked for most of my life, just gone? Evaporated? Vanished without a trace? This can''t be! This must be an illusion!" "Father! Father!" "Pull yourself together!" Thomas cried out as he rushed forward. The core members of the Drav family group, fearing any mishap, quickly helped him up from the g. Kevin was the linchpin of the tire Drav family conglomerate; if he were to fall, it could spell the d for the tire Drav family. "Father, I''ve already checked the vault walls and found no secret passages. It must be a collusion betwe Isgard Bank and the Smith family. How else could so much disappear into thin air?" Thomas wiped the sweat from Kevin''s forehead, feeling as though his father had aged a decade in an instant. The suring managers werepletely baffled, wanting to console Kevin but at a loss for words. To monopolize the market with David''s weapons, the Smith family group had tak out a high-interest loan of 5,000 silver coins''nine out and thirte back''. The creditor would be knocking on their door in a week. If they couldn''te up with the money by th, they would all have to look for new ways to make a living. "Isn''t this the Drav family? What has got you so worked up?" From the other d of the corridor, a somewhat surprised voice called out. Thomas turned to see Sly Taylor, the head of the Taylor family, approaching with a few people. ncing at the now empty vaults, Sly couldn''t help but snicker, "Are you two pulling a fast one on me, staging a theft to hike up the prices of weapons throughout the city?" Such arge warehouse would take dozs of truckloads to empty, how could there not be a single sound? Sly was a shrewd businessman who could smell a ruse from a mile away, seeing right through the Dravs'' ploy. But... seeing Kevin barely hanging on, lying on the g, Sly felt an unexinable panic: "Could it be, the vault was actually robbed?" He too had noticed at the expo, David offloading vast amounts of ferocious beast materials and miracle drugs, strikingly simr to those in his store. Passing by Isgard Bank, he had just decided to check his invtory. He hadn''t be concerned initially, but upon seeing Kevin''spletely emptied vaults, sweat began to seep from his palms. ck, ck... The heavy, solid iron doors of the vault emitted a low, muffled sound. Originally installed for security, these doors and the suring walls were made from reinforced steel tes, three meters thick, impervious ev to artillery fire. As Sly pressed the electric switch, the vault lit up brightly, spotlessly clean to the point of being reflective! At that sight, Sly''s vision wt ck. He had personally escorted the ferocious beast materials to the vault, overseeing the unloading of each item. But now, over 300 tons of ferocious beast meat, blood, fur, and bones... all gone, ev the refrigeration units from the adjact cold storage had be stol! Cleaner than his dog''s licked dinner bowl! "No... this can''t be... this can''t be..." Momts ago, Sly was mocking Kevin like he was mad, but now, he himself couldn''t help but mutter uncontrobly. These ferocious beast materials were the lifeline of the Taylor family! The hunters who risked their lives in the mountains were still waiting for their pay. Arge portion of these goods had be pre-paid by clits; what was he to do if he couldn''t deliver? Sly burst out of the vault and flung op the doors to the adjact room storing miracle drugs, only to find, unsurprisingly, that all the miracle drugs, alchemy raw materials, and ev several bags of alchemy waste had be cleared out! These vaults, though beath Isgard Bank, were his private safes, and any loss therein was not the bank''s responsibility. This meant no one wouldpsate him for his losses! The thought of his life''s work being destroyed in an instant caused a surge of anger and a sickly sweet taste in his throat. "Ptuh!" He couldn''t hold back, and a mouthful of blood sprayed forth. ... In Isgard''s ctral square, Charles leisurely leaned against a tree, watching the sales expo and yawning. Today was thest day of the expo. Thanks to the Smith family''s aggressive marketing, they had sold over 3,000 of the 4,000 mystery boxes, making both him and David a tidy profit. Charles checked his ount bnce, and his phone quickly beeped with a bank message. [Dear customer, the currt bnce of your ount ding in 957 is: gold coins, 7 silver coins, 600 copper coins.] Seeing the long string of numbers in the bank message, Charles could hardly hide his grin: "Heh, this should be more than ough to buy the materials for the [spirit nail], and I''ll still have a few gold coins left." As Charles prepared to leave, amotion at the expo caught his atttion. Moving closer, it turned out to be members of the Taylor and Drav families causing a sce! Both Sly and Kevin looked distinctly unwell. "David, you''re reselling stol goods? Have you no shame?" Sly roared, nearly at the top of his lungs, as he was confronted by several security personnel in uniforms from the Smith family at the exhibition. On the other side, Kevin, with a macing look, hurled a gleaming ck supreme spear into the cter of the vue, saying fiercely, "Everyone knows this furious python spear can only be forged by the Drav family''s weapon shop here in Isgard. David, be smart and give me back my gold coins, and I''ll let this slide." The lively expo quieted down suddly wh word got out that the items might be stol. It was rare to witness such a public feud among the three major families of Isgard! Both parties madepelling points, and rect online leaks showing weapons and miracle drugs from the mystery boxes bearingbels from the Taylor and Drav families only fueled suspicions that they might indeed be stol. Everyone was eager to see how David would respond. "Ahem..." Noticing the crowd''s atttion, David cleared his throat and switched on his microphone: "Sly, you im the miracle drugs have the Taylor familybel, but isn''t it possible I bought your merchandise and resold it?" "And Kevin," David continued with a calm smile, "where is your weapons vault?" "Isgard Bank, sublevel -," Kevin replied coldly. "And how many guards are a the vault?" David probed further. "Twty... What are you getting at?" Kevin was growing impatit. "That''s exactly my point!" Upon hearing Kevin''s response, David couldn''t help but burst intoughter: "Over 300 tons of weapons and equipmt, stored in the Isgard Bank''s sublevel vault with twty guards patrolling 4/7, and you''re telling me it all got moved overnight without anyone noticing..." Here, David paused for effect: "Forgive my bluntness, but if that''s what you''re iming was stol, are you treating me like a fool?" David''s remark brought a momt of silce over the expo, followed soon by continuousughter. "Ha, I was just thinking, how could hundreds of tons of material be stol in one night!" "Unless those weapons grew wings and flew away? But I just won one in the draw, and I didn''t see any wings on it." "These Drav and Taylor families are so shameless, seeing someone else''s business thrive anding up with these nderous tricks..." Not only were his items stol, but the suring mockery made Sly''s blood boil, causing a sickly sweetness in his throat once again. Kevin''s face turned ash with rage! Swallowing the blood that threated to spill from his throat, Sly red at David vomously and said, "Fine, fine, David! I, Sly, will remember this bitterness!" Watching Sly leave, Kevin and his father Thomas had no choice but to let it go. As they turned away, the look in Kevin''s eyes towards David was filled with chilling restmt and vom... --- Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Mythical Beasts Watching Kevin and Sly slink away in defeat, Charles couldn''t help but smile slightly. He relished seeing them powerless and seething, unable to produce any evidence. His tactics might not have been the most honorable, but did one need to be ethical when dealing with enemies? If he had no ethics, then he couldn''t be held hostage by them! To monopolize the market, Kevin had recently spent a fortune, paying double the price for all the weapons; Sly, too, had probably secretly leveraged himself in a simr manner. Now that their inventories were gone, Charles figured it would only be a week before news of their bankruptcy emerged. With no more drama to observe, the crowd gradually dispersed. Charles lingered at the expo, wandering around until 5 PM when thest mystery box was sold for five silver coins. The three-day sales event finally drew to a close. Finding a secluded spot, Charles carefully covered his face and then donned a red bow tie that altered his voice. He then leisurely made his way towards where David was. --- At a wooden-structured courtyard atop a 30-story building, Charles took in the sprawling night view of bustling Isengard. "Mr. Charlie, please take a seat," David greeted him with a smile, ushering him to a table in a small pavilion and brewing him a cup of tea. This was indeed like inviting the god of wealth home. The Smith family had been facing a crisis due to depleted gemstone mines, but Charlie had just brought in a deal worth 30 gold coins. With a 10%mission, he''d earn 3 gold coins, enough to help the Smith family through their financial troubles. Charles didn''t waste time with small talk, stating his purpose directly: "Mr. Qin, thank you for your efforts at the expo. The goods I stored in the warehouse, they''ve all been sold, right?" David nodded, then instructed his secretary to fetch a report from nearby. Flipping to thest page, he smiled and said: "The total sales from the expo amounted to 28 gold coins and 420 silver coins. After taxes and the Smith family group''s 10% share, the total is 24 gold coins and 510 silver coins, which has already been transferred to your designated bank ount." Charles nced at the contract David handed him, noticing a significant discrepancy between the 24 gold coins listed and the 12 gold coins he had received. Seeming to notice Charles''s confusion, David pulled out a purchase order from his folder and handed it to Charles: "Mr. Charlie, this is the list of items you asked me to buy, totaling 12 gold coins, all detailed here. Would you like me to have them delivered to your home?" Charles examined the purchase list, which appeared urate from the photos and included detailed appraisal reports, exactly the materials he needed to craft the spirit nail. The Smith family, truly one of Lsengard''s three major families, handled their affairs with impressive efficiency! If he had gone shopping for these materials himself, it could have taken a month, yet David had managed to procure everything within three days. "Please deliver these materials to the warehouse we usedst time," Charles said, eager to leave before risking exposure by staying too long with David. "Mr. David, this coboration has been very pleasant. However, I have other matters to attend to, so I must take my leave now." David, always perceptive, did not attempt to detain Charles any longer than necessary. He personally escorted Charles to the elevator and all the way to the front door of the Smith family building, instructing the driver to take it slow on the road. As Charles stepped into the car, he suddenly turned and said, "By the way, I often travel on business to the provincial capital and the imperial capital, so I''m not often in Lsengard. Some matters can''t be clearly discussed over the phone. From now on, if I have any business to handle, I''ll have my nephew Charles take care of it. What do you think?" Hearing Charles''s desire for a long-term coboration, David''s eyes lit up: "That would be wonderful. Charles is a ssmate of my son Daniel; we''ve known each other for a while. I''ll make time for him toe over to my ce tomorrow!" A few merchants leaving the building overheard this and looked on enviously, well aware that the Smith family originally made their fortune in the gemstone business. Who knew the Smith family would luck out with such a major client, supplying everything from weapons and armor to ferocious beast materials and miracle drugs? Each one a lucrative trade! Everyone was thinking the same thing: the triad of power in Lsengard between the Smith family, the Taylor family, and the Draven family might never be the same again. --- After leaving the Smith family group, Charles headed to the logistics warehouse to store the crates David had sent. Only then did he non-stop rush home. The moment he got home, he couldn''t wait to start crafting the [spirit nail]. Charles took off his sunsses and mask and began unboxing the items in his courtyard. He inspected three dragon crystals, vibrant orange-yellow in color, under the light. Looking closely, he could see many needle-like crystals within. A silver matrix, apletely silvery-white mineral unlike ordinary silver, radiated a highly pure metallic energy, reputed to have a bolstering effect when battling dark-attribute creatures. As for the mystic iron, although it''s amon forging material, this 99.99% pure batch was not cheap, especially at a whopping one ton! The pile of materials on the ground had cost him a total of 12 gold coins, just the thought of it made Charles wince. While Charles was checking the items, the shadow under the light suddenly distorted, and a man in a ck robe emerged from it. Seeing Ezra again, Charles wasn''t as startled as before; instead, he was eager: "Elder, I''ve gathered all the materials needed to craft the spirit nail. Can we start now?" "Not bad, kid. I thought it would take you half a month, but you managed it all in just three days," Ezra said, after inspecting the materials on the ground. He noticed Charles adding coal to the furnace and shook his head: "All this mystic iron, if you use coal for smelting, you might be at it till next year." Charles, wiping the coal dust off his nose, looked annoyed and a bit puzzled: "Coal burns hotter than wood. If not coal, what should I use?" Seeing Charles''s coal-dusted face, Ezra couldn''t help but smile slightly, extending his right palm where a pitch-ck hexagram appeared. At the same time, a summoning circle formed in front of him. "To improve forging efficiency, you need to rely on a mystical beast." As Ezra''s voice fell, a dark, shadowy tiger wreathed in ck mes stepped out from the summoning circle. Its gem-like eyes carried a disdainful, world-dominating aura. Just one nce was enough to stagger Charles with the mystical beast''s impressive presence, as its details shed before his eyes. [Nine-Tailed me Tiger] [Attribute:]Dark, Fire [Level:]Lv85 [Quality:]Mythical [Description:]Originally an ordinary jungle tiger, it identally fell into an abyss burning with mysterious ze. The intense mes, rather than consuming it, perfected its essence over nine thousand years of painful refinement, bestowing it a rebirth. "My goodness! A level 85 mystical beast, and it''s a top-tier mythical creature!" Charles couldn''t help but exim internally. After reading the information on the mystical beast, Charles was left speechless with awe! ck Iron, Bronze Division, Silver, Gold, tinum, Emerald, Diamond, Legendary, Mythical. A mythical quality, top-tier mystical beast was something Charles had never even heard of before, let alone seen! Seeing the Nine-Tailed me Tiger''s level at a staggering 85, Charles was utterly dumbfounded. He had always suspected Ezra''s power was formidable, certainly not inferior to Emma from Nova Academy, but he hadn''t expected this level of prowess! A Level 85 mythical beast could, with a mere flick of its fingers, potentially obliterate the entire nation of Genosha! But how could such a formidable figure condescend to be a recruitment officer at Cyber Academy? Seeing Charles''s keen interest, Ezra couldn''t help but smile lightly, "It seems you''re quite fascinated. Well, I might as well tell you, it''s indeed a divine beast." Although Charles had already grasped this, hearing it directly from Ezra still brought him profound shock. "A divine beast?" "Yes, this is the Nine-Tailed me Tiger," Ezra nodded, smiling faintly: "ording to thetest theoretical research at Cyber Academy, everything in this world is made up of attribute energy. The most pure forms of this energy, remnants from the dawn of creation, are known as [refined energy]. My mystical beast, by chance, absorbed [the essence of fire] and became a divine creature." "However, subduing a divine beast is no easy task. When I entered that abyss, I battled it for a full six months and nearly burned to death. As you see, I ultimately seeded, and the Nine-Tailed me Tiger became one of my contract mystical beasts." Listening to Ezra recount his thrilling past, Charles was captivated, as if he himself was in that abyss of mysterious ze, fighting a mythical quality ferocious beast. "From what the elder says, the birth of such mythical quality mystical beasts is highly random, not something achievable through evolution or other standard methods?" Charles asked, intrigued. "Correct," Ezra nodded, his expression turning fervent as he spoke of his divine beast. "ording to theories at Cyber Academy, there are a total of 42 sources of [refined energy] left in the world, which means there can be no more than 42 divine beasts." "Only 42... That few? That seems quite unfair to future Beast Masters..." Charles shivered as he absorbed Ezra''s exnation, his mind conjuring harsh realities. Those Beast Masters who first secured a divine beast, having gained immense power, would certainly try to contract a second one and use their initial advantage to prevent others from finding divine beasts. Once the world''s divine beasts were ''plundered,'' those who cameter would forever be subjugated under the feet of those powerful enough to own a divine beast. Realizing this, Charles broke out in a cold sweat. "Fair?" At Charles''sment, Ezra suddenly sighed, gently stroking the dark fur of the tiger beside him, a trace of sorrow in his expression: "If there were such a thing as fairness in this world, how could I have lost everything and ended up in this state?" --- Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Hidden Weapon: Spirit Nail "Let''s leave the past in the past," Ezra said, shaking off the sadness on his face and looking directly at Charles. "There are actually significant differences among divine beasts. Cyber Academy has ranked the possible 42 divine beasts based on the concentration of [refined energy], creating what is widely known in the Beast Mastermunity as the [Divine Beast Ranking]." "The Divine Beast Ranking... Elder, where does your divine beast rank on that list?" Charles couldn''t help but ask, his curiosity piqued. "Heh, if Cyber Academy''s theories are correct, then my Nine-Tailed me Tiger should be ranked 19th. Of course, I haven''t battled any other divine beast owners to confirm this, so who knows for sure?" Ezra said, somewhat proudly as he nced at his divine beast beside him. Seeing Charles''s envious look, Ezra walked over to the pile of mystic iron, his tone suddenly changing: "At this stage, divine beasts are still too far out of your reach. You should focus on evolving your own mystical beast first!" Ezra''s words pulled Charles back from his daydreams. He watched as the Nine-Tailed me Tiger approached the heap of mystic iron and breathed out a jet of pitch-ck mes. Charles instantly felt the fire attribute energy in the surrounding atmosphere be agitated. The mystic iron, engulfed by the dark mes, slowly levitated and began melting into arge glob of molten metal. The temperature of the molten metal continued to rise, gradually starting to glow brightly. Charles noticed light brown impurities being burned off around the droplets. As the impurities were expelled, the basin-sized mass of silver liquid shrank, eventually bing about the size of a basketball. This scene left Charles thoroughly astounded. Back when he had purified a piece of mystic iron in a cave, it took him ny-one hammerings and he still hadn''tpletely removed the impurities. Now, under the me tiger''s breath, it had taken only a few minutes to achieve purity... As the metallic droplet turned crystal clear and semi-translucent, Ezra ceased the smelting process. Following that, Ezra treated the silver matrix in the same manner. When the silver matrix turned translucent, he merged therge and small globules of molten metal together. "Psst" With a hissing mist rising from a water pool, the mixed metal liquid gradually solidified into a silvery-white metallic sphere. After preparing the metal materials for crafting the Spirit Nail, Ezra''s attention turned to the dragon crystals nearby. He carefully picked up one and examined it under the light. "Elder, I understand purchasing metal materials for forging a weapon that could make a humpback whale salivate, but what''s the purpose of buying these crystals?" Charles asked, puzzled, picking up a crystal to see the fine, golden fments inside that resembled steel needles. "Take a closer look inside. Do you see anything?" Ezra finally responded after a long observation. Charles widened his eyes: "I can see some golden fments inside." "Exactly, those are crystal whiskers," Ezra stated solemnly. "Crystal whiskers? What are those?" Charles asked, surprised, hearing the term for the first time. "Crystal whiskers are fine, hair-like structures that form inside crystals due to external influences during their formation. When a crystal develops these whiskers, it''s called a dragon crystal, and its value can skyrocket into the thousands," Ezra exined calmly, noticing Charles''s curious gaze. "The reason crystal whiskers are so valuable is that they are the hardest natural substance known to man. The humpback whale has an incredibly hard skull, and to prate it, you would need a spirit nail made from crystal whiskers given your strength." With that, Ezra ced the dragon crystal on the forge and picked up a forging hammer nearby. The powerful swing stirred up a thunderous boom in the air as the hammer came crashing down on the dragon crystal. There was a sound like an explosion, and the hard dragon crystal shattered, sending golden sparks scattering in all directions. One of the sparks shot through Charles''s arm, causing him excruciating pain. Upon closer inspection, he noticed a fine puncture wound. Truly deserving of its reputation as the hardest natural material, its prative power was astonishing! Amazed, Charles then carefully gathered the fallen crystal whiskers from the ground. After half an hour, he managed to collect a small handful the size of a palm. Taking the crystal whiskers from Charles, Ezra didn''t speak. The mysterious ze tiger by his side breathed out mes again, heating the forged mystic iron until it glowed red-hot. The sound of hammering echoed through the yard again. With each hammer strike, the piece of mystic iron began to take shape, its form gradually resembling a long nail. After forty-nine continuous strikes, the vague shape had transformed into a steel spike as thick as an arm. Ezra nodded slightly as he looked at the nearly finished weapon on the forge, then embedded the golden crystal whiskers into the tip of the nail. Charles watched quietly from the side, his expression beyond astonished. Thisrge forging hammer, weighing several hundred kilograms, felt as light as stic in Ezra''s hands. Charles watched silently from the side,mitting every movement Ezra made to memory. After eighty-one strikes, the steel needle disyed a crystalline, silvery-white luster. With a long exhale, Ezra quenched the fire and tossed thepleted weapon to Charles: "Get ready, we''re setting out." Charles carefully caught it, and several lines of information appeared on his screen. [Spirit Nail] [Purple Quality]: Hidden weapon. Possesses extremely strong piercing damage, especially effective against dark attribute creatures. Simply inject attribute energy to easily prate the defenses and exoskeletons of ferocious beasts below Tier 4. A hidden weapon? It seemed this weapon was designed for stealth attacks, no wonder it appeared so small, not even as long as his arm. With Charles''s current strength, sneaking up on a salivate over a humpback whale might be his only chance to defeat it. Carefully holding the Spirit Nail, Charles''s heart raced. Under the light, he could see a faint golden sheen at the tip, likely from the embedded crystal whiskers. "This should be able to kill a salivate over a humpback whale..." He sighed softly, storing the Spirit Nail carefully. Just thinking about the uing battle with a Tier 3 mystical beast made his heart pound uncontrobly. Beside him, Ezra''s figure gradually became more ethereal, his feet already stepping into the shadows, waving at Charles. Before entering the shadow, Charles tidied up the forge and the forging materials around him. His gaze inadvertently nced at the back of his left hand, where there was a conspicuous red mark and a countdown: [1 year, 343 days]. Recalling that day, Grace''s haughty demeanor and the disdain in her eyes, Charles''s smile turned somewhat bitter. The deadline for his bet with Grace was drawing closer. Although he knew hunting a salivate over a humpback whale was very dangerous, he had to do it to ensure Mousie''s evolution... ... The hustle and bustle of the surrounding city gradually faded as Charles moved swiftly through the darkness, the sound of surging waves growing louder in his ears. Standing on that beach once again, Charles''s heart raced uncontrobly. Facing a dark attribute creature for the first time, and one that was a tier above hima formidable ferocious beastCharles felt his blood boiling with excitement. Sensing Charles''s nervousness, Ezra slowly turned around, his swirling, pitch-ck eyes fixed on him, and said calmly, "If I intervene here, it will attract their attention and bring more abyssal creatures, so you will need to act on your own. However, I can grant you the strength of a Tier 4 Beast Master for a short time, evening the ying field between you and the salivate over a humpback whale." As Ezra''s words fell, he slowly extended his hand and gently ced it on Charles''s back. Charles immediately felt a surge of massive attribute energy flowing into him. Unlike a violent torrent, this energy was incredibly tame under Ezra''s control. Feeling the surging power within, Charles took a deep breath, sensing his senses sharpening. He clenched his fist, and it crackled, his muscles tensed as if brimming with endless strength. "Is this the power of a Tier 4 Beast Master? It''s much stronger than I imagined!" Charles gripped his ice and fire supreme spear, eager to begin. Initially worried about not being a match for the salivate over a humpback whale, the energy infusion from Ezra temporarily leveled the ying field. "You''ll need to be quick; my power can only sustain you for an hour, and this battle will surely attract more abyssal creatures. Everything must be quick and decisive," Ezra cautioned carefully. Then, a dark beam of light shot straight into Charles''s eyes. He saw the brilliant starry sky vanish, reced by a swath of dark red, and the sight of tenrge, chained meatballs. Despite it being his second encounter, the sight of those ten ''suns'' in the sky still sent a shock through Charles, causing his heart to flutter. The ocean in front of him had also disappeared, reced by an endless dark abyss where strange creatures writhed and moved forward. And about thirty meters away, a mountainous creature with blood-red eyes stared at him, drooling with greed as it surged towards him. Upon spotting the salivate over a humpback whale, Charles instinctively tightened his grip on the [ice and fire supreme spear], bracing himself for a fierce battle... --- Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Hunt! Level Up! Without any hesitation, the hexagram in Charles''s palm shed as he summoned his mystical beasts, Mousie and Max. Despite their tiny sizepared to the massive salivate over a humpback whalelooking like mere ants at its feetMousie and Max stood boldly in front of Charles, baring their teeth at the approaching behemoth. "Mousie, create a copy of that whale, try to dy it as long as possible," Charles instructed Mousie through [Mind Communication]. With the temporary power boost from Ezra, Charles had gained the strength of a Tier 4 Beast Master, and with his enhanced abilities, Mousie and Max''sbat levels had approached Lv30. Even if Mousie''s clone couldn''t defeat it, it could certainly cause significant trouble. "Max, wait for mymand before you attack!" Charlesmanded Max in a low roar. Standing at the edge of the abyss, Charles watched the whale swooping in, gripping his supreme spear tightly. He knew that strength alone wouldn''t suffice to defeat a muchrger adversary. Soon, he identified the ferocious beast''s weaknessits sluggish movements. At the moment it lunged, Charles issued abatmand to Max: "Max, circle around to its back, and use your skill [bone-achingly cold]!" Whoosh! Upon receiving Charles''smand, Max shot out like an arrow released from a bow, his paws barely touching the ground as he elegantly arced over the salivate over a humpback whale''s tentacle attack. The whale opened its massive maw in attack, but Max dodged again, even using the momentum to leap onto its back. Max''s body ignited with pale mes, lighting up the dead silence of the night. The extreme cold and heat from the mes spread from his feet, quickly engulfing the entire body of the salivate over a humpback whale. With a pained howl, the whale cried out in agony, desperately twisting its body. But the mes grew fiercer. Unable to handle the white wolf, it turned its focus to Charles on the ground andunched the skill [Gaping Chasm]. Though its body was clumsy, the salivate over a humpback whale was the ocean''s ruler not for its agility, but for its massive size. As the salivate over a humpback whale opened its cavernous mouth and swooped toward Charles, the dense set of teeth within made it clear that one bite could grind him to dust. The whale''s huge body nearly blocked out the sky, its mouth spanning dozens of meters, cutting off all of Charles''s escape routes. "Mousie, attack now!" Charles shouted. The long-restrained Mousie in the sky activated its skill [mimetic illusion], creating a perfect replica of the salivate over a humpback whale, positioning it directly in front of Charles. Caught off-guard, the real whale collided heavily with the duplicate. The dull sound of their massive bodies smashing together was grotesque, and surprisingly, the blood that oozed from the wounds was a sinister ck. With itsrge size now a disadvantage against Mousie''s mimetic duplicate, the whale couldn''t utilize its physical superiority and became an easy target for Max, whose ice spears quickly riddled it like a ho''s nest. The small ice spears didn''t cause significant physical damage due to their size, but the sheer number and the piercing pain each inflicted were unbearable. The relentless barrage of attacks enraged the salivate over a humpback whale, which suddenly opened its mouth wide and sprayed saliva towards Charles''s location... The saliva, with a foul stench, dissolved even rocks on contact, turning them into dark smoke. "This must be its skill [eerie saliva]. Talk about a tough creature with four abilities; if we drag this out, it could attract more abyssal creatures," Charles thought to himself. This salivate over a humpback whale wasn''t the only creature in the abyss; Charles had spotted several ferocious beasts of over Lv40 writhing below. Drawing them here could be disastrous. Without hesitation, Charles activated the skill darkness cloak, instantly breaking through theyer of corrosive saliva to get up close. He slowly raised the steel nail glowing with silver light, channeled attribute energy into it, and then executed puncture thorn, hurling the [spirit nail] with tremendous force! When the spirit nail struck the salivate over a humpback whale, it prated like a steel needle through a sponge, encountering no resistance. The spirit nail emitted a silvery glow, and upon contact with its pitch-ck body, it actually corroded a hole one meter in diameter! "Is this the restraining effect of a silver weapon against dark attribute creatures?" Charles couldn''t help but whisper in awe. The attack of the salivate over a humpback whale was interrupted by the spirit nail, its massive body freezing midair before crashing heavily to the ground. "Perfect chance! Mousie, Max, finish it!" Charles didn''t stop his assault, continuing to issuebatmands. Whizz The arm-thick spirit nail zipped through the whale''s body, leavingrge holes with each attack. Meanwhile, Max and Mousie''s energy attacks bombarded the salivate over a humpback whale like artillery, hitting it repeatedly. Finally. The movements of the salivate over a humpback whale began to slow, its cries of pain filling the air as it struggled less and less on the ground. At this point, Charles could have approached to subdue it as his third mystical beast. However, considering what Emma had told him, the best path for him was to be an all-attribute Beast Master, and this salivate over a humpback whale''s dark attribute ovepped with Mousie''s. He issued one finalbatmand to Mousie. The projected shadow of the salivate over a humpback whale opened its massive jaws, diving towards the dying whale on the ground to tear it apart. The huge body was bitten cleanly in two. [Ding! You have defeated the ferocious beast [salivate over a humpback whale] (Lv32Gold Quality)!] [Your mystical beast Max (Lv.21) loyalty +1! Experience +5000!] [Your mystical beast Max has leveled up, current level Lv.22!] [Your mystical beast Mousie (Lv.21) loyalty +1! Experience +5000!] [Your mystical beast Mousie has leveled up, current level Lv.22!] "Victory in battle!" Seeing the system notifications, Charles could hardly contain his excitement, embracing Max and Mousie tightly. As if remembering something, he suddenly let go and dashed towards the body of the salivate over a humpback whale. The whale''s blood-red eyes had already lost their luster. For some reason, as Charles looked at it, he felt as if it wore a smile of relief on its face. The massive body of the salivate over a humpback whale decayed and corroded at a visibly rapid pace until it transformed into a mass of pitch-ck energy, which drifted upwards towards the ten ''suns'' shackled in the sky. Before thest piece of flesh vanished, Charles thrust the [spirit nail] into it, preserving the final fragment of tissue. --- Back at Lily''s home, Charles made sure no one was around before heading to the underground garage. He locked the garage door and retrieved the piece of salivate over a humpback whale flesh and two oddly-shaped candle holders from his storage space. "Now, I finally have all the materials needed for Mousie''s evolution," Charles thought, his heart pounding as he turned the blob of flesh intomp oil and added it to the candle holders. When the wicks were lit, they burned with a dark, ghostly glow, and between the two candle holders, a circle filled with ancient script appeared. [Specified Evolution]: Evolution requirements met. Dark Sacrificial Candles 2/2, Salivate over a Humpback Whale Oil 10/10 kg. [Initiate Evolution?] Without hesitation, Charles chose [Yes!], and following the system''s instructions, ced Mousie between the candle holders on the circle. The dark attribute energy in the surrounding space began to converge between the candle holders, eventually enveloping Mousiepletely in a shroud of ck mist. Having experienced Max''s evolution, Charles wasn''t too anxious this time. He knew he just needed to wait quietly by the side. During the evolution and promotion process, a mystical beast is at its most vulnerable and needs protection. While waiting, Charles checked the [Mystical Beast] panels for Max and Mousie. [Shadow Flying Squirrel] [Name]: Mousie [Attribute]: Dark [Level]: Lv22 [Quality]: Gold (Evolving...) ... [Nine-Tailed Demon Wolf] [Name]: Max [Attribute]: Ice, Fire [Level]: Lv22 [Quality]: tinum ... Since Max reached Lv21, a month had passed to get to Lv22. The slow pace of leveling up for a second-tier mystical beast was beyond Charles''s expectations. With Ezra''s help, Charles had temporarily gained the strength of a Tier 4 Beast Master, allowing him to kill the Lv32 salivate over a humpback whale and level up. This was just the beginning. Each level up would require more and more experience. At this rate, it seemed unlikely he would be a Tier 4 Beast Master by next year. "Grace has been making rapid progress at Aredale Academy. At this rate, how could I possibly be a match for her in two years?" Charles sighed quietly. Even with the system''s help during his trials in the Ferocious Beast Mountains, using every trick at his disposal, he only managed a draw against Grace. If he couldn''t level up faster, he feared that in two years, he would indeed be defeated and be a puppet under Grace''s human contract. "Indeed, that girl truly has some unusual talents. I''ve traveled across this continent for many years and never seen anyone with such strong natural gifts," Charles mused, his thoughts interrupted as the shadow beside him twisted and a figure emerged abruptly. Seeing Ezra, Charles snapped back to reality and hurried forward, bowing respectfully, "Elder, thank you for your assistance just now. Without your help, I would never have been able to defeat a Lv32 salivate over a humpback whale." "Heh, no need to thank me. The talent you disyed in the fight has indeed surprised me," Ezra said, leaning against a car nearby, suddenly bing serious. "There are only 20 days left until the departure to the Abyssal Depths. The flying beast will be leaving soon." "Have you really decided not to join me on the journey to the headquarters of Cyber Academy?" Cyber Academy... the headquarters... Wait, he wasn''t talking about one of the three major academies of Genosha, Cyber Academy, but rather the famed Cyber Academy located beyond the Abyssal Depths in the Ethereal Grove... The headquarters?! Startled, Charles shot up from the ground, looking at Ezra with surprise. Chapter 104: Chapter 104: The All-Element Beast Master If one were to discuss who ranks first among the three major academies in the imperial capital, the debate could likely continue all night without a clear winner. However, if one were to im that the inner court of Cyber Academy is the top institution, probably no one in the Ethereal Grove would disagree. This ancient academy, older than Genosha itself, has produced countless renowned top-tier Beast Masters. Ares, once hailed as the greatest war deity of Genosha for hundreds of years, was also a graduate of this prestigious school. Should Charles proceed to Nova Academy with his rmendation letter, or should he follow the mysterious figure to the inner court of Cyber Academy? He was momentarily torn. "The reason I am so eager for you to join the inner court of Cyber Academy, or rather, be my student, is because I see in you a trait very simr to my own," Ezra said with a calm smile, moving slightly closer to Charles. His dull yellow eyes shimmered peculiarly under the light. "A trait very simr to yours?" Charles asked, a hint of surprise on his face. "Indeed, because like you, I can also manipte different types of energy without causing annihtion," Ezra exined, slowly extending his hand. A vortex of energy formed between his palms, emitting glows of ck, red, and blue, "This might be rted to our soul strength. Your soul strength is even greater than mine; you are truly capable of walking the path of an All-Element Beast Master." Hearing the term ''All-Element Beast Master'' from Ezra, Charles''s heart raced uncontrobly. ording to historical records, when humanity was on the brink of extinction after a catastrophic defeat in battle against demonic creatures, it was an All-Element Beast Master named Rn who, single-handedly, created the Ethereal Grove in space, securing a sanctuary for human survival. An All-Element Beast Master, capable of harnessing all the elements that constitute the world, is also widely known by another title The Creator God! Bing an All-Element Beast Master meant that the rise and fall of the entire human race could potentially rest in his hands alone. "Gulp" Charles swallowed hard, his eyes wide with excitement as he stared at the mysterious cloaked figure in front of him. Trying to contain his exhration, he cautiously asked, "Senior, how can I be an All-Element Beast Master?" "You will need to form contracts with ten divine beasts, each possessing a different attribute," Ezra finally spoke after a long pause. Hearing this, Charles nearly lost his bnce, his expression turning somewhat despondent as he said dejectedly, "Divine beasts, and ten of different attributes at that? I don''t even have one yet... Must I really tame divine beasts to be an All-Element Beast Master?" Ezra chuckled wryly, his face showing a hint of helplessness: "I only realized this after taming the nine-tailed me tiger myself. The mystical beasts below the divine level, regardless of their ss from Bronze Division to legendary, the attributes and energies they possess are invariably overshadowed by those of a divine beast." As he spoke, Ezra continued to channel attribute energy into the vortex in his palm. After emitting a brief burst of rainbow light, the vortex turned pitch ck. All other attribute energieswhether wind, thunder, lightvanished, leaving only the dark attribute. Witnessing this scene, Charles checked the system screen''s[mystical beast]panel for Max and Mousie. Although he did not disdain them, it was clear they were not divine beasts. "The two mystical beasts I''ve contracted aren''t divine beasts, does that mean I''ll never have a chance?" Slowly retracting his right palm, the dark energy vortex dissipated into a mist. Gently stroking the nine-tailed me tiger beside him, he spoke softly, "Remember what I told you about where divine beastse from?" Charles''s mind raced, and without much thought, he blurted out, "The 42 spots of refined energy still existing in the world?" "Exactly! Whether or not a beast can be divine doesn''t depend on the mystical beast itself, but on the purity of its attribute energy!" Ezra said, his voice bing hoarse with excitement, "If you can''t contract with a divine beast, you just need to find those 42 spots of refined energy scattered around the world. Even the ordinary mystical beasts you''ve contracted can transform into divine beasts!" Charles finally understood. The crux of the issue wasn''t the divine beasts themselves, but rather those 42 spots of unextinguished refined energy. If he wanted to be an All-Element Beast Master, a transcendent being akin to a ''Creator God'', he had to find and subdue 11 of these energy spots, and they had to be of different attributes! Just thinking about it, Charles felt it was a bit insane! "So, senior... since Cyber Academy has managed to deduce the existence of refined energy, they should also be able to pinpoint the locations of these 42 spots of refined energy, right?" Charles, inspired by the fervor of the excited Ezra before him, wondered if the originator of this theory was either a supreme genius or utterly mad! "After 200 years of supeputer calctions, we''ve precisely located two of them," Ezra exined calmly. "One of them is where my nine-tailed me tiger was found, and the other, a concentration of light attribute energy, is currently safeguarded within the inner court of Cyber Academy." "Cyber Academy spent over 200 years and only located two spots, and I need to find 10, each with a unique attribute?" Charles looked at Ezra with a mix of surprise and awe. Ezra hesitated for a moment, then slowly added, "Correct. Given that, do you still n to enter Cyber Academy?" Charles paused, falling silent. Of course, he was immensely drawn to the title of ''All-Element Beast Master'' that Ezra mentioned. Perhaps, once he ascended to ''Creator God'', there mighte a day when he could return to Earth; even if he couldn''t, with the power he''d possess, he would be at the pinnacle of this world, a revered figure with everything he could desire. However, the difficulty of bing an All-Element Beast Master was beyond imagination. Was it possible that if he couldn''t find these so-called ''divine beasts,'' he would never contract with any mystical beast again? Would he then be stuck forever as a third-tier Beast Master? And even with Cyber Academy''s supeputer taking 200 years to calcte just two locations, how could he possibly find 11 withpletely distinct attributes? With Charles''s natural talent for Beast Mastery, he could easily be a seventh-tier Beast Master, on par with Emma, without pursuing the path of an ''All-Element Beast Master.'' A seventh-tier Beast Master, a rarity in all of Genosha, could have everything a man might desirewealth, status, women... Why should he forsake a bright future for a nebulous one? Charles clenched his fists, trembling slightly. He tried to convince himself, but he couldn''t find sufficient reason to proceed. Seeing the turmoil in Charles''s expression, Ezra''s face also grewplex. After a long silence, he spoke softly, "The choice is yours, even though you might be the most likely candidate I''ve seen in a century to be an All-Element Beast Master. Still, I can''t help but caution you... should the daye when you witness everything you cherish being destroyed, I hope you won''t regret today''s decision." Ezra''s words seemed meant as much for Charles as for himself. Charles could feel his pain; he looked like he wanted to cry, but as merely an energy form, tears were impossible. Charles''s hands trembled slightly as he remembered the three years of bullying he endured at Lsengard Beast Mastery High School from Robert, his missing parents, and Aria, who despite bearing the sorrow of a fallen nation, still managed a strained smile before him... Even imagining it filled Charles with despair. If it ever came to that, he knew he would regret it. If there was even the slightest chance to alter the oue, he would fight with everything he had to seize it! Noticing Charles''s stirred emotions, Ezra lifted his head, speaking earnestly, "This world ultimately respects power. Didn''t Grace disdain you simply because she was the city lord''s daughter, with higher talent and status than yours?" "You might think to live a quiet life in Genosha, but that''s naively optimistic. This world is muchrger and more dangerous than you can imagine." "To the real powerhouses, we are as insignificant as ants. This Ethereal Grove is merely a space created by a previous All-Element Beast Master. Perhaps one day, the entire Ethereal Grove will cease to exist, and we will be powerless to prevent it?" Charles shuddered, recalling the ten ''suns'' he had seen in the abyss. And the strange, stirring creatures within that abyss... Reflecting on Ezra''s words about the potential non-existence of the entire Ethereal Grove, even such a formidable being as he had almost been utterly destroyed, reduced to an energy form. What chance would he have? And what terrifying entities existed beyond the Ethereal Grove? Slowly lifting his head, Charles looked at Ezra with a solemn expression and said, "Senior, I''m giving up my guaranteed spot at Nova Academy. I will follow you to Cyber Academy." "Oh?" Hearing this, the cloaked elder shed a cunning smile: "This is your own decision. When we get to Cyber Academy, don''t say I forced you!" Charles couldn''t help but twitch, Ezra indeed hadn''t forced him, but were those words he had spoken any different from coercion? ck Hearing a faint sound behind him, Charles turned to see several cracks forming on the ck cocoon that entirely enveloped Mousie. At the same time, a few lines of notification shed across Charles''s screen. [Ding! Your mystical beast Mousie has sessfully evolved into its current form: Dark Demigod Juvenile!] --- Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Successful Evolution Charles excitedly picked up Mousie from the ground. Unlike what he had imagined, Mousie did not undergo a drastic physical change like Max had; its body was now enveloped in denser dark attribute energy, and upon closer inspection, a pair of tiny sharp fangs had appeared in its mouth. He checked Mousie''s [mystical beast]panel. [Shadow Flying Squirrel] [Name]: Mousie [Attribute]: Dark [Level]: Lv22 [Quality]: tinum [Skills]: [Mimetic Illusion], [Darkness Cloak], [Darkness Drawn], [Power of the Demigod] [Weakness]: Entire body is vulnerable [Hobbies]: Scaring people [Mood]: Hungry [Health]: Good [Loyalty]: 89 [Evolution]: 2 possible paths [Description]: A juvenile Demigod. Don''t be deceived by its cute appearance; angering it would be a terrifying affair. Its true power remains sealed. "Indeed, Mousie has sessfully evolved and upgraded to tinum quality!" Gently stroking Mousie''s fluffy tail, he suddenly noticed an additional skill. [Power of the Demigod]: Each attack by Mousie and its summoned beings will increase damage by 10%, stacking up to 10 times. The brief skill notification brought a surge of delight to Charles. Due to being merely a replica, the ferocious beast projection that Mousie copied was significantly weaker than the original ferocious beast, often serving merely as a ''meat shield sandbag'' in battle to buy time for Max''s attacks. But with this [Power of the Demigod] skill, wouldn''t Mousie grow stronger duringbat, increasing its attack power by 10% with each strike, up to a total of 100% damage boost? Pure numerical superiority! "Squeak, squeak..." Mousie, freshly evolved, looked quite exhausted, trying to speak to Charles but its eyelids drooped, and it fell asleep right in the palm of his hand. "Looks like you had some good luck, seems like a sessful evolution, huh?" Ezra nced at Mousie in Charles''s hand and spoke softly. "Yeah." Charles nodded, storing Mousie back in the Beast Mastery space. Given its current state, it seemed it would need several days of deep sleep to recover. Now that both Max and Mousie had reached Level 22, what Charles needed most was to seize the opportunity to find and bind his third mystical beast, advancing towards bing a fourth-tier Beast Master. Charles rummaged through his backpack, pulling out a silver mystical beast egg from his [storage space], and turned to Ezra: "Teacher, I''m already a third-tier Beast Master and haven''t yet bound a third contract mystical beast. I''ve searched through the entire Lsengard treasury and found only this silver mystical beast egg. I''m not too greedy, just give me a diamond-quality mystical beast egg." "A diamond-quality mystical beast egg! Do you think those areid like eggs in a henhouse, just given upon request?" Ezra chuckled, somewhat amused and exasperated. "Old man, you were just boasting about divine beasts and refined energy, and now you can''t even produce a diamond-quality mystical beast egg? In that case, I might as well head to Nova Academy, where Vice Chancellor Emma is an acquaintance of mine." Charles looked visibly frustrated. "Teacher, not old man. Is that how you speak to a teacher?" Ezra red fiercely at Charles. He had only agreed to let him enter Cyber Academy a short while ago, and already Charles was overstepping, which spelled trouble for the future! "I don''t have a diamond-quality mystical beast egg, but I do have a rather good weapon here." Ezra gave Charles a mysterious smile. "A good weapon? How powerful can it be!" Charles asked, full of curiosity. "It won''t be weaker than the supreme spear you hold, that''s for sure," Ezra said somewhat impatiently. Stronger than the ice and fire supreme spear? At that, Charles''s eyes lit up instantly. The ice and fire supreme spear was a blue-quality weapon, the highest quality avable in Lsengard, which he had managed to get through a fortunate deal. Higher than blue-qualitycould it be an orange or purple-quality weapon? Gray, white, green, blue, purple, orange, gold... An orange-quality weapon was already among the top tier, just below spiritual weapons. It might only be one grade higher, but the price difference was tens of times greater. He had once seen in the news that a purple-quality sword at the Misubi auction house fetched a sky-high price of over 500 gold coins. At this level, weapons are often priceless, their value immeasurable in mere money. Because as Beast Masters progress, although the number of mystical beasts increases, there is only one Beast Master. Killing a Beast Master can be much easier than defeating several mystical beasts. Thus, the first lesson for a Beast Master is ensuring one''s survival in battle. ?%?$?%--Ҧ!@-- Having a suitable weapon is of utmost importance. "There are 20 days left before the long flight to Cyber Academy departs, and I have no teaching tasks for you during this time. Hard days await you, so prepare what you need for the journey. These might be yourst 20 days in Lsengard," Ezra spoke softly. As he talked, he stepped into a nearby shadow, his form starting to fade. "By the way, I remember Cyber Academy enrolls two students, who''s the other one?" Charles felt a chill down his spine as a figure shed through his mind. Could it be Celestine? If it really was Celestine, that journey might turn into quite an ordeal... "Your ssmate, you say? Heh, you''ll find out in 20 days," Ezra''s form was nearly gone, his voice softening, "I can only say that girl is terrifyingly strong, not just for you, but even the city lord''s daughter is nothing in her presence." "Don''t worry too much, just enjoy your final days of high school," Ezra chuckled, and with that sound, his bodypletely disappeared, presumably transported away. Staring nkly at the shadow where he had vanished, Charles was momentarily stunned. Grace could arguably be considered the most talented Beast Master he had ever encountered. She awakened to her powers while still in elementary school, bing a Beast Master at a young age. By high school, while others were still attending theory sses, she had already formed a contract with her second mystical beast, rightfully earning the title of Lsengard''s foremost prodigy! What kind of existence could possibly surpass Grace''s talent? Having finished tidying up the basement, Charles was about to leave when his phone suddenly vibrated. Ezra had sent him a contact. He lightly tapped the profile picture, which showed a figure against a snowy in. Due to the angle, Charles couldn''t make out the face, but he could see the pale golden hair shimmering under the setting sun. "Yekaterina." "What amanding name," Charles said with a light chuckle. ... After the enrollment ceremony ended, Lsengard became deste. The vast Genosha territory, with the provincial capital of Vendatia thousands of kilometers from Lsengard and the imperial capital even further, left students without the means or funds to afford expensive flying beast tickets to start their journeys home early. During these tranquil days, time slipped away like flowing water. In a forest 300 kilometers from Lsengard, a man and two beasts, three shadows in total, were swiftly moving. Every time they passed, roars echoed through the area. "Mousie! Activate the Power of Demigod and take on that lightning demon ape!" "Roger that!" "Max, use your skill, bone-achingly cold, to clear out those minions around us!" "Yikes..." [Ding! You have defeated the ferocious beast [lightning demon ape] (Lv18Silver quality)!] [Ding! You have defeated the ferocious beast [green insect] (Lv17Bronze Division quality)!] [Ding! You have defeated the ferocious beast [red-eyed rabbit] (Lv20Bronze Division quality)!] System prompts kept appearing before Charles, who had been fighting from dusk till dawn, and into the next day, until Mousie and Max started to protest, prompting him to finally stop. "Not bad at all," Charles mused as he carved up the spoils from the ferocious beasts on the ground, "this lightning demon ape that once chased me all over the mountains, now easily falls before me." These days, he could hardly sit still. Riding his cloud leopard, he returned to the mountain range that had once been his training ground to test his skills and get ustomed to Max and Mousie''s new abilities. Who would have known that the ferocious beast, which once nearly wiped out their team, could now barelyst a round against him, especially after Mousie activated the Power of Demigod, rapidly stacking the damage to a 100% increase? These first-tier ferocious beasts fell as easily as slicing through vegetables. After stuffing all the materials from the surrounding ferocious beasts into his storage space, Charles rode the cloud leopard back to Lsengard. Before he even reached Lily''s house, he could hear a noisymotioning from inside. "Could it be that Sly has sent someone?" Charles instantly became alert, pulling out his ice and fire supreme spear from his storage space. As he approached the front gate, he saw a familiar figure. "Lily! You''re finally back! I haven''t seen you for days; I thought something had happened to you!" Charles dropped his supreme spear and rushed forward, embracing the beautiful woman in a light yellow dress tightly. "Cough, my dad''s home, you know. Be a little careful," Lily coughed lightly, her face flushing slightly. Charles peeked through the door crack and indeed saw a middle-aged man in a shirt, who appeared to be in poor health, and wondered aloud: "Is something wrong at home? Why does he look so upset?" "Recently, the Miller family''s pharmacy brought in an alchemist from somewhere who suddenly started dumping cheap miracle drugs, almost taking over our entire business. If this keeps up, we might have to close down, so my dad came over to sell the vi to temporarily cover the losses." Only then did Charles understand that the arguing inside was likely about the price of the vi... The Miller family''s pharmacy... That''s Benjamin''s ce. They don''t even have an alchemist; how could they have so much stock of miracle drugs to afford such dumping tactics? Chapter 106: Chapter 106: How Much? The vi door swung open, revealing a man dressed in a suit and shiny shoes, looking every bit the estate agent, leading the way. Behind him, several middle-aged men could barely conceal their irritation. "Mr. Raj, 500 silver coins is the highest offer I can make. If you''re not satisfied, feel free to consult another real estate agent. But if you want to sell within a week at market price, it''s quite a tall order," the estate agent said, spreading his hands in a gesture of helplessness. "I understand... I''ll think it over for a few more days and get back to you in three days. Thanks for your efforts," replied the middle-aged man, managing a forced smile. As the agent left the courtyard, the man suddenly noticed a stranger standing at the door and looked at Lily in surprise, "Daughter, who is this?" Before Charles could respond, Lily stepped forward and introduced him, "This is Charles, the one who topped the entrance ceremony. He''s heading to the imperial capital for university and wanted to ask about the ce." "Oh, Charles! I''ve seen you on the news. An 18-year-old third-level Beast Mastertruly a hero among youths!" The man''s eyes sparkled as he weed Charles into the house, though the light in his eyes soon dimmed. Handing Charles a business card, he then headed to the next room. Charles nced at the business card, Raj - Director Rajmiracle Drug Technologies Ltd. Phone: 7355608 Looking at Lily with surprise, he remarked, "Miss Lily...erm, you''re quite the heiress, aren''t you?" Lily handed Charles some fruit and tea, her eyes filled with joy yet tinged with worry. She sighed softly, "An heiress, huh... In three days, this vi and the family cars will all be gone to pay off debts..." Charles was taken aback, pondering how things had reached such a dire state. Recalling that the ckwood family had faced such a misfortune within just ten days, he felt a twinge of regret. Sipping his tea, Charles gently asked, "Miss Lily, can you tell me what exactly happened? Maybe I can help." Before Lily could respond, the sound of arguing drifted from the slightly ajar door next door. "They were already in the miracle drug business, and I could tolerate that. But Kevin? This is too much! A weapons dealer sticking his nose into this?" Through the crack in the door, Charles could see Raj nearly grinding his teeth in anger as he spat out the words. "How can their miracle drug be so cheap? They''re selling it at 50% below market price! How are we supposed to survive?" Another middle-aged man burst out furiously. "Those suppliers are no better! As soon as they saw the price hike over there, they decided to breach their contracts and stopped shipping to us! Disgraceful!" "Damn it, I can''t swallow this! Should we just take them out when we get a chance?" A younger man mmed his fist on the table, and cracks immediately appeared on its surface. "Ahem!" Raj cleared his throat, as if to remind them that Charles was outside and they should be careful with their words. He lowered his voice and said, "Sly and Kevin are both fourth-level Beast Masters. If you''re thinking of making a move on them, it''s not going to be easy..." The young man who had cracked the table stood up, veins bulging on his face in frustration. "Are we just going to sit here and let them crap on us without fighting back? They''re obviously price dumping to monopolize the market! They were the ones who broke the rules first! We''ll go down fighting if we have to!" The argument inside was growing more heated by the second. Lily quickly ran over and closed the door, shutting out the noise. She looked at Charles apologetically and said, "I''m sorry you had to see all this unpleasantness. How about I help you find a room in the city instead?" It wasn''t that Lily wanted to kick Charles out, but with the vi about to be seized to pay off debts and the massive financial hole the family was in, her sry as a high school Beast Mastery lecturer was nowhere near enough to help. Themercial pressure from three alliedpanies had left the ckwood family, just starting in the pharmaceutical business, with no way out. In the midst of this heavy atmosphere, Charles slowly stood up. He didn''t particrly care about the fate of Rajmiracle Drug Technologies, but Lily had once helped him when he was at his lowest, and in school, she had protected him from the bullying of other boys. If he turned a blind eye now, Lily might end up homeless... He walked to the noisy room and then opened the door. The moment they heard the crisp sound of the door opening, every pair of eyes in the room turned toward the young man, around seventeen or eighteen years old, standing at the entrance. Charles spoke slowly and clearly, "Whatever financial shortfall thepany has, I''ll cover it for you." As soon as those words left his mouth, the once rowdy room fell into an uncanny silence. Everyone stared in shock at the young man standing at the door. Seeing that no one was responding, Charles spoke again, "You''re nning to sell this vi for 500,000 silver coins, right? I''ll buy it for 1,000 silver coins! And if that''s still not enough, I can lend you 5 gold coins, but you''ll need to pay me back within two years." After his recent venture with David at the exhibition, Charles had a solid bnce of 15 gold coins and 420 silver coins in his bank ount. Lending this amount of money wasn''t an issue for him. "Charles, where where did you get so much money?" Before anyone else could respond, Lily had already walked up behind Charles, gently holding his hand, her eyes filled with a trace of surprise. In her memory, Charles''s parents were long-haul truck drivers, and their family was so poor they could barely keep food on the table. How could he casually offer up 7,000 silver coins? The ckwood family members seated inside, all senior figures, were equally astonished as they stared at Charles. Having been entrenched in Lsengard for many years, they were well aware of the status of the various noble families, and they had never heard of Charlesing from any wealthy or noble lineage. Seeing the closeness between Charles and Lily, Raj was momentarily taken aback. He knew his daughter''s temperament better than anyone, and never before had any man caught her attention. Yet here she was, holding hands with another man. Suppressing his surprise, Raj stood up from his seat, nced at his daughter Lily with a hint of awkwardness, and then turned to Charles with a smile, "7,000 silver coins What you just said, is that for real?" Charles reached into his pocket, then pulled out a gleaming golden bank card from his storage space. Looking at Raj calmly, he said, "There are 2,000 silver coins in this card. Take it first. I''ll transfer the remaining 5,000 silver coins to yourpany ountter today." 7,000 silver coinsessentially an interest-free loan of 7 gold coins! As everyone in the room stared at the gleaming gold bank card on the table, they were left speechless. That was a supreme VIP card, only issued when a savings ount reached a bnce of 10 gold coins. "Charles? Are you the same Charles who took first ce at the entrance ceremony?" one of the young men suddenly eximed. The others quickly connected the dots, realizing that the boy in front of them was none other than the genius who had caused such a stir during the ceremony. "It''s really you? A pleasure to meet you!" "When you punched Thomas and sent him flying, I was watching the live broadcast at homeI waspletely stunned!" "That old snake Kevinhe''s so shameless. I never thought he''d get put in his ce by you too, ha!" The oppressive atmosphere in the room lifted immediately. Everyone''s eyes were now filled with amazement as they looked at the young man standing beside Lily. Though still considered a "young man," Charles''s heightwell over six feetmade the tall and strikingly beautiful Lily, standing next to him, seem almost dainty inparison. "Yes, my uncle Charlie runs a miracle drug business in the imperial capital. He''s asked me to find a distributor here in Lsengard. If the opportunity arises, I''d love to discuss a possible partnership with ckwood Pharmaceuticals," Charles said with a smile. He then turned to leave the room, waving casually to the group inside. "No need to see me out, I have some other things to take care of." Without waiting for a response, Charles strode confidently out of the vi. As they watched him leave, the room''s upants exchanged joyful nces. One of the middle-aged men couldn''t help but sigh in admiration, "This young man is truly a blessing to the ckwood family!" Charles''s exceptional talent as a Beast Master, having earned perfect scores in both trials and assessments at the entrance ceremony, had already caused a sensation throughout Lsengard. Not only was he gifted, but with family connections in the imperial capital''s miracle drug trade, it was clear that his background was on par with the powerful noble families of Lsengard. To have such a connection with someone like himthis was indeed a stroke of good fortune for the ckwood family. As Charles''s figure was about to disappear from view, Raj quickly pulled Lily aside, giving her a look that said, Go after him, make sure he leaves on good terms. "Dad! Charles is my student, what are you thinking..." Lily instantly understood what Raj was implying. She nced at Charles''s retreating figure, her face turning a shade of red. "Besides, I''m seven years older than him! I could practically be his older sister..." "Charles has already graduated, hasn''t he?" Seeing his daughter a bit discouraged, Raj chuckled, "And what''s wrong with being seven years older? You''re beautiful, and I see that Charles isn''t repelled by you. You should seize the opportunity!" "Dad, stop it!" Lily''s face turned red, and she hurried back to her room, mming the door behind her. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, her heart raced uncontrobly. Truth be told, she felt somewhat guilty about Charles. Between them, aside from a confession, they had done everything a couple wouldand shouldn''t have done. Perhaps it was because she became the only support in Charles''s darkest times, or maybe it was just youthful curiosity, but their rtionship had crossed into forbidden love. Was it time... to give this forbidden love a perfect ending? Lily rummaged through her makeup on the desk and pulled out a lipstick she had cherished for a long time... Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Medicine or Poison After leaving Lily''s house, Charles first went to the bank to transfer 5 gold coins to Raj''s ount, then headed straight to the location of [the Fenton family Miracle Drug Ltd.] as marked on his phone''s map. He checked the recent market share earnings among the pharmaceuticalpanies in Lsengard. The Fenton family Pharmaceuticals:60% The Smith family Group:25% The ckwood family Pharmaceuticals:10% Others:5% In Charles''s memory, the miracle drug industry in Lsengard had always been monopolized by the Taylor family, holding over 70% of the sales. After his maneuvers against Sly and Kevin, the previously unknown Fenton family Pharmaceuticals suddenly surged, andbining this with the information Raj and the others discussed, Charles had reasons to suspect that Sly and Kevin were making aeback. He had less than 20 days left before leaving Lsengard, and he initially didn''t want to meddle in these business affairs. However, considering his conflicts with Sly and Kevin''s families, if he didn''tpletely crush them now, they could potentially harm David and Raj in the future. "I really didn''t want to interfere, but since you''ve crossed me and even harbored intentions to kill me..." "If I just leave Lsengard quietly, wouldn''t that be letting you off too easily?" With a cold smile, Charles''s figure disappeared into the shadows. ... As the evening darkened, Lsengard''s nightlife was just beginning, and the city glowed with dazzling neon lights. Countless citizens reveled in the dazzling nightlife, celebrating their fortune of surviving yet another day under the constant threat of ferocious beasts. At the heart of the city, on the rooftop of an impressive 30-story building, the clinking of a few wine sses echoed through the air, creating a crisp and pleasant sound. "Mr. Axel, I owe it all to you for taking me in. If not, I, Sly, would have ended up on the streets," said a middle-aged man with a sullen expression, gulping down a ss of red wine. His gaze wandered to the bustling streets below, a flicker of hatred crossing his eyes. His shipment, worth 15 gold coins, had been stolen from the vault of Lsengard Bank, causing the entire Taylor family Grouptoe to a halt. If not for Axel remembering their past friendship, Sly would likely have been left homeless. Although there was no direct evidence that Charles was behind it, Sly was certain that he had some involvement! The very thought of that little brat destroying his family and fortune made his body tremble with suppressed rage. Beside him, Kevin remained silent, his mood visibly grim, still reeling from the blow of the missing weapons from his arsenal. "Heh, no need for such words, Mr. Sly. If it weren''t for the alchemist you brought from the Taylor family, how could the Miller family have achieved its current sess?" Axel couldn''t help but smile as he recalled thepany''s recent financial reports over the past fortnight. With one hand, he groped the chest of the voluptuous hostess beside him, while raising his ss with the other. "Come,e, let''s drink! Tonight''s expenses are on me." As they exchanged drinks andughter, none of them noticed a shadow quietly slipping by in the darkness nearby. "So, it is Sly and Kevin behind it after all." Charles whispered to himself as he arrived at a nearby pharmacy owned by the Fenton family''s pharmaceuticalpany. Emerging from the shadows, he was taken aback by the overwhelming business the shop was doing. A few ferocious beast hunters, covered in blood and bandages, had grown impatient and even started fighting each other, all in an attempt to cut in line and get their hands on the miracle drug more quickly. Charles noticed one hunter applying the coveted "miracle drug" to his wounds. The man unwrapped his bandages and applied the dark green liquid to his injury. Instantly, a faint wood-element energy enveloped the wound. However... the wood energy was so subtle that it could easily be overlooked if not carefully observed. Curiosity piqued, Charles approached the hunter and asked, "Brother, how does that healing salve work for you?" The man had an expression of pure bliss, his eyes drifting toward Charles as he said casually, "It works like a charm. Just a little bit, and the pain''s gone immediately!" Noticing the strange look on the man''s face, Charles nced at the system screen. [Name]:Paul [Age]:42 [Beast Master Level]:Level 1 [Health]:External Injuries [Ferocious beastceration, inmed...] Poisoning [Drug poisoning, neurotoxin...] "This" Charles gasped in surprise. He pinched a bit of the dark green liquid from the medicine, brought it to his nose, and took a cautious sniff. As a seasoned alchemist, just one sniff was enough for Charles to roughly identify the ingredients in the liquid: poppy husks, morphine, ephedrine... After carefully smelling it for a while, he faintly detected a trace of wood-element beast core mixed within. "No wonder it''s selling so well. This isn''t just a painkiller; this is basically a drug!" Charles couldn''t help but exim, finally understanding why this obscure Fenton family pharmaceuticalpany had shot to the top of the Lsengard pharmaceutical sales charts in just two weeks. They weren''t selling medicine at all; they were trafficking drugs! Now that he knew the secret behind this "healing salve," Charles found himself in a dilemma. The Beast Mastery World was quite different from the world he originally came from. Here, substances like poppy, morphine, and simr drugs were perfectly legal as painkillers under Lsengardw. Competing with narcotics using regr painkillers? That was hardly realistic. "Poppy and morphine aren''t cheap. If they''re able to sell at low prices, they must be cutting corners on other ingredients. These so-called ''healing salves'' only relieve pain but offer no real treatment." Without proper healing, wounds would fester, itch, and be unbearably painful. And to suppress that pain, people would be forced to buyrger doses of these ''painkillers'' A vicious cycle. It was no wonder the Fenton family''s pharmaceutical business was driving Lily''s family''s pharmacy toward bankruptcy. "If I can refine a cheaper, more effective healing potion that also breaks their addiction, the entire Fenton family business, along with Sly and Kevin behind them, will be ruined. They''ll be nothing but rats, hated by everyone!" With this thought in mind, Charles left the pharmacy and pulled a business card from his storage space. Following the address on the card, Charles made his way to the Smith family tower once again. MVLeMpYr-the-story-tform Upon hearing the secretary''s report, David, who was in the middle of a high-level meeting, immediately adjourned it and rushed to the entrance of the building to personally greet the guest. "I''m here on behalf of my uncle, Charlie, to discuss a deal regarding the miracle drug," Charles said directly as soon as they reached a private conference room. David, grinning broadly, personally poured Charles a cup of tea. "It''s an honor for the Smith family group to work with you. Ever since the miracle drug sold like hotcakes at thest expo, we''ve had clients asking about it every day!" After tasting sess at the previous exhibition, David had been eagerly waiting for this golden opportunity, and to his surprise, it had now presented itself. "Yes, Mr. David, I''ll get straight to the point. The Fenton family group, whose business has been booming recently, is selling drugs disguised as healing salves. Topete with them, we need a partnership between you, Raj, and myself," Charles said calmly, taking a sip of his tea and then revealing his n. "Wait drugs instead of healing salves?" David was stunned by this shocking revtion. He hadn''t expected anyone to stoop to such a level. However, upon learning that the Fenton family was backed by Sly and Kevin, David''s expression darkened. In this world,ws didn''t mean much. Power was the most effectivew. With Sly, Kevin, and Axelthree Level 4 Beast Mastersworking together, they could tantly sell drugs, and no one would dare to touch them. Curiously studying Charles, David noted that he indeed bore some resemnce to his rtive Charlie from the imperial capital. Concerned, David voiced his hesitation, "Even if they''re selling drugs, how could we possiblypete with them? Dealing in something like that it just doesn''t sit right with me." Before David could finish, Charles interrupted him. "Mr. David, you''ve misunderstood. My uncle Charlie wouldn''t stoop to making money that way. All you need to do is gather the ingredients listed here." Taking the list from Charles, David''s eyelids twitched slightly: 10 tons of ten-year-old spirit root, 1,000 wild anesthetic nts from the ferocious beast mountains, 1,000 budding sarsaparis, 1,000 revival flowers These were all top-tier ingredients for crafting elite healing salves, with a value of at least 40 gold coins. How was he supposed toe up with that much money? But if they pulled this off, the Smith family could secure at least 70% of Lsengard''s miracle drug market "Let''s go for it!" David thought, deciding to take the plunge. David gritted his teeth and said firmly, "Rest assured, sir. I will have all the ingredients on your list procured within three days!" "Thank you for your efforts." Charles smiled calmly, then stood up and made his way out of the private room. David personally escorted Charles out, watching him until he left the Smith family tower and disappeared around the corner of the street. In David''s memory, Charles was just that quiet student who always sat in the back of his son''s ss, the one whose parents never showed up for parent-teacher meetings. Because his son Daniel was friendly with him, David often reminded him not to look down on people just because they came from poor families. Who could have imagined that Charles would one day rise to such heights? Not only had he helped the Smith family group through the jade mine crisis, sessfully guiding them through a business transformation, but now, he''d brought in a huge business deal! David thought to himself, "I must find time to visit him and properly express my gratitude." ... Walking along the riverside avenue, Charles enjoyed the cool evening breeze on his skin, feeling a sense of contentment. "Very soon, I''ll have a steady source of gold flowing in," he mused with a light smile. His decision to help David wasn''t solely out of old school ties. As a seasoned yer in the business world, Charles always prioritized his own interests. "Charles!" A familiar voice called out from a street corner ahead. It was Lily, waving at him. A faint scent of perfume lingered in the air. Lily wore delicate makeup, her bold red lipstick standing out against her porcin skin. Charles half-joked, "Miss Lily, all dressed up so beautifully at this hour, are you going on a date or heading to a matchmaking event?" "Miss Lily" she corrected him with a yful pout, "And why would you think I need to go to a matchmaking event?" Hearing his teasing, Lily stomped her foot lightly in mock annoyance, her expression showing both frustration and amusement. Noticing something unusual in her demeanor, with a hint of coyness in her voice, Charles paused for a moment before asking softly, "Miss Lily, is there something on your mind?" The evening breeze tousled her bangs, and a blush spread across Lily''s lovely face. She seemed both nervous and determined, as if trying to gather her courage. Suddenly, she looked up and asked, "Do you have a girlfriend?" Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Selling Cola in a Different World? "Uh..." Charles was momentarily stunned, looking at Lily with some surprise. "Why are you suddenly asking about this?" "Ah, it''s nothing. I''m just concerned about you. I was thinking, our Charles is so handsome, he must have a lot of girls liking him in college, right?" Lily smiled brightly, a fleeting shadow of sadness in her eyes, but she quickly regained her sparkle. "Come on, let''s go for a ride!" She swung her long legs over the motorcycle and revved the engine. It was a familiar scene for Charles, shing back to memories from three years ago. In high school, he was often cornered by a gang demanding money. After Lily found out, she started picking him up and dropping him off at school on this very motorcycle, and since then, no one bothered him anymore. Seeing Charles standing frozen, Lily handed him a helmet, patting the motorcycle beside her. "Hop on! Hold onto my waist, and don''t fall off!" Charles hesitated for a moment but eventually put on the helmet and ced his hands around Lily''s soft waist. The engine roared like a lightning demon ape. The motorcycle sped through the streets, just as Lily had many times taken him to school, the pair speeding along the riverside avenue before slowing down and winding their way to an old neighborhood. This was the old neighborhood where Charles had lived for ten whole years. The flower beds were overgrown with weeds, andrge patches of paint peeled off the building, as if to narrate the tales of its time-worn past. MVLeMpYr-novel-source "I''m sorry... I wasn''t paying attention and drove here again." Lily knew about the vandalism at Charles'' home and was worried it would upset him; her face showed a hint of apology. "It''s okay, I actually wanted toe home and check on things," Charles waved at Lily and then jogged towards the entrance of theplex. As he stepped into the building, a mix of dust and mildew hit him, a familiar scent that brought himfort. When he reached his apartment door and pushed open the rust-stained iron gate, the chaos inside tugged at his heartstrings. The trash might have been cleared away in this time, but nothing could return to how it was beforenot the broken home, nor the disappeared parents. Recalling Sly''s actions, Charles clenched his fists lightly. With his current wealth, Charles could easily afford several riverfront mansions, but no opulent residence could ever match the home that held his childhood memories. Charles got up and walked down the street, ncing at a photo in his phone''s album. Suddenly, his eyes began to moisten, and he dialed a number. buzz "Hello, the number you have dialed is currently unavable. Please try againter!" buzz "Hello, the number you have dialed is currently unavable. Please try againter!" Still no response. Charles put away his phone with a sense of defeat. He longed to loudly tell his parents, "We''re wealthy now, you don''t need to work dawn to dusk hauling goods anymore. Your son is now a proud Beast Master!" However, all he got in return was a cold, emotionless automated message. Passing by the barbecue restaurant around the corner of the neighborhood, Charles caught a pungent scent and suddenly brightened up, "Mr. Bard, how much chili powder do you have at home? Could you sell me some?" "Charles, you''re back?" A balding man in slippers hurried over. When he heard Charles wanted ten tons of chili powder, he was shocked: "Ten tons of chili powder, what are you nning to do?" Despite his puzzled look, Mr. Bard made several phone calls, and within ten minutes, he managed to gather ten tons of chili powder for him! Seeing the ten tons of chili powder, Charles couldn''t help but smile... After sending Lily a text, he slipped into a shadow at the street corner and vanished into the darkness. ... Charles stealthily moved through the shadows until he reached a shadowy area under a streetmp in front of the Fenton family pharmaceuticals. He bypassed the reception and headed straight for the miracle drug production workshop behind the Fenton family pharmaceuticals. Though it was a pharmaceuticalpany, the security outside the workshop was even tighter than the city lord''s residence, which seemed quite sinister. However, Charles easily avoided the guards while remaining in the shadows. Just as he stepped out of the clean room, Charles smelled a pungent odor and felt a surge of exhration. "This is the smell of morphine vapor! Damn it, these bastards are indeedcing the healing medicine with drugs!" Charles became alert and began to purify the air of toxic fumes using his fire energy. He cautiously approached the production equipment in the darkness, ncing at the feed hopper. They were using the cheapest revival flower. A wood-attribute beast core, after being ground into powder, had been diluted into a thousand bottles of healing medicine. At this concentration, it was barely distinguishable from a cebo. On the other hand, the sedatives meant to be used in trace amountsmorphine, cocainewere being added to the alchemy vats in massive quantities, tens or even hundreds of kilograms at a time, as if they cost nothing. [Ding! You have unlocked: Industrial Alchemy.] A system notification shed briefly in front of the screen, but Charles didn''t have time to pay it any attention. Finding the right moment, he swapped all the prepared medicine with his own concoction of chili water. With a sly smile, satisfied with his work, he left the pharmaceutical workshop. ... After leaving the Fenton Family Pharmaceuticals, Charles sprinted through the shadows all the way to the logistics center, heading towards the transit warehouse he had rented. Here, he was going to conduct an experiment to improve Hemostatic Powder. Back then, a single Tone Reproduction Hemostatic Powder could fetch a sky-high price of 50 silver coins at the Misubi auction house, not to mention the white-quality version. This miracle drug was time-consuming andbor-intensive to produce, and its price reflected that. It was far from something a first-rank Beast Master or amoner could afford. Topete in Lsengard''s pharmaceutical market against thebined forces of Sly, Kevin, and Axel under the Fenton Family Pharmaceuticals, Charles had to find a way to make Hemostatic Powder affordable and monopolize the miracle drug market. ng! With a crisp sound, Charles pulled a long alchemy production line, over ten meters in length, from his storage space. He had casually swiped this from the equipment warehouse when he left the Fenton Family Pharmaceuticals. Upon closer inspection, the alchemy equipment bore some resemnce to the pharmaceutical production lines from his previous life. However, instead of being powered by electricity, it was driven by a few fire spirit stones. He recalled the three core elements of alchemy: alchemical materials, the alchemyb, and fire. From his professional perspective, this equipment, which used the heat of fire spirit stones instead of actual fire and processed the lowest-grade materials, was nothing but a pile of "garbage." However, even this kind of "garbage" would still be snatched up by those ferocious beast hunters once it hit the market. The thought made Charles feel a bit wistful. Charles opened the alchemypanel in front of him on the screen. It not only recorded the alchemy forms he had mastered but also contained a wealth of knowledge rted to alchemy. He browsed through it for a while, then suddenly noticed a newly unlocked optionIndustrial Alchemy. As soon as Charles focused his attention on it, a pop-up window appeared, and a torrent of knowledge flooded into his mind like a surging wave. [System Notification: Industrial alchemy involves two key points: stability and low cost. Both are indispensable, and the key to achieving stability lies in the selection of fire spirit stones and the improvement of the alchemyb''s boiler structure...] The influx of specialized knowledge left Charles a bit dizzy, but with this infusion of information, he started to understand the colorful alchemy equipment around him. They no longer seemed so unfamiliar. From his storage space, he retrieved five Hemostatic nts and added them to the boiler beside him. The energy from the fire spirit stone flowed into the boiling mixture, but before Charles could even control it, all five Hemostatic nts turned into ashes. "It seems that controlling the temperature between the alchemyb and the alchemy equipment is quite challenging!" Charles muttered regretfully as he gazed at the pile of ashes in the boiler. "I should install temperature regtors at different depths of the boiler to ensure the herbs are evenly heated..." Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Charles grabbed a pile of parts from his storage and began tinkering with the alchemy boiler again. Two hourster, after countless failed attempts, Charles finally produced a green paste-like liquid from the five Hemostatic nts that he had ced into the alchemy boiler. While Charles still wasn''t satisfied with the quality, by the lowest standards of healing potions, it was far superior to anything avable on the market. Next, using the same method, Charles processed anesthetic nts, Rebirth of lotus roots, and spirit rootsall of them reduced to a thick paste. He gradually increased the dosage by tenfold, then a hundredfold! "The ingredients for the Hemostatic Powder have all been refined into liquid form. Now, it''s time for the final step in making the Hemostatic Powder..." Charles carefully guided the mixture in the boiler, all while recalling the steps he had just learned. Each type of herb had a different tolerance to temperature, and at this point, he needed to precisely control the temperature in different sections of the alchemy boiler and adjust the stirring force ordingly. Charles easily wrote a program, with the temperature control system automatically adjusting without needing him to lift a finger. Beep! Beep! The crisp sound of the rm on the alchemy furnace went off, and Charles, feeling a rush of excitement, opened the output valve. Instantly, a bright green liquid began to flow out of the pipe. With a light touch of his fingers, Charles picked up a small drop and smelled the rich, alchemical fragrance of the potion. It was still far from the miracle drug of Tone Reproduction, but the effectiveness was at least a hundred times better than the Fenton family''s so-called "healing medicine"! "With this, Hemostatic Powder can finally be produced on an industrial scale. I''ll share the news with Raj tomorrow." Looking at the containers filled with the bright green liquid, a sense of pride welled up inside Charles. He also keenly sensed the business opportunity. In this Beast Mastery World, there was no concept of [patents]. If he dared to release the form, it would immediately be copied by every pharmaceuticalpany in Lsengard. ButCharles suddenly recalled a case. He couldpletely follow Coca-C''s production model! "Coca-C kept its form and equipment entirely secret." "They would ship the [Coca-C concentrate] nationwide, taking a cut from the distributors who would dilute it with water ording to a set ratio, turning it into the Coca-C drink sold on the market." "I can totally replicate Coca-C''s business model and sell [Hemostatic Powder concentrate]." "I''m a genius! Haha!" --- Chapter 109: Chapter 109: The Mysterious Concentrate For the next few days, Charles stayed holed up in his warehouse, constantly refining the mass production equipment for his [Hemostatic Powder concentrate]. He installed a sensor inside the alchemy furnace. If anyone tried to dismantle the furnace without his permission, it would trigger a self-destruct mechanism, melting all the pipes into a heap of scrap metal. It was all done to prevent anyone from stealing the machine and replicating his alchemy equipment. After setting everything up, Charles carefully drew up blueprints for the alchemy apparatus. Thanks to the specialized knowledge he had gained from the [alchemy]system, this was not a difficult task for him. During the time he was absorbed in improving the alchemy equipment, the situation in Lsengard had grown increasingly tense. The rise of [the Fenton family pharmaceuticals] had gradually taken over the market share of all miracle drug merchants in Lsengard. Not only was the ckwood family pharmaceuticals affected, but even the Dubois family, which typically dealt in general goods, was hit by this wave of market disruption. The Fenton family''s monopolistic actions were essentially cutting into the lifeblood of many noble families in Lsengard. In response to this market shock, Raj, the president of ckwood Pharmaceuticals, convened a secret meeting within thepany. "All thepany''s finances are already in the red. Even with Mr. Charlie''s 7,000 silver coin loan, at this rate, it won''t be enough to cover the losses!" said the financial director of ckwood Pharmaceuticals, sitting at the head of the meeting table, frowning deeply as he stared at the deteriorating financial reports on hisputer. The attendees of this meeting were all high-level executives frompanies rted to the miracle drug industry in Lsengard. Once prominent and powerful, now they sat with their heads bowed, utterly clueless about how to counter the market disruption caused by the Fenton family pharmaceuticals. "Damn it! Axel, Sly, those bastardshow could they add 120 times the rmended dose of painkillers in their products? Are they selling medicine or dealing drugs?" Raj barked as he red at the drugposition analysis on the projection screen. All painkillers have some level of addictive potential. The line between medicine and poison is in the dosage. Now Sly and his crew had mixed morphine and cocaine into their healing drugs at 120 times the normal dosage, making everyone who used them addicted. As a result, people kepting back to their shops to buy more. "Maybewe should increase the dosage of sedatives in our healing medicines too?" one executive from Elysium Pharmaceuticals suddenly suggested. Raj immediately rejected the idea, snapping, "Are you insane? If everyone starts doing this, are you trying to turn Lsengard into a ce where even one-year-old babies are hooked on drugs?" "But if we keep letting Sly and his gang do this, we''ll all go bankrupt. What''s the point of holding onto ethics if we can''t even survive?" someone else chimed in, agreeing with Elysium''s suggestion. "..." The meeting dragged on for almost an hour without reaching any conclusion. Voices were raised, arguments broke out, and the scene quickly descended into chaos. In one corner of the conference room sat the younger generation, including Aurora and Celestine. They watched their elders with tense, grim expressions, too afraid to speak up amidst the suffocating and heavy atmosphere. "Sis, is the Fenton family really that powerful? Plus, we don''t only deal in miracle drugsthis shouldn''t affect us that much, right?" Aurora, sitting near the back by the window, lightly tugged on Celestine''s sleeve, her voice low with uncertainty. Celestine turned her head and looked at Aurora, who had an innocent expression on her face. With a sigh, she said softly, "My foolish sister, you have no idea. Arge portion of our family''s revenuees from the miracle drug business. Once those ferocious beast hunters be dependent on Fenton Pharmaceuticals'' drugs, they might end up obeying their orders. They could choose to sell ferocious beast materials and beast cores only to Sly, or sell them to us at outrageous prices. Even though our Taylor family group has deep roots and vast wealth, we won''t be able to withstand that kind of drain." "Is there really no way out? What about the City Lord''s Mansion...?" Aurora asked quietly. Celestine sighed again and shook her head with a touch of defeat. "Don''t count on it. Many of Lsengard''s top-tier Beast Masters have already been deployed to the frontlines. Out of the five remaining fourth-level Beast Masters in the city, three are already aligned with Fenton Pharmaceuticals. Without backing, any legal documents are no more than worthless scraps of paper" "...And Sly and Kevin belong to the three great families of Lsengard. Theirwork of connections runs deep throughout the entire city. Who would dare openly oppose them?" This was a world where power ruled. Fists were thew, the truth. With Sly and Kevin standing at the pinnacle of Lsengard''s elite families, there was little anyone could do to stop their misdeeds. The youths sitting there, with so little experience of the world, wore expressions of worry far beyond their years. "Ahem, Mr. Charlie from the imperial capital has sent a representative to attend the meeting," Raj suddenly announced from the front of the room, his face lighting up with joy. "Charlie?" "Mr. Charlie''s representative is here?!" At the mention of this news, the once chaotic meeting room immediately fell silent. Just half a month ago, with Charlie''s help, David had organized a grand sales exhibition, raking in massive profits and expanding their business beyond gemstones. The name "Charlie" had since spread throughout Lsengard. Celestine, hearing the name, also lifted her head with a glimmer of hope. But when she saw that the representative was Charles, she couldn''t help but let out a faint scoff, her expression turning to one of disdain. "That''s Charlie''s representative? Him?" As the memory of that night by the river flooded backCharles and his so-called ''punishment''a faint blush crept onto Celestine''s face. When their eyes met, she clenched her fist and gave him a defiant shake, her eyes filled with resentment. However, Charles'' gaze merely flickered over Celestine and did not linger. Momentster, a clear and calm voice sounded from the front of the meeting room: "Mr. Raj, let''s get straight to the point. I''m here to discuss the cooperation regarding [Hemostatic Powder concentrate]." Charles wasted no time. He went to the front of the room and projected a slide: "The image you see here is a new generation of alchemy product from my uncle''sb. It can neutralize the addictive effects caused by traditional painkillers like morphine, and its healing effect is 100 times more potent than other healing medicines in the same price range." "Not only can it be used by humans, but it can also be administered to mystical beasts, temporarily boosting their resistance to toxic attributes. Moreover, it enhances the strength of lower-tier mystical beasts." "And its benefits don''t end there" Everyone present was a key figure in Lsengard''s pharmaceutical industry, including several alchemists. Yet, the room was dead silent, with all eyes focused on Charles and the slide he was presenting. After a brief pause, an elderly alchemist with silver hair and a gray robe stood up, carefully choosing his words as he said, "Mr. Charles, I''ve been practicing alchemy for decades, though the potions I''ve crafted are all low-tier and without ranking. Still, I''ve never heard of such a miraculous potion as the one you''re describing." This wasn''t a healing potionit sounded more like a cure-all, an omnipotent miracle drug! As the gray-robed elder finished speaking, several other alchemists around the room nodded in agreement, believing that Charles might be exaggerating. Faced with their skepticism, Charles didn''t rush to exin. Instead, he opened a suitcase he had brought with him and took out several vials of bright green liquid, distributing them to everyone present. The gray-robed elder carefully took one of the test tubes and tilted it slightly. A single drop of the liquid slid down the tube, hanging in the air above his hand. He first sniffed it gently, then pulled out a silver needle and stirred the liquid delicately. As he did so, a soft wood-element energy flowed around his fingers, as though he were probing the ingredients of the potion. In just a few minutes, the elder''s expression became increasingly serious. When he looked back at Charles, there was a newfound respect in his eyes. Turning to the others, he confidently dered, "The healing properties of this potion, as well as its enhancing effects on mystical beasts, are exactly as Mr. Charles described! And for a potion to reach such purity, it must be the work of at least a third-tier alchemist!" As the chief alchemist of the ckwood family, the moment the gray-robed elder spoke, the other alchemists immediately fell silent. Raj was stunned at first, then his face lit up with joy. He had been powerless against Sly and his relentless pressure, watching as the thousands of silver coins he borrowed were on the verge of being lost again. But now, with the Bryant family stepping in once more, he eagerly nodded in excitement: "To be able to cooperate with Mr. Charles is an honor for the ckwood family. However, I do have a few concerns. With such high-quality miracle drugs, I imagine the price would be at least 10 silver coins I''m afraid a small ce like Lsengard might not be able to afford it" Raj was speaking delicately. After all, only a handful of people could be high-level Beast Masters. Most of those purchasing miracle drugs in Lsengardwhether it be city guards, ferocious beast hunters, or ordinary citizenswere not Beast Masters. If the price was too high, they wouldn''t be able topete with Sly''s products. Nearby, Henry, the chairman of the Dubois family group, seemed to share the same concern. But before he could voice his doubts, Charles spoke up first: -exclusive-content "My healing potion will be sold at a unified price, whether it''s in Lsengard city, the outskirts, or even when it''s distributed across Genosha in the future." "The price? It will only be 100 copper coins." "100 silver coins is way too expenswait, what? You said 100 copper coins?" Raj eximed in shock before Charles could finish. A healing potion of this quality, for only 100 copper coins? The people around couldn''t believe their ears. Even the lowest-grade healing potions typically cost over 500 copper coins. It was a price that an ordinary ferocious beast hunter could afford if they gritted their teeth, but it would take them more than a month of hardbor in the wilderness. Definitely not cheap! And Charles'' healing potion didn''t just surpass every other potion on the market in terms of effectiveness; it also had the added bonus of enhancing mystical beasts'' abilities. Yet, he was pricing it at only 20% of what others charged? --- Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Business Mind At this moment, Henry, the chairman of the Dubois family group, who had been silent until now, finally spoke: "Charles, I heard Reginald Thackeray just now. It seems this healing potion is the work of a third-tier Beast Master. While I deeply appreciate Mr. Charlie''s willingness to help us through this difficult time, the cost of hiring a third-tier alchemist is something we in Lsengard simply cannot afford" A third-tier alchemist might not be a big deal in the imperial capital, where talent is abundant, but in a small ce like Lsengard, anyone encountering one would have to respectfully call them an ''alchemy master.'' The Dubois family group already spent 1,000 silver coins a year just to employ a first-tier alchemist, and the cost of hiring a second-tier alchemist was astronomical. As for a third-tier alchemist... Henry didn''t even dare to imagine. "Heh, you''re overthinking it," Charles replied with a soft smile. "My uncle''sboratory has developed a batch of alchemy equipment, and one of those systems has already arrived at the Lsengard logistics center. This kind of low-grade miracle drug can be mass-produced." Charles continued with ease, then yed a video on therge projection screen. In the footage, a spherical alchemy vat, five meters in diameter, was running non-stop, day and night. The faint glow of firestones bathed the entire alchemy apparatus in a dim red hue. On one end, fully automated robotic arms delivered the raw materials, and on the other, miracle drugs were being produced in a steady stream. Watching this scene, Raj took a deep breath, nearly losing his bnce. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he stared at the video, unable to conceal the broad smile spreading across his face. Just a few days ago, his family had been scrambling to sell off vis and properties to cover thepany''s financial losses caused by Fenton Pharmaceuticals. Charles'' loan of 7,000 silver coins had provided a lifeline at the most critical moment. Now, in a mere three days, he was not only going to partner with Charles to mass-produce miracle drugs, but he also couldn''t fathom why this was happening. He had never had much of a rtionship with the Bryants, and this mysterious ''uncle'' of Charles, Charlie, who did business in the imperial capitalwhy was he going out of his way to help? Henry stood up from his seat, staring in astonishment at the calm young man before him, his mind filled with surprise. As he mentally sifted through all the noble families and wealthy figures he had met while doing business in the imperial capital, he couldn''t recall ever hearing of a ''Charlie'' or any alchemyb capable of mass-producing such high-quality miracle drugs. While the impact of Fenton Pharmaceuticals on his Stokes family hadn''t been as severe as it was on Raj''s pharmaceutical business, Henry knew he couldn''t let Sly and his crew grow even more powerful. In his heart, he had already decided to establish a connection with Charles and his mysterious ''uncle.'' Now that he thought about it, didn''t his daughters Aurora and Celestine know Charles? They were around the same ageperhaps there was a chance to match them up. The only question was whether a young man from the imperial capital, who had seen the world, would be interested... Everyone around was staring at the enormous alchemy vat disyed on the screen,pletely stunned. The hardest part of alchemy lies in temperature control. Each alchemical ingredient requires a different temperature, and one slight mistake could lead to energy imbnce, resulting in an alchemy disastermonly referred to as a "cauldron explosion." Yet, Charles'' healing potion contained dozens of different ingredients, and still, everything remained stable. Not only that, but it had already been mass-producedtruly a miracle! As fellow alchemists, they were shocked, their eyes wide with disbelief as they watched the miracle drug being produced on an assembly line in the video! "Tch, it''s just because he has some impressive uncle in the imperial capital," Celestine sighed lightly from the back of the meeting room, resting her delicate chin in her hand. She gazed at Charles, who was surrounded by the crowd like a star, her toneced with displeasure. She firmly believed in first impressions, and every time she recalled what Charles had done by the river, she couldn''t muster any goodwill toward him. She even questioned whether the person here today was the same Charles. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed her sister, Aurora, looking at Charles with gentle admiration, as ifpletely enchanted by him. Celestine reached out to pinch her sister''s cheek, but her hand froze mid-air. "Could it be I misunderstood him?" This thought caused her cheeks to flush slightly. Her mind spun into a chaotic mess, and she couldn''t help but shake her head, trying to get rid of these confusing thoughts. She bit her lip, thinking, "That little scoundrel! There''s no way he''s a good personI''ll have to warn Father after the meeting, so he doesn''t get tricked by him!" In the silent room, all eyes were fixed on the young man in the center and the bright green liquid he held in his hand. "Mr. Charles, the fact that you were willing to lend me 7,000 silver coins to help me through this financial crisis was already a great honor" Raj finally snapped out of his shock, swallowing hard. After a moment of hesitation, he looked at the young man in front of him and spoke softly, "I don''t dare to ask for much. Just allow ckwood Pharmaceuticals and the Dubois family group to sell these miracle drugs for you. We can sell them without taking a single cutthe profits will all go to you. We only hope to win back the customers we''ve lost." Henry, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. As long as they could stop Fenton Pharmaceuticals from growing even bigger and poisoning the people of Lsengard with their drugs, the Dubois family group was willing to take a loss if necessary. "How could I possibly ept that? You''ll have plenty of daily expenses for helping me with sales." The young man pondered for a moment before suddenly lifting his head. "How about thisI''ll only take 8% of the profits." Upon hearing this, the entire room was stunned. The miracle drug came from the Bryants, and even the production equipment was provided by them, yet Charles was only asking for 8% of the profits? Was he doing charity? Given the current crisis facing the pharmaceuticalpanies in Lsengard, even if Charles took all of the profits, no one would have had anyints. Raj''s face showed pure astonishment, and he rubbed his ears as if he couldn''t believe what he had just heard. "Sir, did I hear you right? You only want 8% of the profits? How is that fair?" this-chapter-is-MVLeMpYr Charles waved his hand, smiling calmly. "Not only will I help you, but I''ll also give you the form for this healing potion, as well as the blueprints for the alchemy production equipment However, I have a few conditions." "Mr. Charles, please go ahead!" Raj''s face lit up with joy. If Charles truly wanted nothing in return for helping him, he''d feel unsettled about it. Charles pulled out the documents he had already prepared and handed them to both Henry and Raj. "I have three conditions. First, you must carbonate the potion with carbon dioxide, color it caramel, and rebrand it as [C], marketing it as a ''functional beverage'' that can heal injuries." "Second, no matter how the market changes in the future, C must always be priced at 100 copper coins, and I''ll still only take 8% of the profits. The rest will be yours." "Third, while I''m willing to give you the form and blueprints for the concentrated potion and alchemy equipment, they must be kept confidential. Aside from the three of us, no one else will ever receive the original formonly the concentrated C syrup." "If you agree to these terms, please sign the document." Raj and Henry stared nkly at the papers in their hands. After reading through the uses, their mouths hung wide open in shock. This was a genius n! Since they would only be selling the concentrated syrup and keeping the form and alchemy blueprints under lock and key, they wouldn''t have to worry about anyone else copying it. They could confidently distribute it across Genosha. As for Charles'' 8% share, given that he was providing both the form and the equipment blueprints, it was entirely reasonable! Raj didn''t hesitate for a moment before signing the agreement. After reviewing all the terms, Henry also added his signature to themercial contract, clearly impressed with the brilliance of the partnership. "Hehe, a pleasure doing business. Here''s to our C selling like hotcakes!" Charles smiled calmly as he left behind the C form and the alchemy equipment blueprints. With the signed agreements in hand, he walked out of the meeting room. Watching Charles'' retreating figure, Raj and Henry could barely contain their smiles. This wasn''t just a business contractthey had nted a money tree! As long as no other healing potion on the market could surpass the effectiveness of C, they would continue raking in profits from selling the concentrated syrup, possibly even expanding their business beyond Lsengard! Meanwhile, those in the meeting who didn''t secure primary distributor rights were now filled with regret for not having connected with Charles sooner. Smiling broadly, they flocked to Raj and Henry, hoping to secure secondary distribution rights. At the back of the meeting room, Aurora''s cheeks flushed as she gazed at Charles'' departing silhouette, stars practically twinkling in her eyes. Charles wasn''t just handsomehis Beast Mastery talents were top-notch, and now he had brought such a major business deal to the Stokes family! Everyone in the room was utterly amazed! The days of Fenton Pharmaceuticals, who had taken over the market with their addictive drugs, were numbered! In less than a week, C would dominate the shelves of every store in Lsengard! Leaving the ckwood Pharmaceuticals building, Charles exhaled deeply. Finding a quiet, deserted spot, he activated his skill, [Darkness Cloak], slipping into the shadows. "Heh, Sly, Kevin, don''t me me for being ruthless. After all, you tried to kill me. How could I let you get away with that, right?" A cold smirk curled the corner of Charles'' lips as he sneered. But bringing down those two old foxes, Sly and Kevin, wouldn''t be so easy. the Dubois family and the Draven family, two of the three major families in Lsengard, had been established for centuries. Now, with Sly, Kevin, and Axel forming an almost unbreakable alliance, they were an irond triangle of power. Though David stood on his side, it would still be difficult to fight off so many enemies at once if things escted. If it came to a head, the fallout would be hard to contain. "Beyond the three great families, Lsengard also has the City Lord''s mansion, the Misubi family, and the Beast Master Guildthree forces that are not to be underestimated either." "However, due to Grace, the City Lord would never have any goodwill toward me." "The Misubi family runs the auction house in Lsengard and has always remained neutral, staying out of any city affairs. It would be hard to get their help." As Charles mulled over his options, an image of a stern-faced middle-aged man gradually surfaced in his mind... --- Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Guild Master Perceval Lsengard''s Beast Master Guild, Vice President''s Office. Charles knocked on the door, and a middle-aged man, busy with paperwork at his desk, slowly raised his head. After a brief moment of surprise, he abruptly stood up, astonished: "Charles? You little rascal! In just three months, you''ve jumped from a first-tier Beast Master to a third-tier Beast Master. I really underestimated you back then!" Fletcher, clearly excited, walked over to Charles, giving him a heavy pat on the shoulder. He motioned for his secretary to bring Charles a cup of tea and chuckled, "So, what brings you to see me today? Do you need the Beast Master Guild''s help with something?" Charles nodded, getting straight to the point. "The Fenton family pharmaceuticals have aligned themselves with Sly and Kevin, openly selling painkillers with morphine levels exceeding 120 times the limit. I assume Vice President Fletcher is aware of this?" At that, the smile vanished from Fletcher''s face. He didn''t respond immediately but gestured for Charles to continue. "The Taylor family and the Draven family have been causing trouble in Lsengard for years. Compared to their past crimes, this public drug trafficking almost seems like a ''minor'' offense." "Take just three months ago, for example. Robert, in order to win first ce in the ferocious beast mountain trials, went as far as to kill a fellow student. If it hadn''t been for Daniel''s luck, he''d probably be dead in the ferocious beast mountains too." "And then there''s Bradley and Felix, father and son, who betrayed Lsengard. They were only able to run wild in the ferocious beast mountains because of the Taylor family''s supply of resources. Their collusion has been an open secret for over a decade." "And this time, their drug trafficking through healing potions isn''t just about making a profit. I suspect there''s a much bigger conspiracy at y." "That''s why I''m hoping the Beast Master Guild can issue a ban, preventing any Beast Master in Lsengard from doing business with them." After speaking at length, Charles felt his mouth go dry. He took a sip of tea, his eyes never leaving Fletcher, who sat across from him. There was only half a month left before Charles was set to leave for Cyber Academy. He didn''t have any grand ambition to "eradicate the poison in Lsengard," but leaving these two threats unchecked would certainly make it hard to sleep peacefully in the wildster on. When Charles finished, Fletcher nced out of his office at the Beast Masters moving back and forth outside, his voice turning cold. "Charles, the purpose of the Beast Master Guild is to serve all Beast Masters across Genosha, providing them with convenience. Like the Misubi Auction House, we maintain a position of neutrality. Whether you see them as good or evil, we don''t take sides or intervene without cause." After speaking, Fletcher gave Charles a quick blink, a subtle signal. Charles was momentarily confused but quickly grasped the meaning behind Fletcher''s gesture. He stood up and took his leave. "Alright, since that''s your stance, I won''t trouble you any further today." Though somewhat unsure of what had just happened, Charles left the Beast Master Guild. After crossing a few streets, he suddenly received an anonymous message. The message read: "As much as I''d like to help, this kind of decision needs approval from the top! To be honest, I''m not a fan of Sly and Kevin either! Just a heads upthe old man recently got back from the front lines, and his most prized mystical beast was injured. If you can heal that precious creature of his, there''s a good chance he''ll green-light this for you! (P.S. Don''t say I told you this!)" Click! After putting away his phone, Charles felt a warm sensation in his chest. This Beast Mastery World could be as harsh and cold as a heartless machine, much like Vice President Fletcher''s name and the cold, detached expression on his face. But even the coldest heart has its soft momentsjust like when Fletcher stood in front of the students in the ferocious beast mountains to protect them, and now, when he discreetly extended a helping hand beyond his official duties. ... The next day, Charles followed the address Fletcher had provided and arrived at an old, rundown cabin on the outskirts of Lsengard. An elderly man with graying hair was in the yard, tending to the wounds of an equally worn-out-looking wooden bear. Dark blood trickled down the towel he was using, staining the ground beneath them. The bear appeared to have been savagely attacked by something terrifying. One of its hind legs was cleanly broken, with part of the bone visible through the wound. As Charles looked at the creature, several system prompts shed before his eyes. [Wooden Bear] [Element]: Wood [Level]: 39 [In Progress] [Click to view upgrade materials] [Quality]: Silver [Emotion]: Fear [Health]: Critically weak [Severe internal and external injuries, wounds infected] [Click to view treatment methods] Poisoned [Neurotoxin] [Click to view treatment methods] Disabled [Hind leg amputation] [Click to view treatment methods] "Weakness, paralysis, poisoning, disability this is way too much!" Charles couldn''t help but be shocked. It was the first time he had seen a mystical beast in such a dire condition. From the brief lines of health information, Charles could sense just how brutal the battle must have been. Genosha was and embroiled in constant warfare. To the east, the serpent people of the Atacama Desert; to the west, the merfolk of the Infinity Isles; and both Avaloria to the north and the Ster Empire to the south watched with predatory intent. Ever since the fall of the war god Ares centuries ago, Genosha had be a coveted prize for its neighbors. With its ins andck of natural defenses, it was easy pickings. Every year, countless Beast Masters perished defending the nation''s borders. Judging by the state of the wooden bear, Charles guessed it had likely sustained its injuries in a battle against the forces from the Infinity Isles. "Leave. I don''t get involved in Lsengard''s internal affairs." Before Charles could say a word, the old man''s cold voice cut through the air, carrying the harsh authority and lethal intent of someone who had spent too much time on the frontlines. "Uh" Charles hadn''t even opened his mouth before Guild Master Perceval had already issued his dismissal. Given the man''s position as the head of the Beast Master Guild, Charles wasn''t surprised by the level of intelligence he possessed. MVLeMpYr-the-story-tform But Charles didn''t let the old man''s words deter him. Instead, he calmly sat down beside the wooden bear. "Roar!" The wooden bear let out a roar, but thanks to his [Mind Communication] ability, Charles could tell it wasn''t out of angerit was from pain and fear. "Guild Master, if I can heal the wooden bear''s wounds and remove the poison from its body, could you, while maintaining neutrality, refrain from offering any assistance to Sly and his people? Things like ferocious beast materials and miracle drug supplies." The old man rinsed the towel in a shallow red basin, wringing it out before continuing to clean the bear''s wounds. He gave Charles a doubtful look, his voice still cold: "I''ve already told you, the Beast Master Guild is a neutral organization. We do not take sides in conflicts between Beast Masters. This isn''t about whether you can heal my beast or not. You should leave." "The wooden bear''s hind leg may be broken, but since it''s a wood-element mystical beast, I have a way to regenerate its missing limb," Charles replied, his voice calm. The old man''s hand paused in midair as he cleaned the bear''s wounds. He stared at Charles, visibly stunned. This wooden bear had been with him since his youth, now well into hister years. It meant more to him than even family. If there was a way to fully restore its health, he would be willing to give up his position as Guild Master. But as long as he still held his title, he had to uphold the principles of the Beast Master Guild... "Guild Master, this wooden bear has been stuck at Level 39 for quite some time, hasn''t it? Who knows, maybe if I take a look, it might finally break through." St! The old man tossed the towel into the basin and rushed over to Charles. In his excitement, he didn''t notice as his hands left bloody prints on Charles'' sleeves. His voice shook with emotion: "You really think you can heal my wooden bear and help it break through to Level 40?" Perceval stared in disbelief at the young man before him, unable to hide the joy on his face. His wooden bear had been stuck at Level 39 for 20 long years, ever since he became a fourth-tier Beast Master at the age of 48. If the bear could break through, as its contracted master, Perceval himself would likely advance to a fifth-tier Beast Master! Seeing the confident expression on Charles'' face, Perceval quickly let go of him and, realizing the blood on his hands, awkwardly wiped Charles'' sleeves. "Forgive me," he said, leading Charles into the house with renewed hope. ... Three hourster, as Perceval watched his wooden bear, now full of energy and vitality, he couldn''t help but embrace the creature. Tears welled up in his cloudy eyes, streaming down his face. "Hey, old friend, I thought I was going to lose you forever sobbing..." Noticing his emotional outburst, Perceval quickly wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and smiled at Charles. "Don''t worry. The Beast Master Guild will no longer supply ferocious beast materials or alchemy ingredients to Fenton Pharmaceuticals. And I''ll issue a decree in my capacity as Guild Master: any Beast Master registered with the Lsengard Beast Master Guild who is caught purchasing healing potions from Fenton Pharmaceuticals will have their sry suspended for six months!" "I''ll leave it in your capable hands, Guild Master Perceval!" Charles smiled slightly as he prepared to leave. Before departing, he handed Perceval a list of materials. "These are the materials required for the wooden bear''s breakthrough. Gather them within 20 days. If you keep your word, I''ll ensure itpletes its breakthrough before I leave Lsengard." Perceval took the list from Charles, his heart filled with curiosity. He had heard many rumors about the young man even before returning to Lsengard. But what surprised him was that, besides his Beast Mastery talents, this kid seemed to have knowledge of alchemy and even some medical skills? The abilities Charles had disyed left Perceval astonished. As he watched Charles'' figure disappear into the distance, the old man smiled wryly. "Is this what they call abusing power for personal gain?" Gently patting the oldpanion that had been by his side through countless battles, Perceval made up his mind to prepare it a feast of ferocious beast meat that night. "The frontlines are in dire straits, and Sly, Kevin, and those bastards have turned Lsengard into a cesspool. It''s about time someone stepped in!" Perceval muttered to himself, as if trying to justify his actions. Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Would You Like to Try This Pepper Spray Too? To counteract the pharmaceutical venture founded by Sly, Kevin, and Axelthe Fenton the Miller family businessDavid, Raj, and Henry formed a business alliance. David''s conglomerate, the Smith family group, was in charge of fundraising and procuring materials; Raj, who started in the miracle drug industry, had already begun production continuously after acquiring Charles''s miracle drug form and alchemy equipment; and Henry, who originated from the department store business, took on the promotion and distribution of what wouldter be known as ''Coca-C.'' Everything unfolded amidst high tension, with everyone eagerly anticipating the new ''Coca-C'' beverage to dominate the entire Lsengard market! Over the past week, the Miller family''s pharmaceuticals had increased their market share from 75% to 95%. MVLeMpYr-reader It was clear to discerning eyes that this gain was achieved through the addition of ''excessive cocaine''a controversial tactic, but one had to admit that the Miller family had effectively monopolized the Lsengard pharmaceutical industry. With three level-four Beast Masters united, who could challenge them? ... At seven in the evening, as the city lights began to glow. Ferocious beast hunters returned to Lsengard after a day''s toil, their bodies sweaty and scarred, eagerly lining up to purchase the Miller family''s miracle drug. Many of these hunters chose to spend their hard-earned money in pleasure districts as well. Near the Miller family''s drugstore, at the Pink Rose bar, strippers energetically performed on stage, flirtatiously enticing the audience. Their gazes inadvertently drifted towards booth number one. "Another round, make sure it''s the Spade Ace with obsidian!" shouted a man with a middle-part hairstyle as a spotlight converged on his slightly tipsy face. The DJ''s voice filled the bar with vigor: "88 silver coins!" "A set of the great divine dragon with obsidian!" "Tonight''s expenses at the Pink Rose are on Mr. Benjamin!" As the DJ spoke, cheers erupted from the young men and women in the dance area, with numerous young women mboyantly showcasing their dance skills, hoping to catch the attention of the distinguished guest in booth number one. "Annabelle, I haven''t seen you in two days, and your chest seems evenrger. Did you find another man behind my back?" Benjamin joked, his arm around a beautiful woman, yfully teasing another voluptuousdy in the booth. "Hardly..." The woman''s words were cut off as Benjamin''s hand slipped inside her blouse, nearly eliciting a startled cry from her. She chided with a coquettish tone, "Mr. Benjamin, let''s wait until we''re in the hotel, okay...?" Benjamin nced at the dance floor. They were in a semi-open booth, unlikely to be seen by others. Or so he thought... actually, being spotted might even thrill him more! "Come on, let''s see who has improved their skills? Take good care of me, and I''ll order another set of the great divine dragon!" Benjamin unfastened his belt buckle, leering at the several hostesses surrounding him. As soon as he finished speaking, the previously demure Annabelle stepped forward, took him in her mouth, and in a burst of celestial pleasure, Benjamin''s gaze drifted outside the window to the Miller family pharmaceutical shop. There, a long line of Beast Masters queued up, continuously funneling wealth to the Miller family, allowing him finally to live out his extravagant dreams. Since they started ''spiking'' their healing drugs, the Miller family''s sales had soared. At this rate, within three months, the Miller family would rece David as one of the top three families in Lsengard. The air was thick with the scent of alcohol mixed with the perfume of women. Benjamin''s attention returned from the window as Annabelle was ardently ''at work.'' The woman''s cunning skills brought him a rush of pleasure, and he couldn''t help but release... Damn, that was less than a minute, 88 silver coins not well spent... To cover his embarrassment, Benjamin shouted, "Bartender, a Spade Ace with obsidian, and another set of the great divine dragon!" Bang! As soon as Benjamin finished speaking, a bottlebeled ''Spade Ace'' smashed into his head, sttering blood all over the walls. "Go to hell, Benjamin. Your family''s fake drugs put my dad in the hospital, and you''re here enjoying life?" A man in sunsses kicked open the booth door, yelling furiously, followed by a dozen burly men. "Damn, it''s this bastard selling fake drugs, beat him up!" Hissing in pain, Benjamin touched his head, feeling a cut that was bleeding profusely. The unexpected attack by another Beast Master had seriously wounded him. "Ah!" "They''re beating him up!" Annabelle and the other hostesses scattered in fear, leaving Benjamin fuming. He stretched out his right hand, and three silver hexagrams shed into existence. "Roar! Roar!!!!" A lightning demon ape, a blue lightning tyrannosaurus rex, and a thundering leopardthree silver-grade mystical beastsappeared, circling him defensively and roaring continuously at the dozen burly men in the booth. "A third-level Beast Master... you think we''d be scared of you?" The man in sunsses gestured, and his group of burly men summoned their own mystical beasts. Benjamin quickly assessed the situation. They were all second-level Beast Masters with mostly Bronze Division beasts. But their numbers were overwhelming; even with extraordinary powers, he couldn''t fend off a group attack from several second-level Beast Masters. "Damn... when my dad and Uncle Sly, Uncle Kevin get here, I''ll kill you all!" Benjamin cursed inwardly. With the vilest curses in his heart, Benjamin recalled his mystical beasts and hunched over in a pleading posture, "Big brother, please let me go, there must be some misunderstanding here..." "Misunderstanding?" The muscr man in sunsses grabbed Benjamin by the neck, mmed him to the ground, and then threw him out of the bar. Lightning demon ape!!! With tremendous force, he smashed through the wall. Benjamin tumbled several times on the ground and rolled over a dozen times on the asphalt road, struggling to get up. The Pink Rose bar was in chaos, with countless people rushing out while casting terrified nces at Benjamin. Passersby also looked on in shock at the bloodied Benjamin. Bang! Before Benjamin could rise, the man in sunsses punched him down again and then stepped on his head, "Ladies and gentlemen, in my hand, I have the Miller family pharmaceuticals'' healing medicine priced at 1000 copper coins! Let''s have Mr. Benjamin personally demonstrate its effects!" Benjamin felt a sharp pain as the muscr man shed several deep cuts across his chest. He tried to struggle, but a few more burly men came forward to restrain him. "Look, this is the Miller family''s healing medicine!" Benjamin lifted his head just as the man in sunsses angrily stepped forward, sshing the medicine all over his wounds. "AAAAHHHH" When the liquid touched his injuries, Benjamin immediately felt a searing pain. The wounds spasmed and twisted in agony, but he was held down, immobilized by the men restraining him. "See? This isn''t healing medicine, it''s [pepper spray]!" The man in sunsses kept pouring several bottles of ''healing medicine'' on Benjamin''s wounds, followed by more screams of agony. A crowd had gathered around, witnessing Benjamin''s wounds not only failing to heal but actually bleeding profusely after the application of the supposed medicine. The bystanders began to murmur among themselves. "Isn''t that just too cruel? Selling pepper spray as healing medicine for 1000 copper coins?" "These crooks deserve to be fed to ferocious beasts!" "It''s not just pepper spray; the painkillers contain an excessive amount of morphine! Ever since my dad started using the Miller family''s painkillers, he doesn''t even want to eat anymore, just craves that ''healing medicine.''" "My God! The Miller family ising, run!" Someone in the crowd shouted, and suddenly, the people gathered there, including the burly men who had beaten Benjamin, scattered like a tide pulling back. "Damn, who did this?" Leading a fully armed squad, Axel rushed forward, seeing Benjamin on the ground nearly unconscious with pain, his face etched with concern. "Quick! Get the healing medicine!" As one of his subordinates brought a bottle of their dark red medicine, Axel kicked it away: "Damn, not ours! Get Raj''s." Axel then applied a bottlebeled [Miller FamilyPharmaceuticals] to Benjamin''s wounds. Ten minutester, Benjamin slowly opened his eyes. "Our healing medicine might not be the best, but it shouldn''t bepletely ineffective, right?" Looking puzzled at the dark red medicine in his hand, Axel sniffed it and was immediately shocked: "Pepper spray?" ... At the Miller family pharmaceutical''s top floor, the atmosphere was tense and oppressive. Dozens of bottles of dark red liquid were piled on the conference room table, and the pungent smell of pepper spray filled the air. "The investigation results are in. Across all 54 pharmacies under the Miller family pharmaceuticals, all the healing medicines have been swapped with pepper spray!" Axel opened a projection of a statistical report and, in anger, mmed his fist down, denting the table. Kevin, after reviewing the report, picked up a bottle from the table and sniffed it, his face filled with shock. Who had the capability to swap the healing medicine with pepper spray in all 54 of the Miller family''s pharmacies in such a short time? "I find it impossible that someone tampered with 54 pharmacies simultaneously. More likely, the batch was meddled with before it even hit the market," Kevin said grimly, quickly making his judgment. "Are you suggesting there''s a mole?" Sly picked up a vial of medicine, his expression equally grim. Ever since their family''s stock had been emptied, the Taylor family owed a huge debt of 50 gold coins due to high-interest loans. Adding excessive morphine to the painkillers had been his idea. Joining forces with the Miller family pharmaceuticals was the Taylor family''sst chance to turn things around. If they failed, the entire Taylor family would plummet into an abyss. "I don''t think this was just a staff error. It must be the work of apetitor, definitely someone bribed our people to swap the raw materials on the alchemy production line!" Sly, having been roughed up in the business world for years, quickly offered his analysis. Everyone knew now that the Miller family pharmaceuticals had allied with him and Kevin. Damn it, which bastard dared to oppose them? Clenching his fist tightly, Sly hurled the vial of medicine out the window, shattering the ss with a loud crack as it fell to the ground below. Just as the window ss broke, Sly suddenly noticed on the facade of Lsengard''s tallest building across from them, a bright advertising slogan lit up: "Hurt, tired, exhausted, drink Coca-C!" At the same moment, Kevin and Axel looked up and saw the same advertisement, feeling utterly perplexed. ... Chapter 113: Chapter 113: A Beverage? This Is a Miracle Cure! Charles spat out a mouthful of red wine when he came across a viral video of a streaker screaming in pain as [pepper spray] was applied to his wounds. He wasn''t particrly interested in the streaker, but when he realized the man, pixted in sensitive areas, was Benjamin, he couldn''t help butugh: "Is this what they call poetic justice?" His revenge was silent but fierce. Over the past week, in between training sessions with Max and Mousie, he''d made trips to the Miller family pharmaceuticals'' workshop to tamper with various ingredients. ording to the shipping schedule of the Miller family pharmaceuticals, Charles reckoned that all 54 chain stores were now stocked with his ''spiked'' medicines. "With less than half a month until I head to Cyber Academy, let me quietly enjoy the downfall of Sly and his cronies," Charles murmured, a slight smirk ying on his lips. After he emptied the stocks of Sly and Kevin, these once-prominent members of the top three families in Lsengard were already weakened, which exined their desperate move to add a 120-times dose of painkillerstruly an hical act. And this was just the beginning. Within three days, his concoction, ''Coca-C,'' would sweep through Lsengard,pletely cutting off any lifeline for the Miller family pharmaceuticals. Soon, under the crushing weight of their debts, Sly and Kevin would find themselves irreversibly doomed. With Charles''s current capabilities, it was still challenging to kill two level-four Beast Masters, and unnecessaryunless, of course, Sly and his cohort pushed him too far. Though he couldn''t beat them openly, he was not above using more covert means, like poisoning. Yawning, Charles rubbed Max''s furry belly, getting ready for bed, when his phone vibrated. [Charles, if you''re free tomorrow afternoon, could you please pick someone up at the station?] It was a message from Ezra. "Pick up who?" Charles replied, puzzled. Aside from his missing parents, he knew no one else outside of Lsengard. [Hehe, you''ll see when you get there.] Ezra sent Charles a photo and then went offline. "Picking someone up is fine... but what''s with sending me a decade-old photo?" Charles couldn''t help butin. The photo showed a cute young girl with a sun hat and a long blue dress, sitting quietly on a park bench. Her blue eyes looked as pure aske waters at the camera. With her light golden hair, she didn''t look like she was from Genosha. Charles figured she''d be easy to recognize. "Cyber Academy only recruits two people from the whole Lsengard region; she must be someone formidable." Sighing lightly, Charles put away his phone and fell asleep with Max. ... The next morning, as the first rays of dawn touched the misty airs of Lsengard, the city was dominated by a single advertisement. "Hurt, tired, exhausted, drink Coca-C!" Seeing the advertisement on the shopping mall''s ss facade, Thomas scoffed dismissively, then suddenly sneered: "The ckwood family must really be desperate, resorting to even greater deceptions than our Fenton family pharmaceuticals. We may skimp on alchemy ingredients, but we''ve never imed our products to be a panacea." "After drinking it, wounds heal in one minute, it enhances poison resistance, and if a mystical beast drinks it, it boosts their attack power by 3%." "Only a fool would believe that, right?" Thomas turned his gaze away, annoyed, only to find that the damned advertisement was everywhere! At the entrance of the Lsengard department store, a screen was even ying a short video, drawing crowds of several hundred onlookers. In the video. A ferocious beast hunter, covered in blood, was given a swig of Coca-C. The blood-soaked wounds on his body visibly healed at an astonishing rate! A first-level Beast Master, facing a two-horned rhinoceros standing five meters talla clear mismatch inbat levelsfed his mystical beast a sip of Coca-C and managed a miraculous reversal! And there were even more outrageous imsa Beast Master who hadn''t advanced in 30 years drank a can of Coca-C and suddenly broke through to the second level! "What exactly is this ''Coca-C''? I''ve never heard of it before. Is it really that miraculous?" "It''s probably a scam, right? Just like the Miller family pharmaceuticals, selling pepper spray for a thousand copper coins!" "Let me tell you, it''s true. The old man next door fell down the stairs and broke his leg yesterday, couldn''t afford the hospital, bought a can of Coca-C from the ckwood family pharmaceuticals, and healed in less than a minute!" "This Coca-C not only cures diseases and detoxifies but also eliminates drug addiction. My dad hasn''t had the Miller family pharmaceuticals'' painkillers in a day!" "My husband drank a can yesterday, and he kept me up all night!" "Holy crap! Is it really as miraculous as you say?" Watching more and more people gather at the entrance of the Lsengard department store, Thomas couldn''t help but move closer to see if this thing was really as magical as imed. After waiting in line for a long time, he finally snatched a can from the shelf. Skeptically, he made a small cut on his arm with a knife, and blood immediately began to seep out. He drank a can of Coca-C, smacking his lips, "Doesn''t seem like anything special." However, as soon as he spoke, a tingling sensation came from the wound, then it was enveloped in a pale green wood energy. The bleeding stopped instantly, and the wound healed at a visibly fast pace. In less than a minute, the wound was as good as newwithout even a scar left behind! Smack! Witnessing this, Thomas was so shocked that he dropped his half-full can of Coca-C to the ground. Is this supposed to be a beverage? This is a miracle cure! Naturally, the surrounding crowd witnessed this scene, clearly recognizing the medical miracle happening right before their eyesdefinitely notputer effects. "My God, this Coca-C seems really powerful! I saw his wound heal in less than a minute; that''s something usually only seen with Tone Reproduction miracle drugs that cost over 10 silver coins! This stuff is way better than the Miller family pharmaceuticals'' healing medicine, and it only costs 100 copper coins!" Word spread quickly from one to ten, ten to a hundred; the entire department store was abuzz. Dozens, hundreds, thousands of people flocked to the store... Even many ferocious beast hunters ran out of the Miller family''s drugstores to join the queue. Why bother with the highly addictive healing drugs from the Miller family when a single beverage can heal wounds and offer various other miraculous benefits? In the frenzy, Thomas was nearly crushed by the crowd. He never imagined that his unintended action would be the best advertisement for Coca-C! discover-MVLeMpYr-novels ... "Damn, this stuff really seems to be powerful!" In the high-level conference room of the Miller family pharmaceuticals'' building, Axel stared nkly at the caramel-colored drink in his cup that Thomas had brought back, utterly stunned. As apetitor, he was naturally inclined to nitpick, but Kevin, after much scrutiny, couldn''t find any fault either! His recently cut hand had already healed, and if not for a few drops of blood left on the table, who could have believed he was just injured? Even the 3% increase in power was confirmed through a test field; within minutes of drinking Coca-C, his strength had indeed increased by over 100 kilograms! The conference room was eerily silent, and at the front, Kevin''s hand trembled slightly as he held the can of Coca-C. Following yesterday''s pepper spray scandal, the Miller family pharmaceuticals'' healing medicine was already unseble, impacting sales of other drugs in the store, and their overall sales had plummeted by 50%. Originally, he had wanted Thomas to shoot a video exposing the Coca-C as a fake, but instead, it backfired, solidifying the product''s genuine reputation! "Glug" Kevin gulped down a mouthful and felt an incredible change within his body, his eyes widening in disbelief: "This thing, even if it cost 5 silver coins, I''d say it''s worth it. How can it only be 100 copper coins? The ckwood family must have really invested a fortune to crush our Fenton family pharmaceuticals!" The high-level executives and alchemists of the Miller family pharmaceuticals present were speechless. Having practiced alchemy for years, no one knew better than them how ludicrous it was to reduce the cost of this product to under 100 copper coins. The level of alchemy technology was perhaps more than 30 years ahead of the Miller family pharmaceuticals... The entire Fenton family pharmaceuticals could very well falter because of this single product. Many were already secretly considering switching to the ckwood family pharmaceuticals. Bang! Sly''s face contorted with veins bulging as he punched the can of Coca-C, only to be sprayed with carbonated foam, leaving him in a total mess. "This has to be Raj''s dumping strategy. A miracle drug like this selling for only 100 copper coins, is that possible?" Sly wiped his face with a tissue, seething: "Starting tomorrow, all our Fenton family pharmaceuticals'' miracle drugs will go on sale at a 90% discount. Let''s see who runs out of steam first!" Hearing Sly''s words, Axel''s expression shifted slightly, looking at him with some difficulty: "Brother Zhao, our Fenton family pharmaceuticals just got off the ground recently. We borrowed a lot for the alchemy equipment, and the creditors are already pressing us. This 90% discount..." "It might just break our cash flow!" As the most powerful family in Lsengard, the Taylor family, though severely weakened, was still mightier than a horse as a skinny camel, and almost equivalent to the chairman of the Miller family pharmaceuticals. At this moment, the executives and investors of the Miller family pharmaceuticals were all waiting for Sly''s next move. Collecting himself, Sly wiped the sweat from his forehead and gritted his teeth: "Hmph, just Charles. I''ll take out another loan of 100 gold coins tomorrow, and sell all our drugs at a 90% discount! I don''t believe Raj canst much longer." A bead of sweat rolled down Sly''s cheek. In his decades of doing business in Lsengard, he had never felt fear like he did today. It seemed that this time, he really had crossed someone he shouldn''t have. From his son''s death in the ferocious beast mountains, to his warehouses being emptied, to the Taylor family''s near bankruptcy, and now almost at a dead endit seemed that these past three months, nothing had gone Sly''s way... Now buried in debt, there was no turning back for him; if he couldn''t bring down the ckwood family pharmaceuticals, Sly would be left with nowhere toy to rest. The conference room was filled with sighs, as it seemed their only option was to keep borrowing to oust the ckwood family pharmaceuticals. Bang Suddenly, the conference room door was mmed open. An employee stumbled in, tumbling towards Axel: "Mr. Axel! Just now, the president of the Beast Master Guild, Perceval, came by and said our healing medicine contains sedatives at 12,000% over the legal limit. The Beast Master Guild has just issued a ban! All Beast Masters registered in Lsengard are prohibited from purchasing any products from the Miller family pharmaceuticals or providing any alchemy ingredients to us!" "For a period of... five years!" Boom! Sly felt a whiteness before his eyes, nearly unable to stand... Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Waiting for Him "Mr. Sly, Mr. Sly, are you alright...?" someone tried to help Sly up, but was held back by another person nearby. Sly struggled to steady himself. As a fourth-tier Beast Master, his hands and legs trembled uncontrobly, and he muttered unconsciously, "It''s all over, everything is over." Axel and Kevin both turned pale, as if someone had walked over their spines. They slumped in their chairs, devastated. Now that the Beast Master Guild had prohibited Lsengard''s Beast Masters from purchasing drugs from the Miller family, all their investments in production equipment were undoubtedly going to waste. Especially for Axel, the entire Miller family relied on pharmaceuticals for their livelihood. With no one buying their drugs, bankruptcy loomedrge for the Miller family. Worse still, not only were the drugs unseble, but they also couldn''t buy raw materials. This situation would severely weaken the Miller family, the Draven family, and the Taylor family. The Taylor family was hit hardest, having suffered several blows and continually weakening. Now, they not only failed to monopolize Lsengard''s pharmaceutical industry but also had nearly fifty gold coins in debt. "Sly! You have to think of something," Axel urged desperately, his family''s survival at stake, no longer caring about formalities, he started shouting Sly''s full name. "Shut up!" Sly took several deep breaths, trying to regain hisposure. There were no other options now; the only way to minimize losses was to sell off the drugs and equipment to other cities. Even so, the original loan of fifty gold coins might only fetch back ten now. "Damn it! Who did this? Find out who put pepper spray, and where did Raj and the others get the Coca-C recipe!" Sly''s veins bulged on his forehead, his demeanor as terrifying as a vengeful ghost. Seeing his subordinate still frozen in ce, he kicked him forcefully, sending him crashing against the wall, and then falling heavily, spitting blood continuously. Some screamed in fright, while others quietly moved towards the door, hoping to leave. "Stop! No one leaves; there''s still hope!" Kevin stared at Sly, who had just spoken, his brow furrowed deeply. What could possibly be done in such a dire situation? He felt a desire to retreat, to stop now while there was still something left to salvage, maybe even a chance to start overter. "Mr. Sly, let''s pull back. Everyone''s selling Coca-C out there; we can''t win this." "Kevin, you want to leave too?" "If we pull back now, we can preserve some strength and maybe seek revengeter. If we keep this up, my family, the Draven family, might well be expelled from Lsengard." "You, the Draven family, may have an escape route, but I have none left! No matter what, I need to find out who the saboteur is. I, Sly, will not let them go, even in death!" Driven to desperation, Sly had lost all reason. Faced with his son''s death and the impending bankruptcy of his family, he had only one thought: to risk everything on onest gamble! How to gamble? Their situation couldn''t get any worse, so the only option was to drag down David, Raj, and Henry with them. As long as their situation was worse than his, there was still hope. "First, burn down their factory equipment. Then, pin the deaths of a few Beast Masters on Coca-C. With the help of the media, we might have a chance." "Axel, you take care of the fire; Kevin, you handle the aftermath. Make sure to bring along several TV reporters." Axel and Kevin brightened up at the idea. If they could make all of Lsengard believe that Coca-C was lethal, under such public pressure, what could David, Raj, and Henry possibly do to fight back? Sly, with a dark look on his face, added to Kevin, "If you can''t find any dead Beast Masters, just make some." Kevin nodded, unfazed by the directive. Though it was against thew, with so many Beast Masters in Lsengard, a few unounted deaths wouldn''t matter if no one found out. Unnoticed by everyone in the office, the silhouette of Mousie shed past the window. Inside the ckwood family''s pharmaceutical factory, Raj, sitting on the sofa, looked at Charles and confirmed once more: "Charles, are you sure about this? That Sly is nning to set the factory on fire soon?" Charles nodded. After learning about the notice issued by the Beast Master Guild, he had been covertly monitoring the movements of Sly, Kevin, and Axel. As expected, these three were not idle. Upon hearing their n, Charles rushed to the ckwood family''s pharmaceutical factory to find Raj and urge him to move the manufacturing equipment elsewhere. Raj was skeptical at first, but Charles insisted, "Don''t worry about anything else right now. They''re going to set fire to this ce soon. If you don''t want to suffer heavy losses, better move the equipment and raw materials somewhere else." Despite his doubts, Raj acted on Charles'' advice. After they had moved everything, under the cover of night, a group quietly approached the factory. "How''s everything going? Are all the nearby surveince cameras taken care of?" Axel whispered to someone in the dark. "Mr. Axel, everything''s set. All the cameras around here have been destroyed by my mystical beast," the person replied. "That''s good. The next steps must leave no trace. Everyone, stay sharp. We need to be quick when we set the fire." As someone peered at the brightly lit factory, they voiced their concern: "Mr. Axel, it looks like they''re still working. There are workers inside the factory. What should we do about them?" "What else can we do? It''s their fault for working for the ckwood family. me Raj and his people! You just focus on setting the fire." Axel had no concern for the workers still inside. Was he supposed to warn them about the fire he was about to set? As long as he could sabotage the business ns of Raj, Henry, and David, he didn''t care how many civilians were harmed. "Let''s do it!" At Axel''smand, a group of masked individuals summoned their mystical beasts and began hurling gasoline cans into the factory. Once enough liquid had spilled, several fire-type mystical beasts started unleashing their abilities. In just an instant, mes erupted within the ckwood family pharmaceutical factory, shooting skyward and illuminating the surrounding darkness. Axel watched the ze unfold before him, a satisfied expression on his face. From the burning factory, asional screams could be heard. Listening to the agonized cries, Axel said calmly, "This is what happens when you cross me." What he didn''t know was that the sounds of anguish were alling from speakers inside the factory. Meanwhile, hidden in a shadowy corner, Charles was recording everything on his phone, including a close-up of Axel''s face. Mousie was not beside him; Charles had sent Mousie to follow Kevin. "It''s almost over here. Soon I''ll meet up with Mousie to capture how Kevin is framing everything." "I''m really looking forward to seeing their faces when they watch these videos," Charles mused, before disappearing into the darkness. The next morning, Outside the Smith family group headquarters, arge crowd gathered along with dozens of Lsengard''s TV stations and news media reporters. Behind them, camera operators focused their lenses. The reporters announced, "ording to reliable sources, the Coca-C produced by the ckwood family pharmaceutical contains lethal toxins that have already caused several innocent Beast Masters to die." "Let''s now speak to some of the victims'' rtives." The camera slowly zoomed in on a crowd where several stretchers covered with white sheets were surrounded by grieving family members, loudlymenting and cursing. Inside the corporate building, in a conference room, Raj, Henry, David, and others looked down through the ss windows, their expressions tense and troubled. Raj nced at Charles and said with relief, "Gentlemen, no need to worry. Sly is despicable and shameless, but he doesn''t know that Charles had everything figured out well in advance." "Indeed, thanks to Charles'' warning, we avoided a massive loss!" Henry and David nodded in agreement, appalled that Sly would stoop to such monstrous levels to frame them using human lives. Henry sighed, looked at Charles, and asked, "What should we do next? Perhaps we should just release the video evidence." In just a brief moment, the ckwood family pharmaceutical factory was engulfed in mes, a fierce inferno shooting up into the sky, suddenly illuminating the surrounding darkness. Axel watched the fire unfold before him, a satisfied look on his face. Periodic screams echoed from the burning factory, and listening to those painful cries, Axel calmly stated, "This is what happens to those who oppose me." MVLeMpYr-official-text Unbeknownst to him, those cries of agony were alling from speakers inside the factory. Meanwhile, lurking in a dark corner behind him, Charles was capturing everything on his phone, including a close-up of Axel''s face. Mousie wasn''t by his side; Charles had already sent Mousie to follow Kevin. "It''s about wrapped up here, I''ll go find Mousie soon to record how Kevin is setting everything up." "I can''t wait to see their faces when they watch these videos," Charles mused, then turned and disappeared into the darkness. The next morning, Arge crowd had gathered at the entrance of the Smith family group headquarters, apanied by dozens of Lsengard''s television and news media reporters, microphones in hand, followed by camera operators. The reporters incessantly broadcasted, "ording to reliable sources, the Coca-C produced by the ckwood family pharmaceuticals contains lethal toxins that have led to the deaths of several innocent Beast Masters." "Let''s now hear from some of the victims'' rtives." The camera slowly focused on a group where several stretchers covered with white cloths were surrounded by about a dozen grieving rtives loudly crying and cursing. Inside the building, in a conference room, Raj, Henry, David, and others were continuously looking down through the ss windows, their expressions tense and grim. Raj''s gaze swept over Charles and he said with relief, "Gentlemen, no need to worry. Sly''s methods are despicable and shameless, but unfortunately for him, he doesn''t know that Charles was already well aware of his ns." "Indeed, thanks to Charles'' timely alert, we avoided a massive loss!" Henry and David nodded in agreement, shocked by Sly''s ruthless tactics of using human lives to frame them. Henry sighed and looked at Charles, asking, "What should we do next? Maybe we should just release the video evidence." Charles replied, "Just wait a bit longer, let''s see Sly''s performance first. He''s put so much effort into it; how could we not watch?" David couldn''t help butugh at the thought of Sly''s uing act. Sly thought he could turn the tables with his performance, but he was just a clown, unaware that they had already gathered all the evidence and were just waiting for him. At that moment, Sly, Kevin, and Axel appeared on the main street. Chapter 115: Chapter 115: Kneeling Down "It''s outrageous how the ckwood family''s pharmaceuticals tantly jeopardize consumer safety. As a member of Isengard, I feel it''s my duty to stand up for these vulnerable groups, the Beast Masters who have been killed by Coca-C, and denounce the ckwood family''s pharmaceuticals!" Sly said, his face contorted with anger as he continued in front of the gathering cameras and shing lights. "I''ve had pharmaceutical experts analyze the ingredients in this Coca-C, and indeed, some of the products contain lethal toxins!" Hearing this, the crowd around began to murmur. "No wonder this Coca-C is so cheap; it''s because it''s poisonous!" "I''ve drunk it too, what should I do? Is it still time to go to the hospital?" "I was wondering why I''ve been finishing so quickly in bed with my wife these days. It must be this Coca-C!" In a moment, the crowd was whipped into a frenzy, and everyone started condemning the ckwood family''s pharmaceuticals. Among the crowd, four or five people exchanged nces, then, as if on cue, began to chant together: "Boycott ckwood family pharmaceuticals, give us back our health!" "Boycott ckwood family pharmaceuticals, give us back our health!" Led by them, the gathered citizens continued shouting as they marched towards the gates of the ckwood family corporation. "You im an expert confirmed the presence of toxins in Coca-C, but who might that expert be?" A resonant voice boomed as the corporate gates slowly swung open. Charles, nked by Raj, Henry, and David, stepped into view and continued, "Sly, you need to stand by your words. What if they''re unfounded?" "Charles, since when is it your turn to speak here?" Sly responded withposed defiance. He had either bribed or intimidated experts; the actual presence of toxins in the Coca-C was now irrelevant. What mattered was making sure all the Beast Masters knew this drink could be lethal! As for Axel and Kevin, Sly was confident they wouldn''t slip up. "I stand by my statement," Sly directly addressed Charles. "If I''m wrong, I''m willing to kneel and bow my head in apology!" "Are you certain?" Charles''s eyes gleamed; he had video evidence, and now Sly''s promise to kneel seemed inevitable. Unperturbed, Sly nodded affirmatively. "Yes, I''m certain! It''s the toxins in your pharmaceuticals that have led to Beast Master deaths!" After his deration, Sly turned to Raj, Henry, and David, shouting, "I''ve posted online about how your actions endangered Beast Master safety. You all are ountable for this incident!" -verified Raj feigned outrage, retorting, "This mess isn''t our fault at all. The pharmaceutical nt was just burned down yesterday, Sly! You''re framing us!" "Humph, still making excuses, huh? It''s clearly your fault these Beast Masters died!" Sly then addressed the gathering Beast Masters behind him, "This is the fault of the ckwood family''s pharmaceuticals. They ought topensateat least ten silver coins per person!" The initially angry crowd quieted down after hearing this. Everyone looked around, greed slowly overtaking their expressions. Ten silver coins equaled ten thousand copper coinsnot a small sum! "If I drank two bottles of Coca-C, should I get twenty silver coins?" "I had three bottles; I should get thirty silver coins. They mustpensate us!" "Lucky me, I only had one bottle. Is it still okay to drink more now?" "Bro, I still have a bottle on me. How about I sell it to you for five silver coins?" Everyone was captivated by thepensation Sly mentioned. Any previous doubts about whether the ckwood family''s pharmaceuticals were to me had be irrelevant; what mattered now was how to secure thepensation. Seeing this, Sly''s face lit up with glee. It was one thing for a few individuals to be swayed, but now it seemed thousands were on his side. Facing this scenario, Henry, Raj, and David were out of their depth, unable to resolve the situation favorably. As the scales of victory seemed to tip in his favor, Sly couldn''t help but taunt further: "How does it feel now? Paying ten silver coins per person, there are countless people in Isengard who bought your products. Just thepensation alone could bankrupt you!" Charles remained unconcerned, responding nonchntly, "Compensation? Whatpensation?" "ying dumb now, Charles? You''re just a minor third-level Beast Master. What right do you have to strut around in front of me?" Sly''s face contorted into a snarl, his anger uncontainable at the thought that Charles might be linked to his son''s death. But now wasn''t the time to settle scores. Once David and the others werepletely defeated and unable to recover, he''d deal with Charles directly. "Sly, I might only be a third-level Beast Master, but I didn''t set fire to the factory or frame anyone for murder!" "What?" Sly was taken aback, as if struck by lightning, standing there dazed. Behind him, Axel and Kevin were also panicked. Axel blurted out, "Charles, that''s a serious usation! If you''re going to make ims, you better have evidence!" "Yeah, don''t talk nonsense without proof!" Kevin chimed in, supporting Axel. Watching the somewhat flustered Sly, Axel, and Kevin, Charles smirked slightly, "Who says I don''t have evidence? Why don''t you check your phones? You''ll find the evidence right there!" "Enough, Charles, stop your desperate struggle, we didn''t..." Sly was cut off mid-sentence by Axel, who was the first to pull out his phone to check. Upon opening it, he saw two videos that were wildly circting online. One showed Axel leading a group to set the factory aze, disregarding the safety of the workers, including a close-up of his face. The other video exposed how they manipted other Beast Masters to frame Coca-C as poisonous. "How can this be? When did you film this?" Axel eximed as he scrolled through the overwhelming online bacsh, wherementers cursed and derided him. One personmented, "Not only is Axel ugly, but his heart is rotten too!" "Exactly, to think he was capable of arson and murder, I had no idea he was such a person!" "I heard it''s because his wife cheated on him, that''s why he turned into such a freak." Watching a bewildered Axel, Sly felt a sudden sense of foreboding and quickly pulled out his phone to check. His discovery sent him into a panic as he muttered to himself, "How could this happen?" The Beast Masters who had been denouncing the ckwood family''s pharmaceuticals suddenly shifted their focus to Sly, Axel, and Kevin. "My God, how could Axel be so evil! To set fire to the factory, and it''s a miracle no one died." "If there were workers inside, probably none could have escaped!" "These people didn''t die from drinking Coca-C, they were killed by them!" "That''s too cruel,mitting such harmful acts in Isengard, it''s outright criminal murder!" "So it was all a setup! There''s no poison in the Coca-C!" "Ah, then why was I so quick in bed yesterday?" "Could it be you''re just not that good?" As the situation spiraled out of control, Sly erupted in rage on the spot, bellowing, "Everyone, shut up!" In an instant, the power of a fourth-level Beast Master burst forth, summoning a hexagram formation as four wind-element mystical beasts appeared. Before anyone could react, Sly activated [Beast Mastery Possession]. Suddenly, a fierce wind kicked up as the full force of a fourth-level Beast Master''s power subdued the onlooking crowd into silence. "Sly! What are you trying to do?" Henry and David, while summoning their own mystical beasts, shouted in challenge. The tension escted rapidly, like a powder keg ready to explode. Even Kevin, who was on the same side as Sly, had not anticipated such a sudden outburst and urgently shouted, "Stop!" Kevin''s reaction stemmed from the fact that Charles was not only regarded highly by various academic institutions but had also received an invitation from the prestigious Monster Academy, Cyber Academy. If Charles were to be killed in front of a public audience, the consequences would be unimaginable! Previously, when Charles''s academic standing was still uncertain and he hadn''t received the invitation, it might have been possible to make a move against him. Now, any action would be akin to trampling on the reputations of those academies underfoot. While Sly, possibly grieving his son''s loss, might not care, Kevin had to consider his family and Thomas. Thus, upon seeing Sly initiate [Beast Mastery Possession], Kevin quickly intervened to stop him. Compared to offending academic institutions, arson and murder were minor issues. Compensation and settlements were trivial for the Miller and Draven families. "Shut up! Charles, I won''t let you go!" Although Sly had initially nned to eliminate Charles, when Kevin intervened, he came to his senses. Inside Isengard, he couldn''t make his move, so he''d wait until Charles left the city to kill him. Moreover, he nned to ensure that everyone close to Charles suffered as well. He wanted Charles to experience the agony of losing loved ones! With a determined snort, Sly said, "You''re lucky today, but you just wait!" Charles remained calm, showing no fear, and quietly put back the prepared [fragment of jade tablet]. [Fragment of Jade Tablet] [Orange Quality]: Can be activated by injecting any type of energy. Although merely a remnant of Joshua, it possesses thebat powerparable to a fifth-level Beast Master. Usable 3/3 times. Even if Sly had attacked and others hadn''t intervened, Charles wouldn''t have been worried. Mousie''s dark attribute abilities weren''t convenient to reveal, and only Max, a mystical beast, facing Sly directly inbat wouldn''t resolve the matter quickly. It seemed Charles needed to advance his n to find the next mystical beast! Dismissing his inner thoughts, Charles sneered at Sly, "Did you summon your mystical beast just to perform magic tricks? Have such a poor memory? Don''t you remember what you just said?" "Yeah, who was it that just said he''d kneel and bow his head?" David, catching the mood, sarcastically repeated Sly''s earlier statement: "I stand by my statement. If I''m wrong, I''m willing to kneel and bow my head, kneel and bow~" Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Speak Up, I Didnt Hear You "You! When did I ever say such a thing?" "Just now, are you denying it?" David retorted. Sly''s expression froze, his face twisting in displeasure as he shook his head. "I don''t remember saying that, and you have no proof..." Before he could finish, Charles pulled out his phone and yed a recording: "I can never be wrong, and if I am, I''m willing to kneel and apologize!" This recording was indeed something Sly had said earlier, unbeknownst to him, captured by Charles. Raj, Henry, David, and others in the room couldn''t help but smirk mischievously at Sly. Unable to contain himself, Henry said to Charles, "Well done, Charles, you really got him!" After speaking, he turned to Sly, who, without a word, turned to leave. "Stop! Don''t go just yet," Henry shouted. "Youe and go as you please, but it''s not that easy!" "How do you two think you can keep me here?" Sly, no longer concerned with appearances, felt a surge of power. A whirlwind of azure encircled him as he tried to make a quick exit. Henry and David, both Level 4 Beast Masters, could easily coborate to stop Sly, but Kevin and Axel remained inactive beside them. Two against three clearly wasn''t an advantage. While Henry and David were considering giving up, Charles was still waiting for Sly to kneel and admit his mistake, and he was not about to let him go. The hexagram lit up, and Max, waving its three tails, appeared beside him. Without hesitation, Charles invoked the "Beast Mastery Possession"! Two bone-achingly cold sts shot swiftly towards Sly''s back! Simultaneously, Charles, now enhanced by the "Beast Mastery Possession," sprang into action. His feet mmed into the cement, cracking it instantly like a spiderweb, his form shing like lightning, following closely behind the icy sts. "Charles! You''re just a Level 3 Beast Master, and you dare make the first move?" Sly''s face lit up with delight. He had been looking for a reason to retaliate, and now Charles had provided him with the perfect excuse. Two azure wind des formed at his side, whistling through the air towards the icy sts. The bone-achingly cold sts collided with the wind des, mutually annihting each other. Sly''s eyelids twitched; he knew Charles possessed exceptional physical strength and immense power, but he hadn''t expected that even his skills could rival those of a Level 4 Beast Master. Indeed, Charles was a genius, and precisely for this reason, Sly knew he had to eliminate himgiven more time, the consequences were unthinkable! the-ce-NovelFire As Sly pondered this, Charles had already closed the distance,unching a punch straight at him. "Bang!" Sly crossed his arms to block the iing punch, immediately feeling a tremendous force smash against his arms, numbing and painful. His entire body was forced to stagger back three steps. Charles, the aggressor, didn''t fare much better; blood was already trickling from his fist. After all, he was only a Level 3 Beast Master and currently without a third mystical beast; his enhancement from "Beast Mastery Possession" couldn''t match Sly''s. Even so, Henry and David were left agape. "A Level 3 Beast Master shing with a Level 4? The young ones these days really don''t hold back!" David found it hard to ept. As a Level 4 Beast Master himself, he was slightly inferior to Sly and would not be a match in a one-on-one fight. Charles nced at his still-bleeding right hand, somewhat helplessly; his ice and fire supreme spear was still in his "Storage Space," and he couldn''t take it out in front of everyone. Doing so might expose the existence of his "Storage Space." Without a weapon, relying solely on his fists, he couldn''t fully utilize his strength. If they were alone, mousie could use its dark attribute powers, and he would be 100% confident he could take Sly down on the spot! "Sly, not kneeling or admitting your mistake, you really have no shame," Charles said, not making another move but standing his ground and loudly taunting. Beside him, Henry and David were eager to engage, ready to step in at any moment. Even though they were one Level 4 Beast Master shortpared to Sly''s side, Charles, though only a Level 3, was in no way inferior to a Level 4 Beast Master in strength. Sly''s face grew increasingly grim, with uncontainable killing intent spilling from his eyes. He pressed his voice low and muttered, "I was wrong." "What? Speak up; didn''t catch that!" Charles deliberately shouted. "I said I was wrong, I wronged you all!" Sly clenched his fists, knuckles squeaking and whitening from the force. Hearing Sly''s loud admission of guilt, Charles nodded in satisfaction, then added: "Not bad, knowing to correct your mistake makes you a good kid, but you still owe us an apology on your knees!" The humiliation turned Sly''s face an iron shade of blue, and he couldn''t hold back, spitting out blood. After casually wiping it away, Sly turned and left without another word, disappearing amidst the mockingughter of the onlookers. Axel and Kevin didn''t follow him immediately; instead, they waited a while before leaving separately. "Charles, we really owe you one this time. Without your intervention, dealing with Sly''s tricks wouldn''t have been so straightforward," Raj said with aplex expression. He knew about his daughter Lily''s ambiguous rtionship with Charles. Initially, he had some objections, but over time, he hade to see Charles as a genius, from reluctantly epting their rtionship to now worrying for his daughter, realizing that a person like Charles might not be entirely within Lily''s reach. He even feared that over time, Lily might find herselfpletely outmatched by Charles. Charles, unconcerned, waved his hand dismissively and said, "Sly, Axel, Kevinthey surely won''t let this go easily. Who knows what Sly will try next?" David tried to reassure him: "Charles, you don''t need to worry. Even though today''s incident won''tnd him in jail, he''ll likelyy low for a while. Once you go off to the academy for further studies, you''ll be fine." Henry chimed in, "Yeah, right now, Sly wouldn''t dare touch you here in Isengard. Just be careful not to leave the city, and you should be fine." Charles simply nodded in response. But inwardly, he was thinking about finding a time to intentionally leave the city to provoke Sly into making a move, to fully resolve this matter. What he needed to do was prepare in advance, stay hidden in the shadows, and when the moment was right, deliver a fatal blow to Sly, eliminating all threats once and for all! Besides Sly, there were Kevin and Axel, who still possessed some strength and could cause trouble. So, the best course of action was to deal with all of them before heading to the Cyber Academy. Only then, when their parents return, can they be safe within Isengard. Moreover, Daniel and Lily would be free from any threats to their lives. Charles couldn''t bear the thought of his loved ones getting hurt, not even the slightest possibility. As the onlookers gradually dispersed, themotion finally came to an end. Raj still had business to attend to at thepany, so Charles headed home alone. Upon entering the living room, he spotted Lily. She was wearing a short ck dress, her shapely legs encased in sheer ck stockings, her rounded hips rising and falling, quivering with each step she took. At the sight, Charles involuntarily swallowed hard and called out without thinking, "Lily." Hearing the voice behind her, Lily turned around. Seeing Charles, a smile instantly spread across her face. "Charles, you''re back. I just made lunch, why don''t you give it a try?" "Sure, sure, it must be delicious. Do you know what I had for lunch today?" Wearing a mysterious smile on her face, Lily didn''t answer. Instead, she took hold of Charles by his belt and led him to the dining table. With a slight lift, she sat on the edge of the table, her hands bracing against it. Slowly, she pressed her shapely chest against Charles''s face, lowering her head and whispering softly, "Are you hungry?" Charles responded not with words, but with action, burying his face and wrapping his arms around her slender waist, his hands roaming over her backside. "Let''s not rush; we''re alone today, anything goes," he murmured. Charles yfully lifted her ck skirt, slipping his hand underneath and teasing, "Lily, it''s not me who''s eager; seems like you are." Her cheeks flushed, but she offered no retort. Instead, she slid off the dining table, unbuckled Charles''s belt, and lowered his trousers halfway, then slowly knelt down. Her crimson lips enveloped the already erect form, moving back and forth, sending waves of tingling pleasure surging up to Charles''s mind. Unable to contain himself any longer, Charles gently patted Lily''s head, then pressed her down onto the dining table... Two hourster, it was midday. Lily walked back to her room,pletely exhausted. She needed to sleep for a while, having been thoroughly worn out. Meanwhile, Charles headed down to the underground garage and started up his red Triumph Bonneville. He aimlessly roamed around Lsengard, biding his time until it felt right. Then, he revved the engine, speeding out of Lsengard. Behind him, someone quickly pulled out a mobile phone. "Mr. Sly, Charles has left the city!" "Are you sure?" "Positive!" Chapter 117: Chapter 117: "Charles, Im Going to Kill You!" In the chaotic study, books were scattered everywhere, and shards of cups and vases littered the floor. After hanging up the phone, Sly stared nkly at the photo of his son Robert in his hand, still without any concrete evidence to prove that Robert had been killed by Charles. Nevertheless, he couldn''t shake the feeling that Charles was somehow involved in his son''s death. Moreover, today, in front of everyone, he, a Level Four Beast Master and the head of the Taylor family, had been openly betrayed and humiliated. He couldn''t swallow this affront at all! Not long after, Sly dialed Kevin''s number. "Charles has left town; now''s our chance to quietly get rid of him outside the city." "Sly, are you telling me you, a Level Four Beast Master, aren''t confident enough?" "Just help me this onest time. You don''t have to strike, just ensure he doesn''t escape," Sly exined, furrowing his brow. As a veteran Level Four Beast Master, he certainly had other tricks up his sleeve. However, to absolutely ensure Charles''s demise, he needed Kevin there just in case. Silence ensued. Kevin didn''t respond immediately until he nced at his son, still nursing injuries. He finally nodded and said, "Alright, I''m on my way." Sly ended the call and then tried to reach Axel, but to his surprise, the call went unanswered. It seemed Axel had lost his nerve and no longer wished to be involved. "Hmph!" Sly didn''t care. With both him and Kevin being Level Four Beast Masters, even a prodigy like Charles had no chance of escaping from them. In the wilderness outside Lsengard, Charles parked his red Triumph Bonneville and headed into the forest alone. He hade out intentionally, aiming to eliminate all potential threats. NovelFire-exclusive He anticipated that with his departure from the city, Sly would certainly make a move. Perhaps even Axel and Kevin would join forces ande after him. If he were to face three Level Four Beast Masters, he might have to resort to using the "fragment of the jade tablet." However, if Sly were the only one to confront him, Charles was confident he could kill him on the spot! In the city, he could only summon Max, his mystical beast, but once outside the city, unnoticed, he could bring Mousie into the battle, unleashing his full power. Outside the forest, Sly and Kevin eyed the red Triumph Bonneville with glee. "Why would Charles dare toe out alone?" Kevin couldn''t help but ask. Although Sly didn''t know why Charles had ventured out, he knew this was undoubtedly the perfect moment to strike! The impulse for revenge clouded his judgment. "Maybe he''s been praised a few times and thinks he''s a true genius. Charles is now a Level Three Beast Master; he stands his ground against me, which does speak to his abilities." "Could it be that he thinks he can kill you alone, and that''s why he lured you out here?" Kevin pondered this exnation, which seemed usible. Young and reckless, little did they know that any experienced Beast Master always keeps an ace up their sleeve, only showing their true power when in real danger to catch their opponent off-guard. Kevin was aware that Sly always carried a miracle drug that could boost his strength by 50% in a short time. Unless a Level Five Beast Master intervened, Sly had nothing to fear. In this small town of Lsengard, where would a Level Five suddenly appear from? Charles was undoubtedly doomed! Eager, Sly and Kevin walked into the forest where a hexagram lit up. Sly summoned his mystical beast, the Swift Wind Wolf: [Swift Wind Wolf] [Element: Wind] [Level: 32] [Quality: Silver] [Skills: Enhanced Scent, Wind de, Dash and Bite] [Weakness: Waist/Ice Element] "Go, use your scent to find Charles!" Slymanded. The Swift Wind Wolf sniffed around briefly, then bolted in a specific direction with Sly and Kevin trailing behind. After about six or seven minutes, the Swift Wind Wolf suddenly stopped, baring its teeth at a cave not far ahead. "It looks like Charles is in there. After we kill him, we''ll deal with Raj, Henry, and anyone else connected to Charles!" Sly added, "Kill them all!" Upon hearing this, Kevin furrowed his brows, feeling that Sly had gone a bit mad. The connection between Charles and Robert''s death could be handled quietlykill and leave no trace. But to kill Raj and Henry, that could plunge the entire Lsengard into chaos! Kevin sighed; he was unsure if hunting Charles with Sly today was the right decision. But now, with Charles just ahead, there was no turning back. Together, they summoned their mystical beasts and slowly approached the cave entrance, oblivious to Charles''s figure emerging quietly from the shadows behind them. Mousie perched on Charles''s shoulder, had already silently used a "mimetic illusion" to project a copy of Max inside the cave. As Sly and Kevin drew near, they only saw a three-tailed mystical beast on alert. "Look, that''s Charles''s mystical beast, he''s definitely here!" Sly, agitated, summoned all his mystical beasts while urgently saying to Kevin, "Don''t strike yet, I want to crush this kid''s bones myself. Just make sure he doesn''t escape." Kevin nodded, though his hatred for Charles was not as intense as Sly''s. "Charles,e out now! You can''t escape. If you kneel and admit your mistakes, I might leave your body intact," Sly called out to the quiet cave, where the three-tailed beast was scratching the ground with its ws, ready to strike. "Eat a toast or drink a forfeit! Soon, I''ll make you wish you were dead!" Sly shouted and summoned four wind-element mystical beasts. Under hismand, theyunched an attack on the replicated Max at the cave''s entrance. Streams of wind skills, glowing with a greenish light, hit the replicated Max. Sly, seeing this, was thrilled, his face lighting up with excitement. Just as he thought he had severely injured Charles''s mystical beast, an ice and fire supreme spear, brimming with potent ice and fire energies, silently emerged from the shadows behind him. The target was Sly, who had sent all four of his mystical beasts into the attack,pletely unguarded. "Watch out!" Kevin, spotting the anomaly, shouted loudly, trying to warn him. But Charles''s attack was too sudden; Kevin had no time to react. By the time he managed to summon his mystical beast, the Lightning Demon Ape, it was already toote. Sly, faced with the unexpected attack, couldn''t dodge in time. He twisted his body desperately to avoid the relentless supreme spear from piercing vital areas like his heart or throat. Although startled and panicked, Sly wasn''t despairing yet. After all, it was just a sneak attack from a Level Three Beast Master. How bad could it be if it didn''t hit a vital area? However, he quickly realized how terribly wrong he was! The ice and fire supreme spear, without the slightest hesitation, pierced through his shoulder as if tearing through paper. Excruciating pain radiated from his shoulder, and out of the corner of his eye, Sly saw a hole the size of a te where his shoulder used to be. Blood gushed out uncontrobly. This strike had nearly killed him, and pain, rage, and despair overwhelmed Sly''s mind. "Aaaah, Charles! You''re dead!" But Charles showed no mercy, shifting his tactics, retracting the supreme spear only to thrust it forward again, aiming for another shot. However, Kevin, who had already summoned the Lightning Demon Ape, wasn''t about to give him that chance. The Lightning Demon Ape leapt into the air, using Ball Lightning! Seeing this, Charles quickly retreated, pulling back to a safe distance. "A sneak attack! Charles, you truly are despicable," Kevin remarked, eyeing Sly''s shoulder wound with trepidation. The attack had nearly killed Sly. If Sly were out, he''d be left alone, unable to ensure that Charles couldn''t escape. Having shed his Beast Mastery Embodiment, Charles retorted, "What do you mean by a sneak attack? You two, Level Four Beast Masters, teaming up against a Level Three? That''s what I call despicable!" "You" Kevin began to object but realized that Charles might actually be right. "Enough talk, Adam, you''re done for today!" Sly, catching his breath, pulled out a supermiracle drug from his pocket and swallowed it. [Supermiracle Drug] [Grade: White-level miracle drug] [Description: A drug that can increase one''s strength by 50% for a short duration. It''s effective only on Beast Masters below Level Five andes with a 12-hour side effect.] A ferocious aura emanated from him as Sly''s eyes turned blood red and his muscles bulged, making him look even more formidable. Simultaneously, Kevin summoned three additional mystical beasts and initiated Beast Mastery Embodiment. The strike from Charles had instilled a sense of fear in him; a Level Three Beast Master possessing such strength could still have some tricks up his sleeve. For safety, Kevin decisively said, "Sly, let''s take him down together!" Without a word, Charles pulled out a fragment of jade tablet, watching the two assants approach with a slight smile ying at the corners of his mouth. Chapter 118: Chapter 118: "Please, Dont Kill Me" "Kid, you should feel fortunate that two Level Four Beast Masters are here to see you off," Sly, confident of his victory, couldn''t help but ask, "What exactly is your connection to my son Robert''s death?" As Charles activated the fragment of jade tablet, he responded, "Well, you''ll find out soon enough when you see him yourself!" "Still so arrogant at death''s door! I''ll show you how I crush every bone in your body!" Sly wasted no more words and, along with Kevin, made his move. However, before they could get close, a formidable presence erupted from the fragment of jade tablet in Charles''s hand. A spectral figure appeared in their path! The true form of Joshua, the Snake Man, towering at ten meters and wielding a ck supreme spear, brought a terrifying pressure that made the surrounding dense leaves tremble incessantly. "What, what is this!" Sly was shocked beyond measure but had no time to retreat and had to press on. Sly''s full-powered punch was effortlessly caught by the spectral figure,pletely blocked. Not only that, with a slight squeeze of his palm, Joshua crushed Sly''s fist to dust! Then, with a kick, Sly''s leg bones snapped in two, white bones piercing through the flesh and protruding out. "Aaaaah!" Sly''s agonized screams filled the air. Kevin, too terrified to look, turned to flee. He knew that after Sly had taken the supermiracle drug, only a Level Five Beast Master could subdue him! Charles, however, was fully focused, channeling all his energy into the ice and fire supreme spear. Like throwing a javelin, he hurled the spear. The intertwining energies of ice and fire wrapped around the spear shaft, whistling through the air like a meteor, unstoppable as it impaled the fleeing Kevin to the ground. In just the blink of an eye, Sly and Kevin were left in a pitiful stateone with his legs utterly destroyed, the other pinned mercilessly to the ground. Despite their desperate situation, neither man gave up. Kevin, thinking quickly, decided to deactivate his Beast Mastery Embodiment, intending to have the Lightning Demon Ape pull out the ice and fire supreme spear to enable his escape. Sly, seeing this, also hurriedly ended his embodiment, hoping to have his mystical beast carry him away. But as soon as their mystical beasts appeared, Joshua''s spectral form shot several purple beams of light that embedded into the bodies of the beasts. They copsed to the ground as if poisoned, their bodies trembling uncontrobly. After these events, the spectral image of Joshua slowly dissipated, and Charles looked down at the fragment of jade tablet in his hand. Fragment of Jade Tablet [Orange Quality]: Can be activated by infusing any type of energy. Although it''s just a remnant of Joshua, it has thebat powerparable to a Level Five Beast Master. Usage remaining: 2/3. Although one usage had been expended, the mystical beasts summoned by Sly and Kevin were paralyzed by the poison, not dead. Charles quicklymanded Max and Mousie to finish off the incapacitated beasts: [Ding! Your mystical beast Max Lv. 22 has defeated Lightning Demon Ape Lv. 32, experience +80!] [Ding! Your mystical beast Max Lv. 22 has defeated Steel-Spiked Hedgehog Lv. 32, experience +80!] [Ding! Your mystical beast Mousie Lv. 22 has defeated Swift Wind Wolf Lv. 32, experience +80! Ding! Your mystical beast Mousie Lv. 22 has defeated Swift Wind Sparrow Lv. 32, experience +80!] ... Regrettably, even the experience from eight mystical beasts was not enough for Mousie and Max to level up. The higher the level, the slower the progress. "Charles, I was wrong, truly wrong, please spare my life," Kevin pleaded in utter despair. Two Level Four Beast Masters had been turned into easy prey by a Level Three, ughtered effortlessly in retaliation. Unlike Kevin''s reaction, Sly, with blood-red eyes and only one arm remaining, was still trying to support his shattered body. Seeing this, Charles decisively crushed Sly''sst arm underfoot. "You''ll not die well! I will kill you, kill you!" Sly''s screams were ghostly, painfully splitting the air. A bone-achingly cold st from Charles''s hand slowly descended, disintegrating Sly''s body into ash, bit by bit. Meanwhile, Kevin, still pinned to the ground by the ice and fire supreme spear, trembled, unsure if it was from fear or pain. "Charles, please don''t kill me. I will give you all the wealth of the Draven family if you spare me!" "Are you foolish? After I kill you, all of that will be mine anyway. Besides, how much money does the Draven family even have left?" "Don''t kill me, and I''ll tell you!" Kevin, pale-faced and bleeding continuously from the wound inflicted by the ice and fire supreme spear, was on the brink of copse. "Alright, I won''t hit you anymore," Charles answered earnestly. "It''s in the safe behind the wall in my office. There are 3000 silver coins and some materials," Kevin strained to give the location, his face filled with hope as he continued to plead, "You made a promise. Please, save me!" "Save you?" Charles feigned confusion, "Didn''t you hear what I said? I only agreed not to hurt you anymore. I didn''t say I''d save you." "Youyou said you wouldn''t kill me!" Kevin, feeling weakness spreading through his body, suppressed all his resentment and anger, continuing to beg, "You gave your word, please save me." Charles stepped back and crouched down, observing the blood flowing from Kevin, and said, "I said I wouldn''t kill you, but I never said I''d save you. If you die from blood loss, that''s not my fault." Kevin opened his mouth to say something more, but he had lost too much blood. Drained of all strength, he eventually died staring wide-eyed. With the battle over, Charles began to clear the battlefield. Although none of the mystical beasts were of Gold level, their ranks were still quite decent, and their materials could fetch a good price. [Received 1 Lightning Demon Ape Hide!] content-hosted-on-NovelFire [Received 4 Swift Wind Wolf Canines!] [Received 6 Swift Wind Sparrow Feathers!] [Received 1 Wind-Attribute Beast Core!] [Received 100kg of Wolf Meat!] ... Charles also meticulously searched Sly''s body, hoping to find the form for the supermiracle drug but, unfortunately, found nothing. As it was gettingte, he sent out several bone-achingly cold sts from his hands to incinerate all the bodies before heading back to Lsengard. Charles had barely had a moment to rest when a call came in from Raj, "Charles, where are you? Are you outside the city? I just received word that Sly and Kevin have left town!" Hearing the concerned inquiry from the other end, Charles felt a warmth in his heart but also found it somewhat absurd. Sly and Kevin were already dead, and Raj''s side was just getting the news of their departurea painfully slow update indeed. After a moment, Charles responded slowly, "I''m back in town now, nothing to worry about!" "That''s good to hear, that''s good. It looks like they weren''t after you. Still, try not to go out much for a while." Unable to hold back, Charles said, "No need, it''s already been taken care of." On the other end of the phone, Raj was perplexed and then a thought struck him. When Charles said it was already taken care of, did he mean he had dealt with Sly and Kevin? Could it be possible? Two Level Four Beast Masters taken down by a Level Three? It seemed unbelievable if it were anyone else! But considering it was Charles, Raj pressed on, "Charles, did you run into Sly and Kevin when you were out today?" "Right, you can tell David and Henry that the pharmaceutical business inside Lsengard, as well as the ventures of the Taylor family and the Draven family, are up for grabs," Charles didn''t directly answer but made his point before hanging up. Holding his phone, Raj stood in a daze. He understood what Charles implied. Without Sly and Kevin, who could snatch their business away? Only with both of them dead could the Draven and Taylor families'' enterprises be taken over without cost. Realizing the possibility, Raj immediately called David and Henry to discuss urgent matters. He also sent people to watch all entrances to Lsengard, to see if Sly and Kevin would return. Meanwhile, Charles wasn''t dwelling on theseplexities. With more than an hour before he needed to pick someone up at the station, he had enough time to retrieve the money Kevin promised from the Draven family. Using the darkness cloak, Charles effortlessly transferred thest of the Draven family''s money and materials into his storage space. The haul wasn''t significantonly 3000 silver coins, equivalent to 3 gold coins, along with some materials. It was sufficient, though, even if he didn''t encounter Thomas inside the Draven family. Following his principle of thoroughly eliminating threats, Charles wouldn''t have minded sending him to join Kevin. As for the Taylor family, Charles decided not to bother checking them outif the Taylor family still had money, they wouldn''t have sought loans. After wrapping up everything, it was already 3:40 PM by the time Charles showed up at the Lsengard train station''s exit, waiting for the person from the photo. After a long wait, the individual still hadn''t appeared. "Could it be that the person looks too different from the photo, and I didn''t recognize them? No, that golden hair should be easy to spot." As thest of the passengers from the current train batch filed out, Charles still hadn''t seen a woman with golden hair. Just as he was about to message Ezra to ask for details, a few texts came through: [Charles, where are you? I, David, and Henry didn''t see you at the vi.] The sender was Raj. [I''m at Lsengard station, picking someone up who''s going to Cyber Academy with me. It''ll be a while before I can get back.] Charles replied. [Got it, we''lle to you. Should be there soon!] [Okay.] After sending the final message, Charles pocketed his phone and continued watching the station exit. About ten minutester, a stunning woman with golden hair and blue eyes, escorted by police officers, walked out from inside the station. Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Any Time for Dinner? "I told you, they were the ones who insulted me first, so I had to respond," Catherine Otolov exined with resignation. Just after getting out of the car, she encountered several thugs who whistled at her and asked for her contact information. Catherine had initially decided to just ignore them and let it go, but those guys intensified their harassment, blocking her way and not allowing her to pass! She couldn''t stand it, she just couldn''t! Catherine Otolov hails from the hignd tribes outside of Genosha and has been living around Isengard for the past couple of years. In her homnd, the Heritaliana hignds, people value personal strength, admire the powerful, and the local customs are fiercedisputes are settled with fists quickly! She was no exception; not only was she strong, but she also had substantialbat experience and a fiery temper. She had tried her best to restrain herself on her way to Isengard, but just her luck, she encountered a few ignorant thugs as soon as she arrived. By the time police officers at the station arrived, those thugs were lying on the ground, spitting blood, barely clinging to life. "Ma''am, while it''s true that they were rude first, you''ve gone too far. Pleasee with us," one of the officers said cautiously and with exceptional politeness. Among those severely injured, there were two level two Beast Masters and one level three Beast Master! And ording to eyewitnesses, these Beast Masters had employed "Beast Mastery Embodiment"! Yet, thisdy here didn''t use any special powers; she simply relied on her physical strength and quickly knocked everyone to the ground. "Could you wait just a moment? There''s someone here waiting for me; let me speak to them first," Catherine Otolov felt a bit regretfulnot for striking back, but because she hadn''t anticipated how fragile these people would be! She had been very careful with her strength; back in the hignds, using "Beast Mastery Possession" in a duel meant fighting with all your might in a battle to the death! As long as Beast Masters are of the same level, they cannot refuse a duel invitation from an opponentthey must determine a victor! "Alright, ma''am, that''s fine. Just make sure, once you''ve handled your private matter, you don''t attempt to flee," the officer said. He had no choice but to issue a stern warning. "No problem. Where is the person picking me up?" Catherine Otolov looked around as she had been dyed, and there weren''t many people left around. Ezra had mentioned that a handsome man woulde to pick her up, so Catherine scanned the area and her gaze settled on Charles. "Hello? Are you Catherine Otolov?" Charles asked, gazing at the woman who was ten times more stunning in person than in her photos. "I''m Charles. The teacher sent me to pick you up." "Teacher?" Catherine blinked in disbelief when she heard Charles. She knew Ezra''s capabilities and had asked him several times to be her mentor, only to be turned down. Now, this handsome man in front of her was referring to someone as "teacher." This piqued Catherine''s curiosity, making her itch to know about Charles''s strength, wishing she could spar with him. But, that wasn''t possible at the moment as she still had to apany the station officers to the relevant department. Regretfully, Catherine sighed silently, "Hello Charles, I have some issues to resolve here and can''t leave just yet." "What happened?" Charles asked. Catherine recounted the events that had led to the altercation, just as several paramedics approached, carrying three severely injured Beast Masters. Outside the station, a middle-aged man in a suit hurried over, urgently asking, "Greg, cousin, what happened to you?" "Cousin, I just arrived in Lsengard and got beaten up! You must avenge me," pleaded the level three Beast Master Greg, struggling to sit up and expressing his pain, "It was that woman! She was incredibly harsh!" "Who dares to bully my cousin in Lsengard? Don''t worry, cousin; I work for the city lord, I''m not afraid of anyone!" George, Greg''s cousin, consoled him while moving closer. When he reached Catherine, he was initially stunned by her beauty, which took him a moment to recover from. He then remembered his battered cousin beside him and, gritting his teeth, said: "Lady, you''ve beaten my cousin to the point his own mother wouldn''t recognize him, and you haven''t even apologized? Here in Lsengard..." George was cut off before he could finish. Charles interrupted bluntly, "Apologize? What apology? Your cousin started the trouble, and he''s lucky not to be dead." George turned his head, arrogantly retorted, "And you are? Let me tell you, here in Lsengard, there are people I dare not provoke, but you are definitely not one of them! Watch it, or you''ll bite off more than you can chew!" Catherine Otolov quickly stepped in to prevent Charles from losing his temper. The situation was her doing, and she did not want to involve others. People from the hignd tribes are like thatself-reliant and resilient. Even when facing difficulties, they prefer to resolve issues themselves rather than trouble others. Independence and admiration for strength are the true marks of the hignders! Charles, standing before Catherine, took several deep breaths to calm himself. It was their first meeting, and he didn''t want to make a bad impression, or he would have pped George already. It was clear that his cousin had instigated the trouble and got beaten, yet here was George, demanding apologies without even understanding the situation. His arrogance was astounding! Seeing Charles fall silent, George mistook it for fear and continued to boast, "What''s the matter, lost your nerve? Dare to say your name? No need, I work at the city lord''s office. It would be easy to find out who you are!" Charles replied calmly, "No need to look me up, my name is" "Whatever your name is, it doesn''t matter! It wasn''t your concern, but you had to interfere. Now, if you kneel and bow your head, I might let you off!" Before George could finish, three luxury cars roared into the station. The screeching brakes turned heads all around. It''s well known that regr vehicles aren''t allowed inside the Lsengard station except those of the city lord''s office and a few major families of Lsengard; all others must park outside. George''s eyes lit up. Having worked at the city lord''s office for a while, he recognized most of the prominent family members. Although he had been away on a business trip recently, his old connections remained. With this thought, George hurried forward, eager to see who it was. Among the spectators'' gaze, Raj, Henry, and David stepped out of their luxurious vehicles. "What a coincidence, boss?" George addressed Henry. Noticing David''s puzzled expression, he quickly rified, "Hello, I''m George from the city lord''s office. We''ve met before." "Oh, George, right? I think I remember you," Henry replied casually, his eyes still searching for Charles. Seeing a response, George straightened his back with a proud smirk and turned to Charles, saying boastfully, "See? This is the head of the Stokes family and the head of the Smith family from Lsengard! I know them!" Just as George was about to throw around some more tough words, Henry, David, and Raj each bypassed him and approached Charles. -exclusive-content David spoke first, "Ah, Charles, we finally found you. We have a few things we''d like to discuss with you." Henry chimed in, "Yeah, do you have any time to spare for us?" "Not today," Charles shook his head, nning to spend the evening touring around with Catherine. "That''s okay, tomorrow works too," Henry quickly added. George''s smug expression froze, his face stiffening as he began to doubt his ears. Since when did executives discuss matters on others'' terms, asking if they had time or could spare the courtesy? His heart raced as he realized the man he had insulted had a far more significant status than he''d assumed. Before he could react further, another Rolls Royce rolled up. George squinted and immediately recognized itit was the city lord''s official car! The city lord of Lsengard too? Could he also be here for the same person? Indeed, city lord Matthew appeared, spotting Charles and Catherine. He called out, "Charles, do you happen to have time tonight for dinner?" "Not tonight, I''m afraid. I have to make an apology shortly," Charles responded. Matthew looked puzzled, "Apology? What apology?" Charles directed his gaze towards George, who was now trembling, dripping with cold sweat. The once arrogant demeanor had vanished, reced by regret and fear. Following Charles'' gaze, Matthew saw a man in a suit, shaking and sweaty. "Who are you?" city lord Matthew inquired. Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Is She More Beautiful Than Me? George trembled as he responded, but before he could finish, Lord Matthew, the city lord, interrupted him directly. "Are you from the lord''s manor? So, what exactly happened?" "Uh, my lord, it''s all just a small misunderstanding," George desperately tried to exin. He really hadn''t expected that the man he had just encountered would not only be treated with respect by the CEOs but even be invited to dinner by the city lord himself. "Speak! rify the whole situation!" Matthew''s imposing presence filled the room. The reason he hade to find Charles today was not only because he had heard that Sly and Kevin had gone missing outside the city, but also because Raj had informed him that Charles was at the station to pick up another student from the Cyber Academy. It was well known that anyone who managed to graduate from the Cyber Academy would at least be a Level 6 Beast Master in the future! As the lord of Lsengard, Matthew naturally wanted to establish a connection beforehand to see if he could invest in that student. Now, it seemed from Charles'' demeanor that the Cyber Academy student had just arrived in Lsengard and immediately gotten into trouble! Wasn''t this a p in Matthew''s face? "My lord..." George was at a loss for words. He couldn''t possibly admit that he had just threatened Charles. After thinking it over, he could only try to shift the me onto the golden-haired woman. George slowly began to exin, "My lord, it''s like this. My cousin is a Level 3 Beast Master. He came to Lsengard today and had a small conflict with thisdy. Unexpectedly, she directly attacked him, leaving him severely injured. This led to the misunderstanding with Mr. Charles." "A small conflict? What kind of small conflict?" Matthew''s expression darkened further. Before George could continue, Charles interjected, "That''s not the bravado you were showing earlier. Weren''t you just threatening me?" "This" George immediately fell silent, bending down in an attempt to apologize. Losing face was one thing, but as long as he could keep his job at the lord''s manor, he could regain that lost dignityter on! To his surprise, Charles was not swayed by such tactics. He raised his foot and kicked toward George''s knee. George instinctively tried to dodge, but Charles was far too fast; he didn''t stand a chance! "Crack!" The sound of bones breaking echoed as George was forcibly brought to his knees. "Apologize and admit your fault," Charles said, unfazed after delivering the blow. If the other party had been even slightly more cordial and willing to talk, Charles would not have acted this way. He lived by the principle: if a person doesn''t offend me, I won''t offend them, but if they do, I will repay them tenfold! George gritted his teeth against the pain in his knee, kneeling on the ground, cautiously raising his head to nce at Lord Matthew, only to find that the lord wasn''t even paying attention to him. "I''m sorry, sir. I deeply regret my earlier actions, and I ask for your forgiveness," George muttered. Charles shook his head. "Not enough. That troublemaking cousin of yours also needs to apologize to thedy beside me!" Greg, lying on the stretcher, clenched his fists tightly. He hadn''t expected things to turn out this way. Beforeing to Lsengard, his cousin George had told him that as long as they didn''t offend the prominent families in Lsengard, there was nothing George couldn''t handle. But who would have thought that just after stepping off the train, his cousin would be kneeling on the ground in front of a bustling station, apologizing? Greg struggled to roll off the stretcher, hanging his head. "I''m sorry, miss. I''m really sorry..." The passersby around them stopped to gawk, some even loudlymenting. "Honey, look! Someone''s kneeling over there. Doesn''t that face look familiar?" "Isn''t that George from the lord''s manor? The one who usually struts around like he owns the ce? Who would have thought he''d end up like this?" "He''s famous for only taking money and never delivering on promises!" "Quick, let''s film this and post it online!" Hearing the chatter surrounding him, George and Greg desperately lowered their heads, wishing they could bury themselves like ostriches. As for the two kneeling in apology, Catherine simply nodded. She wasn''t concerned about them; her mind was filled with curiosity and gratitude toward Charles. If it weren''t for him, she would still be at the relevant department facing inquiries. Noticing that Catherine had no further demands, Charles didn''t want to linger on the matter either, as he had other things to attend to. Ignoring the kneeling figures of George and Greg, Charles turned to Lord Matthew and said, "Now that the issue is settled, I have some time this evening. I wonder what you needed to discuss with me, my lord?" "Let''s talk over dinner tonight, Charles. By the way, may I ask who this lovelydy is beside you?" Matthew said, ncing at Catherine. Before Charles could introduce her, Catherine spoke up, "Hello, Lord Matthew. My name is Catherine Otolov, and I''m from the Hignd Tribe." "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Catherine. I am Matthew, the lord of Lsengard. Wee to our city!" Matthew replied. As Charles, Catherine, and Matthew chatted amiably, they walked towards the carriage. Meanwhile, George, still on the ground, breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the lord didn''t fire him, he could handle anything else. At that moment, someone approached and said, "George, you won''t need toe back to the lord''s manor anymore." "What? Why? I''ve already apologized! Isn''t that enough?" George''s face drained of color, and despair washed over him. But what was even harder for him to ept came next. "You''re not just fired; you''ll also be prosecuted for embezzlement and bribery! Get yourself a goodwyer; maybe you can reduce your prison time!" George shot up his head, wanting to say something in response. He turned to his cousin, but without a word, he dragged his injured knee over to Greg andnded a punch on him. "It''s all your fault! If it weren''t for you causing trouble, this wouldn''t have happened!" George shouted,pletely disregarding his injured cousin. He continued to rain punches down on Greg... In thergest and most luxurious hotel in Lsengard, Lord Matthew, Charles, Raj, Henry, and Catherine had nearly finished their meal. Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Matthew directly stated the purpose of today''s gathering. "Charles, I came here today to discuss something with you." "What is it?" Charles asked. "It''s about Axel. He''s asked me to be an intermediary and hopes you can show him some mercy and let him off the hook," Matthew sighed. After all, Axel was a Level 4 Beast Master, and the Miller family was quite powerful. Who would have thought he would now seek a peaceful negotiation from a Level 3 Beast Master? But then again, that Level 3 Beast Master was Charles. As the day went by, no one had found Sly and Kevin. The only thing discovered in a forest outside the city were some signs of a struggle and a few piles of ashes. Could Axel not be anxious? Two Level 4 Beast Masters had followed Charles out of the city and then vanished. This news had already spread among many. Without Sly and Kevin''s assistance, how could Axel possibly contend with Raj, Henry, and David? Deciding it was best to seek a peaceful negotiation, he went straight to Lord Matthew for help. "My lord, Axel is a Level 4 Beast Master. I''ve only just reached Level 3. Asking me to let him go doesn''t seem right," Charles replied. He wasn''t ready to ept this request just yet. The longer Axel felt cornered, the greater the leverage Charles would have. Moreover, he wanted Axel toe personally to apologize! Upon hearing Charles'' response, Matthew''s eyelids twitched slightly, thinking: This Level 3 Beast Master is not the same as the others. He understood that since Charles had said this, it meant a refusal. With nothing else to discuss, Matthew exchanged a few pleasantries and then took his leave. In the private room, Raj, Henry, and David remained. They hade to see Charles because of the situation with Sly and Kevin. The three of them had already seized control of all the markets in Lsengard. In the future, the three major powers in Lsengard would be the ckwood family, the Stokes family, and the Smith family! Of course, the biggest contributor to this was Charles, which was why they hade to see himthey wanted to share some of their newfound wealth with him. However, Charles declined to take any of those assets and instead opted for gold coins. He nned to leave Lsengard soon to seek opportunities in arger world, which meant that having as many gold coins as possible would be beneficial for him. After the discussions wrapped up, Raj took Charles and Catherine back to the vi. Initially, Charles had nned to book a hotel for Catherine to stay in, considering the vi wasn''t his and Lily was still living there. However, Catherine had persistently requested to spar with him since the moment they finished their meal, so he eventually agreed to let her stay for a while. As soon as they returned to the vi, Lily appeared. She was wearing tight blue jeans that entuated her curvy rear, and a whitece-trimmed tank top that revealed her navel, making her look fiery and sexy. Enjoy exclusives on m-vle-mp _yr. "Charles, you''re back! Who is this?" Lily''s tone shifted from excitement to curiosity as she focused on Catherine, a hint of hostility evident in her gaze. "This is Catherine. Like me, she''s here for recruitment for the Cyber Academy in the Lsengard region," Charles introduced her briefly. Lily stepped closer to Charles, almost pressing her body against him, before turning to Catherine and greeting her, "Hello, I''m Lily. Nice to meet you." "Hi, I''m also happy to meet you," Catherine replied, unaware of Lily''s closeness. She was busy admiring the ckwood family vi, asionally letting out exmations of admiration. "Come on inside; I''ve had the staff prepare hot tea and fruit. Let''s have a little snack," Raj said, not getting out of the car. He was busy these days with many matters at thepany that needed his attention. After Raj left, Lily linked her arm with Charles, deliberately rubbing against him with her chest, and leaned in close to his ear, asking, "Who looks better, her or me?" Chapter 121: Chapter 121：Charles, do you have time right now? "Cough, cough, it was my first time meeting her today, really, there''s nothing to it," Charles exined, sensing that Lily seemed a bit jealous. Lily let out a soft huff, "Hmph, just because there''s nothing now doesn''t mean there won''t beter." Despite saying that, the expression on her face rxed considerably. She knew that a man as outstanding as Charles would undoubtedly attract many women. Asking "Do you have a girlfriend?" had been an impulsive moment for her; she wanted to upy a special ce in Charles''s heart. Charles, Catherine, and Lily entered the vi. They hadn''t rested for long when Lily got up and went upstairs, not revealing what she intended to do. That left just Catherine and Charles. "Charles, since there''s nothing else going on right now, how about we have a spar?" As soon as the idea of sparring was mentioned, Catherine''s bright blue eyes lit up instantly. Charles nodded. He recalled Ezra once saying that Catherine''s skills were terrifyingly strong! He was curious to find out just how strong she really was. "Sure, but I''m curious about what level of Beast Master you are," Charles asked first. Catherine replied, "I''m a Level Four Beast Master, but I''m close to reaching Level Five." Close to Level Five? Charles was taken aback. No wonder Ezra said she was frighteningly strongthere were hardly any who approached Level Five in all of Lsengard! "Mr. Charles, there''s someone outside looking for you," a servant interrupted them. Charles was curious. With nightfall approaching, who could it be? "Who is looking for me?" "It seems to be someone from the Miller family," the servant answered. The Miller family? That made sense. It was likely that Lord Matthew had informed Axel about his refusal to negotiate after returning home. Considering the timing, the Miller family must have rushed over as soon as they got the news. "Please let them in," Charles said, intending to meet them. He preferred a reasonable settlement to fighting. Seeing that guests had arrived, Catherine stood up and returned to her room. Although she wanted to spar with Charles right away, she wasn''t someone whocked understanding of the situation. Before long, Axel''s figure appeared before Charles. "Mr. Charles, I believe you already know the purpose of my visit," Axel said respectfully. This was unavoidable; the Miller family was cornered by the Stokes family, the ckwood family, and the Smith family and had no way out. At this rate, the existence of the Miller family itself was in question. Not to mention, Charles had managed to make Sly and Kevin disappear; if he wanted to deal with the Miller family, it would be a piece of cake. Silence enveloped the room. Faced with Charles''s quiet demeanor, Axel sighed internally and lowered his posture even further. He continued, "If Mr. Charles could refrain from pursuing the..." Here''s the trantion: "How about this? The Miller family also has a form for a white-tier miracle drug, which can be consideredpensation." "A white-tier miracle drug?" Charles''s interest was piqued, but he didn''t respond immediately. Instead, he asked, "What kind of white-tier miracle drug?" Axel didn''t waste any time and pulled out the miracle drug form he had been holding. [Super Miracle Drug Form][Iplete] [Tier]: White-tier miracle drug [Ingredients]: 30g bursting grass roots, 20g purple orchid... [Description]: A miracle drug that can boost strength by 50% in a short time, effective only for Beast Masters below level five. There are side effectssting 12 hours after use, but if the form ispleted, its quality will increase to green-tier with no side effects! Gray, white, green, blue, purple, orange, gold... Generally, the miracle drugs circting in Lsengard are Tone Reproduction, and white-tier drugs are quite rare, let alone green-tier. Charles looked at the form in his hand, feeling quite satisfied. Although it was iplete, it could still serve as a means to enhance strength, potentially having unexpected effects at critical moments. Plus, if the form werepletedter, the 12-hour side effects would disappear, making it even more valuable! "That''s sufficient, but how can you guarantee..." Before Charles could finish, Axel understood the implication: he was concerned that the Miller family might repeat past mistakes and possibly be enemies. "Mr. Charles, there''s no need to worry. First, the Miller family no longer has the power to obstruct you. Second, you can record this conversation, and the Miller family..." After hearing Axel''s words, Charles was somewhat surprised. If a level five Beast Master found out that the Miller family provided information about Thomas, the Miller family would soon face the wrath of that Beast Master. It seemed the Miller family truly wanted to surrender. Charles nodded, agreeing to Axel''s request. Five gold coins, along with an iplete green-tier miracle drug form, was quite a lot. Axel let out a sigh of relief. At least he wouldn''t vanish in the wild like Sly and Kevin; everything else didn''t mattersurviving was key! After informing Charles of Thomas''s location, Axel turned to leave. He didn''t want to linger for another moment, as endless regret rose within him. If he had known how powerful Charles would be, no matter what Sly had said, he would never have chosen to oppose him! Once Axel left, Charles was left alone in the living room. He felt a bit overwhelmed; he hadn''t expected that the Draven family had a rtive who was a level five Beast Master in Genosha. Fortunately, he hadn''t left any evidence behindno witnesses, no physical evidence. Who could prove that Sly and Kevin were killed by him? Thomas had to die. Setting aside past grievances, if he let him go, he might bring trouble in the future. It would be simpler to send him to meet Kevin, allowing father and son to reunite. "Charles, are you going out?" Catherine Otolov asked cautiously as she stepped out of the room, eager to spar with him. Before Charles could respond, Lily came down from upstairs. Her ck stockings hugged her long, fair legs all the way to her thighs, making them look even more alluring beneath her ultra-short skirt. "Charles, where are you going? Let me apany you," Lily said, approaching him, her back turned... Charles nodded and turned to leave. The red Triumph Bonneville cut through the night, leaving a fleeting shadow, racing towards the outskirts of the city like lightning! Outside the city, Thomas stared silently at the fire before him, still unable to ept the news of his father''s disappearance, even less willing to believe that Charles had killed him. "No, that can''t be. Perhaps my father is trapped somewhere, which is why he''s missing," Thomas murmured to himself. "No matter what, I have to go to the capital and find my uncle. He''ll take care of that damned Charles!" "Charles, just wait! I will make you wish you were dead!" Thomas''s eyes darkened, his hatred for Charles impossible to conceal. "Oh? You want me to wish I were dead?" A figure slowly emerged from the darknessit was Charles! "Who? Charles, you... how are you here?" Thomas gasped in shock, his body trembling uncontrobly. His eyes widened in terror, as if the figure before him wasn''t Charles, but Death itself! His face turned as pale as paper, devoid of color, as he clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, yet he seemed unable to feel the pain. His legs felt heavy as if filled with lead, yet they trembled slightly against his will. Thomas wanted to get up and run, but before he could make a move, a supreme spear suddenly appeared, piercing his thigh and leaving him immobile. Desperately, Thomas extended his right palm, and two silver six-pointed star magic circles appeared before him, summoning his mystical beast, the lightning demon ape, and a two-headed electric eel. As soon as the two mystical beasts emerged, Max used [bone-achingly cold] to defeat the [lightning demon ape], while Mousie also employed [m... Charles couldn''t be bothered to respond. He drew the ice and fire supreme spear and, without a moment''s hesitation, stabbed Thomas to death. He was in a hurry to return! Of course, he didn''t forget his good habit of cleaning up the battlefield. He searched Thomas''s body and found only 800 silver coins. "So poor!" Charles couldn''t help butin. At least he had a decent amount of cash on him now: 3,000 silver coins from the Draven family, 5 gold coins from Axel, and this 800 silver coins. He nned to find a time to deposit it all in the bank, leaving just enough on hand for emergencies. story source mvle-mp|y|r Sticking to his usual routine, he used [bone-achingly cold] to reduce the body to ashes and cleaned up the scene before returning to the vi. Just as he parked the car in the garage, Catherine appeared. "Charles, how did it go? Do you have time now?" Behind Catherine, Lily leaned against the door, slowly pulling her short skirt up. Charles had excellent vision; he could clearly see the curve of her hair! "Sorry, I''m a bit tired. How about we spar tomorrow morning instead?" Charles said, watching Lily head back to her room. "Alright then, I''ll find you tomorrow morning!" Catherine replied, slightly disappointed, but she could wait until then. Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Sparring Last Night Early the next morning, Lily, holding her waist, slowly walked out of Charles''s room. discover stories on mvlem-pyr After they had breakfast, Catherine eagerly sought out Charles and said, "Can we spar today? You turned me down yesterday because you were nning to spar with Lily at night, right?" Spar with Lily at night? Charles looked at Catherine in surprise. Seeing her serious expression with no hint of deception, he realized something and cautiously asked, "You think I was sparring with Lilyst night?" "Well, weren''t you? Next time, you can just go to the open space outside. The room is too small," Catherine replied, unaware of the misunderstanding. She continued, "If we can sparter, I hope you''ll use all your strength. I noticed that sister Lily seemed injured when she came out today. If you could do the same to me, that would be even better!" Charles couldn''t help but chuckle. He had made quite a bit of noisest night, and Lily couldn''t hold back, resulting in her yelling loudly. Catherine must have heard it. But why did she think he was sparring with Lily? "Can I ask you something? Besides training, what do you usually do?" Charles inquired. Catherine thought for a moment and replied, "I practice mybat skills, and then it''s just eating and sleeping." "What about other things? Like watching TV or scrolling through short videos?" "No, those won''t raise my Beast Master level or improve mybat skills," Catherine said, looking at Charles as if he were strange. Her life revolved around training, fighting, reflecting, and then continuing to train and fight! Charles pped his forehead. He finally understood why Catherine thought that way; she was just a pure battle fanatic! "So, can we spar now?" Catherine asked again, genuinely curious about Charles. She wanted to know why Ezra had taken him as a disciple. Charles nodded. The two of them went to the open space outside the vi, and the battle began! Two hexagrams lit up as Max and Mousie were summoned. Seeing only two mystical beasts, Catherine furrowed her brow, and her tone became serious. "Charles, please summon your other mystical beasts as well. Are you trying to take it easy on me?" Charles felt a bit awkward. Although he was now a Level 3 Beast Master, he hadn''t found a third mystical beast yet and didn''t want to settle for just any contract. He exined, "I''m a Level 3 Beast Master, but I only have two mystical beasts. I''m not trying to take it easy on you!" "Level 3 Beast Master?" Catherine became even more serious. "Alright, I''ll use only two mystical beasts as well, and I''ll keep my strength at the Level 3 Beast Master level!" Two hexagrams lit up as Catherine summoned her two gold-element mystical beasts. [Steel Warhorse] Attribute: Gold Level: 38 Quality: tinum Skills: Steel Strengthening, Brutal Charge, War Trampling, Move Quickly Weakness: Wood Attribute ... [Mysterious Silver Spirit Cat] Attribute: Gold Level: 38 Quality: tinum Skills: High-Speed Recovery, Physical Enhancement, Silent Dash, Weak Point Attack Weakness: Wood Attribute ... Charles looked at the information disyed on the screen, taking a sharp breath. No wonder Ezra said Catherine was terrifyingly strong! Both mystical beasts were gold-elemental and of tinum quality! Although Max and Mousie were also tinum, there was a significant level gap16 levels apart! "Do I need to withdraw one of my mystical beasts?" Catherine realized the issue; her mystical beasts were far superior in levelpared to Charles''s, giving her a considerable advantage before the battle even began. Charles shook his head, indicating it wasn''t necessary. In realbat, there''s no such thing as fairness, and opportunities to face strong opponents were rare. The greater the pressure, the more one could gain from the battle! "Mousie, can you replicate the [Steel Warhorse]?" Charles quietly asked Mousie. He wanted to confirm their attack strategy; intelligence was part of strength! "Master, I can, but the strength of the [Mimetic Illusion] will be slightly lower," Mousie replied. "That''s fine, just follow my lead!" Charles was ready. Catherine didn''t know about Mousie''s ability, so he nned to have Mousie fly up high to attract her attention. Then, while she was distracted, he would replicate the [Steel Warhorse] behind her for a surprise attack, which would surely cause her some trouble! Charles took a deep breath. "Let the battle begin!" In an instant, the [Steel Warhorse] and [Mysterious Silver Spirit Cat] charged toward Max and Mousie, directly engaging them. "Max, use [Ice Pick Throwing] to block their attack!" Charlesmanded while moving quickly, setting his sights on Catherine! Catherine wore an excited expression as a golden aura flickered around her. With the effects of [Physical Enhancement] boosting her, she stomped her feet, unleashing a shockwave that swept around her. Her speed was incredible! Charles even caught a glimpse of a blurred afterimage behind her! Before Charles could react, he instinctively raised his arm to block Catherine''s attack. "Bang!" A tremendous sound erupted! It felt like a rhino charging at full force had mmed into his arm. Charles''s leg muscles strained as he was pushed back four or five meters, his feet leaving two deep impressions in the muddy ground. "This is just too insane!" Charles''s arms felt numb and painful! He had thought his physical strength was already impressive, butpared to Catherine, there was still a significant gap! "Not bad! A Level 3 Beast Master could take my punch. Charles, you''re really strong," Catherine said, a bit surprised. Typically, an ordinary Level 4 Beast Master, without using [Beast Mastery], would have already spat blood from such a hit. At first, she had worried that Charles wouldn''t be able to handle it, so she had intentionally held back her strength. It was only after seeing that he was fine that she gradually increased her power! "Now it''s my turn!" Charles had no intention of ying defensively. He understood that only by attacking could he create opportunities! Gripping the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear, he charged forward while shouting, "Mousie!" The [Steel Warhorse] quietly appeared behind Catherine and unleashed [War Trampling]. "What!" Catherine didn''t immediately register what was happening. At first, when she saw Max use [Ice Pick Throwing], she instinctively thought of Charles as an ice-element Beast Master. Now, there was a [Steel Warhorse] behind her as well! What was going on? Could Charles possess both ice and gold attributes at the same time? There was no time to ponder further. Catherine decisively activated [Brutal Charge], charging straight toward Charles''s attack! Herbat skills, honed through years of training, allowed her to narrowly dodge the attack from behind! At the same time, her fists turnedpletely gold, gleaming with a metallic sheen, and she managed to block the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear with sheer force! "[Puncture Thorn]!" Charles shouted, and the Supreme Spear shot out from his palm, carrying an explosive storm of icy and fiery energy that forced Catherine to retreat continuously! "Charles! You''re really strong!" Catherine praised him once more, astonished by the power of his attack! "Is that so? There''s more." Charles took a deep breath, controlling the elemental energy in the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear, and unleashed [Energy Bomb]! The [Energy Bomb] gathered ice and fire elements, forming a chaotic elemental shockwave that triggered a powerful explosion. Due to the close distance and worried about injuring himself, Charles quickly cast an [Ice and Fire Barrier] around himself. "Boom!" The sound of the explosion rang out, and the violent shockwave shattered the vi''s windows. Catherine''s clothes were torn to shreds, leaving her covered in dirt and dust. Although she wasn''t injured, she had to exert her full strength as a Level 4 Beast Master to face the [Energy Bomb]. It was clear that she had lost this sparring match. "I see now why Ezra took you as his apprentice. You''re strong, Charles!" Catherine said seriously, looking at him. At that moment, she viewed Charles as a peer, no, an opponent with even greater potential than herself! "Charles?" Catherine noticed that Charles was staring nkly at her. Following his gaze, she looked at herself and realized that her clothes could no longer cover the important parts. Her well-defined chest was half exposed, and her tanned skin was almostpletely bare. "Ah!!!" Catherine eximed, quickly turning and rushing back inside the house. Before Charles could take in the sight any further, he heard Lily''s voice from the broken window on the second floor, "Do you like what you see?" "Of course... not as good as yours!" Charles replied nonchntly, pretending nothing had happened as he calmly returned to the vi. It wasn''t until noon that Catherine finally emerged from her room. When she saw Charles in the living room, the calm she had finally managed to achieve was immediately shattered, with her mother''s words echoing in her mind: "Only your future husband can..." "Um, I didn''t mean to. Are you okay?" Charles noticed Catherine''s presence and quickly apologized. "I''m fine." She said this even as she turned and retreated into her room, shutting the door behind her. Leaning against the door, her heart raced, and a flush crept across her face. Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Leaving Lsengard Catherine spent the entire morning in her room, unsure of what to do. After breakfast, Charles dedicated the morning to transferring all the materials and herbs from his storage space to David, asking him to help sell them. He did this because there wasn''t much time left before their departure for Cyber Academy, and he would need a substantial amount of money once they arrived. Additionally, Charles visited every general store and the Beast Mastery shop in town, hoping to find a Gold-quality mystical beast egg. It had been a while since he became a Level 3 Beast Master, and he still hadn''t had any luck finding a third mystical beast. Lsengard was just a small border town of Genosha, and Silver-quality mystical beast eggs were already considered rare here, let alone Gold-quality ones. As for capturing ferocious beasts outside the city, Charles had no interest; he didn''t think much of the ferocious beasts near Lsengard. He was looking for a wind-type mystical beast, preferably one that could fight in the sky. While Mousie could fly for short periods, its natural form wasn''t suited for directbat. He was also considering finding a Gold-type mystical beast, simr to a Steel Warhorse, which could enhance physical attributes and defensive capabilities. With Mousie''s Darkness Draw ability, he could drain energy from enemies to replenish his stamina or boost his attack power. In that state, Charles, under the effects of Beast Mastery, could battle against foes all day long! Unfortunately, after several days of searching, he had no leads. He did, however, hear rumors that a grand auction would take ce in the capital of Genosha in a month, featuring Gold and even tinum-quality mystical beast eggs. The prices were exorbitant; a Gold-quality mystical beast egg was expected to cost around sixty gold coins, and a tinum-quality egg would surely be even higher! In just a week, Ezra would be taking him and Catherine to the capital of Genosha, where they would board a flying beast to the headquarters of Cyber Academy, located beyond the Abyssal Depths. With such a tight timeline, there would be no chance to attend the auction. " sigh," Charles muttered. He still had a Silver-quality mystical beast egg in his storage space, but if he couldn''t find something suitable, he might have to settle for it. Each evolution of a mystical beast was challenging, and the requirements only grew stricter over time. A Gold-quality mystical beast could achieve much more than a Silver one! Just then, his phone pinged with a text message from Ezra: [ns have changed. In three days, you and Catherine will head to Azureville to meet with two other students before proceeding to the capital of Genosha.] Charles furrowed his brow; this was different from what he''d been told. [Weren''t we going to the Cyber Academy headquarters beyond the Abyssal Depths?] After a moment, Ezra replied: [There was an unexpected issue. The number of spots to enter the headquarters from the Abyssal Depths has been reduced. Now there are only five slots avable, and only the top five from the half-year assessment will qualify to go to the headquarters.] Only five spots for the entire Abyssal Depths? Charles was astonished. The Abyssal Depths epassed seven nations, and Genosha was expected to enroll around fifty students! That meant nearly 350 new students in the Abyssal Depths alone! These 350 individuals were all geniuses who had reached Level 3 Beast Master before the age of twenty. Competing for a spot in the top five among them would be no easy feat. Before Charles could ask more, Ezra exined, [This year, the rules suddenly changed. Those who reach Level 3 Beast Master before twenty will enter the branch school; those who reach Level 5 before twenty will enter the main academy.] Level 5 before twenty? That was truly exceptional! Charles was just over eighteen; in a year and a half, he would be twenty. Given that time, he was confident he could meet the requirements. However, he realized he had only six months until the assessment. Achieving Level 4 Beast Master and securing a top-five position in that time frame was still within his reach! [Teacher, when will you be able to tell me about my parents?] Charles asked, recalling that Ezra had said before it wasn''t the right time. Silence followed; it seemed Ezra hadn''t seen the message. It wasn''t until Charles returned to the vi and informed Catherine about the changes in the main academy''s admission rules that his phone pinged again. Ezra: [There''s not much I can say. Your parents are currently safe.] Charles quickly responded, [Where are they now?] [Outside the Ethereal Grove.] Looking at Ezra''s message, Charles felt a storm of emotions. What did it mean that his parents were outside the Ethereal Grove? Charles was puzzled. His parents were merely long-distance transporters, and their farthest routes were within Genosha. How could they possibly have crossed the Abyssal Depths to be outside the Ethereal Grove? He quickly pressed Ezra for more information, but all he received were a few details about the admission officer in Azureville and a reminder about the promised weapon, both of which were also in Azureville. After that, there was no further response from Ezra. Frustrated by Ezra''s reluctance to provide answers, Charles couldn''t help but wonder whether Ezra was unaware of the reasons behind his parents'' situation or if he knew but couldn''t say. Regardless, even though Ezra mentioned that his parents were temporarily safe, it was still just thattemporary! Taking a deep breath, the urge to grow stronger persisted in his mind. Since he would be in the capital of Genosha for half a year, he needed to set some short-term goals: First, within a month, he had to find a suitable mystical beast, preferably of Gold quality or higher. If he couldn''t find one elsewhere, he would need to save enough gold coins to buy one at the auction. Secondly, he wanted to see if he could gather thest piece of the map fragment and the form for the Super Miracle Drug. Both could significantly enhance his strength! Finally, after acquiring his third mystical beast, Charles aimed to elevate his skills to Level 4 Beast Master as quickly as possible and secure a top-five position in the assessment to enter the headquarters of Cyber Academy! He clenched his fists, knowing that in this Beast Mastery world, only the strong held all the power. He needed to grow stronger to protect himself, his family, and everyone he cared about. "Charles, you seem a bit different," Catherine remarked, sensing an unusual aura emanating from him. It felt somewhat familiar yet distinct. "It''s nothing. We''re leaving in three days. If you have time, could you spar with me again?" Charles asked. "Spar?" Catherine was eager to train with him but felt her heart race at the thought of their previous encounters, where she felt exposed. She tried to act casual and nodded, "Sure, no problem." For the next three days, whenever he had the chance, Charles sparred with Catherine. Each session enriched his practical experience, and even Max and Mousie benefited from it. While their levels didn''t increase, hisbat instincts and techniques grew significantly stronger. At the Lsengard station, pedestrians gawked at the luxury cars parked at the entrance, gasping in awe. "Isn''t that the Rolls Royce exclusive to the lord of the city?" "Not just that; the heads of the Stokes family, Smith family, and ckwood family are all here!" "Who is it that has such a presence?" "I don''t know, but I envy them! If I could have a scene like this, I''d be willing to live to a hundred and then die!" "Look, that young man seems to be an important figure; everyone is so enthusiastic towards him!" "Let me see; he''s so handsome!" ... Charles ignored the chatter around him and focused on the familiar faces of Daniel, Lily, Aurora, Raj, Matthew, and David who hade to see him off. He felt a wave of emotion swell within him. "You guys should head back; I''m not gone for good," Charles said, trying to ease their worries. "I know, but just wait a little longer. I want to see you," Lily replied, her eyes slightly red. The thought of Charles leaving felt like a sharp pain in her heart. Daniel, with his shoulders slumped and a lost look in his eyes, spoke in a low voice, "Take care of yourself over there. If anyone bullies you, tell me, and I''ll make sure they regret it!" Hearing Daniel''s words made Charles suppress augh. "Sure, what if a Level 5 Beast Master picks a fight?" "Forget Level 5; I''d take on a Level 6 if I had to!" Daniel said, raising his head and looking earnestly at Charles. Charles chuckled and patted his shoulder. "Alright, I get it. Time''s running out, and I need to leave." "Wait, I have something for you to take. Inside this bag, there''s a box that Aurora asked me to give you," Daniel said, handing over arge bag to Charles. Charles epted it, ncing around for Aurora, but he didn''t see her anywhere. As the departure time approached, Charles bid farewell to his friends. He took onest nce back; besides Lily, who was weeping quietly, he caught a fleeting glimpse of Aurora''s silhouette in the distant corner tower. Waving goodbye, he joined Catherine on the train heading to Azureville. Inside the luxurious carriage, Catherine was resting with her eyes closed, while Charles stared at the bag on the table, lost in thought. He opened it to find three small boxes inside. One was from Daniel, containing a note that simply read, "Take care," along with 500 silver coins. The second was from Lily. When he opened it, he quickly closed it again, ncing at Catherine to ensure she was still asleep. Inside was a sexy outfit that Lily had worn before,plete with a lip print on the inside and 800 silver coins. Thest box was from Aurora, containing a small pack of cookies and 1 gold coin along with 230 silver coins. Carefully, Charles took out a cookie and popped it into his mouth, watching the scenery outside rush by as the train sped along. Familiar faces and ces receded further behind him. "This cookie is a bit bitter," Charles murmured. Chapter 124: Chapter 124: New Weapon, Black Gold Long Knife In Azureville, Genosha, Hale waited at the station with two new Cyber Academy students. He was a teacher at the Genosha branch of Cyber Academy and also the admissions officer for the Azureville area, a Level 6 Beast Master with wind attributes. "Teacher Hale, how much longer do we have to wait? We had nned to leave for the capital today, and I''ve packed everything!"ined a lean boy, standing around 1.65 meters tall. "Jace, if you don''t want to wait, you can step outside," Hale replied, his expression unchanged. Jace immediately shut his mouth, obediently holding up a sign bearing the names Charles and Catherine Otolov. He knew better than to provoke Hale, who was not easily swayed and wouldn''t ept any gifts. As time passed, two figures appeared before Hale. "Hello, are you a teacher from Cyber Academy?" "That''s right, you must be Charles, and this is Catherine Otolov?" Hale asked. Both Charles and Catherine nodded. "My name is Hale, the admissions officer for the Azureville area. You can call me Teacher Hale. Come with me; we''ll stay overnight at a hotel and head to the capital first thing tomorrow morning." As he spoke, Hale handed a long object to Charles. Charles instinctively epted it. "Teacher Hale, what is this?" Hale exined, "This is something Uncle Ezra asked me to give you." Curiosity piqued, Charles nced at Hale, wondering about the rtionship between him and Ezra. Although he had met Ezra a few times, he had only ever seen him in a ck cloak, making it impossible to discern his appearance. A message appeared on the screen before him: [ck Gold Long Knife (Purple Quality): Crafted from ck gold using a special techniquebined with core fire, this knife can conduct various attribute energies. It is incredibly durable and exceptionally sharp. If the ck gold content during forging is insufficient, rare metals can be used for enhancement, raising its quality to orange.] [Rare Metals: ck gold, me alloy...] Additionally, the ck Gold Long Knife came with an ability called [ck Gold Knife Glow]: Infuse it with attribute energy, allowing the knife to unleash a cutting aura for long-range attacks. Charles''s eyes lit up as he read the information. The weapon Ezra had found for him was not only of purple quality but could also be upgraded to orange quality with enough rare metals! The [ck Gold Long Knife] was just over a meter long, shorter than the [Ice and Fire Supreme Spear], but it came with the [ck Gold Knife Glow], allowing for long-range attacks. This meant he had an offensive option even without his mystical beast, though he was curious about its effectiveness. He nned to find a ce to test itter. "Hey, buddy, I''m Jace. That long knife looks pretty good! It must be at least blue quality, right?" Jace said, leaning closer to inspect the weapon. Charles regarded the short, thin Jace. "It''s about that; it''s okay." "Here''s the deal: I''ll give you 1 gold coin for it. That''s more than enough! Don''t worry, I won''t rip you off!" Jace whispered eagerly. One gold coin? Charles nearlyughed. A regr purple quality weapon would cost nearly a hundred gold coins, especially since this [ck Gold Long Knife] could potentially be upgraded to orange quality, making it even more valuable! "Jace, that knife is not something you can use," Hale interjected as they approached the car. "Teacher Hale, what do you mean I can''t use it? It''s just a blue quality weapon! I have one too!" Jace retorted, pulling out his blue quality weapon. [zing Knife (Blue Quality): Forged from fire attribute metal, this weapon has minor ws in its crafting, allowing for only one fire attribute gem to be embedded...] Charles had expected a top-tier weapon, but it turned out to be an ordinary blue quality long knife, even inferior to the [Ice and Fire Supreme Spear]. It could only embed one first-tier beast core and had just a single fire attribute. "Put it away; you all get in the car first. Charles, wait a moment," Hale instructed. Once everyone else was inside and it was just him and Charles, he added, "Uncle Ezra gave you that knife for a reason. Do you know how to unleash its full power?" Charles shook his head, indicating he didn''t understand. "1 + 1 > 2," Hale said before stepping into the vehicle. Charles suddenly realized the implication:bining attribute energies would enhance the [ck Gold Knife Glow]''s power. This thought crossed his mind because, like Ezra, he could control multiple attribute energies. The vehicle started, heading toward thergest hotel in the city. "Charles, what quality are your mystical beasts? I have two Golds and one Silver!" Jace chattered away in the car, clearly a talkative person. In just a short time, he had already addressed Charles multiple times. "Charles, that girl up ahead is named Sadie; all three of her mystical beasts are Gold quality!" Jace continued, and Charles looked ahead to see Sadie, who seemed to be lost in thought, appearing a bit dazed. Catherine quietly gazed out the window, unimpressed by the presence of three Gold quality mystical beasts. For her, they weren''t particrly noteworthy. Instead of daydreaming, she was mentally reying her recent spar with Charles, constantly analyzing and striving for improvement. Bing stronger was her ultimate goal. "Charles, you still haven''t mentioned the quality of your mystical beasts. And what about thisdy''s?" Jace turned his attention to Catherine. Before either Charles or Catherine could respond, the vehicle stopped, and Hale turned around. "We''ve arrived at the hotel. Everyone out, and I''ll give you the room keys shortly. Get some rest tonight." "Okay, Teacher Hale." Sadie, who had been lost in thought, nodded sweetly, her voice soft and soothing like water. As they entered the hotel, Hale, still focused on his phone, reminded them again, "Remember to rest early and have your things packed in advance." Charles found it strange that Hale felt the need to remind them twice. Observing Hale''s expression, he noticed a hint of concern in his eyes. What could be troubling a sixth-level Beast Master like Hale? Perhaps Charles was overthinking it. "Teacher Hale, is there a ce nearby to train?" Charles asked, eager to test the [ck Gold Long Knife]''s power. "Yes, follow me," Hale replied, leading Charles to the underground level of the hotel. Jace and Sadie paid no mind, but Catherine followed closely. In the underground training facility on the fourth floor, Hale pointed to a nearby steel pir. "You can try it out there." Charles nodded and gripped the [ck Gold Long Knife] tightly. He didn''t use any attribute energy; instead, he relied solely on his physical strength and swung the knife! "ng!" The sound of metal shing rang out as a deep gash, about five or six centimeters, was carved into the hard steel. "That strike already demonstrates the strength of an ordinary fourth-level Beast Master!" Hale eximed, impressed. He understood that Ezra had taken Charles as a student because of his multi-attribute abilities. Now, it was evident that Charles''s physical prowess was also exceptional among his peers. Charles was quite satisfied with the power of the ck Gold Long Knife; it was indeed sharper and more resilient than the Ice and Fire Supreme Spear. Next came the experiment with the ck Gold Knife Glow. He stepped back until he was about 20 meters away from the target, channeling pure ice energy into the de. With a swift motion, he shed, and a sh of pitch-ck light erupted before vanishing in an instantso fast! If he hadn''t been paying attention, he might have thought the sh was merely an illusion. But how powerful was it? Just as Charles was about to approach the steel column for a closer look, he saw a steel cylinder, about ten centimeters in diameter, slowly sliding down from where the knife''s light had disappeared. The cut surface was incredibly smooth, like a mirror! Estimating the damage, Charles figured that even a Level 4 Beast Master would struggle to defend against such an attack if caught off guard. The power wasparable to Puncture Thorn, yet it consumed only half the energy. However, a 15-meter attack range felt a bit too close. He continued to step back until he reached roughly 30 meters, preparing to use ck Gold Knife Glow again. The steel column was once again severed! The cut surface was not as smooth as the first time, and the speed was slightly slower; it seemed the optimal attack distance was around 20 meters. With only the multi-attribute Alloy Knife Glow left to try, Charles was about to proceed when Hale interjected, "There aren''t any suitable targets left; the noise is too much." As he spoke, Hale summoned a mystical beast[Blue Fox] [Attributes]: Wind [Level]: 59 [Quality]: tinum [Skills]: Wind Shield, Wind de, Storm Tornado... [Weakness]: Wood... A Blue Fox, towering at four meters, materialized, its ws sharp as des and teeth like daggers. Despite being indoors, a gentle breeze stirred around them. "Attack it, and let me see your strength!" Hale urged. Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Ambush, Under Attack Energy infused with the attributes of ice and fire surged into the [ck gold long knife]. This time, the de''s glow was different from the first; it no longer shone brightly but spread like ck smoke from the knife, enveloping the surroundings. In the moment Charles swung the knife, it coalesced into a dark phantom, moving with unparalleled speed, cutting through the air toward the [blue fox]! In an instant, threeyers of shields appeared, the first being the [wind shield]. The firstyer was shed through by the [ck gold knife glow]! The secondyer saw the [ck gold knife glow] and the [wind shield] locked in a stalemate, but ultimately the de''s radiance prevailed, slicing through! By the thirdyer, the knife''s glow had nearly been depleted, dissipating silently. "With twoyers of [wind shield], Charles, your strike easily cuts through a level four Beast Master!" Hale remarked, retracting the [blue fox]. "If you were tounch a surprise attack, you could even injure a level five Beast Master!" Even Catherine couldn''t help but feel excited. On one hand, she was happy about Charles''s growing strength; on the other, she was eager to spar with him. Charles, too, felt that the dual-attribute [ck gold knife glow] was incredibly powerful, but the energy consumption was substantial. After a careful assessment, he estimated that in actualbat, he could use it about three times before it ran out. Charles had yet to test the dark attribute energy of [mousie] and suppressed the urge to do so, knowing thatbining all three attributes with the [ck gold knife glow] would surely amplify its power. However, he also recognized that his current physical condition and attribute energy might not suffice for such a drain. With their departure for the capital tomorrow, it was best to stay in top shape. Additionally, while he had experience infusing ice and fire energies, he hadn''t yet tried incorporating the dark attribute, which could lead to unforeseen consequences. "Teacher Hale, if I were to use the [ck gold knife glow] with all three attributes, could I kill a level five Beast Master?" he couldn''t help but ask. Hale''s expression turned serious. "Charles, even after you tame the third mystical beast, don''t attempt to merge all three attributes lightly." "Is it really that dangerous?" Charles spected. Hale nodded, exining, "If merging two attributes has a difficulty of 1, then three attributes would be 6, and four would be 24... This is just a rough estimate; the actual risks could be even greater. You might end up injuring yourself before you even strike your opponent!" Charles tucked away his thoughts, deciding against trying the [ck gold knife glow] with three attributes for now. "It''s gettingte; we should head back and rest. We''re leaving tonight," Hale suddenly announced on their way back. Catherine and Charles stopped in surprise. Charles asked, "Aren''t we leaving tomorrow morning?" Hale sighed. "Things have been a bit unstabletely. Just today, a recruitment teacher and a student were assassinated." "Assassinated?" Charles felt puzzled. "How could anyone dare to assassinate teachers and students from Cyber Academy?" "It''s not just Cyber Academy. There have been casualties at Aredale Academy and Nova Academy as well," Hale replied, not holding back. He was always cautious; the official announcement was that they''d leave on the morning train, but the real departure was tonight. Neither of the Azureville students were aware of this. Hale only shared the information with Charles and Catherine. "Could it be Kingston''s doing?" Charles knew that the feud between Genosha and the Cang Kingdom hadsted for over a century, with multiple wars breaking out in between. It was very likely that Cang Kingdom would target the students from Genosha''s three major academies. "No, it''s probably not them. The Cang Kingdom doesn''t have the guts to attack Cyber Academy. We''re currently investigating the specifics," Hale stated directly. The strength of Cyber Academy was not something a single nation could provoke, even if it was a branch of Genosha! "I''m only responsible for getting you safely to the capital; everything else will be handled by others. Get some sleep," Hale said as he dropped Charles and Catherine off at their room before turning to leave. Back in his room, Charles didn''t sleep. Instead, he summoned [mousie]. "I need you to keep an eye out tonight. Let me know immediately if anything seems off." "Of course, master! Mousie is the most reliable. You can sleep easy," it replied. Until midnight, nothing unusual urred. Hale was waiting at the door with a sleepy Jace and Sadie. Without any dy, the five of them piled into an off-road vehicle and left Azureville. "Teacher Hale, I thought we were taking the train tomorrow morning? Why are we leaving in the middle of the night?" Jace rubbed his eyes and asked softly. "ns changed," Hale replied casually. Catherine sat in the passenger seat, while Charles was in the middle of the back row. To his right, Sadie had fallen asleep against the window. The road chosen by Hale was rough, with frequent bumps that made it ufortable for anyone, let alone for sleeping. "Charles, you still haven''t told me about the quality of your mystical beasts. They''re not all Silver, right? Don''t worry, I won''tugh," Jace asked, turning his head curiously. "Not Silver," Charles replied coolly. Jace''s eyes widened in surprise. "It''s not Bronze Division, is it? If it were Gold, you would''ve said so already. Can Bronze even enter a branch of Cyber Academy?" "Two tinum," Charles stated truthfully. "Oh, two Bronze Divisionwait, what did you just say? tinum!" Jace instantly woke up, no longer tired. He turned to face Charles, eyes wide. "tinum? You can''t be serious! tinum beasts are practically eligible for Cyber Academy''s main campus!" Charles nodded. "That''s exactly why I''m aiming for the main campus." "The main campus? Charles, you really have some bold aspirations. Do you know who gets in there? Just in Genosha, there are imperial princesses, sons of grand generals, and the daughter of the top Beast Master, Nathaniel, who''s an eighth-level Beast Master! Those are true geniuses!" Jace seemed well-informed, aware that there were only five spots in the main campus for all of the Abyssal Depths and knowing about the talents at Cyber Academy''s Genosha branch. Charles didn''t want to borate further and calmly said, "Real geniuses have already gone directly to the main campus." After a moment, Jace understood. Before turning 20, reaching level five Beast Master guaranteed entry to the main campus, meaning those at Genosha''s branch weren''t true geniuses. "But wait, what about those under 20 who reach level three or four Beast Master? Don''t they count as geniuses?" Jace asked. Charles sighed, not wanting to dampen anyone''s spirits. He pointed to Catherine in the passenger seat. "She''s 19, a level four Beast Master, close to level five, with four mystical beasts, all of tinum quality." "Charles, you must be joking. This is way too far-fetched," Jace said, skeptical. Charles chose not to say more; some people would cling to their doubts even when faced with the truth. The vehicle fell silent, and after an unknown period, the first light of dawn illuminated the earth. Suddenly, Hale mmed on the brakes, the tires screeching as they skidded across the ground. Charles, Catherine, Jace, and Sadie followed Hale''s gaze. In the early morning sun, a figure stood quietly on a nearby tree branch. "Ha, clever enough to spread false information and trick me into going to the station," the cloaked figure said, their face obscured, voice oddly mechanical and age-indeterminate. "Get out of the car!" Hale''s expression was grave. The implication of the figure''s words indicated they had indeed been to the station, discovered the ruse, and were now pursuing them. This speed suggested at least a level six Beast Master! The vehicle wouldn''t be faster; getting out was the best option. "Teacher Hale, wh-what''s going on?" Jace asked, confused. The atmosphere was thick with danger. "Do you not fear the wrath of Cyber Academy?" Hale demanded loudly. Charles picked up on the implication in Hale''s wordshe was addressing "you all." Were there others involved? He nced back at the cloaked figure. [Name]: ??? [Age]: ??? [Height]:178 [Beast Master Level]: 6 "p, p, p." The cloaked figure apuded mockingly. "Mr. Hale, your perception is quite impressive! Let me guess, it''s the breeze that whispered it to you. Truly worthy of being the former prodigy of the wind!" At those words, Hale''s pupils narrowed, his fists clenched tightly, radiating a stormy intensity that instinctively made Jace and Sadie take a couple of steps back. Charles and Catherine remained still. Behind the cloaked figure, three more masked Beast Masters appeared, apanied by a chameleon the size of a car. [Vine Armor Chameleon] [Attribute]: Wood [Level]: 43 [Quality]: Gold mvle|mp-yr chapter [Skills]: Environmental Mimicry, Tongue-out Attack, Mucus Ejection, Firm Scales [Weakness]: Fire ... [Name]: ??? [Age]: 28 [Height]: 172 [Beast Master Level]: 5 ... [Name]: ??? [Age]: 29 [Height]: 180 [Beast Master Level]: 5 ... [Name]: ??? [Age]: 32 [Height]: 181 [Beast Master Level]: 5 ... There were three level five Beast Masters! One level six Beast Master, three level five Beast Masters. Charles kept a straight face as he gripped the [ck gold long knife] tightly, his expression serious. They had one level six Beast Master on their side, one level four, and three level threes. How were they supposed to fight this? Chapter 126: Chapter 126：“What if I can hold off two Level 5 Beast Masters?” "Hale, I know you''re strong, but as long as I can hold you off, those four are as good as dead," the man in the ck robe said, feigning ease. And he was right. Even if he couldn''t defeat Hale, he could certainly keep him upied. The remaining three Level 5 Beast Masters only needed to quickly deal with Charles, Catherine, and Jace, then handle Sadie. At that point, a Level 6 Beast Master and three Level 5 Beast Masters would be surrounding Hale. There would be no way for Hale to escape! The hexagram formation lit up, and six wooden mystical beasts were summoned by the man in the ck robe. "How about this, Hale? If you leave willingly, I won''t make things difficult for you." Charles nced over and saw that among the six mystical beasts, three were of Gold quality and three were of tinum qualityall above level fifty-five, with formidablebat power! Beside him, Jace''s legs turned to jelly after hearing the words of the man in the ck robe; he nearly copsed onto the ground. His talent was decent, but his mental fortitude and willpower werecking. "Teacher Hale, what should we do? I don''t want to die..." As he spoke, Jace nearly broke down in tears. Not just him; even Sadie''s face turned pale at this moment. If they were up against a Level 4 Beast Master, she might stand a chance, but facing a Level 5 Beast Master as a Level 3 was just like seeking death. Even knowing that the worst oue would be instant death, Sadie was doing her best to control her body, trying to get into the best fighting state possible. In the depths of despair, the thought of waiting to die without any resistance was unbearable to her. If she was going to die, she would at least fight for it. As the man in the ck robe summoned his mystical beasts, the three Level 5 Beast Masters behind him each summoned their own mystical beasts. In an instant, the hexagram formation illuminated the forest, with fifteen mystical beasts around level forty, along with the six mystical beasts summoned by the ck-robed man, totaling twenty-one mystical beasts surrounding Charles and the others. "It''s over, it''s over! We''re done for! I''m still a virgin! I don''t want to die!" Jace had never encountered such a situation before; tears and snot streamed uncontrobly down his face. Suddenly, Jace seemed to remember something and hurriedly said to Hale, "Teacher Hale, didn''t Charles say that Catherine has four mystical beasts, all of tinum quality? She can hold off the Level 5 Beast Master..." Before he could finish, Sadie, ready for battle, interrupted, "Even if Catherine can hold off one Level 5 Beast Master, there are still two others! Charles and the rest of us are just Level 3 Beast Masters..." Hale''s tightly furrowed brows remained tense. To be honest, within the Abyssal Depths, he was confident he could handle anyone below Level 7! But the current problem was, while he could take on the Level 6 Beast Master, what about this group of students behind him? Against the attacks of three Level 5 Beast Masters, Charles and the others might not evenst a minute! "Ha ha! Hale, have you made your decision? Will you stand against me, or choose to leave safely on your own?" The man in the ck robe spoke with a hint of mockery, clearly eager to see what Hale would choosefight and perish in the assault, or abandon the students and escape alone. Hale didn''t respond. With his back to Charles, he said quietly, "Wait for me to hold them off. You take the three of them and run as far as you can." Charles noticed something off in Hale''s tone, filled with a sense of resolve and a hint of fatalism. He quickly asked, "Teacher Hale, even if we escape, they''ll stille after us." "No one will leave alive, myself included. I have a way; it might let us take them down together," Hale replied, pausing for a moment. "When you see Uncle Ezra, tell him I said hello. Just let him know I did what he entrusted me with." Ezra entrusted Hale with this? Charles thought for a moment. Other recruitment teachers around Lsengard could have done it, so why did Ezra specifically ask him to find Hale? It indicated that Ezra believed Hale could protect both Charles and Catherine. But he never expected that this protection woulde at the cost of Hale''s life! "Teacher Hale, what if I can hold off two Level 5 Beast Masters?" Charles took a deep breath. "One minute! Just give me one minute, and I can take down the Level 6 Beast Master!" Hale answered solemnly. Charles nodded, "Alright, one minute!" powered by NovelFire-mp|y|r He still had the Fragment of the Jade Tablet[Orange Quality]: it could be activated by infusing any attribute energy. Though it was merely Joshua''s remnant, itsbat power was equivalent to a Level 5 Beast Master. It had 2 out of 3 uses left. While Joshua''s remnant had the samebat strength as a Level 5 Beast Master, it couldn''t match a real Level 5 Beast Master, especially without a mystical beast. Holding off one Level 5 Beast Master, along with their mystical beast, shouldn''t be a problem for a short time. "Catherine, can you hold off a Level 5 Beast Master?" Charles asked. Catherine nodded. The gap between a Level 4 and a Level 5 Beast Master was significant, but for her, it was not insurmountable! Holding off one Level 5 Beast Master was manageable! Only thest Level 5 Beast Master remained, to be dealt with by Charles, Jace, and Sadie. Among the three, only Charles could truly confront the Level 5 Beast Master. Jace had be so despairing that he had given up resisting, and although Sadie hadn''t given up, she likely wouldn''t be of much help. "Sadie, you''ll support me while I hold off the two Level 5 Beast Masters. The rest is up to Teacher Hale!" Charles instructed. Sadie was taken aback; in her eyes, Charles was just a Level 3 Beast Master. No matter how skilled he was, he couldn''t possibly withstand the attacks of a Level 5 Beast Master. With no other choice, she nodded in agreement. "What a joke! You''re even weaker than me! At least I have Gold-quality Beast Mastery, and you" Jace started to protest, but Charles interrupted him with a swift kick, saying, "Shut up! If you want to live,e help. If you want to die, no one cares!" The cloaked figure, watching the scene unfold, pped again. "A genius! Is this the so-called genius of Cyber Academy? On the brink of death, yet still fighting among themselves! How ridiculous!" "Shut up! You''re one to talk, hiding in a ck robe like a rat in a sewer! Useless!" Charles shot back fearlessly. "You, you little brat, just wait! I''ll show you what it means to wish you were dead!" The cloaked figure was infuriated; how dare a mere Level 3 Beast Master insult him! With amand, the cloaked figure ordered, "Attack!" Meanwhile, beside Hale, the hexagram formation lit up, summoning six wind attribute mystical beasts. Charles nced at them, noticing that the lowest among them was tinum, and there was even one at the Emerald level. [A Dream-Like White Jade Butterfly] Attribute:Wind Level:59 Quality:Emerald Skills:Violent Storm, Butterfly Dance... Weakness:Lightning Attribute ... [Six-Winged Cracked] Attribute:Wind Level:59 Quality:tinum (Cursed) Skills:Stormy Tiger Roar, The Celestial Feathers Descending... Weakness:Dark Attribute Description:Originally a legendary-quality Eight-Winged Rift Sky Wolf, it was cursed by a mysterious force, reducing its quality to Emerald. Without lifting the curse, it cannot upgrade again, and the Beast Master''s level will remain at six, impacting its strength. The quality levels of mystical beasts are: ck Iron, Bronze Division, Silver, Gold, tinum, Emerald, Diamond, Legendary, Mythical... Aside from Ezra''s Mythical-quality [Nine-Tailed me Tiger], this [Six-Winged Cracked]was the highest quality Charles had ever seen. No wonder the cloaked figure said Hale was once known as the "Pride of the Wind"it was due to this. It was evident that Hale was affected by a mysterious curse, which kept his Beast Master level stuck at six, preventing any further advancement. Seeing this, Catherine also summoned her mystical beasts, and four tinum-quality Gold attribute mystical beasts stepped out from the hexagram formation. "Max, Mousie!" Charles summoned Max and Mousie without hesitation. "They really are tinum-quality mystical beasts! Charles didn''t lie to me... but what good will that do?" Jace slumped to the ground. Next to him, Sadie summoned three Gold-quality Light attribute mystical beasts. "Light attribute!" Charles''s eyes lit up. Light attribute mystical beasts typically had supportive skills that could enhance the mystical beasts themselves or their teammates. If Sadie''s mystical beasts had such skills, that would be even better. After scanning the area, Charles finally found the information he was looking for: [White Deer with Giant Horns] Attribute:Light Level:23 Quality:Gold Skills:Extremely Fast Light Bullet, Blessing of Light... Weakness:Dark Attribute ... [Blessing of Light]:Condenses light attribute energy from the antlers, enhancing speed and defense, and also boosts the Beast Master''s energy control. "Great! Sadie, use [Blessing of Light]on meter!" Charles pulled out the [Fragment of Jade Tablet]from his storage space, releasing Joshua''s remnant. Sadie followed Charles''smand, feeling quite puzzled. After all, Light attribute mystical beasts were extremely rare, and ordinary Beast Masters usually had no knowledge of their skills. To her surprise, Charles seemed to understand the [White Deer with Giant Horns]perfectly after just one nce. Sadie instinctively thought of Charles as a knowledgeable personnot only was he powerful, but his insight was also extraordinary. "No problem!" Sadie nodded vigorously. The battle was about to erupt! Outside the nameless forest, there were over fifty Level mystical beasts, as well as many in the forties and twenties, adding up to more than thirty in totalenough to destroy half of Lsengard! Chapter 127: Chapter 127: The Three-Attribute Black Gold Knife Glow "Boom!" Several level fifty mystical beasts shed, their battle shaking the surrounding trees. A trunk over a meter in diameter was smashed in half, sending clouds of dust swirling into the air. "Hale, how na?ve! Do you really think a Level 4 Beast Master and three Level 3 Beast Masters can buy you enough time?" The ck-robed figure gripped his long staff tightly and swung it at Hale. Hale didn''t respond; he focused all his energy on the ck-robed figure, showing no concern for the attacks directed at the students. Uncle Ezra valued him, and he had faith that the others wouldn''t disappoint! Charles was determined to buy that minute, and he would make it happen! His focus now was to defeat the ck-robed figure as quickly as possible to protect Charles and Catherine from harm. "Ha, you''re quite confident, aren''t you? Just look..." The ck-robed figure gestured for Hale to pay attention to the battle behind him, intending to distract him. But when Hale nced over, a ripple of surprise washed over him. Catherine was directly facing a Level 5 Beast Master, and rather than merely defending, she was choosing to attack! With skin glistening like metal and a ghostly speed, her strength was formidable. In her [Beast Mastery] state, Catherine was actually overpowering the Level 5 Beast Master! Cornered, the Level 5 Beast Master resorted to his own [Beast Mastery] to counterattack. Meanwhile, the other two Level 5 Beast Masters were simrly engagedone was upied with Joshua''s remnant, while the other faced Charles head-on. With the effects of a [Miraculous Speed Pill], [Blessing of Light], and [Beast Mastery], Charles''s power and speed weren''t on par with the Level 5 Beast Master, yet he unleashed a single-attribute [ck Gold Knife Glow], forcing the Level 5 Beast Master to retreat repeatedly. "This... how is this possible?! A Level 3 Beast Master can actually contend with a Level 5 Beast Master?" The ck-robed figure couldn''t believe it. His moment of distraction allowed Hale to seize the opportunity! Realizing the urgency, the ck-robed figure desperately defended against Hale''s attacks while shouting, "Are you all idiots? Hurry up and deal with those little brats!" Feeling the pressure, the three Level 5 Beast Masters responded. Initially, only one had activated [Beast Mastery], but under the ck-robed figure''s urging, the other two quickly followed suit. Suddenly, not only was Catherine being suppressed, but Joshua''s remnant also began to dim under the onught. In this critical moment, Charles shouted to Catherine, "Rememberst night?" Catherine thought for a moment. Last night? The second type of sword glow that Charles had experimented with in the hotel basement? The ck smoke that spread from the long de and formed a pitch-ck phantom? Catherine recalled the power of that strike, strong enough to injure a Level 5 Beast Master, but she knew it wouldn''t solve the current crisis. Yet, things had reached this point, and she chose to trust Charles. She understood his intent; the second type of sword glow had a considerable attack range. If she could draw the two Beast Masters close together, it would maximize the damage. In an instant, Catherine stealthily maneuvered to lure the enemies towards Charles, using her speed to lead them closer. Joshua''s remnant had faded, but before the Level 5 Beast Master could celebrate, another shadow emerged. Charles activated the [Fragment of Jade Tablet] once more. Having used all three opportunities, the fragment shattered, leaving him without that orange-quality item. Now was not the time to feel regret. Under Charles''s control, the three masked Level 5 Beast Masters unknowingly gathered together. What an opportunity! Charles understood that the ice and fire attributes of the [ck Gold Knife Glow] would deal minimal damage against a Level 5 Beast Master in their [Beast Mastery] state. If they weren''t using that state, there might still be hope. But now, life and death were at stake, and the wild idea that had been brewing in his mind was impossible to suppress any longer. He had to try the three-attribute [ck Gold Knife Glow]! Initially, Charles hadn''t considered this approach, but seeing the [Blessing of Light]which could enhance speed and defense while also improving a Beast Master''s energy controlsparked inspiration. Enhancing a Beast Master''s energy control was the opportunity he needed to turn the tide! He began by channeling ice attribute energy into the [ck Gold Long Knife], then added fire attribute energy. The only thing left was the dark attribute energy. With utmost care, Charles drew a thread of dark attribute energy and infused it into the [ck Gold Long Knife]. The moment the dark energy entered, it disrupted the bnce of ice and fire, throwing all three energies into an extremely unstable state, on the verge of explosion! But Charles remained calm, meticulously searching for the bnce point. Under the influence of the [Blessing of Light], Charles, guided by his intuition, increased the input of fire attribute energy while reducing the ice attribute energy, keeping the dark attribute energy constant. The [ck Gold Long Knife] transformed, engulfed in ck mes, causing the surrounding light to warp. An overwhelming aura of power radiated from the long knife, sinking the ground beneath Charles''s feet by two centimeters, showcasing just how immense the knife''s power was! "Run!" The three level five Beast Masters reacted quickly, trying to escape at the first opportunity. But before they could turn around, Charles decisively swung the knife toward them! The speed of the sh was astonishing, making it feel as if time had slowed down. The ck and red de light sliced through everything in its path, and even the level five Beast Masters'' [Beast Mastery] could not withstand it. It cut through them like paper, smoothly severing the three Beast Masters in half! The ck-red de light continued its unstoppable trajectory, flying into the distance. "Boom!", "Boom!" ,"Boom!" The sound of falling trees echoed everywhere; every tree within a hundred meters was cut down! In just one strike, not only did he y the three level five Beast Masters, but he also ttened the surrounding forest! "This... it''s impossible! Monster, you''re an absolute monster!" The cloaked figure waspletely shattered, desperate to flee, but Hale would not give him that chance! "Crack!" A long knife of condensed wind attribute energy cleaved the cloaked figure in two. Discover worlds on m _v _lempy _r. The scene fell silent, except for the sounds of beasts, animals, and birds fleeing in all directions. Hale turned to look at the devastation Charles had caused, just about to speak when he saw Charles''s figure stiffly fall backward! ... Inside the SUV, Catherine''s voice broke the silence, "Teacher Hale, Charles still hasn''t woken up. He should be okay, right?" "He''s fine. He just exhausted himself too much; his body couldn''t handle that level of energy. He''ll be alright after some rest," Hale replied. Honestly, he was the most surprised in the vehicle. While others were shocked by the destruction and the ying of the level five Beast Masters, only Hale understood how incredibly difficult it was to channel three different energy attributes into the [ck Gold Long Knife] in such a short time! In the back seat, Charles slowly opened his eyes. He was lying on Catherine''s legs, and as he blinked awake, he met her anxious blue eyes filled with worry. "You''re awake? Thank goodness, I was so scared!" Catherine quickly grabbed a bottle of water and asked, "Are you thirsty? Do you want some water?" Charles felt utterly drained; after that powerful sh, he had lost consciousness. Now awake, he nced at the screen in front of him, noting that after the battle, Max and Mousie had both leveled up to level 24. Catherine opened the water bottle and carefully fed it to Charles. After taking a few sips, he started to regain some strength. Leaning back in his seat, Charles realized it was certainly lessfortable than lying on Catherine''s legs. "Charles, you need to take some time to recover. Your body isn''t seriously injured, but try to avoid using that move again," Hale said. "Got it, Teacher Hale. By the way, where''s Jace?" Charles noticed Jace was missing. "He''s in the back. That kid seems a bit shaken up," Hale replied casually. Before turning 20, bing a level three Beast Master was considered a sign of genius. However, being a genius only indicated good talent; true strength required more than just that. It also needed willpower and the right mindset. A resilient spirit, an unwavering resolve, and a deep desire for strength determined how far someone could go. Jace, clearly, was not up to par. Among the four, Charles had performed the bestnot only did he possess incredible talent, but he also had a calm mind and unwavering determination. Catherine followed closely behind, and then there was Sadie, who initially performed simrly to Jace but adapted and persevered, showing good potential. Hale silentlypared them in his mind. Gaining entry into Cyber Academy didn''t mean there were no challenges ahead. Failing three consecutive assessments would result in expulsion. If Jace continued down this path, he wouldn''tst long at Cyber Academy. The SUV roared down the road, carrying them toward the distance. They were heading to Lsengard to regroup. Hale had received news that the ambush might not be over; more recruitment officers and students had been attacked, allegedly by a level seven Beast Master! Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Which Genius? After a long journey, they finally arrived at a hotel in Riston without any further ambushes. As they got out of the car, Hale handed a box to Charles, saying, "Charles, these are the spoils from the three level five Beast Masters you defeated. Take a look." Charles epted the box but didn''t open it immediately. "No rush, Teacher Hale. I''d like to rest first." "The check-in is already handled. You all can rest while I discuss things with the other teachers," Hale replied. In the hotel room, Charles took a refreshing shower to rx before finally opening the box to examine his loot: [20 gold coins], [6 tier two beast cores], [3 tier three beast cores], and some equipment. Most were green quality, with only two blue items and one purple item: - [White-Feathered Shoes [Blue Quality]]: Made from the feathers of the White-Feathered Bird, increases running speed by 20% when worn. - [Ice Crystal Ne [Blue Quality]]: Wearing it long-term can soothe emotions and aid sleep. - [Jet Ring [Purple Quality]]: Made from space gems, extremely valuable, with an internal storage space of 8 cubic meters. Only the [White-Feathered Shoes] and the [Jet Ring] were useful; the rest were items he didn''t need, and Charles nned to sell themter. The [Jet Ring] primarily served as a means of concealment, allowing Charles to take items from the [storage space] without raising suspicion. To be honest, he was quite tempted to sell it; items that could store things were incredibly valuable! With 8 cubic meters of storage, it was probably worth over a hundred coins! Right now, he hadn''t found his third mystical beast yet, and he might need to search for it at the Genosha Calivia auction, which would surely require a significant amount of gold. After some hesitation, Charles decided to keep it for now. There was still almost a month before the auction began, plenty of time to think things over. Currently, his finances were as follows: Experience tales at m-vl-emp _yr. - [Cash]: 23 gold coins, 530 silver coins, and 200 copper coins. - [ount Bnce]: 30 gold coins, 800 silver coins, and 256 copper coins. Altogether, that amounted to 54 gold coins, 330 silver coins, and 456 copper coins. While that looked like a lot, it included 7 gold coins owed by Raj,pensation from the Miller family, and industrypensation from the Draven family, along with some materials previously stored in his [storage space]: [Storage Space]: - [Weapons]: ck Gold Long Knife (Purple), Ice and Fire Supreme Spear (Blue)... - [Equipment]: Nine Netherworld Armband (Purple), Divine Scale Armor (Blue), White-Feathered Shoes (Blue), Ice Crystal Ne (Blue)... - [Daily Items]: Tent, bedding, campingmps, shlight... - [Beast Cores]: 6 Tier Two Beast Cores, 3 Tier Three Beast Cores. - [Alchemy Miracle Drugs]: Spirit Essence Pill (Orange) 1, Miraculous Speed Pill (White) 30... - [Special Items]: Map Fragment [2/3]. Charles felt a mix of excitement and anxiety as he reviewed his resources, aware that he would need them for whatever challengesy ahead. Charles had already sold everything he could in Lsengard, but there were still some high-value items he was reluctant to part with, like the [Spirit Essence Pill], which he knew would be very beneficial in the future. As for weapons and equipment, blue and below weren''t too concerning, but purple-grade items were much more precious. Initially, the [Ice and Fire Supreme Spear] had cost him 100 silver coins because itcked a beast core, while a typical purple weapon could cost several gold coinsor even dozens! This didn''t even factor in special purple gear like the [Jet Ring] and the [ck Gold Long Knife], which were worth even more! After storing the loot he nned to sell in his [storage space], Charles put on the [Jet Ring] and stepped out of the room. He intended to stroll around and sell off the useless items. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Jace squatting outside, looking hesitant. "Charles, you''re out?" Jace stammered, clearly nervous and unsure of what to say. "Yeah, what''s up? Is there something you need?" Charles asked. "Um, no, I just wanted to check on you and say thank you," Jace replied. He was aware that during the crisis, he hadn''t offered any help and had even said some discouraging things, so he felt grateful that Charles was willing to talk to him. "Thank me for what?" "Thank you for saving me," Jace mumbled, his gaze fixed on the ground. "No need. I didn''t save you for that," Charles replied, turning to walk away. Jace watched Charles''s retreating figure with aplicated expression. Taking a deep breath, he called out, "Charles, I want to be braver too, but I don''t have the strength! What can I do?" "I can''t do anything, it''s just because I''m weak!" Charles paused for a moment, leaving behind just one line as he continued walking. "Strengthes not from power, but from courage! It''s because you have courage that you be strong!" Those words struck Jace like a thunderp, leaving him frozen in ce as he repeated, "It''s because I have courage that I be strong!" ... Charles didn''t return to the hotel until evening. He had sold all the unnecessary equipment and materials for a modest sum of 3 gold coins and 200 silver coins. Now, his total assets amounted to 57 gold coins, 530 silver coins, and 200 copper coins. During the afternoon, he spent some copper coins tasting local delicacies in Riston. Originally, he nned to gather materials for crafting [Super Miracle Drugs], but after inquiring all afternoon, he discovered that the required items could only be purchased in Genosha Calivia. Just as he reached the lobby of the hotel, Catherine appeared in front of him. "Hale just said that other teachers and students haven''t arrived yet. We''ll have to wait another couple of days before we can leave." Charles looked into Catherine''s sparkling blue eyes and knew she was eager to spar again. She was such a battle enthusiastafter fighting a level five Beast Master, she couldn''t wait to continue training and showed no desire to rest. "Wait, Charles, Hale said you need to take a proper break," Catherine recalled, quickly suppressing her urge to spar. Charles''s well-being was more important. At that moment, voices from the lobby caught their attention. "This is so annoying! We have to wait; I''m itching to get to Calivia!" one personined. "Seriously, who would dare attack students from Cyber Academy?" another scoffed. "I heard that the group arriving today was ambushed by a level six Beast Master and three level five Beast Masters," a third voice chimed in. "Impossible! If that were true, they wouldn''t have made it to the hotel," someone replied skeptically. "Right? If the recruitment officer was only level six and faced three level five Beast Masters, they would have been killed already," another added. "Probably just exaggerating. The level five Beast Masters must have attacked, but the recruitment officer handled it, and those four are blowing it out of proportion," someone concluded. "Good point!" they all agreed as they walked toward the elevator. Just then, Jace, who had just stepped out of the elevator, overheard their conversation. Among the three, a tall and hefty student pointed, "Look, that guy seems to be from Lsengard. I''ll go ask if it''s true." "No need to ask; it''s definitely fake!" a red-haired student said confidently. "No, it''s not fake; it''s real!" Jace suddenly interjected, fists clenched. Despite his poor performance during the attack, he didn''t want others to nder or deny the truth, especially after Charles and Catherine had fought hard to save him. How could it be exaggerated for the sake of gossip? "Lan, did you hear that? He says it''s true!" the tall, hefty student said to the red-haired one. Lan shrugged dismissively and turned to Jace, asking, "Really? Then may I ask, what level is your recruitment officer?" "Level six Beast Master," Jace replied. "Ha! A level six Beast Master, along with three level five Beast Masters, attacked you. How did you survive?" Lan questioned, continuing, "In a battle between two level six Beast Masters, how did the remaining level five Beast Masters not wipe you out? That''s just ridiculous!" "No, it was Charles who killed them all," Jace tried to exin. But Lan justughed, clearly unconvinced. "Charles? Even if he is a level five Beast Master, there''s no way he could take down three opponents of the same level in such a short time!" "No, Charles is a Level 3 Beast Master!" Jace stated honestly. "Haha!" Lanughed so hard he could barely stand, pping his thigh and mocking, "Level 3? Dude, do you think I''m an idiot? A Level 3 Beast Master defeating a Level 5 Beast Master? Wake up, stop dreaming!" Lan continued, "Looks like this Charles is just a guy who loves to boast, and he''s stupid toohas nomon sense. If he could kill a Level 5 Beast Master, why doesn''t he justmit suicide?" Jace didn''t want to argue, but he remembered what Charles had said to him before leaving: "It''s because of courage that you be stronger!" He had always thought that his timidity and cowardice were due to ack of strength, not realizing what he trulycked! After hearing Charles'' words, he finally understood the reason. So when someone didn''t believe him, Jace instinctively wanted to retort. It was like breaking a world record; when others heard about it, they not only didn''t believe it but mocked him, and that feeling was really hard for Jace to bear. Charles had not only saved him but had also enlightened him; he was his benefactor! Although he was timid andcked courage, he knew how to be grateful. "I''m telling the truth; if you haven''t seen it, it just shows how narrow-minded you are!" Jace suddenly shot back. The atmosphere became tense. Lan straightened up, ring at Jace, and slowly said, "You think I''m narrow-minded? Do you know who I am? First in the Riston assessment! I''m narrow-minded?" Just as Jace was about to continue arguing, Hale, who had just finished a meeting, walked out of the corridor and said, "So what if you''re first? You''re just a frog in a well." "What! What do you mean?" Lan turned around, anger written all over his face. Hispanion hurriedly intervened, saying, "Lan, this is the admissions teacher." Upon hearing hispanion''s words, Lan''s anger immediately lessened; they couldn''t afford to offend the admissions teacher. "A Level 3 Beast Master killing a Level 5 Beast Master? I don''t believe it either. Teacher Hale, does that make me a frog in a well as well?" A seductive female voice interjected, apanied by the sound of high heels. It was Nora, the admissions teacher from Riston! She continued, "I''d like to see which genius is capable of killing a Level 5 Beast Master." Chapter 129: Chapter 129: The Name of the Weak Will Go Unnoticed After hearing Hale speak, Lan initially intended to stay out of the matter, knowing that a new recruit shing with an admissions officer would likely end poorly for the neer. However, to his surprise, their admissions officer, Nora, also chimed in, expressing disbelief that Charles could possibly kill a Level 5 Beast Master with only Level 3 Beast Master strength. Lan looked up at Nora, feeling emboldened. He spoke up, "Teacher Hale, who would believe that a Level 3 Beast Master could y a Level 5 Beast Master?" Hale ignored Lan, turning to Nora instead, his brow furrowing as he said, "Can you just take a break for a moment?" Nora rolled her eyes and didn''t respond to Hale. Instead, she looked around and asked, "Where''s Charles? I''d really like to meet the student who could kill a Level 5 Beast Master." "Yeah, we''re all curious to see what kind of genius can cross two levels of Beast Master to defeat an opponent!" Lan added eagerly. Charles stepped forward, first greeting Hale, then, without sparing a nce for anyone else, he led Catherine to the elevator, waiting for it to arrive. Nora was well aware that Hale''s group consisted of four new recruitstwo males and two females. Jace was already spotted, leaving only Charles unounted for. She hadn''t expected Charles to greet only Hale and ignore her entirely, prompting her to sarcastically remark, "No wonder you''re a genius who can kill a Level 5 Beast Master; you''re so arrogant." Beside them, Lan quickly interjected, "Teacher Nora, I don''t think he''s arrogant; he''s just insecure, afraid that people will discover it''s all a lie!" Not only Jace, but even Catherine felt ufortable and red at Lan, asking, "Are you really that strong?" "What a joke! I was the top scorer in the Riston assessment, with all three of my mystical beasts at Gold quality!" Lan couldn''t help but boast. In Riston, he was indeed the strongest Level 3 Beast Master! At twenty years old, being a Level 3 Beast Master with three Gold-quality mystical beasts was enough to make anyone proud. "You''re that strong? Care for a match?" Catherine said, revealing her four six-pointed star formations. Latest updates from m _vlempyr. "One, two, three, fouroh my gosh! Lan, she''s a Level 4 Beast Master!" eximed a tall, sturdy recruit, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. "A Level 4 Beast Master!" Lan gulped, his earlier bravado evaporating, reced by retreat. He knew well that a Level 3 Beast Master stood no chance against a Level 4. To defeat an opponent of a higher level required not just talent, but also superiorbat skills and a resilient spirit. This was why he couldn''t believe that Charles could triumph over a Level 5 Beast Master with just Level 3 strength. In Lan''s eyes, he wouldn''t even dare to dream of such a thing! Nora, the admissions officer from Riston, wore a serious expression. As a Level 6 Beast Master, her judgment was sharper than that of the recruits. She could tell at a nce that Catherine was not just an ordinary Level 4 Beast Master but a peak Level 4, nearly reaching Level 5! Initially, she believed that Hale was fiercely protecting the new recruits from a Level 6 Beast Master attack. She knew Hale''s strength; he was once hailed as the "Pride of the Wind," not someone a typical Level 6 could contend with. When she heard Jace mention that Charles single-handedly killed three Level 5 Beast Masters, she instinctively thought he was exaggerating. Now, it seemed somewhat credible, but Nora leaned more toward the idea that Catherine had held off one Level 5 Beast Master, buying time for Hale. As for the notion that Charles, at Level 3, could kill a Level 5, she dismissed it entirely. "Let''s just forget it; it''s not like you killed a Level 5 Beast Master!" Lan thought for a moment; he had no desire to challenge a Level 4 Beast Master. If a fight were to happen, he would choose Charles, who was also a Level 3. Lan continued to provoke, "What''s so impressive about letting a girl step in? iming to have killed a Level 5 Beast Master? To me, that just makes you a turtle hiding in its shell." Hearing someone insult Charles ignited fury in Catherine, and she almost charged at Lan to kick him. Before Catherine could make a move, Charles, who had remained silent, reached out and gently held her back. His expression was calm as he spoke, "A weak person draws their de against those weaker; a strong person draws their de against the strong. A Beast Master who does not aspire to defeat opponents of higher rank will forever be a weakling." His words struck the entire group into silence, as if they were all deeply affected by this poignant statement. After a moment, Hale and Catherine were the first to react. To them, this statement felt like a reflection of their own paths. For Catherine, the meaning of lifey in challenging the strong to be stronger herself. "''A weak person draws their de against the weak; a strong person draws their de against the strong!''" Jace repeated the phrase like a mantra, the desire to grow stronger burning brighter within him. He had once sumbed to fear and abandoned resistance in the face of three Level 5 Beast Masters. After hearing these words, he vowed that if given another chance, he would never drop his weapon again. "What''s with all this talk about strength and weakness? You''re just pretending to be profound! Spouting nonsense that no one understandsCharles, you''re just afraid of being exposed!" Lan couldn''t grasp the meaning of Charles''s statement and simply thought he was being mocked. Nora''s gaze shifted, and the skepticism in her eyes lessened, reced by a newfound respect for Charles. To gain entry into Cyber Academy, candidates must reach Level 3 Beast Master status before the age of twenty, which is considered a sign of talent among the general popce. However, these requirements are just the basics. Charles''s earlier statement perfectly encapsted the academy''s deeper expectations: one must possess a heart that strives to be strong. Only then can they withstand challenges and progress further on the path of a Beast Master. Nora thought of this while ncing at Lan, who was still provoking others, feeling a twinge of disappointment. Relying solely on talent meant that even if he entered Cyber Academy, he could easily be surpassed by others, ultimately leading to a breakdown and a mundane existence as a Beast Master. She had initially believed that Lan''s top score in the Riston assessment indicated some strong mentality, but now it seemed otherwise. "Does it really matter to you whether I killed a Level 5 Beast Master? What are you so afraid of?" Charles turned to face Lan, his gaze steady. Lan, caught in Charles''s unwavering stare, instinctively looked away, but quickly realized that it made him seem weaker. Clenching his fists, he retorted, "Who''s afraid? I just can''t stand you lying!" "No, you are afraid. Two Level 3 Beast Masters: one can y a Beast Master while the other can only question others," Charles replied slowly. "At the core, it''s fear of others being stronger than you, of being overshadowed." "That''s nonsense! You''re just talking nonsense!" Lan snapped, suddenly defensive as if Charles had struck a nerve. Facing Catherine, a Level 4 Beast Master, Lan already felt vulnerable. All new recruits at Cyber Academy were under twenty, and even Catherine was still below that age, while he was twenty with only Level 3 status. Before the other recruits arrived, Lan had basked in praise, his vanity swelling. Hearing about Charles''s supposed feat of ying a Level 5 Beast Master, he couldn''t help but envision himself in that situation and concluded that he would have crumbled under pressure. This is why Lan had been so sarcastic; he subconsciously tried to deceive himself, thinking, "If I can''t do it, then neither can anyone else! It must be a lie." "Jealousy and anxietyif you don''t believe it, I''ll shatter all your illusionster," Charles said tly. Catherine, remembering that Charles still needed to recuperate, quickly intervened, "Charles, teacher Hale said you need to rest; let''s not push it." Even Nora, the admissions officer from Riston, felt some concernnot for Charles, but for Lan. As one of her recruits, she didn''t want Lan to fall apart after a defeat. Nora hadn''t even realized that, deep down, she hade to see Charles as a true genius. "Here we go with the excuses againiming he''s still injured, just afraid!" Lan thought, feeling some hesitation from Charles''s earlier words. But upon hearing Catherine mention that Charles wasn''t fully recovered, his spirits lifted. In his view, this was just Charles''s excuse to avoid a fight. Moreover, if Charles had truly fought a Level 5 Beast Master and was merely lucky to have survived, Lan saw an opportunity. He could defeat Charles while he was still weak and recovering! The idea that Charles could have taken down a Level 5 Beast Master never crossed his mind; if he couldn''t do it, then surely no one else could. "Catherine, I''m fine. Are you worried he''ll hurt me?" Charles smiled lightly. Catherine realized that even if Charles couldn''t fight at full strength, he was still not someone a Level 3 Beast Master could defeat. "I ept your challenge," Charles said, turning to Lan. Lan''s expression lit up with excitement as he hurriedly said, "A Level 3 Beast Master..." "No need to mention names; the name of the weak goes unnoticed," Charles replied, turning to head toward the underground training ground. Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Fighting Weaklings is Really Boring The joyful expression on Lan''s face suddenly stiffened. What? Weaklings aren''t worthy of being remembered by name? That simple sentence made Lan''s face and ears turn red instantly. He waspletely thrown off bnce. In Riston, he was a genius, someone everyone had high hopes for! How could he be regarded as trash in Charles'' eyes? "Charles! Just you wait! Even if you beg me on your kneester, I won''t let you off!" Lan couldn''t hold back any longer and shouted furiously. Charles had already stepped into the elevator, his gaze calm, looking at Lan as if he were a clown. It wasn''t until Catherine, Hale, and Jace entered the elevator that the doors began to close. That''s when Lan realized, "I haven''t gotten in yet!" Underground Level Four, Inside the hotel''s exclusive practice arena, Lan and Charles stood facing each other. Three six-pointed star formations shed, and three lightning attribute mystical beasts were summoned by Lan. [Lightning Demon Ape] [Attribute]: Lightning [Level]: 26 [Quality]: Gold [Skills]: Arc Swing, Ball Lightning, Lightning Chain [Weakness]: Wind Attribute ... [One-Horned Electric Python] [Attribute]: Lightning [Level]: 25 [Quality]: Gold [Skills]: Lightning Strike, Death Coil, Thunder Bite [Weakness]: Wind Attribute / Lower Abdomen ... [Lightning Wild Dog] [Attribute]: Lightning [Level]: 24 [Quality]: Gold [Skills]: Move Quickly, Thunder Bite, Lightning w [Weakness]: Wind Attribute / Lower Abdomen ... All three lightning attribute mystical beasts were of Gold quality. With them standing in front of him, Lan felt an immense confidence. In Riston, he was the strongest among those under twenty! "Lan is amazing!" "Do you think Charles'' mystical beasts are all Silver quality? It can''t be anything else, right?" "Maybe! He hasn''t summoned any mystical beasts yet because he''s afraid of embarrassing himself." Outside the practice arena, the murmurs of others began to rise. Jace listened on the side, unable to tolerate thements about Charles. To him, Charles was a life mentor! Every casual remark he made was enlightening, offering him immense benefit! So Jace spoke up, "Three Gold quality mystical beasts are nothing! All of Charles'' mystical beasts are tinum quality!" "What? tinum? You must be joking! Have you ever seen a tinum quality mystical beast?" someone scoffed in rebuttal. "Short-sighted!" Jace replied. He didn''t even mention that Catherine had four mystical beasts, all at the tinum level! In the past, Jace thought Silver quality mystical beasts were already impressive. Ever since meeting Charles and Catherine, his perspective had broadened significantly; Silver quality mystical beasts were no longer something to boast about. In the future, if he could advance to a Level Four Beast Master, he must find a tinum quality mystical beast. Even if he couldn''t find one, it couldn''t be lower than Gold! "Charles, are you still not summoning your mystical beasts? Are you nning to surrender?" Lan, noticing that Charles had yet to make a move, mistakenly thought that Charles knew he couldn''t win and was considering giving up. Just as he was about to throw out another round of taunts, Charles replied, "I don''t need to summon mystical beasts to beat you." "You''re so arrogant, Charles!" Lan''s fury was already boiling over. He directlymanded the three mystical beasts, "Attack together! Tear him apart!" The Lightning Wild Dog, One-Horned Electric Python, and Lightning Demon Ape charged at Charles as soon as they received their master''s orders. The practice arena was instantly filled with crackling electricity, with arcs of white lightning jumping around. Experience the best on NovelFire _emp _yr. Typically, a Level Three Beast Master facing such a situation would either summon their mystical beasts to perform Beast Mastery or turn and run without a second thought. But Charles was different. Calmly, he pulled out a ck Gold Long Knife from his Jet Ringthe sharp, elongated de emanated a chilling aura. Outside the arena, someone eximed, "How did Charles pull out a knife?" Hispanion exined, "Don''t be surprised; that''s a Storage Ring. You just don''t know any better!" "What''s a Storage Ring?" the person asked, puzzled. "Not worth exining. Just look it up onler," thepanion replied, his eyes glued to the Jet Ring, enviously drooling as he said, "That ring must be worth at least a hundred gold coins. Even the city lord can''t afford one!" "It''s that expensive? Charles must be rich! I bet he has Gold quality mystical beasts!" "Yeah, with a Storage Ring, he could very well have three Gold quality mystical beasts. Looks like he has some strength after all." "Sure, but Lan is not to be underestimated. He has a wealth ofbat experience, and Charles definitely isn''t a match for Lan!" Nora, the admissions teacher from Riston, didn''t pay much attention to the Jet Ring on Charles''s hand. Instead, she stared thoughtfully at the ck Gold Long Knife, feeling that the long knife looked somewhat familiar, as if she had seen someone use it before. Was it a weapon that someone had used before? Nora shook her head, quickly dismissing that thought. A multi-attribute Beast Master like him was nearly impossible to find a second one in all of Genosha! Even if it wasn''t that, she was certain that the weapon Charles held was at least of top-tier blue quality, and it was even possible that it could be purple quality. "Even if it is a purple weapon, without summoning his mystical beasts, a Level Three Beast Master''s physical attributes alone could never defeat Lan," Nora murmured to herself. Initially, she thought Charles had the potential to be a powerful Beast Master, but now she wanted to retract her previous opinion. "An arrogant and conceited Beast Master won''t get far." Hale, who was standing nearby, naturally heard her words. He turned to Nora and said, "Conceited? Teacher Nora, not only is your strengthcking, but your judgment is off too." "What do you mean by that, Hale?" Nora snapped, stomping her high-heeled foot on the ground as she questioned him loudly. "Nothing, just keep watching," Hale replied, not wanting to borate too much. Sometimes, the facts themselves were the best exnation. Nora was about to continue her argument but was interrupted by the gasps from the new students of Riston in front of her. She quickly turned her gaze back to the practice arena. Charles, facing the assault of three lightning attribute mystical beasts, remained calm. It was as if he had divine assistance; with every dodge, he perfectly evaded the attacks from the mystical beasts! In that moment, he seemed to be on stage, every movement and shift of his body resembling a dance. Not only did he evade Lan''s mystical beasts'' attacks, but he was also steadily closing the distance. "That angle for the Arc Swing is all wrong; that Ball Lightning is forming too slowly!" "The timing of that Lightning w was decent, but it didn''t coordinate with the One-Horned Electric Python. Otherwise, I would have been trapped already!" "Too poor! Yourbat experience is reallycking!" ... Charles''sments echoed throughout the underground space, leaving everyone else dumbfounded. One of the new students from Riston hesitantly spoke up, "Could it be that Charles is just talking nonsense?" "No, he isn''t!" Nora''s gaze was sharp. Although she had been looked down on by Hale for her strength and judgment, as a Level Six Beast Master with considerable battle experience, she could immediately see that everything Charles said was correct. Lan''sbat experience was decent among young people, but when ced before Charles, it was like that of an elementary school student, full of ws in everymand. As a result, even with three mystical beasts attacking him, Charles quickly closed in on Lan. If anyone was truly on the verge of breaking down, it was undoubtedly Lan, who was facing Charles head-on. Initially, Lan thought that since Charles wasn''t summoning his mystical beasts and he had three mystical beasts on his side, defeating Charles would be a piece of cake. However, to his surprise, Charles moved like he was strolling down a country path, effortlessly evading every attack from the mystical beasts! "Damn it! I can''t believe this! Beast Mastery!" Lan gritted his teeth and activated Beast Mastery. After all, mystical beasts were not human; without extensivebat training and practical experience, they typically had ws in battle. Apetent Beast Master could identify these ws and improve them by issuing variousbatmands, coordinating multiple mystical beasts to secure victory. In this regard, Lan was performing terribly. Knowing that the mystical beasts'' attacks couldn''t harm Charles, he decided to take matters into his own hands! "Only now are you going to fight personally? Ha! A true Beast Master fights alongside their mystical beasts, not just hiding behind and issuing uselessmands," Charles said disdainfully, standing his ground. In fact, for quite some time now, Charles had not been facing a Level Three Beast Master; he had been battling opponents of higher ranks, gaining extensivebat experience. Moreover, Catherine asionally sparred with him, which had been a significant help. Now, Charles had developed a unique intuition in battle, often reacting without thought, relying on instinct to make appropriate responses. "I don''t agree with a single word you said! Just wait until I knock you down; let''s see what you have to say then!" After activating Beast Mastery, Lan''s body crackled with electric energy. He gathered two Ball Lightning spheres in his palms and charged toward Charles. "This is boring; I might as well go take a break," Charles sighed. Fighting weak opponents was just dull. Ice attribute energy surged into the ck Gold Long Knife, and a dark light shed sharply along the de. A ck Gold Knife Glow sliced toward Lan, aimed directly at him! At the same time, an overwhelming sense of danger enveloped Lan. He had a premonition that if he continued forward and met that de of light, he would surely die! The fear of life and death froze Lan in ce, his body trembling uncontrobly! "Lan!" Nora, who had been closely watching the battle, saw the ck Gold Knife Glow in an instant and summoned her mystical beast. "Boom!" Dust and debris erupted into the air, but it soon settled down. Chapter 131: Chapter 131: “You’re an Intermediate Alchemist?” A towering fire ape, over three meters tall, stood between Charles and Lan. This was Nora''s mystical beast, and she sensed something was off immediately. The de aura Charles had unleashed could have easily killed Lan! "Charles! It was just a spar! Was it really necessary to go that far?" Nora eximed, her heart racing. Seeing that Lan wasn''t hurt, she turned to scold him. Charles put the ck gold long knife back into his storage space and nced at Hale, feeling helpless. He hadn''t intended to kill. The angle of that knife glow had been calcted perfectly; if Lan had just shifted slightly to either side, he would have been fine! When the de aura was released, Charles had even slowed it downhe was already holding back. But who would have thought Lan would freeze in ce,pletely paralyzed by fear? "Teacher Nora, Charles was already being merciful," Hale said, fully aware that Charles had restrained himself. He had only used a single attribute knife glowhe hadn''t even tapped into the dual or triple attribute knife glows. Otherwise, even ten Lans wouldn''t have stood a chance! "Is this what you call mercy?" Nora looked at the blood droplets seeping from the fire ape''s arm, still feeling shaken. The power behind Charles''s strike was beyond her imagination! If Lan had died, she, as the recruiting instructor, would bear some responsibility. It wouldn''t be a mysterious organization''s attack that led to a student''s death, but rather her negligence. That was a burden she couldn''t afford to carry! Hale nodded calmly and said, "Yes, Charles didn''t even summon his mystical beast or use Beast Mastery. He was already being very lenient." Lan, still frozen in ce, stirred a bit upon hearing this. He slowly turned his gaze toward Charles and asked, "What quality are your Beast Mastery abilities?" "Jace mentioned itit''s all tinum quality. Not just mine, but the girl who was supposed to fight you too; all four of her mystical beasts are also tinum quality," Charles replied with a hint of amusement. It was simply the truth. Jace hadn''t lied at all; it was Lan who didn''t believe it and chose to provoke trouble. Now that he knew the reality, he looked utterly defeated, as if he were on the verge of death. What was the point of it all? "So it was all true" Lan seemed to have lost his backbone, his body going limp. The strength he once took pride in, his three gold-quality mystical beasts, felt utterly insignificant in front of Charles. Looking back, he realized he had been a mere clown in Charles''s eyes from the very beginning. Charles hadn''t even bothered to care or retaliate; yet, Lan had insisted on mocking, provoking, and demanding a fight. It was all self-inflicted. "Lan, are you alright?" a teammate helped Lan to his feet. As Charles, Catherine, and Hale turned to leave, Jace watched Lan''s dejected state with excitement and casually added, "Oh, by the way, Charles is a third-level Beast Master, but he only has two mystical beasts. Once he contracts a third, he''ll be even stronger!" "Lan, Lan, what''s wrong with you?" After Jace''sment, Lan''s vision blurred, and he couldn''t hold on any longerhe fainted. On the way back to their room, Catherine asked with concern, "How are you feeling? Are you unwell?" Charles shook his head. The ck gold knife glow he had unleashed hadn''t taken much out of him, and he was perfectly fine. "Charles, I need to talk to you about something," Hale said, walking ahead. Catherine quickened her pace and said, "Teacher Hale, I''ll head back first." Hale nodded. Once Catherine had left, he stopped and turned to Charles. "What are your thoughts on the third mystical beast, Charles?" Charles''s eyes lit up at the question, and he quickly asked, "Not yet, but do you have any emerald or diamond-level mystical beast eggs?" "Kid, mystical beast eggs of that level aren''t easy toe by," Hale was initially taken aback, then replied with a bemused expression. "Have you said something simr to Uncle Ezra?" Charles nodded, a bit embarrassed. "Teacher Hale, you''re really perceptive! But I asked my master for a diamond-level mystical beast egg." "Cough, cough. You really think highly of me. Even Uncle Ezra doesn''t have one, and I''m just a regr sixth-level Beast Masterwhere would I find one?" Hale responded. Ordinary sixth-level Beast Master? Charles couldn''t help but scoff inwardly. How could an ordinary sixth-level Beast Master possess a legendary-level mystical beast, even if it was cursed? This Teacher Hale was clearly a man with a story. Just as Charles was contemting this, Hale asked, "So, what attributes are you thinking for your third mystical beast?" "Wind attribute, or maybe gold attribute," Charles scratched his head. "I actually have a way to potentially obtain an emerald-level wind attribute mystical beast, but it''s quite difficult," Hale began, but before he could finish, Charles stepped forward eagerly and asked, "An emerald-level mystical beast? Teacher Hale! What''s the method?" Hale responded with two words: "Alchemy!" It turned out that within Genosha Calivia, there was a master-level alchemist offering a wind attribute juvenile mystical beast as a reward, seeking a Beast Master under twenty years old who could concoct a green-tier miracle drug. "A green-tier miracle drug?" Charles asked, intrigued. Miracle drugs were ssified into gray, white, green, blue, purple, orange, and gold... Let alone green-tier miracle drugs, even white-tier miracle drugs were extremely rare. Alchemists capable of producing green-tier miracle drugs were known as advanced alchemists, while those who could create blue-tier miracle drugs were ssified as exceptional alchemists! As for master-level alchemists, they could reliably produce purple-tier miracle drugs, with a very slim chance of concocting orange-tier miracle drugs! A master-level alchemist held a status in the eyes of a Beast Master that wasparable to that of an eighth-level Beast Master, or even more significant! "Charles, the reason I think you can give it a try is because your fire attribute energy carries a chilling aura," Hale exined. He clearly understood that for alchemy, the lower the temperature of the me, the better it was. This indicated talent! Charles nodded, but he still felt uncertain. The miracle drug he had previously concocted, the Tone Reproduction miracle drug, was still far from a green-tier miracle drug. "Teacher Hale, I have some experience in alchemy, but I doubt it''ll be easy to produce a green-tier miracle drug," Charles admitted, feeling less optimistic. Besides, he didn''t even have a recipe for a green-tier alchemy. The profession of alchemist only became more challenging as one advanced, even more so than being a Beast Master! Achieving the level of an advanced alchemist in a short time was fraught with difficulty. "I know, which is why this path is so challenging," Hale sighed and said. "Genosha is still too small; emerald and higher quality mystical beasts are exceedingly rare. If we miss this opportunity, who knows when we''ll get another." As soon as Hale finished speaking, he suddenly realized something was off. "Wait, what did you just say? You have experience in alchemy? Who taught you?" "I taught myself; my level isn''t very high," Charles replied. "Self-taught? You mean to say you''ve been training as a Beast Master while also studying alchemy?" Hale eximed in disbelief. He had assumed Charles was merely a Beast Master, not realizing he was also an alchemist! This meant that the time Charles had spent reaching the third level as a Beast Master was shorter than Hale had imagined! "Can you currently concoct the Tone Reproduction miracle drug?" Hale couldn''t help but ask, then realized that even if Charles had some experience in alchemy, it was likely just in creatingmon herbs. Yes, herbsthose were what an alchemy apprentice could produce. They had little use for a Beast Master, but were quite effective for ordinary people''s ailments. Charles scratched his head. "Of course, I can make the Tone Reproduction miracle drug, and I can also create white-tier ones." "White-tier? You''re an intermediate alchemist?" Hale''s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Charles. "I suppose so; I haven''t gone to the alchemy guild for an assessment yet," Charles admitted. Although alchemists held high status, they usuallyckedbat power. The true path of strengthy with Beast Masters, with alchemists serving more as support. "An eighteen-year-old third-level Beast Master and an intermediate alchemist? Charles, you''re truly a prodigy!" Hale murmured, pulling something out of his pocket. "I have a miracle drug recipe for you. Take it and practice; if it''s you, you might actually reach the level of an advanced alchemist in a short time!" Charles took the recipe from Hale. Seeing Hale so astonished, he didn''t mention that he could also forge purple-tier weapons. He had used gold-tier materials to forge a purple-tier weapon, indicating his crafting skills were likely higher, reaching the level of a high-level forger. As Charles looked at the recipe in his hands, a notification appeared on his screen: [Revival Pill] [Tier:] Green-tier miracle drug [Recipe:] Resurrecting serpent beast core 1, spring wood 2... [Description:] A restorative miracle drug that can quickly heal injuries within a short period. (The level of the Resurrecting Serpent Beast Core affects the sess rate; the higher the level of the core used, the greater the likelihood of sessful concoction.) Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Arrival at Cyber Academy Charles carefully stored the form for the green-quality miracle drug given by Hale in his storage space; just the form itself was already quite valuable. Once back in his room, he freshened up before summoning the long-unused alchemyb to begin researching the revival pill. Early the next morning, Charles stepped out of the hotel and wandered through the various Beast Master shops in Riston. By noon, he had only managed to find two first-tier resurrecting serpent beast cores and some other auxiliary materials. Riston wasn''trge, simr in size to Lsengard, and there were almost no second- or third-tier beast cores avable for purchase. Charles hoped to acquire a mystical beast of at least emerald quality, believing that with the support of the alchemyb, he might be able to craft a green-quality miracle drug in a short time. However, his morning haul was only enough to brew two revival pills. Upon returning to the hotel and reaching his room''s door, he noticed Hale was already waiting for him. "Here are two second-tier resurrecting serpent beast cores, sourced from the Beast Master Guild. You can try them out," Hale said calmly, handing the beast cores to Charles. "This... Teacher Hale, you''ve already helped me so much..." Charles replied, feeling a bit embarrassed. Compared to other recruitment instructors, Hale''s support was certainly unparalleled. Hale waved his hand dismissively and said, "Think of it as an early investment in you. If you can manage to brew it, just give me a little of the miracle drug." Charles nodded in agreement. After spending all night researching the revival pill form, he didn''t have much confidencehe could only give it a shot. After all, there was still a significant difference between the white-quality regenerating potion and the green-quality revival pill. "Oh, by the way, the recruitment instructors and new students near Riston have all arrived this morning. Tomorrow morning, we''ll take the exclusive train to Calivia, so get ready and pack your things," Hale reminded him before leaving. Back in his room, Charles took out all the materials for the revival pill: two first-tier resurrecting serpent beast cores and two second-tier beast cores, allowing him to attempt the process four times in total. "Ugh, it''s still too few. No wonder they say being an alchemist is a money-burning profession," Charles sighed. He then focused all his energy on the alchemyb and cautiously began his first attempt. An hourter, as expected, the first attempt ended in failure. He hadn''t managed to control the bone-achingly cold temperature properly, resulting in one of the ingredients separating excessively. "Second time, let''s go!" Charles took a deep breath, applying what he had learned about temperature control, ready for another attempt. Unfortunately, while he managed the temperature correctly this time, an unexpected incident urred during the fusion of the materials, resulting in yet another failure. "Indeed, crafting a green-quality miracle drug is far more challenging than a white-quality one," Charles thought as he looked at the failed concoctions. He meticulously reviewed the steps and techniques, reflecting on his mistakes to glean lessons. With two second-tier beast cores remaining, he decided not to use them yet. After all, second-tier cores were significantly more valuable than first-tier ones. He nned to find some first-tier beast cores in Calivia to practice with, and only when he felt confident would he attempt to use the second-tier cores for the revival pill. Another night passed, and by 7 AM the next day, everyone had gathered in the hotel lobby. Charles had almost fully recovered, the difort from hisst use of the triple-attribute ck gold knife glow entirely gone. On the side of the new students from Riston, Lan looked listless, his eyes devoid of any spark. Upon seeing Charles, he instinctively lowered his head, trembling slightly, clearly still shaken from that day''s knife glow. As for Jace, ever since Charles had mentioned that "it''s bravery that makes one strong" and "the weak draw des against the weaker, while the strong draw des against the stronger," he seemed to have taken some kind of stimnt, persistently begging Catherine to train him. Of course, the consequences were pretty dire; Jace still looked battered and bruised. Once everyone was assembled, they boarded the exclusive train heading to Genosha Calivia. "Charles, do you think the organization that attacked us will show up again?" Jace asked curiously, handing his drink to Charles. It hadn''t been long since the train departed, and he had already pulled out a stash of snacks and drinks, continuously offering them to Charles. "Not necessarily. The academy is making such a bold move; they might already be prepared," Charles replied while sipping his drink. Sadie sat across from him, leaning against the window, her beautiful and gentle eyes gazing out at the passing scenery. Charles was quite curious about her; he had never met a light attribute Beast Master before. Her mystical beast skill, blessing of light, had been incredibly helpful for him in better merging multi-attribute energies. Thinking of this, Charles offered some fruit from the table to Sadie, smiling as he said, "Are you hungry? Have some fruit." Sadie looked a bit confused but instinctively nodded and epted the fruit, starting to eat. Catherine, sitting beside Charles, nced at Sadie and then subtly looked at Charles. For some reason, she felt an instinctive urge to distance herself from Sadie. Just then, the train suddenly began to brake sharply, causing everyone in the carriage to lurch to one side. Those who had experienced the attack panicked instantly. Jace instinctively tried to hide, but upon seeing Charles remain calm, he gritted his teeth and struggled to steady his trembling body. He kept mumbling to himself, "Only the brave can be true warriors." "Charles, are you all right?" Hale approached from the carriage, concern evident in his voice. "It''s fine, Teacher Hale. But I wonder what''s happening up ahead?" Charles replied. Seeing Hale reassured Charles, but he was also acutely aware that this was likely a trap. There would undoubtedly be powerful figures from the Cyber Academy ahead; otherwise, Hale would have been on the front lines. As if confirming his thoughts, Hale said, "No need to worry. The academy has dispatched an eighth-tier Beast Master along with three seventh-tier Beast Masters. They''ll ensure that our opponents can''t return!" At this, Charles wanted to lean out and catch a glimpse of the eighth-tier Beast Master in actionhe had never witnessed such a battle before. Unfortunately, their carriage had poor visibility, and they couldn''t see the fight ahead; they could only feel the ground trembling beneath them. After about a minute, all themotion ceased, plunging them into silence. The train started moving slowly again. Looking out the window, Charles saw that the distant forest had been leveled, and even the nearby mountain had been shattered, leaving only its bare base standing there, stark and empty. "Wow, is this the power of a strong warrior? They smashed an entire mountain to pieces!" Jace couldn''t help but swallow hard, momentarily forgetting his fear as he fantasized about bing an eighth-tier Beast Master one day. Charles gazed at the remnants of the battle, feeling a deep sense of awe. Indeed, in the world of Beast Mastery, strength was everything. If such a battle urred in a city, who knew how many would be caught in the chaos? Those without power wouldn''t even have time to escape! He resolved to be strongerno matter the reason, whether it was to find his parents or for his own sake, gaining strength was the only way forward. Taking a deep breath, he watched the scenery recede, and his determination to grow stronger solidified. After a long journey, they finally arrived in Calivia just before dusk. Stepping off the train, Charles was shocked by what he saw. The station alone was over ten timesrger than Lsengard''s! An endless sea of people flowed in every direction, and the cacophony filled the air. Charles thought to himself: This is Calivia! Only in a ce like this can I continue to grow stronger! Following the weing crowd from Cyber Academy, they boarded a vehicle, and after another two hours, they reached the academy''s entrance. Two towering red stone pirs, each about twenty to thirty meters high, stood majestically at the entrance. One new student eximed, "This is me stone! My goodness, such massive me stones must cost hundreds of gold coins each!" "Country bumpkin, each of these costs over a thousand gold coins!" someone scoffed. "A thousand gold coins! No wonder it''s the Cyber Academysuch wealth! Aren''t they worried about being robbed?" another added. "Who would dare steal? This is the Cyber Academy!" someone else retorted. A thousand gold coins? Charles nced at the stone pirs and then thought about his entire savingsonly a few dozen gold coins. The pirs at the entrance of the Cyber Academy were worth more than he could even imagine. With that kind of money, he wouldn''t bother crafting a revival pill; he could just buy an emerald-quality mystical beast egg! But s, it was just a fleeting thought. "Time is gettingte. The academy has arranged dormitories for everyonesingle rooms, and each group will be led by their respective recruitment instructors. Tomorrow morning, we''ll gather and start the formal enrollment!" a teacher announced. --- The next morning, forty-two new students gathered in front of the academy''s za. "Teacher Hale, is that all the new recruits this year?" Charles asked curiously. Hale''s expression turned somber as he sighed before replying, "There were originally fifty-two new students." So, of the fifty-two recruits, only forty-two had safely arrived at the academy, meaning ten had perished in the attack. Charles frowned, realizing just how dangerous the world of Beast Masters truly was. Those who had thought they secured their spots at Cyber Academy and envisioned a bright future had met their demise along the way. Just then, all the students'' attention was drawn to a group of people nearby. Fifteen coffins were being carried to the podium in the za. A loudspeaker red, "New students, the enrollment ceremony of Cyber Academy officially begins! Please observe a moment of silence!" Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Intermediate Alchemist Silence fell over the crowd, the previous chatter ceasing in an instant. A solemn atmosphere enveloped them, the air feeling heavier with each passing moment. Three minutester, the recruitment instructors led their respective new students to the coffins, where they gazed at the deceased inside. Some had met horrific fates, their bodies severed in half, while others bore expressions of fear frozen on their faces, their gray eyes wide open as if they might leap from their sockets at any moment. Finally, one new student couldn''t hold back and rushed aside to vomit. After everyone had looked, a middle-aged man standing at the podium continued, "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jamie, the principal of the Genosha branch." "Everyone here undoubtedly possesses the talent of a Beast Master and is among the fortunate. The unfortunate ones now lie in their coffins." A deep silence enveloped the gathering, an oppressive stillness hanging in the air. Principal Jamie continued, "There''s not much more to say. You face three choices: first, drop out and be an ordinary Beast Master, one who cannot control their own destiny. Second, remain in the academy and do nothing, unwilling to strive towards bing stronger. The oue of this path will either be expulsion or death in some unfortunate ident! Third, unleash your talents to the fullest, adjust your mindset to one of fearlessness, and work tirelessly to elevate your strength, bing true warriors!" "Tell me, which path do you wish to take?" Jamie turned the microphone towards all the new students, and they shouted in unison, "The third path! The third path!" "Excellent. It seems there are no cowards among you. Next, I''ll leave you with some important details to be exined by your recruitment instructors," Jamie said before turning and leaving. --- "Remember, today there''s nothing else to do. Tomorrow morning, we''ll have ss division battles. Out of the forty-two of you, only the top fifteen will enter ss A; the rest will be in ss B," Hale reminded them after finishing the announcements. "Teacher Hale, what''s the difference between ss A and ss B?" Jace asked. Hale thought for a moment before exining, "The educational resources and benefits differ between sses. ss A has stronger teaching staff, all of whom are seventh-tier Beast Masters, and ss A students can use all equipment and facilities without limitation." In reality, Cyber Academy had abundant resources and wasn''tcking in educational support for the twenty or so students. The ss battles were just a way to better simte real-worldpetition and differentiate among students. "By the way, students in ss B can challenge ss A students every two weeks. If they win, they can move up to ss A; if they lose, they''ll have to drop down to ss B," Hale added. Charles, Catherine, Sadie, and Jace nodded, making sure to remember the rules. With no further announcements, Catherine immediately headed to the training rooms, while Sadie and Jace also departed. Charles was left alone, nning to spend some time at the alchemist guild to get certified as a mid-level alchemist. He wanted to do this because achieving that level would grant him various benefits from the guild, including the ability to purchase alchemical materials at prices lower than market value. At the Genosha Calivia alchemist guild, after filling out the necessary forms and paying a hefty sum of silver coins, he signed up for the assessment. Now he sat in the alchemy room, waiting for the examiner to arrive. "Hey, look, that guy is really young. He must be here to certify as a low-level alchemist," some others in the alchemy room murmured. "Getting certified as a low-level alchemist at such a young age shows some talent," one of the Beast Masters remarked. "Wait, look at the materials in front of him; they seem the same as ours!" another chimed in. "Let me see... You''re right! Could he also be here for the mid-level alchemist certification?" One of the older Beast Masters, with a shifting expression, said, "Maybe he''s just here to test the waters. I''ve seen plenty of young people who think too highly of themselves." "True, at his age, he''s more likely to be a low-level alchemist. He might still be far from mid-level," the other agreed. "Silence!" amanding voice echoed, and the alchemy room fell silent. All the alchemists turned their attention to the figure standing on the podium. Some were so excited they could barely keep their bnce. The examiner today was none other than Owen, the president of the Genosha Calivia Alchemy Guilda master-level alchemist! "Since I have some free time today, I''m here to observe the alchemists taking the exam and see what their levels are like. Don''t be nervous; just proceed as you normally would," Owen, in his fifties, said while stroking his beard, his demeanor kind and reassuring. His gaze swept the room beforending on Charles. He announced in a clear voice, "The rules remain the same. Today''s assessment miracle drug is the regenerating potion. The one who produces a high-quality potion in the shortest amount of time will sessfully pass the certification." "Now, the assessment officially begins!" With thatmand, all the alchemists sprang into action. Charles, however, took his time, carefully observing the materials in front of him. One onlooker couldn''t help but mock him, saying, "That kid clearly doesn''t stand a chance. Does he really need to look at the materials? Aren''t they all the same?" Just as his words left his mouth, a plume of ck smoke erupted from the alchemy apparatus in front of him,pletely destroying the materials he had just separated! "What''s happening? Is there something wrong with my materials?" He stared in disbelief at the chaos in the alchemyb, then raised his hand to say, "Examiner, my materials are defective! I request a retake!" The warmth on Owen''s face vanished, reced by a stern expression. "As an alchemist, you should at least check your materials first. If you can''t even manage that, perhaps you should go back and review the alchemy apprentice manual!" "Whathis" The man left the alchemy room, looking dejected. The remaining alchemists, seeing this, began to emte Charles, meticulously checking their own materials to avoid a simr fate. Meanwhile, Charles had already started separating his materials to brew the regenerating potion. "It''s fine; he looks so young, he must not have much experience..." One person was still speaking when Charles summoned a cold me, causing the temperature in the alchemy room to drop noticeably. The alchemists who had been focused on their material checks lifted their heads in shock, eximing, "What! How can his me temperature be so low?" "The lower the temperature, the better the effect. Could this kid really be an alchemy genius?" "Look at his separation techniqueso skilled, there isn''t a single mistake. He could be a textbook example!" Not only were the other alchemists stunned, but even Owen, the president of the alchemy guild, paused his beard-stroking to watch Charles closely as he crafted the regenerating potion. Separation, low-temperature me, fusion... Each step was executed wlessly, the entire process remarkably smooth. Owen couldn''t help but think that Charles''s alchemy level was already nearing that of a high-level alchemist! Eventually, some alchemists snapped back to reality and hurriedly began working on their own regenerating potions. By the time they were halfway through, Charles had alreadypleted his. The two alchemists who had mocked him initially considered giving up, but the others urged them, "Wait! His regenerating potion might not be effective. There''s still a chance!" Owen approached Charles, carefully taking the regenerating potion from him. He examined it closely before pouring a small amount into his mouth to taste. His eyes lit up, and he announced, "The assessment is over! Charles has sessfullypleted the mid-level alchemist certification!" Ignoring the despondent alchemists, Owen smiled at Charles and said, "Congrattions on bing a mid-level alchemist! Your alchemical techniques are outstanding. Which alchemist trained you?" Owen''s question hinted at a desire to take Charles on as a disciple. An eighteen-year-old mid-level alchemist was rare, especially one with such meticulous technique. However, when Charles mentioned he had no teacher and was a student at Cyber Academy, Owen''s smile faded. He realized that another master within the academy surpassed him, and their rtionship was strained. With that thought, Owen dismissed the idea of mentorship and proceeded with the certification process, knowing he had othermitments, including arranging for his granddaughter to visit the Forging Masters Guild the next day. A few hourster, Charles held a brass badge embossed with the alchemist guild''s symbol, marking his official status as a mid-level alchemist. He reflected on the costsdespite the alchemist''s discount, he''d spent a substantial amount on materials for the revival pill, estimating he could attempt the crafting thirteen times. "I refuse to believe I can''t seed at least once with those thirteen tries!" Charles was determined to secure that emerald-quality mystical beast egg. Originally, he intended to check out the Forging Masters Guild to seek certification as a high-level forger and find materials needed to upgrade his ck gold long knife. However, the day was drawing to a close, and he needed to prepare for the ss battles scheduled for tomorrow. Charles decided to head back to Cyber Academy for a good night''s rest. Tomorrow''s ss division battle was approaching, and he was eager to see just how strong the geniuses of Genosha really were! Chapter 134: Chapter 134: In Half an Hour, Youll Be Calling Me Dad The next day, at thepetition grounds of Cyber Academy, the forty-two new students were fully geared up and eager to go. Coming from various cities, these young prodigies were naturally unwilling to back down from one another. Over the past few days, Lan had regained his confidence with the support of his friends. With three Gold-quality mystical beasts, he believed he still had a chance to enter A ss. His only thought now was to avoid running into Charles during thepetition! "The ss division battles will use a point system. Defeating your opponent earns you one point..." announced the teacher in charge of thepetition, exining that there would be four arenas for the matches to take ce simultaneously. "Onest thing: the use of any equipment or miracle drugs during thepetition is strictly prohibited!" As soon as the teacher finished speaking, Lan''s eyes lit up! Ever since hisst defeat at Charles''s hands, he had carefully analyzed that the de light was clearly activated by Charles''s weapon! He also knew that, although Charles was a third-level Beast Master, he only had two tinum-quality mystical beasts! With this in mind, Lan clenched his fists, gritting his teeth, and squeezed out through his lips, "Damn Charles, if I run into you, I''ll definitely make you taste the bitterness of defeat!" Lan instinctively looked around, trying to spot Charles. Just then, Charles turned around, their eyes locking for a brief moment. Lan quickly lowered his head, his fists tightening even more! "Alright, let''s start the draw. Get ready," the teacher announced. All the students moved to the stage to draw lots, with reactions ranging from excitement to dread. "What?! My opponent is Princess Cami, the Second Princess!" "Oh no, my opponent is Zachary, the General''s son!" "Ha ha ha, Catherine Otolov? Never heard of her, she must not be strong!" "Charles? My opponent is also someone I''ve never heard ofthis is going to be easy!" ... Princess Cami and General Zachary? Charles had some recollection of those names. Based on the reactions of others, it seemed these two were among the strongest students. "I hope I get matched against them," Charles thought to himself. Although he couldn''t use the ck gold long knife, he believed that with Max and Mousie, he could handle most battles. Moreover, being at Cyber Academy meant he didn''t have to hide Mousie''s dark attributesskills like [Darkness Drawn]and [Demigod Power]could be used freely. After taking down three level-five Beast Mastersst time, both Mousie and Max had reached level 24, giving Charles a slight boost in power. In terms of actualbat capability, he felt no fear. While the students at Cyber Academy had Beast Master talents, their real battle experience wascking, especially when it came to life-or-death situations! Following the teacher''s instructions, Charles made his way to thepetition arena. By coincidence, he found himself standing right in front of Princess Cami! Charles watched the battle with great interest as Cami''s opponent stepped up, immediately summoning all of his mystical beasts. After a quick nce, Charles noted that he had one Silver-quality mystical beast and two Gold-quality mystical beasts. Facing the Empire''s Second Princess Cami, the boy was clearly nervous, and even after the teacher announced the start of the match, he failed to seize the moment! Cami summoned her mystical beasta [Two-Headed Poisonous Python]. [Attributes:]Poison [Level:]26 [Quality:]tinum [Skills:]Venomous Snare, Double Blow, Savage Entanglement, Body Armor te [Weakness:]Lightning Cami summoned just one mystical beast. Using [Venomous Snare]to block her opponent''s mystical beast''s movement, she sent her massive [Two-Headed Poisonous Python]charging forward with its [Body Armor te]protecting it, quickly closing the distance and decisively kicking her opponent out of the arena. "Cami wins! Score +1," the referee announced the result immediately. Charles paid close attention, setting aside some of his initial disdain. Cami had considerable battle experience and was taking risks. If her opponent had summoned a mystical beast with control skills, the oue might not have been so smooth. Cami''s choice to summon only one mystical beast seemed strategic, aiming to keep her true strength hidden while making a striking impression right at the start of her academy journey! "Next up, we have Charles facing Jay!" the referee called out for the next match. Jay quickly shouted, "I''m here, teacher! Ha ha, lucky me to face someone with a name I''ve never heard of!" By the time Charles stepped onto thepetition field, Jay could hardly contain himself as he summoned three fire-type mystical beastsone Silver quality and the others Gold quality. "Kid, you''re unlucky to face me. Although I can''tpare to those true geniuses, defeating you will be more than enough!" Jay said, brimming with confidence. Charles couldn''t be bothered to waste words and directly summoned Max and Mousie. Seeing only two mystical beasts, Jay erupted with rage, shouting, "What? You''re only summoning two mystical beasts? Trying to emte Princess? This is driving me insane!" Cami, who was about to leave, instinctively turned around at the sound of his shout. Just as the referee announced, "The match begins," Charles shot forward like a ghost! Jay panicked instantly and hurriedlymanded his mystical beasts to unleash fire-type skills. All those skills were blocked by the [Ice and Fire Barrier] surrounding Charles! Not only that, but Charles also deliberately left a fire-type attack skill for Max, who executed [Ice Pick Throwing]. In an instant, the tiny ice spikes met the zing fire, creating a cloud of steam that obscured Jay''s vision. Just as Jay was about to retract his mystical beasts and use [Beast Mastery], a figure burst through the steam and delivered a kick that sent him flying out of the arena. The referee promptly announced, "Charles wins! Points +1." The onlookers outside the arena were suddenly excited, saying: "Charles is so strong! Why haven''t I heard his name before?" "His mystical beasts seem to be tinum level! Just like the Second Princess!" "Using the collision of ice and fire to generate steam and obscure the enemy''s visionthat''s brilliant! How did I not think of that?" "Did you all notice? Charles didn''t use [Beast Mastery]! His speed is much faster than an ordinary Beast Master!" Cami listened to the discussions around her and slowly looked up, curiously staring at Charles. Just then, Charles nced in her direction, and their eyes met. Both of them valued each other, instinctively viewing one another as formidable opponents. As Charles exited thepetition arena, he intended to check on Catherine, but he found that her battle was already over by the time he arrived. Catherine hadn''t even had to fight; her opponent was just an ordinary Level 3 Beast Master, and she had no desire to engage. So, she simply summoned four Gold quality tinum mystical beasts, and her opponent immediately forfeited. "She''s a Level 4 Beast Master! What''s the point of fighting? She must be the strongest among this year''s students." "Not necessarily. The Second Princess hasn''t revealed her strength yet, and I''ve heard that Zachary is also a Level 4 Beast Master!" "So everyone here is so impressive? Am I the only Level 3 Beast Master?" "Don''t be discouraged, bro! I heard there''s another Level 3 Beast Master, but he only has two contracted mystical beasts. Not sure who that is." ... Charles listened to the discussions with a bit of helplessness. He didn''t want to be just a Level 3 Beast Master with only two mystical beasts. Max and Mousie were both tinum quality; he truly looked down on contracting a Silver quality mystical beast! Once a mystical beast is contracted, there''s usually no way to relieve it. A Silver quality mystical beast would struggle to achieve the same aplishments as a Gold quality one in the future. Right now, Charles''s goal was that Emerald quality mystical beast cub! The morning matches had ended, and many students were injured and needed time to recover, so the next match was scheduled for the afternoon. With some time to spare, Charles nned to return to his dorm to practice making [Revival Pills]. But unexpectedly, Catherine invited him to go out for a while; she wanted to buy a suitable weapon. Genosha Caliviathe Forging Masters Guild. Charles led Catherine inside. They spent half the morning looking for a suitable weapon at the weapon shop but couldn''t find anything that met Catherine''s needs. She wanted a fist weapon that had to be lightweight and able to change with the movement of her hand, which made it even harder to find. Out of options, Charles thought of the Forging Masters Guild, where there was a wider variety of weapons, and they were cheaper, too. However, there was one prerequisite: the buyer had to be a certified forger. "Charles, it looks like these can only be purchased by forgers. Let''s check somewhere else," Catherine said, trying to pull Charles away. But to her surprise, he walked straight up to the front desk and said, "Hello, please give me a registration form for the forger certification exam." "Charles, youyou can forge?" Catherine stared at him, her blue eyes wide with shock. Charles smiled and replied, "Yeah, if only forgers can buy them, then why not be a forger?" When the front desk staff brought out the registration form, Charles frowned and asked, "Excuse me, do you have a registration form for advanced forgers?" The staff member looked at him disdainfully and said, "Young man, are you a forger? Don''t you know that forger certification exams must start from the beginner level?" "I''m a forger; can''t I start from the advanced level? I''m in a hurry," Charles replied calmly. "In a hurry yet you want to take the exam? That''s ridiculous! The most basic requirement is metal purification, and that can''t be done in a short time!" The staff memberughed derisively, his attitude growing even more dismissive. "I suggest you just go back. Coming to take the exam without understanding anything! If you pass, I''ll call you ''dad!''" Catherine''s face turned pale; she was furious at how someone spoke to Charles. Charles filled out the form, then looked at the staff member and said, "In half an hour, you''ll be calling me ''dad.''" Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Those 10 Gold Coins Are All Mine "What a cocky kid! If you canplete the Junior cksmith assessment within half an hour, I won''t just call you ''dad'' once, I''ll shout it ten times!" The receptionist seemed to feel insulted, forgetting his earlier mocking remarks. He continued, "But what if you can''t finish it? What then?" Charles didn''t waste words. With a flick of his wrist, the jet ring gleamed, and 10 gold coins appeared on the table. "If I fail, these are all yours." "Oh my god, it''s gold! Ten gold coins!" A gasp echoed through the Forging Masters Guild hall, instantly drawing a crowd. The people of Genosha love a spectacle, and soon the story spread. "Ten gold coins? I''d shout ''dad'' ten times without a second thought!" "Look at you, all pitiful! I''d shout it a hundred times!" "Completing the Junior cksmith certification in half an hour? That''s impossible! If luck is against you and the task is to purify metals, you''re definitely finished!" "I remember when I had terrible luck; I had to purify Tone Reproduction''s mystic iron. It took me two full hours!" As the crowd grew, the receptionist felt uneasy, but greed took over when he nced at the gold coins on the table. "I want that ring on your hand!" The staff member''s eyes weren''t blind; he had seen how Charles produced the gold coins. A spatial ring like that would cost at least a few hundred gold coins! Charles smirked slightly and replied, "If you want this, your wager isn''t high enough." The onlooking cksmiths began to jeer, shouting, "Exactly! That ring is worth quite a lot, Jay; shouting ''dad'' a thousand times wouldn''t be enough!" "Jay''s too greedy! Ten gold coins and he''s still not satisfiedtalk about being insatiable!" "He''s always like this, riding on the coattails of his brother-inw, a senior cksmith. His attitude never improves!" "Who knows, maybe this kid''s assessment will be the time-consuming metal purification. After all, Jay has connections!" Listening to the chatter around him, Charles realized the staff member''s name was Jay, and he had a brother-inw who was a senior cksmith. No wonder his service was so poor! "So, if you want this ring, you need to offer something of equal value," Charles said casually. Jay reluctantly withdrew his gaze, knowing he had nothing of such high valuehe didn''t even have the ten gold coins! "Then it''s ten gold coins. Kid, those coins are as good as mine!" Jay said, reaching out to grab them. Charles quickly pressed down on the coins, taunting, "How poor are you if you can''t even wait half an hour?" Laughter erupted around them. "He hasn''t even started the assessment yet, Jay! Can''t you wait?" "Right? At least wait until after the assessment. Who knows, he might finish in half an hour!" "Half an hour? No way! Why isn''t anyone betting against me? I could use some easy money!" Feeling embarrassed, Jay pulled back his gaze from the coins and gathered Charles''s application form. He nned to seek out his brother-inw for some help in sabotaging Charles''s assessment. Just then, a few figures descended from the second floor of the Forging Masters Guild. "Vice President," Jay greeted, panic evident in his voice. Bryce, the vice president of the Forging Masters Guild, surveyed the gathered crowd, his expression darkening. "What''s going on? Why are so many people here?" Jay''s anxiety peaked, but then he noticed the figure behind Brycehis brother-inw, Byron, a senior cksmith and Bryce''s apprentice. He felt a wave of relief wash over him. "Vice President, someone is looking down on the Forging Masters Guild, iming they canplete the Junior cksmith assessment in half an hour. I couldn''t stand by, so I confronted them, and now they want to bet with me," Jay exaggerated, twisting the truth. Byron, standing behind the vice president, didn''t buy it. He knew his rtive''s temperament all too well. It was likely Jay''s poor attitude that had sparked this incident. Still, the im about finishing the assessment in half an hour seemed genuine. "That guy is way too arrogant," Byron muttered. "Not only does he disrespect the Forging Masters Guild, but he''s also using a bet to attract attention. He definitely has bad intentions." Bryce furrowed his brow, suspecting the root of the issuey with Jay. However, since Jay was his apprentice''s rtive, he hesitated to say much. Still, that betting kid was undeniably overconfident. Even he had taken an hour toplete the toughest metal purification during his assessment. Half an hour? Impossible! Bryce turned to the calm Charles and asked slowly, "Kid, are you sure you want to go through with this? You can still back out without losing face." Jay''s expression shifted to panic; he feared Charles might choose to back out, which would mean losing those ten gold coins. "Back out? No way. The attitude of your staff is terrible; I need to make sure it gets fixed today!" Charles shook his head firmly. Hearing this, Jay breathed a sigh of relief and chimed in, "Vice President, see? He''s just this arrogant! My service has always been excellent!" "Shut up!" Bryce snapped. With so many people watching, the situation had escted to the point where it involved the reputation of the Forging Masters Guild, and retreat was not an option. How a young man dared to openly criticize the guild in front of so many spectators was uneptable! "Young man, I''ll give you a chance to choose your assessment task, so no one can say the Forging Masters Guild bullies the weak," Bryce said. Charles replied confidently, "I''ll choose metal purification; it''s simpler." "Simpler? Are you sure?" Bryce asked, almost incredulous. "Absolutely." Charles noticed the looks around him, not understanding their surprise. For him, metal purification was indeed easier, thanks to Joshua''s eighty-one hammer technique, which made the Junior cksmith certification assessment feel like a breeze. "Good! Someone, bring the forge and all the tools here! We''ll ensure everything is fair in front of everyone!" Bryce dered, secretly hoping that Charles would fail publicly, leaving him no excuses and better ensuring his embarrassment. Quickly, the forge and tools were set up in the hall. The onlookers could hardly contain their excitement; they were convinced Charles would neverplete the assessment. However, they couldn''t deny their admiration for his courage. Some believed that since he dared to take on the challenge, he must have some confidence, and they were eager to see whether he was a forging genius or just a fool. Catherine wasn''t worried at all. Having spent time with Charles, she knew he wouldn''t take on something he wasn''t sure about. Besides, she found Jay''s attitude unbearable; if they weren''t in the Forging Masters Guild, she would have knocked him to tears already. On the forgey a basketball-sized piece of mystic iron, a fundamental forging material that Charles was quite familiar with. Joshua had once used the eighty-one hammer technique to transform a standard mystic iron into an orange-quality product! While Charles couldn''t reach that level, he was confident he could purify and forge this mystic iron into at least green quality. "Are you ready?" someone from the Forging Masters Guild asked. Charles nodded, picked up the forging mp, and ced the mystic iron in the mes as the timer began! "To remove all the impurities from the mystic iron in half an hour, he''ll need nearly ten minutes just for heating. It''s impossible to get rid of the impurities in the remaining twenty minutes!" "Exactly! If he had special forging tools, there might be a chance, but this is an assessmenthe can''t use any advanced forging techniques!" "Wait, he''s using the highest me intensity! That''ll speed up heating, but it alsoplicates the purification process!" "Is he going to give up?" Charles listened to the surrounding chatter but remained unfazed. It was true that increasing the heating speed would impact the purification process, but for him, it was no issue at all. "Alright, no need to watch from here on," Byron said to Jay. As a senior cksmith, he understood the challenges involved. With the purification difficulty ramping up and only twenty-five minutes left, he believed Charles had no chance ofpleting the task. "Brother-inw, really? Hahaha, those ten gold coins are as good as mine!" The excitement on Jay''s face quickly turned stiff. This change came when Vice President Bryce''s expression shifted to one of surprise. "No, wait! His purification technique is off!" "Master, what''s wrong?" Byron asked anxiously. Bryce watched Charles swinging the hammer and replied, "I can''t see exactly what his hammering technique is, but I can tell it''s not as simple as it looks!" The gathered cksmiths quickly sensed something was off. Charles was removing the impurities at an astonishing speed. After just three strikes, a tenth of the impurities in the mystic iron had already vanished! "Oh my god, what kind of hammering technique is that? At this rate, he''ll definitelyplete the assessment!" "Not necessarily; some hammering techniques require a lot of stamina. He might not be able to swing the hammer much longer!" Chapter 136: Chapter 136: How Old Are You This Year? Charles swung the hammer without pausing, each strike visibly eliminating impurities. The Forging Masters Guild fell silent, the only sound the rhythmic "ng" of metal on metal, as everyone focused intently on the mystic iron. Fourth strike, fifth strike, sixth strike... Even after all the impurities had been removed, Charles continued hammering. Jay''s face twisted in agony, as if he''d just lost a family member. Anyone with functioning eyes could see that Charles hadpleted the purification in under ten minutes! "Ten minutes to remove all the impurities! Master, what kind of hammering technique is this?" Byron asked. Bryce closely observed Charles''s every move, analyzing intently, but he couldn''t answer. He simply couldn''t recognize the technique! Seeing Bryce''s silence, Byron began to understand. Yet he was still puzzled: if Charles had alreadypleted the purification, why was he still hammering. "Master, hasn''t he already removed all the impurities? Why is he still" Byron''s question was cut off when Bryce raised a hand, as if worried that Byron''s voice might distract Charles. He lowered his voice and replied, "The basic impurities have been removed, but the higher-level ones remain. He''s upgrading the quality of the mystic iron!" Upgrading the quality! Byron was momentarily stunned. The process of enhancing a low-quality material into a higher quality through forging was known as quality upgrading. Typically, only master cksmiths could achieve this, and even as a senior cksmith, he hadn''t begun to study this aspect yet. An eighteen-year-old kid could perform a quality upgrade? The sound of the hammer ringing continued, and with about five minutes left in the assessment, Charles finally stopped forging. "Alright, this Tone Reproduction mystic iron has been upgraded to white quality. That should count as passing the assessment, right?" Charles thought he could have upgraded it further, but that would have taken more time. Upgrading it by one quality was sufficient. Bryce, with aplex expression, approached the forge and carefully picked up the still-warm mystic iron. After inspecting it and confirming it was indeed of white quality, he announced, "Charles, you have perfectly passed the Junior cksmith certification assessment within half an hour." With a loud bang, the gathered cksmiths erupted into a frenzy. "A genius, an absolute genius! How did he do that?" "The assessment only required removing impurities, but he upgraded the quality insteadunbelievable!" "Wait, what did Jay say he would do if he lost?" "Hahaha, Jay has to call him ''Dad''! An eighteen-year-old bing Jay''s father!" As the crowd''s attention turned to him, Jay clenched his fists, trembling all over. He tried to sneak away, but Vice President Bryce caught him firmly. "You can''t leave; losing means losing. If you run now, it''ll be a huge embarrassment for the Forging Masters Guild." "Brother-inw!" Jay turned to Byron, desperately pleading for a few supportive words to avoid humiliation in front of everyone. To his dismay, Byron didn''t help him. Instead, he advised, "Just close your eyes and shout it out; it''s not a big deal." Feeling defeated, Jay stopped resisting and stiffly walked up to Charles. All around him, cksmiths were watching with amusement, many pulling out their phones to record the moment. Jay opened his mouth, a muffled sound escaping, "I''m sorry." "Sorry? That''s not what I need," Charles replied, refusing to let him off so easily. There''s no such thing as a free pass in this world; apologies are among the most useless gestures. Jay gritted his teeth, his gaze towards Charles filled with resentment. If he had known from the beginning just how skilled Charles was, he would have treated him with the utmost respect! But purification was just one part of forging. There were still steps like material fusion, temperature control, forging, shaping, and quenching. He couldn''t believe that Charles was exceptional in every single process! "I admit defeat. But if you can forge a white-quality piece of equipment, not only will I call you ''Dad,'' but I''ll also kneel before you!" Jay decided to gamble again. At that moment, the crowd suddenly parted, revealing a towering figure. The man stood nearly two meters tall, his muscr frame resembling a beast, with the only incongruous detail being the two wisps of white mustache at the corners of his mouth. "The President?" Jay''s legs went weak, trembling uncontrobly. This was Xavier, the president of the Forging Masters Guild and a master cksmith! "What''s going on here? Is this the assessment for the Junior cksmith certification?" Xavier asked, eyeing the mystic iron on the alchemyb with a pleased expression. "Not bad. To purify the white-quality mystic iron to this level, young man, your technique is quite impressive." "That''s not white quality; this mystic iron was originally Tone Reproduction," one of the cksmiths exined. Xavier''s mustache twitched with interest as he stepped closer to the forge for a better look. "Indeed it is! And that hammering techniqueyoung man, was it taught to you by the serpent people?" Charles nodded, impressed that the president of the Forging Masters Guild was so knowledgeable he could identify the technique immediately. At that moment, Vice President Bryce arrived and rified the situation to Xavier. "You lost but still refuse to acknowledge it?" Xavier stepped in front of Jay, his tone firm. "I don''t want to have to force you; you''d better be proactive." Jay didn''t dare hesitate. He shouted loudly at Charles, "Dad!" "Ah, my son, are you going to maintain that awful attitude in the future?" Charles asked, grinning. He wouldn''t let those who offended him off so easily. "No, I won''t," Jay replied, dejected. The onlooking cksmiths raised their phones to record the scene, capturing Jay''s humiliation as he shuffled behind his brother-inw Byron, trying to hide his expression. His resentment for Charles burned fiercely. He vowed to find ways to target and retaliate against him within the Forging Masters Guild. "You don''t need toe back; the Forging Masters Guild has no use for someone like you," Xavier''s calm words rang in Jay''s ears. Jay turned to look at Byron, but Xavier continued, "Bryce, your apprentice needs proper discipline. He''s making the Forging Masters Guild a chaotic mess." Bryce nodded expressionlessly and said to Byron, "You shouldn''te looking for me during this time. Go home for a month and reflect on your actions." Under the gaze of the crowd, Jay and Byron walked out of the Forging Masters Guild, their spirits crushed, facing a life of mockery. Charles nced at the time. There was still a while before the afternoon ss divisionpetition, giving him enough time to continue with his certification process. The higher the level of the cksmith, the greater the discount on weapon purchases. If he could certify as a high-level cksmith, he might even ess weapons and equipment not avable to the public. There might be something suitable for Catherine. If he hadn''t been busytely raising his alchemist level to obtain emerald-quality mystical beast cubs, he would have taken the time to forge a suitable weapon for Catherine himself! "Hello, can I proceed with the intermediate cksmith certification assessment?" Charles inquired. "Of course, no problem. Aside from the high-level certification, which requires a one-day notice, all others can be assessed on the spot," Xavier replied personally, still quite intrigued by Charles. Just looking at the hammering technique alone can''t precisely gauge a person''s forging skill. It was entirely possible that while Charles excelled in technique, he might becking in other areas. "Is that so? Then once Iplete the intermediate cksmith certification, can I schedule the high-level cksmith certification for tomorrow at noon?" Charles asked directly, noting he had time avable tomorrow and could avoid an extra trip. "Tomorrow? High-level cksmith?" Xavier raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "Yeah, is there a problem?" "No problem at all. Are you in a hurry?" Charles nodded, exining, "I have a ss divisionpetition this afternoon, so time is tight." "A ss divisionpetition? Which cksmithing academy still holds those?" Xavier asked, puzzled, as he couldn''t recall any such practice in his memory. "It''s not a cksmithing academy; I''m a student at Cyber Academy," Charles rified. A student at Cyber Academy? Not a professional cksmith, but a Beast Master! This revtion left everyone in the Forging Masters Guild stunned. They instinctively assumed Charles was a student of a cksmithing academy. After all, one''s focus is limited, and mastering the foundational knowledge of forging, the properties of various materials, and their handling methods required substantial time and dedication. To be a cksmith, one also needs to undergo a long period of practical training. Even professional cksmiths often don''t have enough time to dedicate to it. Now Charles mentioned that he was actually a Beast Master and a student at Cyber Academy! At minimum, he was a Level 3 Beast Master and under twenty years old. This meant that the time Charles spent on cksmithing was only half of what a dedicated cksmith would normally invest. Xavier instinctively tugged at his mustache, feeling as though he was dreaming! "Wait a minute, young man, how old are you?" Xavier suddenly asked, as if he had realized something. "Me? I''m eighteen." "Eighteen... You''re only eighteen!" Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Elder Colton An eighteen-year-old Level 3 Beast Master and a senior cksmith? No one would believe that! As the master-level cksmith and president of the Forging Masters Guild, Xavier had seen many talents, but he was a bit perplexed at this moment. Both cksmithing and alchemy required substantial time and effort. He had only seen a talent like Charles''s once before! Of course, all of this hinged on whether Charles could pass the senior cksmith certification. If Charles was merely a mid-level cksmith, it would be understandablesomeone with some talent in cksmithing. With this in mind, Xavier suggested, "How about this: tomorrow you take the senior cksmith certification exam directly! I happen to have enough time to personally evaluate you." Charles''s eyes lit up; this made things much easier, and he was confident about the senior cksmith exam! Regardless, the purple-quality [nineherworld armband]was forged by him personally, which at the very least reflected his status as a senior cksmith! "Sounds good! I''lle back tomorrow," Charles replied, then turned to leave the Forging Masters Guild with Catherine. As they left, the atmosphere inside the guild became lively. "Eighteen! A senior cksmith? Let me p you and see if you''re dreaming!" "Shouldn''t you p yourself instead?" "I''m afraid it''ll hurt." "Get lost! What was the name of that young man again? I doubt he''ll pass the exam; he''s too young!" "I don''t think they mentioned his name. What does it matter? You didn''t believe he couldplete the purification in half an hour!" Xavier didn''t linger, taking the [mystic iron]that Charles had upgraded to the second floor. A girl with long hair down to her waist, dressed in a short skirt and little shoes, leaned against the railing. She had clearly witnessed the earlier scene. "Grandpa, do you think he''ll pass tomorrow''s exam?" the girl eagerly asked as Xavier approached. "Most likely, just based on his hammering technique, he has a chance," Xavier replied. He actually hoped Charles would pass the exam; this way, Genosha would gain another genius cksmith! "Really? What''s his name? I want to tell my grandpa about it," the girl asked, curious. "Let me check. The registration form says his name is Charles," Xavier replied. ... "Charles?" In the alchemist guild, Owen watched as his granddaughter chattered excitedly about the interesting encounters of the day. The name sounded familiar; it seemed there was a young man named Charles who participated in the alchemist exam yesterday. Owen had even considered taking him on as a disciple. "Yes, Grandpa! That person is named Charles. Have you heard of him?" "I''ve heard the name, but it''s probably not the same person. It could just be a coincidence," Quentin said, looking affectionately at his granddaughter, Cami. Cami blinked her big eyes and said cutely, "Grandpa, if you''re free tomorrow, could youe with me to see? I''m really curious if he can pass the exam." Quentin thought for a moment. He had things to do tomorrow and was about to decline when he saw the eager look in Cami''s eyes. He quickly changed his mind, saying, "No problem, Grandpa will go with you tomorrow. It''s also a good chance to meet your other grandfather." "Yay! You''re the best, Grandpa!" Cami''s cheer filled the entire room. Meanwhile, at Cyber Academy, in thepetition arena, Charles swiftly took down an opponent. He now had two points, and tomorrow he would face an opponent with the same score. Facing opponents who had won two matches in a row, Charles knew they were not to be underestimated. Catherine, on the other hand, had been coasting through thepetition, not truly engaging in any real battles. Although it was easy for her, Catherine wasn''t satisfied. She craved the thrill of fighting strong opponents and didn''t enjoy the victories over weaker ones at all. "Don''t worry, tomorrow morning''s opponents will definitely be stronger. You might even face someone on par with you, allowing for a good fight," Charles reassured her. Having spent enough time with Catherine, he understood her well. "Alright, Charles. I''m heading to the training room now. You should get some rest since you have the forging exam tomorrow," Catherine replied, her mood lifting from hisfort. "Okay, I''ll head back then," Charles said, turning toward the dorm. "Wait," Catherine called out, her bright blue eyes filled with sincerity and gratitude. "Thank you for helping me pick out my gear today." Charles thought she was calling him for something important, but it was just that. "No problem, I''m heading back now." "See you tomorrow." "See you tomorrow." After parting ways with Catherine, Charles returned to his single dorm room. He didn''t rest; after a quick rinse, he summoned his alchemy furnace to continue his attempts at refining the Revival Pill. He had a hunch that he might be able to craft a green-quality [miracle drug]tonight! First attempt failed, second attempt failed, third attempt... After repeated failures, he gained a list of considerations and attention to detail. By 8 PM, Charles took a deep breath and pulled out a second-tier [Resurrecting Serpent] beast core. After so many trials, he felt confident that he could create a [Revival Pill]. "With apetition tomorrow morning, my opponents won''t be weak," Charles thought. He knew that as thepetition progressed, the opponents would be increasingly formidable. He estimated he might face the Empire''s second princess, the general''s son Zachary, or possibly Catherine. Each of them had richbat experience, and without being able to use equipment, he would be at a disadvantage with only two mystical beasts. If he could craft a green-quality [miracle drug]tonight, he might even be able to contract a third mystical beast, boosting his strength! As [Bone-Achingly Cold] appeared, Charles began the crafting process for the [miracle drug]. Separation, potion, tools, cold fire... Charles skillfully manipted various instruments in the alchemyb, making not a single mistake! Finally, the green-quality [miracle drug], [Revival Pill], was sessfully crafted! [Revival Pill]: A restorative [miracle drug]that can quickly heal injuries in a short period. Looking at the Miracle Drug in his hand, Charles couldn''t wait to call Hale. "Teacher Hale, I did it!" "What did you seed at?" Hale''s voice sounded bewildered; he could hardly imagine that in just a few days, Charles had refined a green-quality Miracle Drug. "I made the green-quality Miracle Drug from the recipe you gave me," Charles replied. "What? So soon? Are you in your dorm? I''lle over right now!" Hale eximed, quickly summoning his mystical beast and activating Beast Mastery to head toward Charles. A minuteter, Hale stood in front of Charles, still shocked as he examined the Revival Pill in his hand. He felt like he was dreaming; Charles''s speed was simply unbelievable. "Could it be that you''re a true alchemy genius?" Hale murmured to himself. Charles didn''t catch that and asked curiously, "What? Teacher Hale, what did you say?" "Nothing. Charles, the elder should still be awake. Come with me; I''ll take you to see him." Hale didn''t want to waste any more time; he knew Charles needed to hurry. The dy with the third mystical beast had already cost Charles a lot of time. He needed to obtain that emerald-quality mystical beast cub to enhance his strength. In the night, Hale led Charles swiftly to a bamboo grove within Cyber Academy. "Elder Colton, are you resting?" Hale called out from outside the grove. An aged voice came from within the bamboo grove, "I thought it was someone visiting me at thiste hour. Turns out it''s you, Hale. Come in." The dense bamboo seemed to understand human speech, slowly parting to reveal a narrow path before Charles. "What is this?" Charles had never seen such a scene; walking along the path, he felt as if the bamboo on either side was alive. As they reached the innermost part of the grove, they found a two-story wooden cabin. An elderly man with a head full of white hair stood there, stooped and waiting for them under the warm light. "Hale, what brings you here at this hour?" the old man inquired. Hale replied respectfully, "Elder Colton, I came because there''s something important. Someone has fulfilled the bounty you posted." Upon hearing Hale''s words, Colton''s murky eyes focused on Charles, and he said, "So, it''s this young brother who has refined a green-quality Miracle Drug?" Hale nodded and began the introduction, "Elder Colton, this is Charles, the disciple of Uncle Ezra." "Charles, this is Elder Colton, a top-tier alchemy master, just a step away from bing an alchemy grandmaster." "Alright, enough introductions. Even if you''re Ezra''s disciple, if you don''t meet the requirements, you won''t be getting any mystical beasts from me," Colton said, turning his gaze to Charles. "How old are you?" Charles answered, "Elder, I''m eighteen years old." "Eighteen?" Colton took a couple of steps forward, extending his hand and signaling for Charles to ce the Miracle Drug in his palm. Charles ced the Revival Pill he had refined into Colton''s hand. Colton brought it close to his nose and took a sniff. The murkiness in his eyes began to clear, bing bright with interest. "Not bad, this is indeed a green-quality Miracle Drug, and freshly refined," he nodded. "However, there are still rules to follow. Charles, if you can refine it again in front of me, that Wind Falcon will be yours." Wind Falcon? Is that the name of the emerald-quality mystical beast? Charles nodded and followed Colton into the wooden cabin, preparing to refine the Revival Pill once more. Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Contract for the Emerald Quality Mystical Beast With the experience of his previous sess, this time the process was even smoother. He proceeded with the separation, the medicinal liquid, the tools, and the cold me... Colton watched intently from the side, carefully observing Charles''s separation technique, his control over the medicinal liquid''s state, and the temperature managementthese were the crucial elements. When the bone-chilling cold appeared, Colton''s stooped posture straightened, and he leaned in slightly to get a better view. However, he remained at a respectful distance, careful not to disrupt Charles. After some time, Charles concluded the alchemy, and the process went wlesslythe Revival Pill was sessfully refined once again. "Was the me you used a dual-attribute ice and fire?" Colton asked. Charles nodded in affirmation, "That''s right, it''s a dual-attribute ice and fire." "No wonder Ezra took you on as a disciple; that path isn''t an easy one," Colton said with a sigh, sensing Charles''s thoughts. "Just wait here a moment, and that Wind Falcon will be yours." As Colton turned to leave, Charles reflected on Colton''s earlier words about bing a full-attribute Beast Master. He understood thatpared to other single-attribute Beast Masters, a full-attribute one would be much stronger, but the journey was fraught with challenges. A divine beast? That was an incredible hurdle! Before long, Colton reappeared before Charles and Hale, a Wind Falcon perched confidently on his shoulder. The mystical beast stood around thirty to forty centimeters tall,pact and agile, exuding an elegant yet powerful aura. Its long, sharp wings resembled weapons, while its ws, curved and razor-sharp like daggers, gripped tightly onto Colton''s shoulder. "This is the Wind Falcon; it''s yours now," Colton announced. Charles didn''t reach out immediately. He nced at Hale, then turned to Colton with a hint of confusion. "Senior, are there no other conditions? Is it really that simple?" "Simple? It''s already incredibly difficult to refine a green-quality Miracle Drug at just eighteen," Colton replied, having anticipated Charles''s concerns. He continued straightforwardly, "Of course, there are a few things I''ll need your help with." "What is it? Please exin clearly, Senior," Charles responded, feeling a wave of relief. He really wanted the Wind Falcon, as long as there weren''t any excessive demands. "Don''t worry, I just hope you can study alchemy with me to elevate your alchemist level, ideally reaching master level within a year!" Colton stated earnestly. "A year to be a master alchemist? Senior Colton, you didn''t mention this beforehand," Hale interjected, surprised since he had brought Charles here and didn''t know about the additional requirements. Colton remained unperturbed. "Hale, don''t rush. This is the follow-up requirement, but there will be even better rewards. This Wind Falcon is your reward for refining the green-quality Miracle Drug!" "Follow-up rewards?" Charles noted, realizing that the Wind Falcon was undoubtedly his. Curiosity sparked within him about what these additional rewards might be. Whatever it was, it had to be more valuable than the Wind Falcon! Hale sighed in relief; he hadn''t known about the follow-up either when he first spoke to Charles. "Yes, if you can study alchemy techniques under me, reach master alchemist in a year, and retrieve an item for me, I will give you a diamond-quality mystical beast egg!" Colton said calmly, confident that any Beast Master would find this hard to refuse. A diamond-quality mystical beast egg was nearly impossible to find elsewhere in Genosha! Even in the Abyssal Depths, such a diamond-quality mystical beast egg was an exceedingly rare and valuable treasure. Even Hale was tempted; if it were to be put out in the open, it would undoubtedly attract countless powerful Beast Masters vying for it! Charles took a few deep breaths to steady himself. He needed to think rationally. Generally, the more precious the item, the harder it was to obtain. Achieving master alchemist status within a year might seem nearly impossible for others, but for Charles, it was worth a shot. What intrigued him more was the "item" Colton mentioned. What could be more precious than a diamond-quality mystical beast egg? "Senior Colton, is it really that simple to retrieve just one item?" Charles inquired. Colton shook his head, satisfaction growing within him. Most Beast Masters, upon hearing about the diamond-quality mystical beast egg, would have jumped at the opportunity without a second thought, without considering other factors. Rationality and precision were essential qualities for an alchemist! "It''s not that simple. A year from now, there will be an alchemist convention for the entire Ethereal Grove held in the Haunted Marsh, where all alchemists under the age of twenty will enter a secret realm topete," Colton exined, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "The secret realm is known as the Valley of the Herb King! The item I need is located within that valley. If you can retrieve it for me, the diamond-quality mystical beast egg will be yours, and I''ll also help you refine three Miracle Drugs for free." Charles realized that the Wind Falcons was merely a tool for Colton to find talented alchemists; what he truly sought was something from the [Valley of the Herb King]. "Colton, are you saying that I need to reach the level of a master alchemist within a year to participate? By then, you and I would both be master alchemists, so the three free [Miracle Drugs]..." Charles trailed off, Colton calmly interjected, "I am already a Master Alchemist; I can produce [Golden Quality Miracle Drugs]." A Master Alchemist? Charles was somewhat taken aback. He knew that alchemist ranks included: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Special, Master, and then there was the Master rank above thatMaster Alchemist! He was unfamiliar with what came after that. However, a Master Alchemist was already at the pinnacle within the [Abyssal Depths]. Top-tier Master Alchemists, besides consistently creating [Purple Quality Miracle Drugs], could also attempt to produce [Orange Quality Miracle Drugs]. The sess rate for that, of course, wouldn''t be very high. Master-level alchemists could reliably create [Orange Quality Miracle Drugs]and also experiment with [Golden Quality Miracle Drugs]! Hale quickly caught on and said, "Congrattions, Colton, on bing a Master Alchemist! I suspect there''s no one stronger than you within the [Abyssal Depths]." Colton didn''t seem pleased; instead, he sighed and said, "Hale, you''ve been outside too. Within the [Ethereal Grove], the [Abyssal Depths]is just a remote area. Each of the other three realms is far more powerful, let alone the central [Haunted Marsh]." Hale seemed to think of something and nodded involuntarily in agreement. "Alright, Charles, here are the terms: if you agree, I will dedicate myself to training you, aiming for you to reach the level of a master alchemist within a year," Colton paused before continuing, "Of course, if you don''t agree, that''s fine too; you can leave with this[wind falcon]." Charles pondered for a moment. Regardless, he had obtained the emerald-quality[wind falcon]. As for whether he should follow Colton to learn alchemy and enter the Valley of the Herb King, he still needed to think it over. "Colton, can I take some time to consider this and get back to you in a few days?" Charles asked. Colton waved his hand dismissively, "Of course, juste find me in the bamboo forest once you''ve made your decision." "Thank you, senior." With the[wind falcon]in hand, Charles followed Hale out of the bamboo grove. With Hale''s help, Charles effortlessly contracted the[wind falcon]; the difficulty of contracting a mystical beast''s young was not high, making it a rtively sessful method apart from the mystical beast egg. On the screen in front of Charles, information about the mystical beast appeared: [wind falcon] [Attribute]: Wind [Level]: Lv13 [Quality]: Emerald [Skills]: [Quick Travel], [Sharp w Strike] [Weakness]: Abdomen/Lightning Attribute [Hobby]: Alcohol [Emotion]: Sad [Health]: Good [Loyalty]: 61 [Evolution]: 4 Paths [Description]: This is a young quick travel falcon; feeding it arge amount of meat can elerate its growth, seemingly due to drinking. As expected of a mystical beast of emerald quality, it was only in its youth, yet it had already reached level 13 and possessed two skills. Charles looked at the information disyed about the skills. [Quick Travel]: Increases speed and evasion, allowing the user to move or dash towards a target at incredible speed, as elusive as the wind, enabling rapid repositioning in battle to dodge enemy attacks. [Sharp w Strike]: Wields sharp ws from the air, channeling wind energy into the ws to deal heavy damage to enemies. After reading the information, Charles was quite satisfied with the [Wind Falcon]. After all, it was an emerald quality mystical beast, and the [Quick Travel] skill was quite practical. However, it still didn''t have a name; the [Name] field was empty, and he couldn''t think of anything nice. How about just calling it Mia, like Max did? "I''ll call you Mia from now on." [Ding! You''ve given the Wind Falcon a nickname, and it doesn''t like this name, loyalty -1.] Seeing the loyalty drop to 60, Charles quickly added, "I''ll buy you a drinkter; this name sounds nice." [Ding! You''ve given the Wind Falcon a nickname, and it likes this name, loyalty +5.] Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Catherines Victory Now that Mia is only level 13, a single night should allow the projection of the mystical beast to help her level up. Hale decided to head back for some rest, leaving Charles alone with Mia. He wanted to find a quiet spot to train her properly. After some effort, they found a suitable location, but Mia stood still, her sharp eyes fixed on Charles. It was as if she were asking, "Where''s my drink? Where''s my drink?" Charles sighed, feeling somewhat helpless. She really is a little drunkard! There was nothing for it; he had to rush to the academy''s convenience store before it closed to buy her a small bottle of fruit wine. As soon as he opened it, Charles eagerly took a sip. "Take it easy! No one''speting with you. This is the first time I''ve seen a mystical beast that loves to drink," he said, both amused and exasperated. [Ding! Your pet Mia drank the fruit wine. She''s very happy, loyalty +1.] Wind Falcons [Name]: Mia [Attribute]: Wind [Level]: Lv13 [Quality]: Emerald [Skills]: [Quick Travel], [Sharp w Strike] [Weaknesses]: Abdomen / Lightning Attribute [Hobbies]: Wine [Emotion]: Happy [Health]: Good [Loyalty]: 66 ... Originally feeling sad, Mia''s mood brightened after having some wine, and her loyalty increased to 66. "Alright, you''re happy now, but it''s time to start training!" Charles didn''t wait any longer and had the projection create a lower-level mystical beast for Mia to help her level up. [Ding! Your mystical beast Mia Lv.13 defeated Steel-Spiked Hedgehog Lv.12, experience +10!] [Ding! Your mystical beast Mia Lv.13 gained growth during battle training, experience +8!] [Ding! Your mystical beast Mia Lv.13 leveled up to Lv.14!] ... The next morning, Charles stepped out of the bathroom, yawning repeatedly. After training all night, he had finally leveled up to Lv.16, and it left him utterly exhausted. If it weren''t for the leftover fruit wine, his loyalty might have dropped. They only stopped training after finishing the fruit wine. After a whole night, Mia had only leveled up three times, which felt a bit slow. But that was to be expected; after all, she was only at level 13 and still in her juvenile stage, so she had no advantage against higher-level mystical beasts. After tidying up, Charles headed to the cafeteria at Cyber Academy. He found a private room and summoned Max, Mousie, and Mia. He ordered Max''s favorite, honey soy zed meat, along with other high-protein, high-energy meats. The three mystical beasts ate happily, and the meal cost quite a bit10 silver coins in total! This was mainly because the meat Charles ordered wasn''t ordinary pork or beef; it was specially cultivated, rich in nutrients that could speed up mystical beast growth. "Alright, you''re full now. We should have apetitionter; it''ll be a good way to exercise and aid digestion," Charles said as he walked toward the arena for the sspetition. Along the way, he overheard snippets of conversation. "Hey, have you heard? There''s a high-level cksmith among our new students!" "Really? So they''re practicing Beast Mastery while also studying forging? Isn''t that distracting?" "Maybe they''re a genius in both areas, and it won''t affect either!" "I heard that person is going to take the high-level cksmith certification test at noon; they might not even pass!" "Exactly! Instead of focusing on Beast Mastery, they''re learning cksmithing? Can a cksmith be as powerful as a Beast Master?" "I think so too. I doubt that person''s Beast Master skills are very strong; they might have already lost two matches." Charles calmly navigated through the crowd discussing this and arrived at thepetition area, where Catherine, Jace, and Sadie were waiting. Catherine''s strength needed no introduction; she was a level 4 Beast Master. As long as she didn''t face the top fewpetitors, defeating her opponents wouldn''t be difficult at all. Jace and Sadie, however, looked less rxed. They had each lost one match, making their records one win and one loss. The next opponent could very well determine if they would advance to ss A. If they lost, they would be stuck in ss B for a while before they could challenge ss A members to take their ce. If they won this match, it would depend on the performance of others to see if another battle would be necessary in the afternoon. Soon, the matchups were announced. Catherine would face Zachary, while Charles was set to fight a familiar opponentLan! "I''ve heard this guy is really strong; I finally get to have a proper fight! I''ve been cooped up for days!" Catherine''s demeanor shifted entirely, her earlier gloom reced with enthusiasm. "I''ve heard of him too. Rumor has it he''s a level 4 Beast Master, but who knows if that''s true?" Charles replied. "Let''s hope it is!" Catherine found herself praying. While others hoped for weaker opponents to secure victories, she desired a stronger one. Such battles were meaningful and would enhance herbat experience and strength! "It looks like I''m up first. It shouldn''t take long," Charles said, hearing the referee call out. After exchanging a few words with Catherine, he turned and entered thepetition arena. Across from him, Lan appeared incredibly energized! In just a few days, Charles definitely hadn''t had time to contract a third mystical beast! Moreover, he had regained his confidence through the matches in thest two days. While others were busy getting to know their fellow students and familiarizing themselves with Calivia, he had spent a hefty sum to hire an experienced level 5 Beast Master to improve hisbat skills. The results were evident; with consecutive victories, he was no longer trembling at the thought of facing Charles, no longer unable to look him in the eye! "Charles, this time I will wash away all the humiliation! I will defeat you!" Before the match began, Lan said earnestly and with determination. Charles didn''t even nce at him, seemingly ignoring his words. Instead, he turned to Catherine outside the arena and said, "I''ll finish up here quickly. You should be starting soon, and I''lle watch you." Catherine nodded and walked over to prepare at her ownpetition area. "Damn it, Charles, I''m talking to you! We can''t use weapons today; let''s see how you can win against me!" Lan was furious. He was giving it his all, yet his opponent was tantly disregarding him; it felt like an insult! "Referee, I''m ready. Can the match begin?" Charles asked. The referee nodded and announced, "The match starts now!" Before the referee''s voice even faded, Lan immediately summoned three Gold-quality mystical beasts, quickly positioning them in formation. His level 5 Beast Master had already helped him analyze this, ensuring that the arrangement was targeted. He couldn''t forget the scene from their previous encounter when Charles easily dodged his mystical beasts'' attacks. That image reyed in his mind, even haunting his dreams at night. "This time, I''m not that weak! Charles, it''s your turn to taste defeat!" Without hesitation, Lanmanded his three mystical beasts to unleash their skills, covering the entire area! Facing such an onught, Charles remained calm. He cast an [Ice and Fire Barrier]around himself, withstanding one of the attacks before instantly using [Quick Travel]. In the blink of an eye, he had broken through all the attacks and appeared right in front of Lan! "What? How is he so fast? It''s like he just teleported!" Shock shed through Lan''s mind as he tried to activate [Beast Mastery]. Unfortunately, Charles didn''t give him the opportunity! A tremendous force from Charles''s fist struck Lan''s stomach, sending him flying backward like a shrimp, arching his back as he went. "The match is over. The winner is Charles, earning 1 point!" The referee announced the results. There was no doubt that Lan had been easily defeated by Charles once again. Lying on the ground, he stared nkly at Charles''s retreating figure, tears silently streaming from the corners of his eyes. Charles didn''t notice Lan''s state. He quickly estimated the time; from the start to the finish of the match, it had only taken a little over ten seconds. This wasrgely thanks to Mia''s [Quick Travel], which enhanced his speed and agility, allowing him to defeat Lan in such a short time. He couldn''t help but wonder what skills Mia would gain next; he was quite looking forward to it. Catherine''s match should still be ongoing. Her opponents were pretty strong todayexcept for Lan, of course! As Charles approached Catherine''spetition area, he overheard some chatter. "Who do you think is stronger, Catherine or Zachary?" "Definitely Zachary! He''s the son of a general, so he''s bound to be stronger!" "I think Catherine will win. She hasn''t lost yet, and she hasn''t really fought at full strength!" Listening to the discussions around him, Charles looked into the arena and saw that Zachary was indeed a level 4 Beast Master. He had four mystical beasts of good quality: one Gold and three tinum, all of them Earth attribute. Earth attribute mystical beasts generally have better recovery and endurancepared to Gold attribute beasts, which typically have higher attack power! "Charles, who do you think will win?" Jace, having just finished his match, approached Charles with a worried expression. Without hesitation, Charles replied, "Zachary will lose!" "Charles, I don''t know... Zachary seems pretty strong. He might have some hidden tricks up his sleeve," Jace scratched his head, looking uncertain. Charles responded, "Zachary has tricks up his sleeve, but so does Catherine, and she''ll be even stronger! You''ll see." He didn''t borate much; he was confident in Catherine''s abilities to secure a victory! At that moment, someone eximed, "Look! It''s [Beast Mastery]activation!" Chapter 140: Chapter 140:The Senior Forge Certification examination is about to begin Charles turned his gaze to thepetition area, where Zachary had unhesitatingly activated [Beast Mastery], eliciting gasps from the crowd. When Earth attribute mystical beasts activated [Beast Mastery], it significantly enhanced the Beast Master''s defensive capabilities, making them more resilient and powerful! Catherine didn''t appear nervous at all; in fact, a smile crept onto her lips as she also activated [Beast Mastery]! Zachary was surrounded by a yellow glow as he conjured a supreme spear in his hand. He gripped the spear tightly, striking a peculiar pose that radiated an intimidating presence. Students familiar with the situation immediately spected, "Is that the general Mason''s [Break the Enemy''s Marksmanship]?" "[Break the Enemy''s Marksmanship]? It really looks like it! I''ve only heard about it; this is the first time I''ve seen it in action!" "Legend has it that the general used this skill to rise from obscurity, cutting down enemies and eventually bing the general of Genosha!" "Is it really that powerful? Does that mean Catherine is in danger?" Even Charles instinctively frowned. He thought that [Break the Enemy''s Marksmanship]was likely simr to the [Eighty-One Hammer Technique]one used for killing and the other for forging. "Charles, do you think Catherine is going to lose?" Jace asked anxiously. Charles shook his head. "Don''t worry; Catherine is much stronger than you think." It wasn''t blind faith in Catherine; Charles knew just how formidable her [Beast Mastery]was. The strength of the Gaoshan nationality''s [Beast Mastery]was simply exceptional! In the next moment, Catherine and Zachary shed directly. Zachary''s spear techniques were like a dragon, and while the Earth-formed supreme spear was solid, it merely created sparks when it struck Catherine, failing to inflict any damage! Catherine initially wanted to prolong the battle, but then she caught a glimpse of Charles at the edge of the arena. Without a moment''s hesitation, she elerated her speed and increased her power, swiftly and decisively ending the fight! "The match is over! The winner is Catherine, earning 1 point!" the referee announced. Cheers erupted from the crowd outside. "Catherine is amazing!" "Catherine is so strong!" "Catherine is my idol!" As Catherine exited the arena and nced around, the cheers instantly faded into silence. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Charles," Catherine said. Charles shook his head. "I just got here. Why didn''t you fight a bit longer?" "Let''s go; I still need to apany you to the Forging Masters Guild," Catherine replied as she walked ahead. Charlesgged a step behind, sensing that Catherine seemed particrly happy today. Was it because she had found a serious opponent? Or was it the cheers from the crowd after the match? Charles couldn''t figure it out, so he decided not to dwell on it. "Charles, are you going to the Forging Masters Guild to watch the advanced forging master certification assessment?" Jace hurried after Charles, saying, "I heard that person is also from Cyber Academy; I just don''t know who it is. I''d like to get to know them!" "Why would you want to get to know them?" Charles asked, puzzled. Jace looked around, trying to see who might fit his guess, while responding, "An advanced forging master! If I get to know them, it''ll be easier to forge equipment, right?" "So that''s the reason," Charles replied helplessly. "By the way, Charles, do you know who it is? Any insider information?" Jace casually asked. Charles, however, said seriously, "There is indeed some news." "Really!" Jace instinctively eximed, drawing the attention of nearby students who turned to look. He leaned closer to Charles, lowering his voice. "Charles, tell me who it is. I promise I won''t share it with anyone." Charles revealed the truth: "That person is me." "Come on, Charles, you''re a genius in Beast Mastery. How could you be a genius in forging too? Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Jace didn''t believe it at all. After all, others said that the advanced forging master''s Beast Mastery strength couldn''t be very strong. Charles, so powerful, could he really be that advanced forging master? It was a joke! Charles felt helpless. He really was going to the Forging Masters Guild to participate in the advanced forging master certification assessment! Catherine, walking ahead, clearly heard their conversation. Her elegant shoulders were shaking as she tried to suppress herughter. "Let''s go; you''ll find out when we get to the Forging Masters Guild," Charles said, following Catherine as they headed toward the guild. Behind them, some students from Cyber Academy were also making their way to the guild, curious about which student was certifying as an advanced forging master. Inside the Forging Masters Guild in Genosha Calivia, the ce was packed. Many forgers had been waiting in the hall since morning. The president of the Forging Masters Guild, Xavier, was currently in his office, along with Owen, the president of the Alchemists'' Guild, and his granddaughter, Cami. Cami was quite fidgety, asionally toying with her teacup and ncing out the window at the first floor. "Cami, don''t worry; they should be here soon," Owen said gently. While looking out the window, Cami suddenly eximed, "Grandpa, Xavier, I see Charles! He''s here!" Curious, Owen moved closer to the window for a better look. This nce left him momentarily stunned. It turned out it wasn''t a case of a shared name! The Charlesing for the advanced forging master certification was the same one who hade to the Alchemist Guild and passed the intermediate alchemist assessment! "A Level 3 Beast Master, an intermediate alchemist, and now he''s here for the advanced forging master certification? What incredible talent is this?" Owen was repeatedly amazed inside. A person has to learn about Beast Mastery, alchemy, and forging every day, plus go through various training and hands-on practice. Even a legendary-quality mystical beast would struggle to keep up! Xavier, unaware of Owen''s shock, got up and headed downstairs. Cami was about to follow him down but noticed her grandpa Owen still standing there. She called out, "Grandpa? Shouldn''t we go down and take a look?" Owen took a few deep breaths and replied, "There are too many people down there; why don''t we just watch from up here? Is that okay?" Cami thought about it; the view was indeed better from above, so she nodded in agreement. Owen, the president of the Alchemist Guild, felt a twinge of regret. Given Charles''s talent, even if his alchemy level was a bit low, being only an intermediate alchemist, Owen believed that if Charles focused solely on alchemy, he would undoubtedly make rapid progress. Within six months, he could reach the level of an advanced alchemist, and within a year, he might even attain the rank of a special-grade alchemist! Now he felt conflicted. If Charles passed the advanced forging master certification, Xavier would definitely not miss such a promising talent. "What a shame! If only I had kept him that day!" Owen sighed. Meanwhile, downstairs, Xavier, apanied by several forgers, made his way toward Charles. Seeing this scene, Jace looked around in confusion; there were no other people nearby. "Strange, Charles, why is that mysterious advanced forgering toward us? Did he mistake someone for you?" Jace was puzzled. Charles didn''t respond, as Xavier had already approached and said, "Charles, the tools and materials are ready, just waiting for you. You just finished your match; do you need a moment to rest and regain your strength?" "It''s fine; the match didn''t exhaust me much. Let''s get started now," Charles replied. Jace''s eyes widened in shock as he recalled what Charles had told him earlier. Watching Charles walk toward the center of the hall, he couldn''t help but mutter, "Oh my god! Charles is an advanced forger? How can one person be this much of a genius!" Not only Jace, but all the students from the Cyber Academy who had followed them wore expressions of disbelief, including Lan, who was still rubbing his stomach. No one expected that Charles was the oneing for the advanced forging master certification; they had all assumed it would be someckluster Level 3 Beast Master! "I think he''s just putting on a show. He probably doesn''t even know anything about forging!" Lan''s voice rang out in the crowd. Jace turned sharply, looking for the source of the nder against Charles. Just then, because Lan was bent over, rubbing his stomach, Jace didn''t spot him. Others began to chime in as well, saying, "That''s a possibility. If he fails the assessment, it would be quite embarrassing!" "That''s true, but it seems unlikely. Would he really want to embarrass himself on purpose?" "I think so too. Charles seems pretty close to Catherine. Talents usually run in the same circles; maybe he really is a forging genius!" "That''s not a fairparison! I''ve seen that guy Jace hanging around with Charles too! Is he a genius?" Jace felt the veins on his forehead throb. Why wasn''t he considered a genius? Even if he was a bit weaker, he was still a genius! He fixed a hard stare at the person speaking; he remembered them slightly and guessed their strength was good enough to get into ss A. That was fine; in half a month, Jace would challenge him directly! "Silence! The assessment is about to begin, so please keep it down!" Xavier announced. The advanced forging master certification assessment was about to start! Chapter 141: Chapter 141: The Inspector from the Forging Masters Guild Just as the assessment was about to begin, an unexpected interruption urred. "Wait!" someone shouted. The sudden exmation caused everyone to turn and look toward the entrance of the Forging Masters Guild, where two figures were slowly approaching. The person in front, Charles did not recognize, but the one behind him was somewhat familiar; it was Jay, the receptionist he had encountered at the front desk yesterday. Could it be that Jay, feeling humiliated after being embarrassed in front of everyone, had brought someone along to disrupt his senior cksmith certification assessment? The identity of the person in front was quickly revealed by the gathered cksmiths. "Who is that guy?" "Isn''t he an inspector sent down from the headquarters of the Abyssal Depths Forging Masters Guild?" "It seems so; I remember he was quite arrogant when he first arrived, showing no respect for President Xavier." "What can you expect? He''s from above, after all." Xavier watched the two approaching figures with a neutral expression and asked, "Dn, what exactly do you want?" "Mr. Xavier, your words make it sound as if I''m here to cause trouble," replied Dn, the inspector, a mocking smile on his face. He continued in a leisurely tone, "I just heard that someone is viting the rules of the Forging Masters Guild." "Viting the rules? This is merely a standard assessment for the senior cksmith certification," Xavier frowned. Since Dn arrived, he had been looking for trouble, frequently criticizing matters rted to Genosha Caliviathe and the Forging Masters Guild. Usually, he indulged in revelry elsewhere; why was he here today? It had to be that Jay held a grudge and specifically sought Dn out to interfere with Charles''s assessment! With this thought, Xavier''s previously calm demeanor turned slightly disdainful as he said, "May I ask, Inspector, what specific irregrities you believe exist in this assessment?" Dn casually replied, "As far as I know, Charles has yet toplete his intermediate cksmith certification assessment. How can he jump straight to the senior certification?" Xavier felt momentarily at a loss for words; he hadn''t expected Dn to use this as leverage against him. ording to the rules of the Forging Masters Guild, assessments were indeed supposed to be taken step by step. However, no guild would strictly enforce this, not even the headquarters of the Forging Masters Guild in the Abyssal Depths. Especially in the case of a cksmithing prodigy like Charles, once it was determined what level he was at, they would typically arrange for an assessment that matched his skills. This was also meant to save everyone time. However, no matter how one looked at it, advancing to a higher-level assessment was certainly not permitted. Seeing the contemtive expression on Xavier''s face, Dn felt a surge of satisfaction. The Abyssal Depths was the most remote and deste region within the Ethereal Grove. Other inspectors stationed in the more developed domains received various high-grade beast cores and high-quality miracle drugs as gifts. But here he was, stuck in this backwater, and Xavier had not offered him any gifts! As Dn reveled in Xavier''s expression, he said, "What''s the matter, Mr. Xavier? Perhaps I made a mistakehas Mr. Charles already taken his intermediate cksmith certification assessment?" "Well..." Xavier was at a loss for words. Dn''s smile grew broader. "In my opinion, this assessment should be canceled, the registration fees non-refundable, and Charles should receive a penalty barring him from participating in any cksmith certification assessments for a month." As soon as he said this, a loud uproar erupted within the Forging Masters Guild. "Wait!" Xavier suddenly seemed to remember something and spoke up. "What is it, Mr. Xavier? Are you still nning to proceed, showing no regard for the rules of the guild?" Dn said maliciously. "Dn, it''s not like that. I just remembered that there is another rule within the Forging Masters Guild." "Another rule? Does it allow this assessment to continue?" Dn was momentarily taken aback, his mind racing to recall what other rules might exist in the Forging Masters Guild that could change the current situation. "Yes, there is a provision that allows a cksmith who has mastered a special technique to take assessments at a higher level!" Xavier replied. "Special forging technique?" Upon hearing Xavier say this, Dn seemed to have a fleeting realization, but he quickly brushed it aside. The rarity of such special forging techniques was far more precious than a mystical beast egg! "It seems there is such a rule. Are you implying that Charles has mastered a special forging technique?" A sense of foreboding crept into Dn''s mind. Xavier nodded and produced the previously upgraded quality of the mystic iron, handing it to Dn for a closer examination. Dn scrutinized it for a long time but couldn''t discern anything unusual. Seeing his struggle, a fleeting look of disdain crossed Xavier''s face as he exined, "Charles possesses a special forging technique known as the ''Eighty-One Hammer Technique.''" "Mr. Xavier, you do realize the consequences of deceiving an inspector, right?" Dn felt embarrassed at that moment. He couldn''t just admit in front of all the cksmiths that he couldn''t identify any traces of a special forging technique on this mystic iron. Xavier straightforwardly tossed the upgraded quality mystic iron to Dn and said, "Mr. Dn, consider this as evidence; keep it for your reference." Having done this, Xavier didn''t wait for Dn to say anything further. He nodded directly at Charles and said, "Let''s begin." "Xavier, you!" Dn was taken aback by Xavier''s sudden assertiveness. He felt powerless against Xavier; if Xavier had made a mistake, it would have been easier to challenge him. However, all of Xavier''s actions were in ordance with the rules of the Forging Masters Guild, and Dn couldn''t find any grounds forint. Seeing that he had not achieved his goal, Dn chose not to leave. Instead, he remained at the scene, intent on causing further trouble! The senior cksmith certification assessment required thepletion of a blue-quality piece of equipment within four hours. Participants could choose from weapons, shields, or arm guards, with weapons and arm guards being the most challenging options. A good pair of arm guards could protect a Beast Master''s life in crucial moments, which is why the prices for arm guard equipment tended to be higher than those of other types. Everyone was curious about what type of equipment Charles intended to forge. Charles was not in a hurry. He examined the materials on the forge and found that few were suitable for him. Given the limited time, he didn''t want to waste too much of it during the senior cksmith certification assessment. So he decided to forge the type of equipment he was most skilled at: arm guards! With his decision made, Charles took out the necessary materials, starting with the blue-quality mystic iron, and began the forging process. As he started, gasps of surprise filled the air. "No way! How is he purifying the material and removing impurities so quickly? Isn''t he worried about running out of energy and being unable toplete the assessmentter?" "Bro, are you new here today?" "Yeah, why?" "Nothing, just keep watching. He did the same thing yesterday!" As the spectators continued to watch, Charles quickly finished purifying the mystic iron. Then, to the bewilderment of the onlookers, he proceeded to take out another forging materialalso blue-quality copper-wood. "What''s he nning to do? Isn''t the mystic iron enough? Does he intend to fuse the two materials to create an alloy, thus forging a better-quality piece of equipment?" "Isn''t that going to be more difficult?" "Sure, the difficulty increases a bit, but it can save a lot of time in the forging process." "Is Charles worried about not finishing within the allotted time?" Charles paid no attention to the murmurs around him; he was fully immersed in his forging. He watched as the two materials heated up, glowing red. The timing was just righttime to begin hammering! The sound of "ding ding dang dang" echoed through the hall of the Alchemist Guild, like beautiful music dancing in the air. The entire forging process flowed smoothly, without a hint of interruption. Xavier watched intently from the side. Unlike the other cksmiths who were focused on the techniques, he was observing Charles''s state of mind. To bepletely immersed in the act of forging was no simple feat, especially in front of so many other cksmiths. Yet Charles showed no signs of nervousness; in fact, it could be said that he was enjoying the process of forging! Talent! This was a kind of innate ability rted to one''s mindset, distinct from the mastery of Beast Mastery, temperature control, and other technical skills. A strong mindset was even more crucial. Xavier had seen many talented cksmiths who, after a few mistakes, fell into despair and could never recover. Such a situation would not befall Charles. It was precisely because of his mindset that he could fully immerse himself in the experience of forging, unaffected by external distractions. "This is what a true forging genius looks like!" Xavier''s eyes burned with intensity as he watched Charles, and the desire to take him as a disciple surged within him. Shaping, polishing, quenching... At this moment, the cksmiths present realized that Charles had chosen to forge arm guards, which were not easy to make. As the sizzling sound of quenching came to an end, Charlespleted some finishing touches, and a brand-new pair of arm guards was sessfully forged. From the start of the assessment to its conclusion, it took a total of 1 hour and 38 minutes! [Alloy Arm Guards] [Blue Quality]: Effect Increases arm muscle strength by 20%. Effect Reduces normal attacks from Beast Masters below level 3 by 20%. After reduction, the arm guards need to be repaired. Charles looked at the information prompt before him, a satisfied smile on his face. Although the quality of these arm guards was only blue, their attributes were still impressive. The effects were somewhat simr to those of the [Nine Netherworld Armband], albeit not as powerful. After all, the materials used to forge the [Nine Netherworld Armband] were of golden quality, while the materials for the [Alloy Arm Guards] were only blue quality. Xavier couldn''t wait to take the [Alloy Arm Guards] from Charles, examining them closely. Before he could announce the results, Dn interjected, "So, what''s the verdict? It wouldn''t happen to be just a pair of white-quality arm guards, would it?" Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Appointment for Senior Alchemist Certification Assessment As soon as Dn spoke, the other cksmiths became even more curious about the final result. In their eyes, the entire process had gone smoothly, and every step had been executed perfectly. However, until the very end, they could never be certain that no idents had urred. There was always the possibility that issues could arise during the fusion of the two materials, or that problems might only be discovered after the forging waspleted. "Charles, you have passed the senior cksmith certification assessment, and the quality of the arm guards you forged is blue quality! Moreover, they are among the finest in blue quality!" Xavier ignored Dnpletely and announced the final result to the others in the hall. "How is that possible! A forging that took less than two hours could yield blue quality?" This result was clearly beyond Dn''s expectations. He reached out to take the [Alloy Arm Guards] and began to examine them closely. The power of the Beast Master surged within Dn, increasing from level one all the way to level three Beast Mastery, at which point the [Alloy Arm Guards] began to show signs of deformation. "This... this really is blue quality!" Dn maintained a baseline of integrity; he wasn''t willing to fake the results. His expression darkened as he nced at Jay. The reason he hade looking for trouble today was that Jay had guaranteed him that Charles absolutely did not possess the strength of a senior cksmith. Dn had thought this would be an opportunity to embarrass Xavier, and he could also report the matter to make things ufortable for him. But who would have thought that Charles would actually seed and perform so excellently! Dn''s mind raced as he collected himself, changing his gloomy demeanor to a warm smile. He turned to Charles and said, "Congrattions! It''s a good thing for Genosha to have such a talented cksmith like you. I apologize for my earlier attitude; I was misled by a petty person. Please don''t take it to heart, Charles." Jay, standing nearby, was left dumbfounded by Dn''s words. He had expected Dn to teach Charles a lesson, but instead, this inspector from the Forging Masters Guild was now expressing goodwill towards Charles and even apologizing! "Oh, a petty person?" Charles''s gaze lingered on Jay, and he fell silent. Dn, understanding the social dynamics, patted his chest and assured, "Since I made a mistake, I will certainly make amends. Rest assured, this petty person will never affect you again." Jay''s face turned pale; he realized he waspletely finished. Coming here with Dn meant he was standing against Xavier. Now, even Dn wasing to settle ounts with him, trying to curry favor with Charles. "Vice President, my brother-inw is your disciple. Please, I beg you to help me!" Jay pleaded without hesitation as he knelt in front of Vice President Bryce, desperately praying for assistance. Having offended both Xavier and Dn, he found it impossible to establish himself in Genosha! Bryce was sweating profusely, with both Xavier and Dn staring at him. He gritted his teeth and decisively said, "Jay, from this moment on, your brother-inw Byron is no longer my disciple!" "President, Inspector, I was wrong! I really know I was wrong!" Jay continued to plead, but no one paid him any attention. His eyes were filled with endless regret as he stared at Charles. "Someone, throw him out!" Xaviermanded without hesitation, and Jay was unceremoniously ejected from the hall. After this was done, Xavier approached Charles with exceptional enthusiasm and said, "To reach the level of a senior cksmith at your age is quite remarkable. I wonder if you have a teacher in the art of forging?" "Well, aside from the [Eighty-One Hammer Technique] which I learned from someone else, everything else I''ve taught myself," Charles replied honestly. Xavier''s eyes lit up, and he expressed his desire to take Charles as his disciple, saying, "Charles, what do you think of me?" "Uh... President, what do you mean by that?" Charles asked, somewhat puzzled. Xavier quickly borated, "I mean, do you want to be my disciple?" Charles did not immediately agree or refuse. As the president of the Forging Masters Guild, Xavier''s forging skills were undoubtedly impressive, and he could teach him various forging techniques to help improve his skills. However, Charles was concerned about the situation with Colton. He had yet to decide whether to ept Colton, a master of alchemy, to learn alchemical techniques. Charles genuinely wanted the diamond-quality [Mystical Beast Egg]! After thinking for a moment, Charles replied, "President, how about I take a couple of days to think it over and get back to you?" Xavier felt a bit disappointed; he had expected Charles to agree without hesitation. "Alright, just let me know when you''ve made up your mind." The onlooking cksmiths wore expressions of envy upon hearing Xavier''s request to take Charles as a disciple. To be a disciple of the president of the Forging Masters Guild was a dreame true for countless people! At that moment, Owen, the president of the Alchemist Guild, descended the stairs. Upon hearing Charles''s response, he quickened his pace and called out, "Charles, how about this: once you be a senior alchemist,e and be my disciple." This deration left everyone present in shock. The president of the Alchemist Guild wanted to take a cksmith as his disciple? Did he want a cksmith to forge miracle drugs with a hammer? "This is a matter for my Forging Masters Guild; you, as the president of the Alchemist Guild, should stay out of it," Xavier said, still trying toprehend Owen''s intentions. Was he really trying to snatch a cksmith as a disciple? "How is this none of my business? Charles is still a mid-level alchemist. As the president of the Alchemy Guild, of course, I can get involved!" Owen dropped another bombshell. Silence! An overwhelming quiet fell over the room. Aside from Catherine, who knew Charles was still a mid-level alchemist, no one could fathom that someone could simultaneously study Beast Mastery, forging, and alchemy. Moreover, each field was at a genius level! "Wait a minute, let me think. Charles is a level three Beast Master? Or is he a senior cksmith? Or a mid-level alchemist?" "That''s right, you heard correctly!" "Is he even human? I''ve been studying forging for six years, and I''m still just a mid-level cksmith!" "Stop thinking about it. It''s not just that he''s a genius; it''s worse because he''s a well-rounded genius!" Owen was just as shocked as everyone else when he saw Charles participating in the senior cksmith certification assessment. He had never expected that Charles was also a cksmith! At that moment, he thought to himself: if Charles could focus all his energy on alchemy, his future achievements would be unimaginable! Thus, when Owen heard that Charles hadn''t immediately agreed to Xavier''s proposal, he openly expressed his desire to take Charles as his disciple. "President Owen, I''m afraid I can''t agree to that," Charles replied. Owen was a master-level alchemist, while Colton was a grandmaster-level alchemist, and he also had the diamond-quality [Mystical Beast Egg]. If he had to choose in terms of alchemy, he would definitely pick Colton. Charles was still a bit curious; were Owen and Colton perhaps siblings? But Colton looked much older than Owen, so that seemed unlikely. The expressions on the faces of the people present had already gone stiff. Charles had brought them too many shocks. "Now that Charles has rejected the Alchemist Guild president''s request to take him as a disciple, I actually feel like that''s normal?" "Me too. I feel like nothing can surprise me anymore." "Exactly! Unless someone tells me that Charles is also a senior alchemist; that would still catch me off guard." "How is that possible? A senior cksmith and a senior alchemist? He seems to be only eighteen! How can anyone be that ridiculous?" "Are you saying that being a senior cksmith and a mid-level alchemist isn''t ridiculous?" The conversations behind him inadvertently reminded Charles that during Mia''s training yesterday, the [Regenerating Potion] in his storage space had nearly run out. He needed to go purchase some alchemical materials soon to brew more as a backup. He also hadn''t bought the materials for the [Super Miracle Drug] yet. If possible, Charles would really like toplete the form for the [Super Miracle Drug]. [Super Miracle Drug Form] [Iplete] Description: A miracle drug that can increase strength by 50% in a short period. It is only effective for Beast Masters below level five and will have a twelve-hour side effect after use. Once the form ispleted, the quality will be upgraded to green tier, with no side effects! To increase strength by 50% without any side effects? Thepleted Super Miracle Drug would at least have green quality, if not higher. In Genosha Calivia, only the Alchemist Guild had aplete variety of materials and forms. Charles thought it would be best to go for the senior alchemist certification tomorrow; that way, he could get discounts on alchemical materials, saving quite a bit of money. Thinking of this, Charles turned to Owen and asked, "President Owen, I was wondering, does the certification assessment for senior alchemists also require an appointment in advance?" Owen pinched his thigh hard with his right hand, confirming that this was not a dream or an auditory hallucination. He hesitated before asking, "If I heard correctly, you''re asking about the senior alchemist certification?" Charles nodded. "That''s right. Is an appointment required for the senior alchemist certification assessment?" "Yes, it is required. But are you the one taking the certification? It must be someone else, after all, you just certified as a mid-level alchemist not long ago. How could you possibly be ready for senior alchemist level so quickly?" Owen thought about it seriously and concluded that it couldn''t be Hale who was trying for the senior alchemist certification. "No, it''s me. I want to book an appointment for tomorrow''s senior alchemist certification assessment," Charles said simply. Owen and Xavier''s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, and the others gasped in shock. Someone eximed, "I believe that Charles will definitely pass the senior alchemist certification assessment tomorrow!" "Coincidentally, I think the same," another replied. "Is Charles''s Beast Master strength that ridiculous too?" "Of course! A level three Beast Master can y a level five Beast Master!" "That can''t be possible! Is his Beast Master strength really that strong?" "Believe it or not, it''s true! Let me tell you..." Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Meeting Celestine Under the gaze of everyone present, Charles left the Forging Masters Guild with Catherine, while Jace continued to talk to those nearby about how Charles had in a level five Beast Master. As soon as they stepped out of the Forging Masters Guild, Charles spotted a familiar figure waiting for him. It was Celestine, dressed in a ck long-sleeve top and tight jeans,plemented by knee-high boots that made her look exceptionally sexy and alluring. "Charles, was that really you in there just now?" Celestine asked. She hadn''t specificallye to find Charles; she had just happened to be at the Forging Masters Guild to help a ssmate buy a few things, not expecting to run into Charles during his certification assessment. After hearing that Charles was a senior cksmith and that he would be taking the senior alchemist certification assessment tomorrow, Celestine had pped her face more than once to confirm whether this was a dream or something real. The Charles who had once bullied her had transformed into someone so outstanding. Perhaps Charles had always been exceptional, and she just hadn''t seen it. "Of course it''s me! Is there someone else who looks just like me?" Charles responded, feeling a sense of joy at seeing Celestine, who was also from Lsengard. His gaze instinctively lingered on Celestine''s figure, his mind shing back to that night. Noticing Charles''s gaze, Celestine felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. She was about to say something more when she caught sight of Catherine next to Charles, and an inexplicable anger surged within her. "You think you''re something special, Charles? My sister Aurora treated you so well!" Charles couldn''t help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation at her words. "You''ve got it all wrong; this is Catherine, my good friend." "Good friend? You expect me to believe that? Do you think I''m that foolish? Just wait! I''ll tell my sister to forget about you!" Celestine was clearly not convinced. She sensed that when Charles said "good friend," Catherine''s expression had shifted slightly, betraying her difort. "You''re definitely misunderstanding. Charles and I are not in a romantic rtionship," Catherine quickly interjected, wanting to rify any misconceptions about Charles. "Really?" Celestine still seemed skeptical but decided not to press further. She felt ufortable, perhaps because she saw the person her sister liked being surrounded by other women, which made her uneasy. "Charles, I need to remind you of something. Grace is now a level four Beast Master. She mightpete in the Genosha inter-academy exchangepetition in two months," Celestine said before turning to leave without pausing for another moment. She wasn''t sure what was going on. Logically, she should have told her sister about the other women around Charles, which would have led her sister to be disappointed in him. After all, wasn''t that what she had wanted all along? Now, all Celestine wanted was to return to her dorm and get a good night''s sleep. "Grace, a level four Beast Master." Charles repeated those words, unable to forget what Grace had done to him! In two years, he would defeat Grace and make her his ve! "Let''s go back to the academy; we have apetition this afternoon," Charles said, taking a deep breath to calm his emotions as he beckoned for Catherine to head toward Cyber Academy. He didn''t notice that Catherine was behind him, her mouth slightly agape as she whispered, almost inaudibly, "Grace, who is she?" ... At Cyber Academy, in thepetition area, Charles looked at the information about his opponent and rubbed his nose in exasperation. Another level three Beast Master. It seemed he would have to wait until tomorrow to face a level four Beast Master. After today, sses A and B would be separated. Tomorrow''spetition was to select the top few from the new students, along with the strongest among them! As for Catherine, she seemed a bit out of sorts. Since returning from the Forging Masters Guild, she had been zoning out asionally, lost in her thoughts. Catherine''s opponent was also not stronga level three Beast Master. Perhaps that was why she was struggling to focus on the fight? Charles thought seriously about it, considering that this was the most likely reason. It couldn''t be because of him, could it? "Competitors, prepare! The match is about to begin!" With the referee''s shout, Charles stepped into thepetition area. Before the match even started, his opponent excitedly shouted, "Charles, Charles! I''m your fan! You''re amazing, Charles!" "This contestant, please get ready; the match will start soon," the referee reminded him. "Okay, teacher, I know! Just let me say a few more things!" Ignoring the referee''s expression, the opponent continued, "You''re incredible, Charles! Senior cksmith, senior alchemist! You''re just not human!" The referee heard this too and looked at Charles with astonishment, but then thought it over and dismissed the idea. There couldn''t be such a person, could there? "Ready! The match officially begins!" With the referee''s deration, the previously starry-eyed and excited opponent instantly summoned three wooden mystical beasts andunched an immediate attack on Charles! "[Vine Entanglement], [Stab Attack], and [Spore Vertigo]! Charles, I''m sorry, but you really need to practice more in the Beast Master area..." Before he could finish his sentence, Charles was already in front of him. All of his attacks missed entirely; not a single one hit Charles! With the boost from [Quick Travel], Charles''s speed was such that a Beast Master below level four couldn''t even react in time! Even a level four Beast Master could only make effective defensive movements if they could predict his actions in advance or use a wide-range attack to force Charles to change his path of attack. In hand-to-handbat, Charles had always been at an advantage, except when facing Catherine. His physical attributes and strength far exceeded those of other Beast Masters at the same level! "Charles, wait, don''t hit my face! I admit defeat!" The opponent was surprisingly straightforward, calling out directly to the referee. "The match is over. The winner is Charles, with an additional point awarded," the referee announced the results. Charles turned to leave, but a voice from behind him called out. "Charles, could I get your autograph? I admire you so much!" The person was pulling out a marker as they continued, "Charles, you have no idea how famous you are right now! You''ve made headlines everywhere! My sister really likes you!" Headlines? Charles felt a bit confused. He hadn''t had time to check his phone these past few days and had no idea what was going on. "Charles, please! Just one autograph! If I have your signature, my sister will definitely think highly of me!" Seeing the pleading look in their eyes, Charles couldn''t bring himself to refuse. He took the marker and signed it, writing "Charles." Once he stepped outside the venue, Charles immediately pulled out his phone. As soon as he opened [Calivia News], he saw a video of himself from the sidespecifically, footage from the events at the Alchemist Guild. There were countlessments fromizens below: "So strong! An eighteen-year-old senior cksmith, senior alchemist, and level three Beast Master! No one is stronger than Charles!" "Hasn''t even passed the senior alchemist certification yethow can you be so sure?" "Bet or not, I''m betting." "Of course I''ll bet! I bet Charles will pass the senior alchemist assessment smoothly!" "You..." Charles pped his forehead. It seemed things were getting a bit out of hand. Was it really just his cksmithing and alchemy skills that had made him this famous? There are many high-ranking cksmiths and alchemists, so why is everyone paying attention to him? "Sigh, I just want to quietly improve my strength," Charlesmented. He decided not to dwell on it any longer; popr events on the inte only stay trendy for a while, and after that, few people would remember him. When Charles arrived at Catherine''spetition venue, he found that she had already finished her match. She stood there, staring nkly into space, lost in thought. "What''s wrong? You seem a bit different this afternoon," Charles asked with concern. Catherine shook her head, indicating that nothing was wrong. But after a few seconds, with some hesitation, she asked, "Charles, who is Grace?" Charles was puzzled. He didn''t understand why Catherine was asking this, but he had nothing to hide, so he exined: "Grace is the daughter of the Lord of Lsengard, Lord Matthew, whom you''ve met. I well, I have aplicated rtionship with her." Catherine grew increasingly angry as she listened. Her fists clenched tightly, and her muscles tensed as if she were ready to strike at any moment. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Charles, this Grace is too much! How can she act like that?" Charles shrugged helplessly, raising his hands in surrender. There was nothing more to say about the past. All he needed to do was surpass Grace within two years and then defeat her, which would allow him to make Grace his ve. Not only would he be able to clear his past, but he would also make Grace experience true humiliation! "Charles, you will definitely be stronger than her!" Catherine believed in him. There was one thing she didn''t say, though: if Charles failed to surpass Grace, she would personally intervene to make Grace regret proposing the "human contract"! "Thank you, I know I will be stronger than her!" Charles nodded. Just then, his phone vibrated. At first, Charles thought it might be Hale contacting him about something, but when he opened his phone, he was surprised to see that the message was from Ezra! Ezra''s message read, "Charles, agree to Colton. He has a fragment of the map regarding the whereabouts of the divine beast!" A fragment of a map! Charles looked at the fragment of the map in his storage space [2/3]. [Map Fragment](2/3): This is a map that records the location of the fallen ancient god beasts. Since the map is missing thest 1/3, only a rough location can be discerned. [Click to view details] Celestial City, the Infinity Isles. He had two pieces; was thest one with Colton? Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Agreeing to Colton For Charles, in order to be an all-attribute Beast Master and a true powerhouse, he couldn''t afford to miss any information regarding the whereabouts of divine beasts and refined energy. He nned to head over to Colton''s ce soon; he was determined to get thatst map fragment! In addition to the information about the map fragment, Ezra had also reminded him of one more thing: to avoid leaving Calivia for the next few days. Charles hadn''t had the chance to ask for more details before Ezra left him with a simple note, "You can ask Hale about it; he should know the reasons." After that, no matter how much Charles messaged, Ezra didn''t respond. "Sigh, I wonder what the teacher has been doingtely. He doesn''t even have time to reply to a message!" Charles felt a bit helpless. Ever since he agreed to Ezra''s request, he hadn''t seen him at all. The afternoonpetition had already concluded, and Catherine was acting a bit unusually today. For the first time, she didn''t head to the training room at Cyber Academy but instead wanted to return to the dormitory first. The boys'' dormitory for new students, the girls'' dormitory, and Hale''s teacher dormitory were all located in the same area. Charles happened to be on his way back and decided to walk Catherine back before heading to Hale''s dormitory, where he knocked on the door. "The door''s open,e in," Hale''s voice called from inside the dorm. Charles pushed the door open and entered without any pleasantries, directly asking, "Teacher Hale, Professor You Wuming said we should avoid leaving Calivia for the next few days. What''s going on?" To be honest, Charles had his suspicions. Since moving from Lsengard to Genosha Calivia and encountering several attacks, he still hadn''t received a clear exnation. It was likely that those people were still not willing to give up and were secretly plotting something. Hale set down his Beast Mastery textbook and began to exin, "Charles, the academy has uncovered some news. Thest attack against us was carried out by a mysterious organization known as ''Constetion.''" "Constetion?" Charles had never heard of this organization. "Yes. Very few people know about this organization now because itst appeared a thousand years ago, instigating a war between Sandringham and the Abyssal Depths." Hale stood up and pulled a history book from the shelf, handing it to Charles. As Charles looked through it, Hale continued, "The oue of that war was a victory for Sandringham, which left the already remote Abyssal Depths even more backward and barren." "So, are you saying that the appearance of the Constetion organization this time is also to incite war?" Charles asked, confused. Hale replied, "It''s hard to say at this point. Not only have they targeted students from Cyber Academy, but even students from the other two major academies in Calivia, Aredale Academy and Nova Academy, have gone missing outside the city!" Hearing this news, Charles felt a bit surprised. After all, these incidents were happening near Genosha Calivia, which made it all the more rming! The Constetion organization was indeed bold and reckless, and they possessed considerable strength. Charles chatted with Hale for a while longer, and as time passed, he decided it was time to head over to Colton''s ce. The same verdant bamboo forest, Inside the small wooden cabin, Colton looked at Charles and asked, "So, have you made your decision today?" Charles shook his head, "Senior Colton, it''s like this. I heard from Professor Ezra that you seem to know some information about the whereabouts of divine beasts?" "The whereabouts of divine beasts? He even told you that? It seems he thinks quite highly of you," Colton replied while rummaging around. Finally, he pulled out a dusty little wooden box from under the cab. He opened it, and Charles nced inside to find that it contained thest map fragment! "Do you want it?" Colton noticed the longing in Charles''s eyes and felt a surge of delight. After all, everyone has their desires. Since Charles wanted this map fragment so much, it meant that agreeing to participate in the Valley of the Herb King trial was just around the corner. Colton deliberately let Charles have a good look at the map fragment before closing the box and storing it in his spatial ring. Charles couldn''t help but grumble internally; the fact that Colton had pulled this thing out from under the cab showed that he didn''t value it at all. Now that he knew Charles needed it, he put it away right in front of himwhat a calcted move! Taking a deep breath, Charles slowly asked, "Senior Colton, is that the information about the divine beasts? Why does it look like an iplete map?" With a meaningful smile, Colton replied, "It is indeed iplete. Two more map pieces are needed to truly obtain the whereabouts of the divine beasts. For the vast majority of people, this is merely a collectible." "I see. So this thing isn''t really that precious," Charles attempted to downy the value of the map fragment, preparing for future negotiations. Unexpectedly, Colton seemed to see through his thoughts and stated directly, "Not quite. For those who need it, this is far rarer than a diamond-quality mystical beast egg." "Senior Colton, the remaining two map pieces are unknown in location. Whether one can gather all the pieces to find the divine beasts'' whereabouts is purely based on luck," Charles said sincerely. His luck had indeed been good; he had obtained two map fragments, and with thisst one in Colton''s hands, he would be able to locate the divine beasts! "You''re right; it does depend on luck. How about this: I can see you want it, so I could give it to you," Colton said slowly. Charles''s eyes lit up, but before he could speak, he heard Colton continue, "However, there''s a condition. You not only have to agree to participate in the Valley of the Herb King trial and obtain what I need, but you also have to promise me a small favor in return." A favor? Charles thought carefully and began to understand Colton''s intentions. If he could meet Colton''s demands andplete the task, his future achievements would undoubtedly be glorious. Just in the field of alchemy, he would certainly be a master-level alchemist! He might even reach a level beyond that of a master! For Colton, trading a useless, tattered map for the favor of a future top alchemist was a very worthwhile deal. It was an investment in Charles. "Of course, the diamond-quality mystical beast egg I promised earlier won''t be reduced. As long as you can aplish this, I''ll give you both the diamond-quality mystical beast egg and this map," Colton affirmed without any reduction in his reward. To him, the items within the Valley of the Herb King trial were what truly mattered! "Senior, what is it that makes you value it so highly?" Charles couldn''t help but ask, curiosity getting the better of him. Colton, who had originally hunched over, seemed to slump even lower, responding vaguely, "A specific herb. With it, I can make up for the mistakes I''ve made." A herb? Making up for mistakes? Seeing Colton''s slightly dejected expression, Charles decided not to press further. He had already made up his mind to agree to Colton''s request: within a year, he would be a master-level alchemist and participate in the Valley of the Herb King trial! "Alright! It''s settled then. Once youplete my task, I''ll give you both the diamond-quality mystical beast egg and this map," Colton said, pausing for a moment before continuing, "I have some matters to attend to over the next couple of days. Three days from now, as long as you have time in the evening, you cane here to learn about alchemy." Charles nodded. Leveling up in alchemy was beneficial for him, as it meant he could create miracle drugs himself in the future! However, this had to be bnced with his Beast Master training, and how he divided his time between the two would depend on his own decisions. After bidding farewell to Colton, Charles didn''t idle away his time. He returned to the ce where he had trained Mia yesterday, using fruit wine to entice her to train hard. Ding! Your mystical beast Mia Lv.16 defeated Lightning Demon Ape Lv.15, Experience +20! Ding! Your mystical beast Mia Lv.16 gained experience inbat training, Experience +10! ... Ding! Your mystical beast Mia Lv.16 leveled up to Lv.17! Charles didn''t know how long it had been, but Mia had finally leveled up to 17. Just as he was about to continue training, he noticed that Mia wasn''t as focused as before; she wasn''t as obsessed with the fruit wine as she had been yesterday. "This little drunkard, could it be that she''s tired of fruit wine?" Charles pped his forehead in frustration. With Mia''s loyalty now at only 66, he couldn''t scold her too harshly, or her favorability would drop even further! After thinking it over, Charles decided to sweeten the deal, saying, "Mia, it''s gettingte today. Let''s train well for now, and tomorrow I''ll buy you some even better wine!" Mia''s eyes lit up, and she excitedly spread her wings, darting toward Mousie, startling him quite a bit. "Let''s continue the training!" Not just Mia, but Max and Mousie also endured thete-night training! It wasn''t until thete hours of the night that Charles noticed Mia, Max, and Mousie were starting to look fatigued. He decided to call it a night and returned to the dormitory for some rest. Now, Mia had reached level 18, while Max and Mousie''s levels remained unchanged at level 24. For both Beast Masters and mystical beasts, as they progressed, the pace of leveling up slowed down, and the challenges grew more difficult. "At this rate, I don''t know how long it will take to reach level four as a Beast Master and contract my fourth mystical beast," Charles thought anxiously as hey in bed. He was well aware of his own strength; with his equipment advantages, he could y a level five Beast Master! That might be enough for others, but for Charles, growing stronger was an endless journey! The sspetition was set to conclude the next afternoon, followed by the inter-academypetition in two months, the Cyber Academy main campus quotapetition in six months, and the Valley of the Herb King trial a yearter. With all these thoughts swirling in his mind, Charles drifted into a deep sleep. Chapter 145: Chapter 145: How Did He Do It? Early the next morning, as Charles stepped out of the dormitory, ready to grab some breakfast, he was surprised to find Catherine waiting quietly at the door. A few passing students nced over and whispered to each other, "Who is Catherine waiting for?" "Come on, who else could it be? It''s obviously the genius cksmith and alchemist, Charles!" "That''s true; their rtionship is the closest. It makes me so envious." "Envious of whom?" "Of course, I envy Catherine! With Charles around, she''ll never have to worry about equipment or miracle drugs. It''s just so enviable!" "Now that you mention it, you''re right!" The murmurs floated into Catherine''s ears. She had never thought about equipment or miracle drugs; she simply enjoyed being with Charles. Before she met Celestine, training andbat had been the most important things in her heart, with Charlesing in a close second. Now, Catherine felt uncertain; she couldn''t decide which was more importantbat training or Charles. "Good morning! Why didn''t you go to the training room this morning?" Charles asked, puzzled. He knew that in the past, Catherine would wake up early to train before having breakfast. Catherine shook her head and replied, "I didn''t go; I woke upte this morning." Woke upte? Hearing something so unbelievable, Charles couldn''t help but ask, "Did you have trouble sleepingst night?" Catherine didn''t answer. Instead, she turned and walked ahead of Charles toward the dining hall. "Hey, wait for me!" Charles, despite his confusion, hurried to catch up with her. What he didn''t see was the faint blush that lingered on Catherine''s face. She had been thinking about Charles until three or four in the morning before finally falling asleep. This was certainly something she couldn''t tell Charles. After they finished eating, they made their way to thepetition venue. Charles could clearly feel the students around him constantly watching, some even pulling out their phones to take pictures from a distance. This was the downside of fame; he was the center of attention everywhere he went. It wasn''t long before the matchups were announced. To Charles''s surprise, he wasn''t matched against Catherine or the second princess, Cami, but rather someone he had never heard of before named Kayden. He hadn''te across that name in the previous matches; it seemed he was a dark horse. Charles shook off some of his fatigue; today''spetition was far more intense than before. Now, only he, Catherine, Cami, and that Kayden remained, all with perfect winning records. Originally, the son of the great general, Zachary, could have been among them, but unfortunately, his luck ran out when he faced Catherine. "The match is about to begin; all contestants, please get ready," the referee called out loudly. Charles and his opponent, Zhu Zhiyu, stepped into the arena. "I didn''t expect to run into you," Kayden said, his demeanor rxed. Compared to Catherine and Cami, Charles, a level three Beast Master, seemed easier to deal with. He continued, "Sorry, bro, but you''re stopping here. No need to face those two after me." Charles wasn''t concerned. Kayden was not as simple as he appeared; from the moment he entered the arena, Kayden kept a straight face, standing in the corner furthest from Charles. It was also the most vulnerable spot, the easiest ce to be knocked out of the match. Clearly, this person had absolute confidence in his strength and had studied Charles''s matches, knowing he liked to use speed and physical strength to end fights quickly. "Match officially begins!" As expected, with the referee''s announcement, Kayden immediately summoned three mystical beasts: [Split Field Triangle Cattle] [Attribute]: Earth [Level]: 33 [Quality]: Gold [Skills]: Horn Charge, Rock Armour, Split Trampling, Soil Thorn [Weakness]: Lightning ... [Digging Rat] [Attribute]: Earth [Level]: 32 [Quality]: Gold [Skills]: Trap Dig, Quick Hole Drilling, The w Swings, Underground Raid [Weakness]: Wind .... [Rock Bear] [Attribute]: Earth [Level]: 34 [Quality]: tinum [Skills]: Bear Roar!, Bear Paw Punch, Rock Armor, Rapid Regeneration [Weakness]: Lightning ... Charles''s internal information indicated that Kayden''s mystical beasts were all above level thirty, clearly making him a level four Beast Master! No other students had mentioned him during their discussions, suggesting he had deliberately concealed his strength, waiting for the finals to make a stunning appearance. As Charles had anticipated, at the very moment the match began, Kaydenmanded the Split Field Triangle Cattle to use Split Trampling. He had studied Charles''s matches and was well-prepared, intending to use Split Trampling to alter the terrain and disrupt Charles''s advance. As long as Charles was affected by Split Trampling, his Digging Rat and Rock Bear could easily seal the match! Unfortunately, Charles had already anticipated Kayden''s intentions. At the start of the match, he summoned Max, Mia, and Mousie, but did not take any further action. "What! Why isn''t Charles attacking me? Is he giving up on the match?" Kayden thought instinctively, without considering any deeperyers to the situation. He had no idea that Charles had guessed his thoughts almost perfectly from the moment he entered the arena! Meanwhile, some observant students in the audience noticed that Charles''s mystical beasts seemed different and remarked, "Wait a minute, I remember Charles summoning a Steel Warhorse in a previous match." "One, two, three, plus the Steel Warhorsefour mystical beasts? Is Charles a level four Beast Master?" "No, it''s that mystical beast on his shoulder; it must have a special skill!" True to form, the students of Cyber Academy had deep knowledge of Beast Mastery, and they quickly figured out Mousie''s skill. "Mousie, use Mimetic Illusion to project Max!" Charlesmanded. Before everyone''s eyes, two identical Maxes appeared in the arena! Kayden, experienced in battle, quickly regrouped his three earth-type mystical beasts after his initial n failed, surrounding himself with them. "Charles, that was just luck; it won''t be so easy next time!" Kayden shouted, believing that Charles''s earlier sess was merely a stroke of luck. The Split Field Triangle Cattle and Rock Bear activated their defensive skills, while the Digging Rat vanished, reced by arge hole in the ground, clearly having used Quick Hole Drilling to set up an ambush! Charles remained calm as both Maxes attacked, their skills striking Kayden''s mystical beasts and leaving deep wounds. However, within just a few breaths, the wounds began to sprout grantion tissue, rapidly healing themselves. "Charles, your ice spikes are useless; you might as well just admit defeat. It''ll be worse if you get hurtter," Kayden advised. Charles ignored him andmanded both Maxes to continue using Ice Pick Throwing. As time passed, the tremors beneath their feet grew more pronounced; the missing Digging Rat was likely preparing tounch an attack. "Alright, it''s my turn now!" Charles had never intended to defeat Kayden''s mystical beasts with Ice Pick Throwing from the start. Beneath the two earth-type mystical beasts stood countless broken ice spikes, but no one noticed that those scattered ice shards were gathering at their feet, trapping them! "Mousie!" Charlesmanded, and Mousie immediately canceled the projection of Max. Quick Travel activated! Charles''s figure darted forward like a phantom, closing in on Kayden rapidly. Kayden was just about to instruct his two mystical beasts to block the attack when he realized they couldn''t move from their positions in time! "Damn it, when did this happen? Those weren''t useless attacks; they were all preparations for Charles''s advance!" Kayden thought, not having time to hesitate. He decisively summoned his fourth mystical beast! Mutated Rock Bear Attribute: Earth, Poison Level: 35 Quality: tinum Skills: Rock Armor, Bear Paw Punch, Paralytic Gas, Frenzy Weakness: Lightning ... The moment the Mutated Rock Bear appeared, a green gas erupted from its mouth, covering a third of the arena in an obscuring haze. Kayden was not worried about losing; for him, the moment the Mutated Rock Bear was summoned, the match was already over! Charles, charging at him, would have no defenses and could never suspect that Kayden was a level four Beast Master with a fourth mystical beast that had dual attributes: Earth and Poison! The Paralytic Gas would render any enemy rigid and unable to move if they were even slightly contaminated; Charles wouldn''t be able to escape! "It''s time to end this!" Although the Paralytic Gas was released quickly, its durationsted only a few breaths. However, by the time the green gas dissipated, Charles''s figure had disappeared! Kayden''s pupils dted in shock. He couldn''t react for a moment and was left bewilderedwhere had Charles gone? Behind him, Charles emerged from the shadows without a word, locking his arms around Kayden''s neck. With a sudden burst of strength from his waist, he hurled the still-dazed Kayden backward, sending him out of the arena. "Match over; the winner is Charles!" The referee announced swiftly, clearly surprised, for as an observer, he understood how Charles had achieved this victory. Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Heading to the Alchemist Guild Everything happened too quickly. The students watching from the sidelines were still in shock that Kayden was a level four Beast Master, beginning to worry about Charles in the green gas. Unexpectedly, in the next moment, the seemingly dominant Kayden was thrown out of the arena by Charles, who had appeared from who-knows-where! "Oh my gosh! I don''t understand what just happened. Wasn''t Charles in the green gas? How did he suddenly end up behind Kayden?" "Could it be that Charles has an invisibility skill?" "Even if he did, it wouldn''t be that easy to avoid the green gas!" "Truly, I can''tprehend the world of the strong. I can''t even follow what''s happening; I might as well go home and inherit the family business." "Teacher, how did that happen?" One student could no longer contain his curiosity and asked the referee standing nearby. The referee looked at Charles, then at the puzzled students, and sighed. The gap between the students was indeed significant. "Your attention was all focused on the green gas, but didn''t you notice there was an additional flying mystical beast in the sky?" the referee said, watching the students with anticipation, hoping that someone would figure out how Charles had aplished this. Unfortunately, after a moment of waiting, the confusion on the students'' faces only deepened. "The purpose of having an extra flying mystical beast was to create arge enough shadow. Charles must have a shadow-rted stealth skill," the referee continued without pausing. "The moment the Mutated Rock Bear appeared, Charles had already entered the shadows. Then, the flying mystical beast flew behind Kayden, and Charles moved along with it from the shadows!" After the referee exined, he did not leave. He himself had a question; he couldn''t quite figure out how Charles had reacted so quickly! It was as if he had known that a fourth mystical beast would appear. When the referee wanted to find Charles to ask him, he realized that Charles had already vanished. On the other side, at Catherine''s match, Catherine and Cami were locked in a fierce battle, both having activated Beast Mastery and stalemated. "It''s over! The second princess Cami''s Beast Mastery has a toxic effect, and every attack Catherine makes will be contaminated with poison!" Jace said anxiously. He hade to Genosha Calivia with Catherine, Charles, and Sadie. Although he had acted weakly when facing an ambush, after hearing two words from Charles, Jace had a sudden realization, and the others epted him. "Charles, if this goes on, Catherine is bound to lose. What should we do?" Jace asked. Charles didn''t respond; he just watched quietly as Catherine''s arms continued to make contact with Cami, gradually turning a yellow-green hue. "Aren''t you worried, Charles? Catherine''s attacks seem to be getting weaker," Jace remarked, puzzled by Charles''s calm demeanor. He didn''t seem worried about Catherine at all. Charles slowly replied, "It''s fine. She can''t lose. Right now, she''s enjoying the battle." "Enjoying the battle? I can''t see that at all! Catherine has been expressionless this whole time!" Jace eximed, wide-eyed as he tried to find evidence that Catherine was enjoying the fight, but he found nothing. Although Catherine''s face showed no expression and was quite calm, Charles could feel itCatherine was excited; she was reveling in the battle! The two fighters in the arena continued their stalemate, exchanging blows. The scales of victory appeared to be tipping in Cami''s favor, yet her expression was off; she frowned, as if she were the one at a disadvantage. As time passed, Catherine''s arms regained their normal color, and her attacks grew stronger! This was the power of the Gaoshan nationality''s Beast Mastery; not only did it enhance physical attributes and strength beyond that of a Beast Master of the same level, but it also allowed for adaptation to toxins! Now, free from the toxin''s effects, Catherine was pressing the attack against Cami! It was clear that the match would end with Catherine''s victory! "Wow, Catherine won too!" Jace was the first to p, then suddenly realized something and turned to Charles, saying, "Charles, does this mean you''ll be facing Catherine this afternoon?" Charles nodded; that was indeed the case. With their undefeated records, the afternoon match would decide a victor between him and Catherine. Thinking about it gave Charles a headache. Without weapons and equipment, he really wasn''t a match for Catherine. They had sparred many times before, and there was a significant gap in their abilities. Besides, there was no need to push for a decisive victory; Catherine was undoubtedly the strongest among this new ss of students. "Maybe I shouldn''t even show up this afternoon. It would save time for me to concoct some necessary miracle drugs," Charles thought, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Given Catherine''s personality, she wouldn''t like winning without a fight. Combat was the most important thing for them. "Charles, it''s time to go for the advanced alchemist certification assessment," Catherine said as she exited the arena and walked over to Charles. Charles replied, "Don''t you need to rest for a bit?" Catherine shook her head and walked ahead toward the Alchemist Guild, with Charles and Jace leisurely following behind her. On the other side of the arena, Cami frowned as she applied medicine to her injured areas. During her battle with Catherine, her opponent had shown no hesitation, attacking her weaknesses without considering that she was the second princess of the empire. Cami rubbed her still-painful chest and asked herpanion, "Why are they all heading in the same direction?" "Princess, don''t you know? Charles is going for the advanced alchemist certification assessment, and they''re all going to watch the excitement," herpanion replied. "What''s so interesting about the advanced alchemist assessment? Aren''t there already quite a few?" Cami asked, somewhat confused. She usually didn''t have time to keep up with news online; her days were filled with training in Beast Mastery and learning various etiquette and musical instruments. Herpanion quickly exined, "What you might not know, Princess, is that Charles sessfully passed the advanced cksmith certification assessment yesterday. He''s a bona fide genius!" Upon hearing this, a spark of curiosity ignited in Cami''s eyes; she wanted to go see for herself. However, she had other ssesing up and simply didn''t have the time. Noticing the second princess''s thoughts, herpanion pulled out a phone, opened a live streaming session, and held it out in front of Cami. The stream was all about Charles! In the Alchemist Guild in Genosha Calivia, Owen sat listlessly in his office, waiting for Charles to arrive for the assessment. He had barely sleptst night, troubled by one persistent question: why had Charles outright rejected him? When faced with Xavier''s invitation, Charles had said he would think about it, but when it came to Owen''s invitation, he didn''t even need to think and simply refused. Why? Why was this happening? Was he, the president of the Alchemist Guild, so disliked? "Grandpa, there are quite a few people outside. It looks like Charles is here for the assessment!" Cami said, her bright, innocent eyes sparkling as she interrupted Owen''s gloom. Owen tried to hide his confusion and concern, forcing a warm smile as he said, "Let''s go down as well." "Okay!" Cami eximed, eagerly turning around to run downstairs. Watching Cami''s retreating figure, Owen''s eyes held an unmistakable hint of sadness and anger. He seemed to recall something and looked toward the direction of Cyber Academy. ... Today, the Alchemist Guild was unusually lively; the once-empty hall was now filled to the brim with people, bustling and crowded. Not only were there alchemists, but also cksmiths, students from Cyber Academy, and various curious citizens who wanted to see the spectacle. "Here theye! Is that Charles? He looks so young!" "Of course, he''s only eighteen!" "He''s so handsome! Not only does he look good, but he also seems to have a great aura!" "Tsk, an eighteen-year-old high-level cksmith and alchemist. It''s hard to imagine just how strong he''ll be in the future!" "Look, those seem to be people from Genosha''s top families. Are they here just to watch?" "Watch? Please, they''re here to make an early investment!" Three well-dressed individuals stood in front of Charles, exuding an air of superiority. Their suits were high-end custom pieces, each worth at least a few gold coins! "Good afternoon, Mr. Charles. I am the butler of the Allen family; here''s my business card." "I''m Carter, an advisor from the rk family group. Here''s my card." "Hello, Mr. Charles. I represent the Robinson family of Genosha and would like to invite you to a dinner three days from now. Here''s the invitation." The Allen family was, in fact, the family of General Mason. The rk family group wasn''t one of the top families in Genosha Calivia; it was the Taylor family behind them that was truly at the top. Having the rk family group represent them seemed a bit too arrogant. As for the Robinson family, Charles was somewhat familiar with them. Teacher Hale was from the Robinson familywell, he used to be. Now, Hale was merely a teacher at Cyber Academy. When Charles had first arrived, he had inquired about Hale''s background, but all he found were rumors. It seemed that Hale had fallen out with the Robinson family for some reason and had voluntarily left the family. Charles looked at the business cards and the invitation in front of him and unhesitatingly took the invitation from the Robinson family first, followed by the card from the Allen family, and finally the card from Carter, the advisor of the rk family group. Carter observed Charles''s actions, and behind his gold-rimmed sses, a hint of dissatisfaction flickered in his eyes. In Genosha, aside from the royal family, the Taylor family was the strongest! Carter felt that bying here, he was already giving Charles a significant amount of face, yet he was surprised that Charles had chosen to take his cardst. Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Passing the Alchemist Assessment! "Mr. Charles, you may not be aware, but I am here representing the Taylor family." Carter pushed up his gold-rimmed sses, a hint of disdain flickering in his gaze. He regarded Charles as a bumpkin from a backwater ce, possessing some talent butcking the vision to understand the power of the Taylor family in Genosha. "I know, and so what?" Charles replied nonchntly. He had no interest in the Taylor family whatsoever. epting their business cards and invitations was merely a matter of courtesy. "Hmph." Carter scoffed. A surge of anger had already risen within him, but it was inappropriate to express it in front of so many people. He could only respond with sarcasm, saying, "Charles, there are plenty of high-level cksmiths in Genosha, so don''t get too arrogant!" Carter paused for a moment and continued, "While you, Charles, may have some talent, there''s no guarantee that you can pass the advanced alchemist certification assessment." Charles asked with some curiosity, "What does my ability to pass this advanced alchemist certification assessment have to do with you?" "Well, it actually has nothing to do with me."Carter admitted, unsure of what to say next. He hadn''t expected Charles to have such a sharp tongue. The members Charles asked with some curiosity, "What does my ability to pass this advanced alchemist certification assessment have to do with you?" "Well, it actually has nothing to do with me."Carter admitted, unsure of what to say next. He hadn''t expected Charles to have such a sharp tongue. The members of the Allen family and the Robinson family nearby looked on with surprise. They were also part of prominent families, but they were still somewhat inferior to the Taylor family. They couldn''t believe that Charles showed no regard for Carter at all. "Charles, I wonder if you''ve ever heard the saying, ''A tree standing out in the forest will be struck by the wind?''" Carter pondered for a moment before continuing, "A young person being too arrogant is not a good thing." "Is that a threat?" Charles asked, locking his gaze onto Carter''s eyes as he spoke slowly. For some reason, Carter felt a flicker of fear within him. It was as if he sensed a chill creeping up his back, as if something was making him uneasy. Charles didn''t want to say anything further. From Carter''s attitude, he could tell that the Taylor family was not easy to deal with. Generally, prominent families are those that hold themselves above others, not only self-righteous but also quite arrogant. Having already wasted a considerable amount of time, Charles showed no hesitation as he turned and walked into the alchemist guild. Behind him, Carter''s expression darkened as he stared at Charles''s retreating figure. He wanted to say something more, but the memory of Charles''s earlier gaze made him instinctively close his mouth. He had a feeling that provoking Charles would lead to very serious consequences. However, looking at the crowd of onlookers, Carter couldn''t remain silent, otherwise, people would think he was intimidated by Charles. After all, he represented the Taylor family! Carter gritted his teeth and shouted, "Charles, just wait! You''re disrespecting the Taylor family!" Charles''s figure showed no signs of stopping as he navigated through the bustling crowd with Catherine. Every now and then, someone pulled out their phone to take pictures, clearly fans of Charles. "Charles, are you ready?" Owen was already waiting in the main hall. "I''m ready, we can start at any time."Charles replied. Owen nodded and went over some important points regarding the certification assessment. "The miracle drug you concoct must meet the required standards, it cannot be too simple. Additionally, once it''s sessfully made, it must be verified on-site to ensure the miracle drug is without issues." Furthermore, Owen added, "The entire assessment will be recorded. If any vitions are found afterward, the alchemist guild reserves the right to pursue ountability!" Charles nodded, he was already aware of all this. "The advanced alchemist certification assessment will take ce in the alchemy room. You can now take out your alchemy materials, I need to check them."Owen said. Even though Owen had a good opinion of Charles, he still needed to conduct this essential check. With a sh of the jet ring on his hand, the materials for the revival pill appeared before Owen''s eyes. Second-tier resurrecting serpent beast core 1, wood in spring 2 After carefully inspecting and recording the materials, Owen directly led Charles into the assessment-specific alchemy room. Among the crowd watching in the alchemist guild hall, someoneined, "What''s going on? We can''t see anything like this." "Why are you staring? There are so many people watching, what if it affects Charles?" someone defended Charles, retorting. "That''s true, alchemy can easily be influenced by external factors. Conducting the certification assessment in the hall might lead to mistakes."another person added. A staff member from the alchemist guild quickly stepped forward to exin, "Everyone, please remain calm. We have prepared projection equipment in advance. Once we obtain Charles''s consent, we can allow everyone to witness the assessment process." Inside the alchemy room, Charles was about to begin the refining of the revival pill when Owen spoke up, "Charles, I wonder if we could live-stream your assessment process? Many people outside are keenly interested in this matter." Charles nonchntly nodded to indicate his agreement. In addition to Owen, there were several other alchemists present in the alchemy room. These individuals were all significant members of the alchemist guild, and they were equally invested in this assessment. The formal assessment for senior alchemist certificationmenced! Separation, solution, apparatus, cold fire... Charles skillfully manipted various tools in the alchemyb, and the entire process was remarkably smooth, flowing like water! Inside the alchemy room, a profound silence enveloped the atmosphere, everyone was intently focused on Charles''s hands, their expressions filled with astonishment. Although it was anticipated that Charles possessed the level of a senior alchemist, witnessing him refine the revival pill was still a jolt to their senses. Every single one of Charles''s movements was impably precise, without a hint of errortruly wless, worthy of being showcased in an alchemy textbook. In stark contrast to the tranquility within the alchemy room, the hall outside was abuzz with excitement, filled with exmations of astonishment. "My goodness, it looks like Charles can truly pass the alchemist assessment! An eighteen-year-old genius cksmith, a brilliant alchemistit''s simply unimaginable!" "I concede, Charles is undeniably the best!" "I''ve heard that his Beast Master skills are also quite formidable, it seems he is a student from Cyber Academy." "Charles is among the strongest of this year''s new students, and he will be participating in the finals this afternoon!" "How impressive!" Jace listened to the murmurs surrounding him, feeling an unusual exhration, as if the discussions were not about Charles but rather about himself. Catherine, however, wore a stoic expression, yet her azure eyes remained firmly fixed on the projection screen, clearly concerned for Charles. Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, Charles sessfully concocted the revival pill,pleting the most critical portion of the advanced alchemist certification assessment. What remained was the final step. That was to test the drug, ensuring that the revival pill''s effects would meet the required standards. Owen took the revival pill from Charles''s hand and carefully scraped off a small amount of powder to taste. After a moment, Owen looked at Charles with aplex expression and announced, "Congrattions, Charles, the miracle drug is wless, and you have passed the assessment." Charles was not at all surprised by the oue, after sessfully concocting the pill, an information prompt had appeared before his eyes, indicating that the revival pill had no issues whatsoever. Once the alchemist guild members had gathered their equipment and departed. Only Owen and Charles remained. Owen hesitated for a moment before asking, "Charles, can you tell me why you are unwilling to be my apprentice?" Charles had originally been contemting how much he could save with the discounted prices on alchemy materials as an advanced alchemist. Hearing Owen''s question, Charles replied, "President Owen, the reason for my refusal is that someone else has already invited me to learn alchemy." "Someone else invited you before I did?" Owen said in disbelief. He continued, "I mean, is there really anyone in Genosha Calivia who possesses better alchemy skills than mine?" Charles understood that Owen was a master-level alchemist and the president of the alchemist guild, but Colton was a grandmaster-level alchemist, and of course, his skills surpassed Owen''s. "President Owen, there is another alchemist at Cyber Academy named Colton, and I have already agreed to study alchemy under him." Charles was actually quite curious about the rtionship between Owen and Colton. Upon hearing Charles''s response, Owen was taken aback, his expression bing even moreplicated as he slowly exined, "Colton and I were originally brothers, but due to certain events, we have be estranged and have notmunicated for years." "So, you have epted his terms?" Owen clearly knew his brother''s requirements, which involved reaching master-level alchemist status within a year to participate in the Valley of the Herb King secret realm. "Yes, I have already agreed."Charles replied. Owen sighed and said, "It seems your talent is even greater than I imagined, however, bing a master-level alchemist within a year is nearly impossible!" "Should be doable, right?" Charles pondered for a moment, after all, he had only been practicing alchemy for a short time and had already reached the status of advanced alchemist. In his eyes, alchemy was not particrly difficult. Charles voiced his thoughts, "Is it really that hard to be a master-level alchemist within a year?" "Of course it''s difficult! I can''t even count how many people are stuck at the senior alchemist level, let alone reaching master level. I originally thought that if you could achieve master-level alchemist status within ten years, that would be impressive!" Owen responded. "I see, but I''ve only been practicing alchemy for a few months."Charles revealed an unbelievable fact. "What! A few months? Are you serious?" Owen staggered slightly, almost losing his bnce. A few months to be an advanced alchemist? He had never even heard of such a thing, let alone seen it! It was impossible, utterly impossible! His own talent was considered quite good, and it took him several years to be an advanced alchemist, while Charles imed to have achieved it in just a few months. Owen reached out to steady himself against the nearby table and, feeling somewhat uncertain, continued to ask, "Charles, you''re not joking, are you?" Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Battle with Catherine! "Of course I''m not joking, what would be funny about something like this?" Charles replied, stating the truth as it was. Owen waspletely taken aback by Charles''s words, it took him a while toe to terms with this reality. "Charles, why don''t you study alchemy with me?" Owen couldn''t suppress his desire any longer. Faced with a talent like Charles, he didn''t want to let this opportunity slip by, he had to teach him personally! "Well... President Owen, I''ve already made a promise, so I can''t go back on it."Charles replied. He valued honesty and integrity in both his words and actions, breaking a promise was not something he could do. "Alright then."Owen sighed again, dismissing the thought of taking on an apprentice. He felt immense regret, if only he had proposed mentoring Charles when they first met, how much better that would have been. It seemed that his judgment was not as sharp as that of his brother at Cyber Academy. As Charles exited the alchemy room, he found the once-crowded hall even fuller. Many had rushed over upon hearing the news of Charles sessfully passing his assessment. These were individuals with some influence in Genosha Calivia, eager to invest in Charles ahead of time. Word had spread far and wide when Charles passed his advanced alchemist certification. The purpose of these visitors was to establish a good rtionship with Charles early on. After all, an eighteen-year-old advanced alchemist was bound to achieve greatness, likely reaching master-level status, or even higher, perhaps he could be a grandmaster alchemist. There were only a few grandmaster alchemists in Genosha, and each held a particrly high status. They were prime targets for various families and factions to court. Charles looked around at the throng of people in the alchemist guild, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of them. He still had to return to the academyter that afternoon for the finalpetition. He didn''t have much time to waste here. Noticing Charles''s thoughts, Owen quickly spoke up, "How about this, Charles? There''s a back door in the alchemist guild, we could leave through there." Charles nodded and sent messages to Catherine and Jace, asking them to gather at the academyter. He followed Owen toward the back door and returned to Cyber Academy. Unexpectedly, Catherine replied, "Charles, I have some things to take care of, so I won''t be joining you guys back." Upon receiving the message, Charles felt a twinge of curiosity but didn''t dwell on it. Before long, he and Jace returned to Cyber Academy. Taking advantage of the little time left at noon, Charles went to the cafeteria and found a private room. He summoned Mia, Mousie, and Max to join him. The three mystical beasts were eating with him, and Max had the most elegant eating manners, resembling ady, she made not a sound while eating. In contrast, Mia waspletely different, despite being a female mystical beast, she devoured her food ravenously and at lightning speed. "Slow down, there''s plenty of meat left."Charles said slowly, looking at the three mystical beasts. He loved this feeling, the mystical beasts bound by the Beast Master contract were his most loyalpanions! The news of Charles passing the advanced alchemist certification was still spreading. In the cksmith guild, President Xavier was watching a news video on his phone, feeling incredibly anxious. In response to his invitation, Charles had agreed to think for two days before giving a reply. He worried that during this time, Charles might be swayed by the conditions offered by the alchemist guild president, Owen, and ultimately reject him. At just eighteen years old, Charles was already an advanced cksmith and advanced alchemist. If he could focus all his energy on cksmithing, it was almost a given that another grandmaster-level cksmith would emerge in Genosha in the future. Moreover, various families and factions in Genosha Calivia were inviting Charles, especially the prominent families, who would surely offer generous conditions. "I can''t wait any longer. Chu Feng has apetition this afternoon, once it''s over, I''ll go talk to him in person."Xavier thought to himself in his office. If he weren''t worried about affecting Charles''spetition, he would have gone to Cyber Academy already. Meanwhile, in the director''s office at Cyber Academy. Director Jamie and Hale were engaged in conversation. Jamie said, "Hale, Ezra has indeed found a true genius, but he''s almost too much of a genius, I''m a bit worried." "Are you worried that he might spend too much energy on cksmithing and alchemy, thus affecting his growth as a Beast Master?" Hale responded. Director Jamie nodded, agreeing with this perspective. He continued, "After thepetition this afternoon, find some time to talk to him. Remind him to focus his energy on his training as a Beast Master." Hale nodded in agreement, he had the same thought. He remembered that Charles had mentioned wanting to learn alchemy from Colton. While it might somewhat interfere with his Beast Master training, Hale felt it wasn''t a major issue, he was just worried that Charles might end up investing too much energy into cksmithing. "By the way, Director, the Constetion organization won''t let go of the matter of assassinating geniuses. With Charles''s recent rise to fame, they might target him. I''d like to request a level seven Beast Master to secretly protect Charles."Hale said. His concerns were not unfounded, the entire Genosha Calivia was now aware that Charles was a genius Beast Master, a genius alchemist, and a genius cksmith! It was easy to assume that the Constetion organization woulde after him. Jamie understood this logic as well. But he had a slightly different idea than Hale. "There''s no sense in being overly cautious. Instead, let''s discuss this with Charles and encourage him to go out more. Maybe we can draw the Constetion members out into the open." If they could use Charles to lure out all of the Constetion members in Genosha, they wouldn''t have to worry about being attacked constantly, and other students would also have the freedom to go outside. "That...."Hale hesitated. He was concerned that the people from Constetion might be too strong and could harm Charles. "I understand your worries, there are risks involved. Let''s see how Charles feels about it. You can ask him about itter."Jamie replied, standing up and walking to the window. He gazed at the tform where he had stood during the freshman enrollment. The image of fifteen coffins reyed in his mind, and he spoke slowly, his voice firm yet tinged with gravity. "Geniuses, before they fully grow, are still quite fragile. I hope Charles can be stronger quickly, there''s not much time left for a genius." On the other side, In front of thepetition venue at Cyber Academy, a dense crowd had gathered. Among them were both new students and those who had been studying at Cyber Academy for some time. Everyone''s gaze was fixed on Charles and Catherine, who stood outside thepetition area. "Who do you think is stronger, the two of them?" "Is that even a question? Of course, it''s Catherine! She''s a level four presale master, while Charles is only level three. There''s no way he could beat her!" "That''s not the whole story, though. Kayden is also a level four presale master, and Charles defeated him." "That may be true, but Catherine is not Kayden, she won''t give Charles that chance." Kayden stood in the crowd, listening to the discussions around him, and his expression was extremely grim. He had been the one standing on thepetition stage, basking in the audience''s eager gaze, not Charles! "Damn it, it''s all Charles''s fault. If only I had summoned my fourth mystical beast earlier, or just used Beast Mastery to fight Charles directly, things wouldn''t have turned out like this!" Kayden thought, feeling unwilling to ept that Charles was stronger than him! He continued to mutter, "Give me one more chance, and I will definitely defeat Charles!" Lan, who had already been defeated by Charles twice, unintentionally overheard Kayden''s words. He turned to look, his eyes filled with sympathy. He had gone through this feeling himself, and not just once! After thinking for a moment, Lan spoke up, "Buddy, even if you got another chance, you still wouldn''t be a match for Charles." Kayden shot his head up and red at Lan, saying, "What do you mean by that? On a real battlefield, I would have already killed Charles with my own hands!" "Uh, buddy, don''t be so hasty. I know you''re feeling hurt, but you might not know this."Lan scratched his head, surprised by Kayden''s intense reaction. Kayden took a couple of steps forward and asked, "Know what? How much stronger can Charles be?" "Not much stronger. He''s only killed three level five Beast Masters when using his weapons and gear."Lan recounted the previous events, watching Kayden''s face closely. Kayden''s expression was filled with doubt and disbelief. "That''s impossible! How could someone at level three kill level five Beast Masters? Are you trying to fool me?" The look of sympathy in Lan''s eyes deepened, he knew that those who hadn''t witnessed Charles''s full strength would find it hard to believe such things. "You''ll find out soon enough whether it''s true or not."Lan said before turning to look at thepetition stage. Charles stood there, holding a ck long knife in his hand, fully equipped. Across from him, Catherine wore a pair of gauntlets, which she had purchased earlier that afternoon. Using weaponry for their final showdown was the result of a discussion between her and Charles. She had insisted that Charles give it his all for a true battle between them! Of course, all of this had been approved by their teacher. After all, with only the two of them left,peting for the title of strongest new student, the format of the match didn''t matter much. The final showdown was about to begin! Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Charles Wins "Are both of you ready? The match is about to begin."the referee asked. Charles and Catherine both nodded, indicating that they were fully prepared. The spectators in the audience all widened their eyes, focusing intently on the two, afraid to miss a single moment. "The match officially starts now!" the referee announced loudly. In the next second, Seven six-pointed star formations appeared in thepetition arena without any pause. Mia, Max, and Mousie''s projections of the mutated rock bearunched attacks against the four mystical beasts summoned by Catherine. In an instant, the energies of ice and fire radiated dazzling light, as Max initiated his assault with an energy bomb from the very start! Energy Bomb: A chaotic elemental shockwave formed by gathering ice and fire elements, resulting in a powerful explosion, but it may cause self-harm. The powerful ice and fire explosion ruthlessly unleashed its power across thepetition arena. The gold attribute mystical beasts summoned by Catherine had no choice but to dodge. As it dodged, Mia, soaring in the sky, seized the opportunity. Its speed reached an extreme, leaving behind an afterimage in the air as itunched a sharp w strike at the mysterious silver spirit cat below! Although Mia found the chance, its level was too low, the mysterious silver spirit cat was at level 38, far surpassing Mia. The wounds kept bleeding, affecting its movements. Just as the mysterious silver spirit cat was about to counterattack, Mia didn''t give it that chance. After the attack, it made no pause, pping its wings and returning to the sky. Catherine''s mystical beasts were of the gold attribute and were unable to fly, which meant Charles held absolute air superiority! Mia''s harassment in the air effectively restrained Catherine''s mystical beasts, creating opportunities for Max and Mousie''s projections of the mutated rock bear. Charles was also busy, the ck gold long knife was drawn, with ice and fire energy condensing on the de. His gaze was sharp, missing no detail in the arena as he constantly searched for an opportunity. To defeat Catherine, he knew he had to severely injure one of her mystical beasts in an instant, without using the three-attribute ck gold knife glow, before finally facing her directly! Clearly, Catherine was aware of Charles''s intentions, her battle experience wouldn''t allow such mistakes. From the very beginning of the match, her target was Charles! However, the energy bomb Max had used was formidable, slightly hindering her offensive momentum. "Steel Warhorse!" Catherinemanded her mystical beast. The steel warhorse immediately used steel strengthening and brutal charge, aiming to clear all obstacles in front of Catherine and create a swift path to approach Charles. Meanwhile, Catherine''s mind was racing. Currently, the only mystical beast that had been injured by Mia was the mysterious silver spirit cat, its condition affected. If she were in Charles''s position, she would undoubtedly choose to attack the injured mysterious silver spirit cat! Even the spectators in the audience thought the same, especially the older students, who continuously analyzed andmented: "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! I didn''t expect Charles''s mystical beast to have such powerful attacks, that energy explosion was incredible!" "Both of these fighters have exceptionalbat experience, which has led them to anticipate each other''s intentions. Right now, Charles is at a disadvantage, and if this continues, he will undoubtedly lose!" "I don''t agree. Charles is clearly always searching for an opportunity. The energy contained in that long knife of his frightens me." "Every contestant who has made it to the finals is no simple opponent. Charles likely still has some trump cards up his sleeve!" Jace listened intently from the sidelines. At this moment, he and Sadie were indifferent to the oue of the match, whether Catherine won or Charles emerged victorious, it wouldn''t affect them. But Kayden and Lan were different. Especially Kayden, who turned to Lan and said, "Is this the full extent of your strength? I see Charles is only at this level." "Don''t be so hasty. Catherine is strong, but Charles is stronger! Anyone who dares to underestimate him will pay the price."Lan replied, knowing this all too well. Every time he emerged from the shadow of defeat, he found himself beaten back down by Charles. He would rather face a level five Beast Master than choose to be an enemy of Charles! Charles was even more terrifying than a level five Beast Master! "Catherine is definitely stronger. If Charles can win, then I..." Kayden''s words were cut short as his pupils suddenly dted, staring in disbelief at thepetition arena. Charles made his move. A ck de of light, with unparalleled speed and power, shed towards Catherine''s mystical beast! To everyone''s surprise, Charles''s target was not the mysterious silver spirit cat but the steel warhorse! Someone eximed, "What? Is Charles crazy? Isn''t that spirit cat the better choice?" "Yeah, the spirit cat is already injured, and the warhorse is still at full strength. Charles made the wrong target!" "No, Charles is right! Catherine is prepared, she thinks Charles will attack the spirit cat. At this moment, by choosing to attack the steel warhorse, he can catch her off guard!" The referee, who had been closely watching the match, added to the students'' discussion, "There''s one more thing you''ve overlooked: the steel warhorse is charging and cannot stop. Not only can it not evade, but this also means Charles''s attack will be even more powerful!" The faster the speed, the greater the energy involved, Charles understood this principle. Now, it was as if the steel warhorse was charging directly into the ck gold knife glow, which would result in even heavier injuries, enough to knock it out of the fight! At this point, it was toote for Catherine to stop it, her focus was entirely on the spirit cat, and she wouldn''t think that Charles''s target was the steel warhorse. And sure enough, The ck de of light struck the steel warhorse, sessfully knocking it down and severely injuring it. Now, Catherine only had three mystical beasts left capable of fighting! The power of the ck gold knife glow shocked many people. Kayden instinctively said, "That, that attack was too powerful! That''s a tinum-level mystical beast, and it''s a gold attribute mystical beast with strong defense!" Lan replied, "Now do you believe it? But this doesn''t seem to be Charles''s strongest attack." "What? He has an even more powerful attack?" Kayden instinctively took half a step back, his voice raised. Now he believed Lan''s words, if Charles truly had even stronger attack methods, defeating a level five Beast Master was indeed possible! Kayden and Lan''s conversation was overheard by Jace in front of them. He turned to Kayden and Lan and said, "Don''t be disrespectful. My brother Chu is the strongest! Losing to him isn''t embarrassing, after all, he''s a genius among geniuses!" Lan wasn''t going to let Jace off easy, he feared Charles but wasn''t afraid of Jace! "No, Charles is Charles, what does that have to do with you?" Lan replied directly. Jace held his head high, not caring at all, and answered, "Of course it''s my business! I''m Charles friend! Do you understand? A genius''s friend!" Outside thepetition arena, Jace and Lan were at odds with each other. Meanwhile, inside thepetition arena, Catherine hadn''t given up. Wearing the newly bought boxing gloves, she chose to use Beast Mastery and nned to confront Charles head-on. The information about the boxing gloves appeared before Charles. [Spider Silk Boxing Gloves [Blue Quality]: Made from the unique spider silk produced by the Golden-Eating Spirit Spider, these gloves are not only lightweight and form-fitting but also possess strong defense, enhancing the wearer''s attack power while reducing damage to the hands.] Blue quality boxing gloves? Charles looked at the information prompt in front of him with a hint of helplessness, realizing that Catherine must have purchased these gloves to fight him at her best. This was also the best pair of gloves she could find at the moment. Generally, purple quality weapons and equipment can only be obtained atrge auctions. As for purple quality boxing gloves, those are even rarer. Such equipment is lessmonly used, and most ordinary cksmiths wouldn''t bother to forge them, they can only be found through custom orders or sheer luck. Like Catherine, Charles also activated Beast Mastery to enhance his physical abilities. He knew that the results of the match would soon be revealed. Neither of them hesitated andunched their attacks at each other. Catherine''s Beast Master level was higher than Charles''s, and her physical attributes were also stronger, however, she couldn''t match Charles''s speed thanks to his use of Quick Travel. With his speed advantage, Charles was able to evade Catherine''s attacks while countering with his ck gold long knife! Charles didn''t intend to use the three-attribute ck gold knife glow, its power was too great, and he couldn''t fully control it yet. The battle between the two escted into a heated exchange, back and forth, exceptionally thrilling! Many spectators were left mesmerized, suchbat experience was something even some veteran students couldn''t achieve! Only through extensive realbat experience could such a fighting style be developed! Even the refereemented, "If the levels of these two Beast Masters were the same as mine, I fear I would have been defeated long ago! They are both true geniuses!" Lan and Kayden exchanged nces and silently withdrew their thoughts, neither of them had anyints left. This battle had already shown them the gap between them and Charles! Even between geniuses, there remained an insurmountable chasm! Finally, time passed little by little. Catherine gradually found herself at a disadvantage, most of her attacks were dodged by Charles, and the remaining ones were easily blocked. Moreover, Charles''s ck gold long knifepletely overwhelmed her spider silk boxing gloves. Although the spider silk boxing gloves could reduce damage to her hands, Charles''s attacks were simply too powerful, causing Catherine''s hands to tremble. This match was a loss for her. Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Thomass Uncle Outside thepetition arena, many students had already realized that Catherine was running out of steam and was on the brink of defeat. Somemented, "If it weren''t for the fact that the steel warhorse was severely injured by Charles, Catherine would have had a much greater chance of winning!" "Indeed, who would have thought that Charles''s target would be the steel warhorse? That strike was exceptionally powerful, and itpletely incapacitated the warhorse!" "I have to say, Charles is undoubtedly the strongest new student of this sessiona level three Beast Master who has defeated all his opponents, even taking down a level four Beast Master!" "Genius is genius, we can only look up in admiration!" Three minutes passed, and Catherine''s reactions had slowed. Meanwhile, Charles maintained his speed, his figure like a wraith. After a swift lunge, the ck gold long knife pierced through Catherine''s defenses, sessfully defeating her! "The match is over! I hereby announce that the ultimate winner of thispetition is Charles!" the referee proimed immediately. Many people in attendance erupted into cheers, they were all fans of Charles, supporting him for his talent and strength. Some, however, showed signs of displeasure on their faces, as they supported Catherine and were naturally a bit unhappy. Yet at that moment, Catherine disyed no hint of disappointment. She recognized Charles''s strength, and she knew he had not yet unleashed his most powerful strike, otherwise, she would have been defeated much earlier. While the oue of the match was important, Catherine found greater enjoyment in the process. The experience of battling allowed her to identify her shorings, enabling her to learn and improve her skills. As the final victor, Charles felt somewhat helpless. Just as he exited thepetition arena, a crowd quickly gathered around him, bombarding him with questions: "Charles, with your level three Beast Master abilities, you''ve be the strongest new student. Do you have any special techniques?" "Charles, can I get your autograph?" "You''re so cool! You''re my idol!" Charles didn''t say a word in response. He felt a bit ufortable and unustomed to being the center of attention like this. Fortunately, the referee quickly came over to restore order, promptly ushering the crowd away. Relieved, Charles hadn''t even turned to leave when the referee approached him again, somewhat shyly saying, "Charles, um, my daughter is also a fan of yours. Could you please give me an autograph?" With a sigh of resignation, Charles quickly signed the name and, without lingering, headed back to his dorm. The sspetition had concluded, and the list of the fifteen students in ss A was announced. Many names were familiar to Charles, like Cami, Zachary, and Kayden. He recognized all of them, and of course, Catherine was also in ss A. As for Jace and Sadie, they ended up in ss B, as their strengths were still a bitcking. Looking at the list on his phone along with the message to gather at seven in the morning, Charles couldn''t help but think about Sadie. The past couple of days had indeed been busy for her, leaving no time for integrating multiple attribute energies. Originally, Charles had nned for Sadie to summon a mystical beast to bestow him with the blessing of light, allowing him to better attempt the fusion of multiple attribute energies and improve his proficiency. "I''ll try again when I have the time. If I''m asking for her help, I can''t go empty-handed. I''ll bring her some miracle drug as a gift."Charles decided. He felt a bit tired, as his fight with Catherine had drained quite a bit of his energy. Charlesy down on his bed and rested quietly for a while. In Genosha, at the Lsengard lord''s mansion, Matthew stared at the message disyed on his phone, feeling as though he had been struck by lightning. He stood there dazed, opening his mouth several times before finally saying, "An eighteen-year-old high-level cksmith and high-level alchemist? This Charles is such a genius?" Thoughts of his daughter Grace''s interactions with Charles flooded Matthew''s mind. Regret filled Matthew''s thoughts as he instinctively said, "What am I going to do? Charles is bound to be a master-level alchemist and cksmith. If he holds a grudge against the Garcia family because of Grace, that would be disastrous!" Someone had a different perspective and reminded him, "My Lord, that human contract cannot be undone. If Miss Grace defeats Charles, then no matter how unwilling Charles is, he will have to obey her." Matthew suddenly realized that if Grace truly defeated Charles, they would gain a genius alchemist and genius cksmith as a servant! For the Garcia family, this would be a rare opportunity for rise over a hundred years! If things progressed well, it might even be possible to leave Lsengard andpete with the top families in Genosha Calivia! Matthew no longer hesitated and began to arrange everything, directing all the family''s resources toward Grace to ensure that his daughter could sessfully defeat Charles in two years! At the same time, Raj and Lily received news about Charles. "Daughter, this is unbelievable! Charles has talent in both alchemy and cksmithing?" Raj turned to ask, noticing that his daughter Lily was staring nkly at a photo of Charles on her phone, lost in thought. "Sigh!" Raj quietly sighed. He was aware of Lily''s feelings for Charles. Initially, he just thought that the two of them probably wouldn''t have a good oue in the future. It seemed clear now that Charles would only grow stronger and go further. "Lily, don''t feel too bad. Some people are just lucky to have experienced greatness. Charles is destined to be a true powerhouse."Raj said infort. Lily shook her head and firmly replied, "Dad, I''m not sad. I''m happy for Charles." "Really?" Raj looked into his daughter''s bright eyes, feeling no sense of relief, instead, his heart grew heavier. He knew his daughter well, and it seemed she was about to make a significant decision. In the next moment, Lily stated with unwavering determination, "Dad, I don''t want to just stay in Lsengard and only watch Charles from afar. I want to work hard and be strong, just like Catherine, and always follow behind Charles." "Lily..." Raj tried to speak several times but didn''t know what to say. In the end, he could only nod silently. Meanwhile, in the Miller family of Lsengard, Axel also received news about Charles, yet there was no change in his expression, as if he hadn''t seen it at all. Sitting across from him was a Level 6 Beast Master! Thomas''s uncle, Winston! Winston had just broken through from Level 5 to Level 6 Beast Master and had rushed from Genosha Calivia to Lsengard to investigate the disappearance of Kevin and Thomas. "Killing for a life, paying back debtsthese are just the naturalws of the world."Winston said, his narrow eyes fixed intently on the expression on Axel''s face. He continued slowly, "Axel, you are allied with Kevin, so you must have some evidence about Charles killing my rtives?" "Honestly, there is none. Kevin, Thomas, and Sly all vanished into thin air, and there''s not a trace of evidence at the scene!" Axel replied seriously, maintaining a calm demeanor. Upon hearing this, Winston let out a cold sneer. "Hmph, it better be true. Otherwise, not a single one of you from the Miller family will escape!" Axel quickly showed his weakness, pleading, "Lord Winston, how could I dare to deceive you? The wrath of a Level 6 Beast Master is something the Miller family cannot bear!" Seeing that there were no useful leads, Winston did not linger and turned to leave the Miller family. He had made up his mind. No matter what, Kevin and Sly had left Lsengard with Charles. In the end, only Charles returned safely, while the other two had vanished. His nephew Thomas''s death was also closely tied to Charles! Better to kill wrongly than to let someone escape! After Winston left, Axel could no longer maintain hisposure. His back was soaked with cold sweat, facing the pressure of a Level 6 Beast Master was not easy for him. The key now was Charles. If anything happened to Charles and the news of the Miller family''s betrayal of Thomas got out, the Miller family would be finished! A Level 6 Beast Master seeking revenge would likely lead to the death of everyone in the Miller family! That was the fury of the strong! Now, Axel could only hope that Charles would be able to deal with Winston. Without taking a moment to rest, Axel pulled out his spare phone and sent the information about Winston to Charles. ... The vibration of the phone woke Charles from his slumber. He picked up his phone and took a nce, instantly bing alert, a hint of coldness shing in his eyes! He hadn''t expected that Thomas''s uncle had actually broken through to a Level 6 Beast Master. This brought considerable pressure to Charles, a Level 6 Beast Master lurking in the shadows, ready to strike at any moment, was not afortable feeling. If it were a Level 5 Beast Master, it would be different. Charles had the confidence to use his three-attribute technique, the [ck gold knife glow], to defeat the opponent! But now, with Thomas''s uncle, Winston, being a Level 6 Beast Master, even if Charles unleashed his three-attribute [ck gold knife glow], he might not be a match for Winston. "Let the soldiers block the soldiers, let the water cover the earth. If I stay cautious during this time, there shouldn''t be any problems."Charles murmured to himself. Even if Winston was a Level 6 Beast Master, it was unlikely he would attack him within Cyber Academy. Besides, he was rtively safe in Calivia. After all, Charles was currently the center of attention, a genius alchemist and a genius cksmith, and he was the strongest new student in this cohort. Winston wouldn''t be foolish enough to make a move in the city, it was far more likely he would attempt an assassination outside! Fortunately, the [Constetion] organization had been quite activetely, and Cyber Academy had already notified students to reduce their outings. Charles could also use this time to improve his Beast Master skills as much as possible. Not to mention anything else, he at least needed to level up Mia, Max, and Mousie, especially Mia, who was the furthest behind. Just as Charles was deep in thought, there suddenly came a knock on the door. Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Killing with a Borrowed Knife "Charles, are you there? It''s me."Hale''s voice came from outside the door. Charles got up to open the door while replying, "Teacher Hale, I''m here." Hale walked into the dormitory and exchanged pleasantries with Charles for a moment before getting to the point. He said, "I''m here today mainly to discuss two important matters with you." Charles nodded. He could see that Hale''s expression was serious and earnest, indicating that what he had to say was significant. "Charles, even though you have exceptional talent in alchemy and forging, mastering Beast Mastery is the most important thing."Hale paused, then continued to advise, "In terms of alchemy, learning from Senior Colton should pose no major issues. As for forging, Charles, you might want to reconsider, after all, one''s energy is limited, and it''s impossible to excel in everything." Charles had anticipated this. From Riston to Genosha Calivia, Hale had been looking out for him all along. If Hale hadn''t informed him about Colton, Charles might never have acquired Mia, this emerald-quality mystical beast. He might have had to wait for the auction to start to buy a Gold or tinum-level mystical beast egg. "Teacher Hale, don''t worry. I know how to prioritize and won''t let my Beast Master training suffer."Charles replied decisively. Even without Hale''s reminder, he wouldn''t spend all his time on forging and alchemy, bing an all-attribute Beast Master was his goal. Only then could he truly be a powerful individual! "Charles, there''s one more thing that needs your consent."Hale said, looking somewhat conflicted. He pondered carefully in his mind before slowly continuing: "It''s like this, Charles. You are currently a focal point of attention, and the [Constetion] organization will likely target you. I have already applied for a high-level Beast Master to protect you." Charles did not respond. He could see the conflict and hesitation on Hale''s face, indicating that this matter was moreplicated than it appeared. Hale paused again before continuing, "The dean wants you to go out more often to lure out the [Constetion] members, allowing us to strike them down with overwhelming force! This would deal a heavy blow to [Constetion] and prevent them from taking action for a while." After hearing Hale''s words, Charles fell into deep thought. The attack by the [Constetion] organization was still fresh in his memorya Level 6 Beast Master and three Level 5 Beast Masters were a force not to be underestimated in Genosha. Not to mention the Beast Master who attacked the train, although he didn''t see the fight itself, the aftermath was evident in the shattered mountain left behind! However, since Dean Jamie made this suggestion, it meant that Cyber Academy was already prepared, and a stronger Beast Master would apany Charles to ensure his safety. In addition, Charles had another thought in mindLevel 6 Beast Master, Winston! If Winston was hell-bent on revenge and learned that Charles was alone outside the city, would he attempt to assassinate him? The answer was undoubtedly yes. In that case, the high-level Beast Master assigned to protect Charles would take action against Winston and eliminate him! Charles wouldn''t even need to lift a finger, Winston would bepletely eradicated from this world! Charles''s eyes lit up, and he asked, "Teacher Hale, I need to rify something." Hale looked a bit puzzled and asked, "Charles, what do you need to rify?" "Do we need to leave any of the assassins sent by [Constetion] alive?" Charles inquired. "There is no need to leave anyone alive. We just need to deal a heavy blow to their hidden forces within Genosha, and they will surely retreat for a while."Hale exined. "The people of [Constetion] all harbor some kind of toxin within them to avoid being captured alive and leaking information, so there''s no need to leave any of them alive." Upon hearing this, Charles nodded in agreement without any hesitation. "Alright then, I will go speak with the dean shortly."Hale said, but just as he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something. He turned back and reminded Charles, "Also, when ites to invitations from the major families within GenoshaCalivia, you should be cautious and not choose easily." Charles was somewhat puzzled, he had no intention of epting any family''s invitation. Joining one would certainlye with various restrictions. While he would gain the support of these top families in Genosha, he would also lose his freedom and be bound. Hale noticed the confusion on Charles''s face and exined, "The major families are in fiercepetition, and none of them want another family to gain an additional talented alchemist or forger." With that, Charles understood. If he chose one family, the others would turn against him, if they couldn''t have him, they would seek to destroy him, and that was the underlying principle. In the evening, in the dean''s office at Cyber Academy, Jamie was reviewing the documents on his desk regarding Charles. He examined them closely, not missing a single detail. Across from him sat Hale, delivering the news. He said, "Dean, Charles has agreed to act as bait to lure out the people from [Constetion]." "Be more detailed, repeat everything Charles said."Jamie instructed. Hale felt a bit puzzled, but he proceeded to recount all of Charles''s words. After hearing this, Jamie lowered his gaze to the information in his hands and a faint smile appeared on his lips, he was truly pleased with Charles. Not only was he exceptionally gifted and experienced inbat, but he was also intelligent, daring, and knew how to use others to his advantage! "Dean, what''s wrong?" Hale sensed something unusual about Dean Jamie. Jamie suppressed his smile, extended his hand to straighten a photo on the documents, and passed it to Hale. The person in the photo was none other than Level 6 Beast Master Winston! After reviewing the information, Hale recalled Charles''s earlier question and a spection arose in his mind. He said, "Could it be that Charles intends to actively draw Winston out and then use the high-level Beast Master protecting him to eliminate Winston?" "Exactly, that''s exactly what he''s thinking. It''s truly impressive how bright he is at such a young age and willing to take risks."Jamie mused. Then he hesitated for a moment and asked: "What do you think Ezra will do if he finds out I''ve poached his apprentice?" Hale suddenly lifted his head, extremely surprised. The implication of Dean Jamie''s words was that he wanted to take Charles as his apprentice too? "Dean, what do you think? There aren''t many multi-attribute Beast Masters. Uncle Ezra has a hard time finding such a suitable one, and he wouldn''t let you steal him away."Hale replied. Jamie sighed, as if he envisioned the scene of You Wuminging back to settle the score with him. He said, "Let''s forget it. I really can''t take him on." At this moment, Charles had no idea that his presence almost sparked a major conflict at Genosha Cyber Academy! After sending Hale off, Charles went to the cafeteria and found a private room to eat with his three mystical beasts. Over the past few days, Mia had grown a bitrger, her wings fully spread measured about one meter sixty to seventy in length. However, she was still far from reaching her adult size, so for now, he could only continue feeding her daily. He could ask Coltonter if there was anything to elerate the growth of mystical beasts. Speaking of which, Charles remembered that he still hadn''tpleted the form for the supermiracle drug. He needed to look for it when he had time, the prospect of a 50% enhancement with no side effects was very tempting. Once Mia, Max, and Mousie finished their meals, Charles headed straight to the bamboo grove where Colton lived. This time, without him having to call out, the bamboo grove opened automatically, revealing the path inside. After Charles entered, he noticed that Colton was already waiting for him at the door of the wooden cabin. "Teacher, I''m here."Charles greeted him. Colton waved his hand and said directly, "Time is precious, let''s start today." "Okay, teacher."Charles nodded and followed Colton into the cabin. They both went to the alchemy room. Master-level alchemist Colton officially began his teaching. The session was divided into two parts: theoretical knowledge and practical application. As time passed, the expression on Colton''s face grew increasingly astonished. He had never seen anyone like Charles, who managed to make no mistakes at all. Those basic theoretical concepts were challenging enough that even a special-ss alchemist wouldn''t bepletely confident in getting them right, yet Charles did! A satisfied expression unconsciously appeared on Colton''s face, only to be quickly concealed. As for the practical application, it was quite straightforward. Charles had already demonstrated his skills while refining the revival pill, and every movement he made was exceptionally standard, bordering on perfection. What remained was learning even more advanced alchemy knowledge and some instruction on the use of various instruments and equipment. There were a hundred different tools used in alchemy! However, only about thirty of them weremonly utilized. But Colton had high expectations for Charles and hoped he could master as many alchemical instruments as possible, this was essential for bing a special-ss alchemist. "Charles, wait here for a moment, I need to step out!" Colton said before turning and leaving, leaving Charles alone in the alchemy room. Once Colton was outside the alchemy room, he burst intoughter. He was genuinely thrilled, he hadn''t expected Charles to have such strong theoretical knowledge. This meant that the time required for him to learn more advanced alchemy would be far less than Colton had anticipated! "In just a year, a master-level alchemist, Charles, you really can do it!" Colton took a moment to calm himself, suppressing his excitement. He hadn''t felt this happy in a long time. Charles spent the entire night learning more advanced alchemy knowledge with Colton, and he returned to his dormitory only at eleven o''clock at night. Due to his rapid learning pace, Colton established a schedule for sses every three days. This arrangement did not interfere with Charles''s progress as a Beast Master. Lying in bed in his dormitory, Charles tiredly drifted off to sleep. Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Leos Provocation After sleeping soundly until the next morning, Charles finally recovered. Although he felt physically fine after studying advanced alchemy knowledge with Colton the night before, he was mentally drained. After a quick wash-up, Charles pped his forehead as if he had remembered something. He took out two items from his storage space, which were: [Great Supplement Pill Form] [Grade]: Green-tier miracle drug [Ingredients]: 20g of Returning Essence Flower, 300g of ferocious beast meat... [Description]: A miracle drug that can elerate the growth of mystical beasts. Only one can be consumed per day, excessive intake in a short period can cause illness in mystical beasts. [Supermiracle Drug Form] [Grade]: Green-tier miracle drug [Ingredients]: 30g of Bursting Grass Rhizome, 20g of Purple Orchid, 3g of Purple Orchid Rhizome... [Description]: A miracle drug that can boost strength by 50% in a short time. It is only effective for Beast Masters below level five, and only one can be consumed in a day. Charles looked at the information prompt in front of him and felt energized. Colton, the teacher, truly deserved to be a master-level alchemist. Not only did he have a form for a miracle drug that elerates the growth of mystical beasts, but he also had theplete form for the Supermiracle Drug. Indeed, theplete Supermiracle Drug is something else entirely. It can increase strength by 50% in a short time, and it has no side effects. Even if only one can be consumed in a day, it is a method for rapidly enhancing strength. "It looks like after ss today, I need to visit the Alchemist Guild and buy some alchemy materials."Charles thought to himself as he walked toward the cafeteria. Today was different from usual. In the supermarket within the cafeteria, Charles specifically bought a bottle of Osmanthus Wine. He intended to boost Mia''s loyalty. This bottle of Osmanthus Wine cost him 30 silver coins. He wondered how much loyalty it would increase. As soon as he opened the Osmanthus Wine, a sh of desire and excitement flickered in Mia''s eyes. She could hardly wait to taste the fine wine. [Ding! Your pet Mia has drunk the Osmanthus Wine. She is very happy, loyalty +5.] Loyalty increased by a straight 5 points? This was somewhat unexpected for Charles. Indeed, the Osmanthus Wine directly raised her loyalty by 5 points. Unfortunately, after Mia drinks any alcohol once, she won''t gain additional loyalty from drinking it a second time. Mia''s current information was: [Wind Falcons] [Name]: Mia [Attribute]: Wind [Level]: Lv18 [Quality]: Emerald [Skills]: [Quick Travel], [Sharp w Strike] [Weaknesses]: Abdomen/Lightning Attribute [Likes]: Wine [Emotion]: Happy [Health]: Good [Loyalty]: 71 ... "Over the next few days, I''ll continue training to get Mia''s level up to 19, and then prepare for her advancement."Charles said to himself. He was looking forward to what new skills Mia would gain after her promotion. Ten minutester, Charles''s figure appeared at the gathering ce for ss A members. Catherine had also arrived, and her bright blue eyes lit up when she saw Charles. She walked over to him. "How long have you been here?" Charles asked. Catherine replied, "I just got here a little while ago." As the two of them were talking, the other ss A students instinctively turned their gazes toward Charles and Catherine. They watched and whispered among themselves: "Look, Charles and Sister Ye are standing together. They really make a perfect pair." "It''s true, a genius like him can only be matched by someone like Catherine." "Who says that? The second princess, Cami, is also a great match for Charles!" Among the crowd, Cami''s ears perked up slightly, and then they instantly turned rosy. She had watched the video of Charles being certified as a senior alchemist that day. Hearing others praise Charles, she felt a surge of curiosity in her heart. Even her father, the Emperor of Genosha, had mentioned Charles, clearly having heard of his genius. Hearing people say she was a good match for Charles today was something Cami had never encountered before. Her ears turned red, and even her cheeks took on a charming blush. Charles also heard the murmurs, but he didn''t mind. After waiting a little longer, the teacher for today''s ss walked over. "Hello, students, I am Leo, your teacher for today. Please head into the ssroom."said Teacher Leo as he led everyone into the adjacent room. Once all the new students were seated, he stood at the podium and announced loudly, "ording to the course schedule, today we will be studying the topic of ''Mystical Beasts''." "Mystical Beasts? Didn''t we already learn about this at Beast Mastery High?" someone whispered. As a Level 6 Beast Master, Leo had keen hearing, so he naturally caught what the person said. A look of disdain crossed his face but was quickly concealed. He made an effort to respond gently, "This student, there is certainly a difference between the two. You see, the other students aren''t speaking up because their families have already informed them about the relevant knowledge." His words were gentle, but the content was piercingly sarcastic, insinuating that the person speaking was from amon background andcked the insight of those from prominent families. The student targeted by Leo''s remark was filled with anger. He could do nothing but focus on his hands, as if that would help him avoid the humiliation. Charles frowned at the scene. He despised these members of high society, so lofty and arrogant, it made him feel sick. "Alright, I will officially begin the ss now. If you have any questions, feel free to raise your hand and speak up. But I believe everyone here is a genius, so you shouldn''t be that foolish, right?" Leo said slowly, diving straight into the lecture. Leo started by discussing how to enhance the loyalty of mystical beasts, continuously sharing relevant knowledge. His speech was rapid, as if he were racing to finish the lesson. The talented students from prominent families had their minds wander, as they had already learned this information within their own families. "Now, let me demonstrate how to appropriately apply this knowledge to improve a mystical beast''s loyalty. That student over there, would youe up and assist me?" Leo said with a smile, addressing the very student who had spoken earlier. "You must be Liam, right? The teacher knows you, soe on up."Leo urged once again. He had memorized the information of the fifteen students before arriving, and naturally knew which ones weremoners and which came from prominent families. Liam approached the podium somewhat reluctantly and summoned his mystical beast, a Earth-type Fangboar. Liam had other mystical beasts, but this Fangboar[ was his first and the one he was closest to. He didn''t want to embarrass himself here, so he chose the most loyal Fangboar. Fangboar [Attribute]: Ice, Fire [Level]: Lv26 [Quality]: Silver [Skills]: [Brute Force Charge], [Solid Earth Armor] [Weakness]: Abdomen / Poison-type [Hobby]: Sweets [Emotion]: Happy [Health]: Good "As you can see, this is a Silver-quality Fangboar, which is also the top choice of mystical beast formoners to contract" Leo announced loudly, continuously analyzing and critiquing the Fangboar. Next to him, Liam clenched his fists tightly, his head bowed, lost in thought. "So, based on these characteristics, we can conclude that this Fangboar likely enjoys eating fruits. If you feed it more fruits, you can increase its loyalty."Leo concluded. To boost his credibility, he even pulled out an apple and disdainfully tossed it on the ground for the Fangboar to eat. However, the Fangboar remained motionless, it wouldn''t move without its master''smand. Leo was taken aback for a moment, his tone turning somewhat stern as he said to Liam, "Liam, please cooperate with the teacher, otherwise, it could disrupt the lesson, and that wouldn''t be good." Liam felt a bit helpless. Just as he was about to give amand, a voice rang out from the crowd below the podium. "I think you''re wrong, not only is your teaching incorrect, but your actions are also misguided." The speaker was none other than Charles. All the students turned to look at him, puzzled as to why Charles imed Leo''s teaching was wrong. Leo maintained his gentle smile and replied, "Charles, if the teacher has made a mistake, it can certainly be pointed out. If not, then you are just disturbing the order." "Exactly, Charles. Teacher Leo is from the Genoshathe Taylor family. He''s knowledgeable and wouldn''t be wrong."a kind-hearted student quietly exined to Charles. Charles replied with unwavering conviction, "You''re mistaken, this Fangboar''s hobby isn''t just fruits!" "What? No way! Teacher Leo''s analysis is spot on, it should be fruits!" "Right, Charles must be wrong. Although he''s very strong, I heard he''s also amoner." "Amoner, huh? No wonder. He probably doesn''t have a Beast Master to teach him." Liam was visibly stunned when he heard others say that Charles was also amoner. He had always assumed that someone as formidable as Charles muste from a prominent family. "Charles, what do you think this Fangboar''s hobby is?" Leo asked, confident in his judgment, believing he was correct, while he saw Charles as an opportunity. Carter and Leo had been friends since childhood. Just yesterday, Carter had approached him, hoping to teach Charles a lesson and show him the difference between heights and depths! Now the opportunity had arrived! Before Charles could respond, Leo continued, "How about this, Charles? If you''re wrong, you''ll write an apology letter saying that because you''re amoner, you have a narrow perspective andck knowledge, which led to your mistaken judgment." Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Is Charles Really That Strong? Charles did not respond. He stood up, looking up at Leo with eyes filled with anger and disdain. It was as if he were a sharp long knife, making Leo too intimidated to meet his gaze, causing him to instinctively lower his head. At first, Leo didn''t react. But as he lowered his head to avoid Charles''s stare, he suddenly realized that, at some point, he, a level six Beast Master and a member of the top Genosha family, the Taylor family, was actually afraid of a level three Beast Master, amoner named Charles! Then, fear turned into anger. Leo spoke up, "Charles, you''re so sure that I''m wrong and you''re right? Why don''t you dare to ept my challenge now and write an apology letter?" Charles left his seat and walked to the podium, looking at Leo as if he were a clown. He approached the Fangboar and slowly said, "As a teacher, when faced with a student''s doubt, your first reaction should be to reflect. Instead, you didn''t even think and just insisted that their doubts were wrong." "Wrong? Charles, I''m a level six Beast Master. How could I be wrong?" Leo said, flustered, andughed out loud, continuing, "ssmates, look at this so-called strongest new student! His skills are impressive, but he is way too arrogant, disrupting ss and confronting the teacher!" "Don''tbel me, who are you to be a teacher?" Charles waved his hand dismissively. He pulled a piece of candy from his jet ring and asked Leo, "You say this Fangboar prefers fruit, but I think it likes sweets." "How could that be? Just because most fruits are sweet, you can''t assume it likes sweets. That''s impossible." After hearing Charles''s words, Leo felt much more rxed. He thought Charles had genuinely found a fault, but it turned out to be about this. Leo was confident that his judgment was correct, this Fangboar''s preference was indeed fruit! As a level six Beast Master, how could he be wrong? Knowing how to improve a mystical beast''s loyalty was essential knowledge for a qualified Beast Master! Charles continued to pull out several pieces of candy, peeling off the wrappers and cing them in his palm. He squatted down to feed the Fangboar. Liam, who had been standing by, watched Charles''s actions with eyes full of gratitude. Just moments ago, when Leo casually tossed an apple on the ground, it felt to Liam as if Leo was disdainful and disgusted! He was looking down on Liam as amoner and dismissing the Fangboar for having only Silver quality. Now it was Charles''s turn, and he treated both Liam and the Fangboar with kindness. This scene didn''t just catch Liam''s attention, even the students watching from below noticed the difference between Charles and Leo. "Was Leo''s attitude a bit excessive just now? After all, Liam is also a student of Cyber Academy." "I didn''t realize it at first, but as soon as Charles came up, I noticed the difference between Leo and Charles. It feels like Leo can''tpare to Charles." "You think Leo''s judgment might be wrong? I''m starting to support Charles now, even though I can''t see where Leo is mistaken." Leo listened to the murmurs from below, and a sh of hostility crossed his eyes. The gentle image he had been trying to maintain was now directly exposed by Charles! How could he ept that? Leo forced a smile, trying to keep his demeanor calm, and spoke in a normal tone, "Charles, candy is candy. Even though it''s sweet, it doesn''t mean..." Before he could finish, the Fangboar, which had been motionless, began to move toward Charles''s outstretched palm. As it walked, it nced back at Liam. Once the Fangboar sensed that its master, Liam, had no objections, it stopped holding back and raced over to Charles, swallowing the candy in his palm in one gulp. Then, while chewing, it returned to Liam''s side andfortablyy down by its master''s feet. The joy radiating from the Fangboar was palpable to everyone present. "Wow, did you see that? The Fangboar chose the candy without hesitation over the apple. Doesn''t that mean Charles is right?" "Impossible! Maybe it was just hungry and wanted some candy?" "That''s impossible! If you''re not stupid, you can see that Charles is right. The sugar content in candy is way higher than in fruit!" "Is Charles really that impressive? He can even spot mistakes made by the teacher. That''s incredible!" "Otherwise, how could he be the strongest new student?" Charles stood up and turned around, a slight smile appearing at the corner of his mouth as he said to Leo, "You weren''t finished, were you? What were you saying?" Leo''s muscles were tightly coiled, standing straight as a statue. He had never imagined that Charles''s judgment could actually be true! The Fangboar''s preference wasn''t fruit, it was sweets! In Leo''s heart, his feelings weren''t of shame or regret but rather resentment! He thought to himself, "Damn it! It''s all Charles''s fault for standing up to question me, making me lose face. And this is just the first ss, and I made a mistake, all thanks to that lowlymoner!" Despite these thoughts, Leo''s expression was theplete opposite. He wore a look of shame and self-reproach as he slowly bowed to Charles and said. "It was the teacher''s oversight. The difference between fruit and sweets isn''t that significant. I should have explored further. Thank you, Charles, for helping the teacher!" A hint of surprise appeared in Charles''s eyes. He hadn''t expected Leo to be able to humble himself and apologize on the spot. However, seeing the tightly clenched fists behind Leo, he naturally didn''t believe that this so-called teacher was genuinely grateful. Many from prominent families, like Leo, were incredibly proud and looked down on anymoner. Little did they know, their ancestors were just ordinarymoners many years ago. Leo was like that, Carter was too, and Grace even more so! "Alright, ss, let''s continue with the next part of the lesson."Leo said, pretending as if nothing had happened. He pulled out a device from beneath the podium and said to Charles, "Since you''re already at the podium, there''s no need to go back down. How about you help the teacher test the loyalty level?" Although Leo was asking Charles for his opinion, his body blocked Charles''s path back to his seat with the device in hand. Aside from Catherine, Zachary, and Cami, who frowned in concern, most of the others were exceptionally excited. They were very curious about what the loyalty level of Charles''s mystical beast, as the strongest new student, would be. Cami and Zachary, unlike the other students, came from the top families of Genosha, and they could clearly see that Leo was targeting Charles. Even though Leo had been outmatched by Charles in the judgment of the mystical beast''s preferences, he still did not give up. He was determined to find a way to make Charles look foolish and embarrassed. It''s important to note that even those from top families had spent years learning various mystical beast knowledge and painstakingly building rtionships with their mystical beasts. At this point, their mystical beasts'' loyalty levels were only around eighty! That was considered an excellent achievement. If it were Charles, with hisck of knowledge, one could assume his mystical beast''s loyalty would be around seventy, and it wouldn''t be any higher! "Charles is just amoner who needs to study alchemy and forging knowledge, so where would he find the time and energy to raise his mystical beast''s loyalty?" Leo thought to himself. He nned to test Charles''s mystical beast loyalty and was sure it wouldn''t be high. At that moment, he could publicly lecture Charles in front of the students, pointing fingers and demanding answers. If the loyalty turned out to be too low, he would even scold Charles loudly for being indifferent to his mystical beast, using him of mistreatment and not seeing it as a partner! After the ss, Leo would further criticize Charles in the media, using public opinion to ruin Charles''s reputationpletely! In the world of Beast Masters, a mystical beast is the most important partner, and anyone with a normal sense would not ignore the abuse of a mystical beast! Thinking about what would happen to Charles next made an uncontroble smile spread across Leo''s face. He feigned a casual tone and said, "Charles, please cooperate with the teacher a little, the whole process will be quick and won''t take too long." Charles, of course, knew the loyalty levels of Max, Mousie, and Mia, and he was also quite curious about how other Beast Masters'' mystical beasts fared in terms of loyalty. What level of loyalty do Max, Mousie, and Mia have among mystical beasts? A hexagram array quietly appeared, and Max''s figure materialized before everyone. Leo''s eyes lit up, as a level six Beast Master, he could naturally tell that Mia was an emerald-quality mystical beast. It''s important to note that the higher the quality of a mystical beast, the more challenging it is to increase its loyalty! In his eyes, Mia''s loyalty could be at most sixty-five! It couldn''t be any higher! "An emerald-quality mystical beast? Charles, you really have some luck!" Leo remarked casually as he began scanning with the device! "Emerald quality! No wonder Charles is so strong!" "Damn, only Charles could contract an emerald-quality mystical beast at the third level!" "Even the second princess Cami doesn''t have an emerald-quality mystical beast!" "Catherine''s four tinum-quality mystical beasts are already impressive, who would have thought Charles would be even stronger!" "I''m really envious, I can''t even contract a tinum-quality mystical beast!" "I wonder how high Charles''s mystical beast''s loyalty can be?" Leo paid no attention to the murmurs from the students below. He hurried to the front of the podium and projected Mia''s data onto the screen. When the results appeared, Leo took a nce and was immediately stunned. Mia''s loyalty was an astonishing seventy-one! Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Am I Good Enough? One of the students in the audience said, "A loyalty of 71 isn''t that high." "Not high? This is an emerald-quality mystical beast! It''s really difficult to increase loyalty, and 71 is already quite good." "Exactly! This is only Charles''s third mystical beast, and it''s probably only been contracted for a few months. Reaching 71 is impressive." Catherine heard someone say that Charles had contracted Mia for a few months, but she knew very well that when Charles arrived in Calivia, he only had two mystical beasts! From the time he contracted his third mystical beast until now, it had only been a few days at most. To raise a mystical beast''s loyalty to 71 in just a few days is not just impressive, it''s almost unimaginable! Thinking of this, Catherine stared at Charles''s calm expression on stage, feeling a strange sensation in her heart. Ever since she met Charles at the station in Lsengard, she realized that he was truly special! As a genius Beast Master, a brilliant forgemaster, and a talented alchemist, he showed no arrogance at all. He treated people and situations with such normalcy, and he was brave, decisive, and also very clever and cautious. As Catherine recalled the moments spent with Charles, a subtle emotion appeared in her azure eyes, one she didn''t even notice herselfa mix of admiration and affection. Leo, upon hearing the discussions among the students below, began to wear a displeased expression. He really hadn''t expected the loyalty of Charles''s contracted mystical beast to be so high, indicating that Charles had put in considerable effort to cultivate that loyalty. This meant that Charles must have spent even less time on forging and alchemy than he had imagined! This further underscored Charles''s extraordinary talent in forging and alchemy, surpassing ordinaryprehension! But so what? Leo didn''t believe that every mystical beast Charles owned would have such high loyalty. In his eyes, Charles must have focused all his time and energy on the emerald-quality mystical beast, while the loyalty of the other two tinum-quality mystical beasts was surely not as high! After thinking for a moment, Leo took a deep breath to calm his thoughts and said to Charles, "A loyalty of 71 for an emerald-quality mystical beast is quite impressive. You must have invested a lot of time and energy, right?" Little did he know, Charles shook his head and replied, "A lot of time and energy? Not at all. I contracted my third mystical beast only a few days ago, so I haven''t spent much time or energy on it." "What? A few days?" Upon hearing Charles''s words, Leopletely forgot what he wanted to say, his mind left only with shock! After a moment, he felt that Charles must be lying, intentionally saying such things. "Charles, being blindly arrogant and disregarding the facts is not a good thing. To raise a mystical beast''s loyalty to 71 in just a few days, especially for an emerald-quality one, would probably make othersugh." At the same time, even Zachary and Cami didn''t believe Charles''s words. They knew very well that the higher the quality of a mystical beast, the harder it was to increase its loyalty. To raise an emerald-quality mystical beast''s loyalty to 71 in just a few days? That must be a dream. "Raising that much loyalty in just a few days? My Gold-quality mystical beast only reached 80 after more than a year!" "Charles, you''re already very talented, there''s no need to exaggerate." "At this rate, isn''t your first mystical beast''s loyalty over 90? How is that possible?" "The loyalty of mystical beasts bes harder to raise as it increases, that''s a recognized fact!" "To reach a loyalty of 90, it would probably take several years. How could that be?" Listening to the discussions among the students, Leo''s eyes lit up again. He really hadn''t expected Charles to shoot himself in the foot. If Charles hadn''t exaggerated so much, it would have been hard for Leo to find any ws in him. "Ahem, everyone, please be quiet." Once the ssroom settled down, Leo deliberately raised his voice and asked, "Charles, although you''ve done well with the mystical beast''s loyalty, you shouldn''t exaggerate. Just tell the truth, no one willugh at you." Leo turned to the other students and said, "Charleses from a remote area and is amoner, so it''s natural he wouldn''t understand the difficulty of raising the loyalty of an emerald-quality mystical beast. Everyone should understand him and not mock him." Among the students below, no one had mentioned Charles''smoner background before, but after Leo said that, others began to realize he was amoner. "Now that Teacher Leo has mentioned it, I can understand, it''s normal for amoner not to know." "Yeah, Charles is already very impressive." ... Catherine could no longer bear it. She stood up abruptly, casting a nce at those discussing Charles''s background, and said, "Shut up!" One sentence was spoken, and the surroundings instantly fell silent. They all knew Catherine''s strength, a Level 4 Beast Master with four tinum-quality mystical beasts was certainly not to be trifled with. However, someone, relying on their identity from one of the top families in Genosha, stood up and said, "Catherine, while you''re strong, we haven''t provoked you. What gives you the right to silence us?" Just as Catherine was about to get angry, Charles quickly interrupted him and said, "Do you all not believe?" "That''s for sure. How could anyone raise the loyalty of a jade-quality mystical beast to 71 in just a few days?" "I might believe it a little if you said a few months, but a few days? That''s too crazy." "What, are you saying false facts and expecting us to believe it?" In the ssroom, there was not just Leo from the Taylor family, but also someone named Zach. He was the first to stand up and retort, followed by several others from prominent families, collectively questioning Charles. At this moment, Leo was also enjoying the spectacle. Seeing several people questioning Charles, he maintained a nk expression, but inside he was overjoyed, Charles was definitely going to be humiliated this time! "Everyone, please calm down. While the teacher also thinks this is impossible, you all need to understand thatmoners..." Leo seemed to be trying to stabilize the out-of-control situation, But every word he said kept referring tomoners, fanning the mes. Charles naturally understood Leo''s intentions, and he was toozy to continue arguing. He directly turned to Leo and said, "Did you not say earlier that you wanted me to write an apology letter?" Leo was somewhat confused, he didn''t understand what Charles meant by bringing this up now. "Here''s the deal: if everything I said is true, then you and these few people must go to the square and shout a hundred times."Charles said. "Shout what?" Zach quickly asked. "Just shout that I''m trash, that I''m not as good as amoner!" Charles replied tly. At this moment, Leo was exceptionally pleased, he had long wanted to embarrass Charles, and this opportunity was perfect, plus it was Charles who proposed it. Afterwards, no one could say he was bullying a new student. "Charles, that might not be good. If they win, you..." Leo only said half of his sentence. Charles decisively replied, "If this is all fake, then you can do whatever you want!" For some reason, when Leo heard Charles'' words, he felt an immense joy inside. He had promised his good friend Carter that he would embarrass Charles and teach him a lesson, and that would soone to fruition. However, Leo remembered Charles'' confident and calm demeanor, which gave him a slight sense of unease. What if everything Charles said was true? Raising the loyalty of a jade-quality mystical beast to 71 in just a few days? Impossible! It was simply not feasible! Thinking of this, Leo said, "Charles, the teacher doesn''t want to agree to this either, but the way you''re acting, I have no choice but to agree, just to make you remember this lesson and never fabricate things again." "No, you''re mistaken. It''s I who will teach you a lesson. You''re a Level 6 Beast Master, yet you act like a frog in a well, so uninformed."Charles said, feeling a bit more cheerful now that Leo had agreed. Leo sensed the implications in Charles'' words, and his unease grew stronger. What if what Charles said was true? Would he really have to publicly dere himself a waste, saying he was inferior tomoners? Just the thought of such a scenario was more painful than death for Leo, he had always despisedmoners! Just as Leo was feeling a bit of hesitation, Zach shouted, "Charles, the agreement is set! How will you prove it?" Charles thought for a moment, it seemed a bit inappropriate to seek out Teacher Colton for proof, especially since the teacher, as a master-level alchemist, was quite busy and time was precious. When Zach and Leo saw Charles deep in thought, joy immediately spread across their faces, and they quickly said, "Charles, stop pretending! You''re just fabricating things. Who can prove that you contracted a jade-quality mystical beast in just a few days?" "I can! I can prove it!" A voice came from outside the door, it was Hale! Surrounding him was the aura of a Level 6 Beast Master, clearly showing he was already angry. All this way, Hale had been caring for Charles, not just because of Uncle Ezra but because the more he interacted with Charles, the more he appreciated and valued him! In fact, he had arrived long ago but had been waiting outside, watching Leo and Zach''s performance. Hale knew that everything Charles said was true, and that was why he waited until Zach and Leo agreed to the terms before entering the ssroom. "Teacher Hale?" Leo looked at Hale''s background with some surprise, but he quickly regained hisposure and said, "Teacher Hale can prove this? You''re Charles'' supervising teacher, so who knows if you might fabricate evidence to help him?" "He can''t, but can I?" Another voice came from outside the door. Leo turned to look, and with just one nce, he was rooted to the spot, unable to move. Chapter 155: Chapter 155: I Am a Waste, I Am Inferior to Commoners Jamie, the principal of the Genosha branch of Cyber Academy, was standing outside the ssroom, looking at Leo with an expressionless face. For a moment, the atmosphere in the ssroom became tense, and everyone dared not speak, as the pressure from an Level 8 Beast Master made every student feel paralyzed. It wasn''t until Jamie''s gaze fell on Charles that the oppressive aura quietly vanished, and the others felt a sense of relief, instantly breathing easier. A faint smile appeared on Jamie''s face as he gently said to Charles, "I''m here to prove it for you!" "Principal, this..." Leo''s words were abruptly cut off by Jamie: "You, be quiet! As a teacher at Cyber Academy, you keep targeting the institution. You can leave right now!" Upon hearing Jamie''s words, Leo turned pale, his lips trembling as he wanted to argue, but when he saw Jamie''s merciless gaze, he swallowed his words. Leo simply couldn''t understand why Principal Jamie had returned and was so protective of Charles, who was merely a Level 3 Beast Master and amoner at that! At this moment, Zach was trembling all over and didn''t dare to say a word. He knew that everything he and Leo had done could not escape the notice of Principal Jamie, as a Level 8 Beast Master, it wasn''t easy to fool him! "I hope everyone present can remember, no matter who you are, once you arrive at Cyber Academy, you can only have one identity, and that is the student of Cyber Academy!" Jamie''s voice was not loud, but it was incredibly clear in the ears of every student. Jamie''s gazepletely ignored the trembling Zach, as he didn''t consider him worthy of his attention. He didn''t want to get involved in issues between students, but when it came to teachers targeting students, he couldn''t stay silent! At that moment, no one in the ssroom dared to speak, even Princess Cami of Genosha and Zachary, the son of the general, stood perfectly still and obedient. Ordinary people might not know, but they were very aware of Principal Jamie''s strength and temperament. The man known as the "Scythe of the Fire God" was not someone to be trifled with. "I can testify that Charles'' emerald-quality mystical beast was contracted just a few days ago, everything he said is true." Jamie spoke again, not just for Charles, but to make these self-proimed genius students understand just how vast the difference between geniuses can be! "Charles, summon your other two mystical beasts so they can see for themselves!" Jamie was straightforward, since he wanted to teach these talented students a lesson, he would do it decisively! As he had Hale test Max and Mousie''s loyalty, he continued, "When faced with the unknown, you must maintain a spirit of inquiry while also having bold imagination. These two aspects must support each other." "As a Beast Master, if you can''t even dare to imagine, how can you be strong? Is it really so hard to believe in the excellence of others?" After this reprimand, all the students in the ssroom lowered their heads in shame, unable to respond. Except for Catherine, who held her head high, like a graceful white swan, as if to say to everyone: Look, Charles is truly a genius! At that moment, the loyalty test results for Charles'' mystical beasts came in. Jamie saw the results on the screen, paused for a moment, and then casually said, "Open your narrow little eyes and take a good look at the loyalty of Charles'' mystical beasts!" The students all looked up, and with just one nce, their mouths dropped open, some even rubbed their eyes, doubting whether they were seeing correctly. [Nine-Tailed Demon Wolf] [Loyalty]: 92 [Shadow Flying Squirrel] [Loyalty]: 89 ... Max''s loyalty was 92, and Mousie''s loyalty was 89. The moment these numbers appeared, everyone present was stunned. Even Principal Jamie didn''t expect such results, especially with Max''s loyalty reaching 92! It''s important to note that he had thoroughly reviewed Charles''s information and understood that Charles had a very short training time! Because of this, he originally estimated that Max and Mousie''s loyalty would be in the eighties, and then he would reveal Charles''s training time as a Beast Master to rify who the true genius was among the A-ss students. Now, seeing that he didn''t even need to mention Charles''s training time, the mere fact of a 92 loyalty had already jolted the students out of their dream of being geniuses! Even with Level 8 Beast Master Jamie present, the students began to discuss among themselves: "With a loyalty of 92, how on earth did Charles achieve that? Did he know this mystical beast in his past life?" "Not just a genius, he''s practically a monster! Charles seems younger than us, only eighteen!" "Don''t forget, he''s also studying forging and alchemy!" "Hiss."someone gasped, as if unable to ept this reality. Charles himself remained expressionless, it was what it was, and he felt more helpless than anything else. Why was it that every time he spoke the truth, some people still didn''t believe him and even challenged him to bets and agreements? "92?" Leo looked at the numbers on the screen in disbelief. As a Level 6 Beast Master, his mystical beast''s loyalty didn''t even reach 90! How could Charles, a mere eighteen-year-old Level 3 Beast Master, have such terrifying talent? If he were to grow stronger in the future and remember how Leo had targeted him today, it would spell disaster. Leo secretly pondered how to deal with Charles. His rtionship with Charles had be irreparable. Although Jamie had his back turned to Leo, he was well aware that some individuals from these prominent families were far too self-righteous and narrow-minded! "In Genosha, no family''s hand can reach into Cyber Academy."Jamie said this, and only Leo could hear it, the other students were oblivious. Leo shivered all over, as if he had fallen into icy water on a winter day, a chill spreading from his body to his mind. At that moment, his legs trembled uncontrobly. "Principal, I won''t... the Taylor family won''t either." "Get lost. From today on, you are no longer a teacher at Cyber Academy."Jamie said dismissively, directly telling Leo to leave. In just a few minutes, Leo went from being a Level 6 Beast Master at Cyber Academy to being unemployed, dismissed by Principal Jamie. He never imagined that targeting Charles just a little, trying to teach him a lesson, would anger the principal so much and lead to his own miserable fate! He had invested a lot of time, energy, and money to be a teacher at Cyber Academy, and now everything was gone. Just as Leo was feeling disheartened and turning to leave, another voice called out from behind him. "Wait." Jamie stopped Leo. Leo turned around abruptly, his eyes filled with hope. He hoped that Principal Jamie regretted his decision, didn''t want him to leave, and would give him a chance to redeem himself! "The students who made the agreement earlier will also go out with him. As Beast Masters, they must honor their promises! One shout, a hundred shouts, no one can be missing!" Jamie said. After hearing this, Leo clenched his fists tightly. The bones in his hands turned pale from the pressure, and he could only think one thing: it was over! As a member of the Taylor family, having to shout "I am trash, I am not as good as amoner" in public was a disgrace beyond measure! "What''s wrong? Don''t you want to?" Jamie nced at Leo. Leo stopped struggling, dragging his body toward the square, with a few students behind him. Soon, faint shouts began to echo in the square. "I am trash, I am not as good as amoner!" Jamie frowned and turned to leave the ssroom, saying, "Haven''t you eaten? Louder and more in unison!" "I am trash, I am not as good as amoner!" "I am trash, I am not as good as amoner!" "I am trash, I am not as good as amoner!" ... Leo and Zach shouted while looking at the crowd that had gathered to watch the spectacle. Some people even took out their phones, quietly recording videos. Someonemented. "Isn''t that Teacher Leo? What happened? Has he lost his mind?" "Shh, keep it down. I don''t know what''s going on, but he looks so embarrassed." "Talk about embarrassing!" Leo''s eyes were filled with resentment and hatred, along with endless regret. If he had known, he would never have stood up for Carter, if he had avoided trouble with Charles, he wouldn''t be in this humiliating situation. Every time he thought of Charles, the regret in Leo''s heart began to fade, reced by anger! It was all because of Charles that he had lost face! Once Jamie and Hale left, Charles returned to his seat. Catherine''s expression remained unchanged, yet Charles could sense her happiness. Other students, now too afraid to stare at Charles, could only pretend to casually nce his way. As they listened to the shouts from the square, amon thought arose in their hearts: never provoke Charles! As for Kayden, he was feeling quite relieved that he had lost to Charles in thepetition. Initially, he had felt some resentment, but after Lan''s guidance, he hadpletely let it go and epted the reality. Otherwise, if he had questioned Charles earlier, he would have joined in the humiliation. Thank goodness he hadn''t participated, otherwise, he would also be in the square, surrounded like a monkey, beingughed at. Kayden thought to himself that after ss, he would definitely treat Lan to a meal! Charles looked out the window at Leo, a glint of murderous intent shing in his eyes. Now, he and Leo were officially enemies. However, Charles wasn''t afraid, in fact, he looked forward to Leo making a move against him in theing days. That way, he wouldn''t have to lift a finger and could eliminate one enemy! "Constetion, Winston, Leo." "I can''t wait any longer, I''m starting to look forward to your deaths!" Charles murmured. Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Meeting Celestine In the morning, a different teacher was brought in to rece Leo for the ss. This teacher was quite normal and exined the lessons very well. Time passed quickly, and by evening, the day''s sses finally came to an end. Catherine initially nned to have dinner with Charles, but he had to go to the alchemist guild to purchase materials for the "Great Elixir" and "Super Miracle Drug."so he temporarily declined her invitation. Upon arriving at the alchemist guild, Charles spent nearly five gold coins to gather all the necessary materials. Generally, ordinary green-quality miracle drugs wouldn''t cost this much, but both the "Great Elixir" and "Super Miracle Drug" were quite special. One was for Mia''s rapid growth, and the alchemy materials used for it were rtively expensive. The other one, although a green-quality miracle drug, is just as important to a Beast Master as a blue-quality miracle drug and can be used as a trump card. Purchasing these alchemy materials was still done with a senior alchemist''s discount, otherwise, it would have cost even more. As Charles walked to the entrance of the alchemist guild, he was about to head back toward Cyber Academy when a familiar voice called out from behind him. "Charles?" The caller was none other than Celestine! Charles stopped in his tracks and turned around. Celestine was wearing ck shorts, showcasing her long, straight, and fair legs, which were quite eye-catching. She had on a white tank top, looking fiery and sexy. "What a coincidence! We meet again today."Celestine said, taking the initiative to greet him. Seemingly aware that Charles''s gaze lingered on her chest, Celestine showed no signs of resistance and even deliberately pushed her ample chest forward. Charles was a bit taken aback by this and replied, "It really is a coincidence, both times I''ve run into you have been at the alchemist guild. Are you an alchemist too?" Celestine shook her head, "Do you think everyone is like you, not only a genius in Beast Mastery but also a genius in other areas?" Just then, a man and a woman walked out of the alchemist guild. Although the girl wasn''t as good-looking as Celestine, her ample chest was something Celestine couldn''tpare to! "Zoe! I told you, Winter will never be with you, so stop bothering me!" the girl said angrily to the boy named Zoe. Zoe was small in stature and had dyed yellow hair, persistently continuing to pester her, "If you help me out a bit more, I''ll find a senior alchemist to mentor you, so you can sessfully pass the intermediate alchemist assessment!" "I won''t! I, Lucy, am not that kind of person! Winter has rejected you already, you should just leave her alone!" Lucy firmly rejected him. Zoe still had no intention of leaving, even escting his efforts. He blocked Lucy''s way and said again, "I''m already a Level Four Beast Master now, and with the request from the Robinson family''s banquet, I can definitely help you find a senior alchemist. Trust me!" "I''ll say it again, I don''t need it! Winter has rejected you many times, she has a boyfriend now! If you keep this up, I''ll call for help!" Lucy didn''t want to be blocked any longer and was ready to shout for help. After being rejected several times, Zoe felt a bit frustrated and angrily cursed, "You filthy bitch, you fucking..." Before he could finish his sentence, Celestine kicked him, sending his body flying several meters away. "Damn! Who the hell dares to hit me!" Zoe grumbled as he got up from the ground. When he saw it was Celestine, he suddenly didn''t feel any pain and quickly walked up to her, saying, "Celestine, it''s you! What a coincidence, you''re here too!" "Shut up, don''t call me Celestine, it''s disgusting!" Celestine said, protecting Lucy behind her and looking at Zoe with disdain. She was utterly speechless, it was truly disgusting to deal with someone like Zoe who continued to harass after being rejected. Zoe seemed not to hear her and still wanted to keep talking, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Charles, who had been standing nearby. Lucy also noticed him, and her eyes lit up. Due to her nervousness, she stumbled over her words, "Charles! Oh my gosh! It really is Charles!" "Charles, I''m your fan! I really, really like you! Oh no, I need to take a moment, my heart is about to leap out of my chest!" Lucy trembled all over, her ample chest wobbling, drawing everyone''s gaze. Charles forcibly tore his gaze away and didn''t say anything. Just then, Zoe''s arrogant voice rang out, "Hey, kid, why are you with Celestine? Who are you?" "Are you deaf? She just said my name is Charles."Charles replied, a bit exasperated. What kind of hearing did this guy have? He couldn''t even remember something that was just said. "Charles? What''s your rtionship with Celestine?" Zoe didn''t care about who Charles was, he only cared about the rtionship between Charles and Celestine! He had never seen Celestine walking alone with a guy before. Just as Charles was about to answer, Celestine walked over, casually linking her arm with Charles''s, pressing her ample chest against him, and said, "Let me introduce you, this is Charles, my boyfriend!" "Boyfriend? Celestine, are you kidding me? Do you really have a boyfriend?" Zoe was struck like he had been hit by lightning, utterly in disbelief! It quickly dawned on him that Celestine might be deliberately trying to trick him into giving up! Zoe took a deep breath, adjusted his mindset, and said resolutely, "Celestine, you must be testing me, this guy can''t be your boyfriend. It''s okay, my love for you is as vast as the heavens..." Before he could finish, Celestine turned on her tiptoes and nted a kiss on Charles''s cheek! "He is my boyfriend, don''t you believe me? I can kiss him for you!" Without waiting for any reaction from Zoe, Celestine leaned in and kissed Charles on the lips! Charles, looking confused, felt a slick, snake-like tongue trying to pry open his teeth, attempting to delve deeper! His brain couldn''t react in time, his body took the lead, and Charles''s lips parted slightly. The two of them kissed under the warm glow of the setting sun! After an unknown amount of time passed, a dazed Lucy finally interrupted, "Stop kissing, the person has already left!" Celestine, like a startled little rabbit, had her ears turn bright red and immediately jumped behind Lucy, hiding. Charles licked his lips, still feeling a bit unsatisfied, and just then caught Celestine''s gaze. Neither of them said a word. Lucy looked at her friend and her idol kissing, a strange feeling rising in her heart. She was the first to speak, "How about we find a ce to grab a bite together?" "Sure." "Sounds good." As they walked down the street, Lucy linked arms with Celestine, who was behind her, while Charles walked ahead on his own. "Winter, is Charles really your boyfriend?" Lucy quietly asked. Celestine watched Charles''s back as he walked ahead, recalling the earlier scene, the night that had passed, and her sister Aurora''s feelings for Charles. She hesitated for a moment but still didn''t answer. Seeing Celestine like this, Lucy felt relieved. She didn''t even know why she had asked, she just felt a flicker of hope that Charles wasn''t Celestine''s boyfriend! The three of them had dinner together, and at the table, Lucy kept asking Charles various questions, like whether he had ever been in a rtionship and who his first love was. However, Lucy didn''t ask a single thing about alchemy, not until the night grew darker, and she reluctantly parted ways to head home. "I''ll walk you back to the academy, it''s not safe for you to be alone at night."Charles said to Celestine. Celestine nodded, then realized and replied, "I don''t live in the academy, I rent a ce outside." "Alright, then I''ll walk you there and then head back."Charles responded. The two walked quietly on the way back, neither of them talking. Celestine kept her head down, watching their shadows under the streetlights. "We''re here, my ce is just upstairs."Celestine said, feeling how fast time had flown. This path home, which she used to think was long, now felt too short, and she wished she could walk a little more. "Okay, you go ahead, I''ll wait until you''re home before I leave."Charles said, not in a hurry. Celestine nodded but remained in ce, hesitating for a moment before saying, "Um, my sister Aurora has something sent here, and she wants me to give it to you. Why don''t youe up and get it?" Aurora''s stuff? Charles felt a surge of curiosity upon hearing Celestine''s words, and the image of her figure outside the Lsengard station shed through his mind. He instinctively nodded. The two of them returned to Celestine''s ce. As soon as they stepped inside, Charles turned to close the door when suddenly he was embraced by Celestine. The soft sensation of her body against his back was incrediblyforting. "Don''t go, stay with me." Charles heard the almost pleading voice behind him and couldn''t hold back any longer. He turned around, lifted Celestine, and pressed her back against the wall. Instinctively, she wrapped her soft, white legs around his waist. As they kissed, they began to shed their clothes. Until Celestine''s legs were between them, with liquid dripping onto the floor, Charles hesitated not at all, aiming at the lubricated entrance and straightening his waist. "Well... don''t move yet, it''s too big, can I take a break?" Celestine''s voice became soft and seductive, pleading. Charles held her tightly and waited for a while, and Celestine couldn''t help but twist her slender waist involuntarily. Charles didn''t say a word, holding Celestine''s hips with both hands and began to move. Chapter 157: Chapter 157: I Have a Plan In the nighttime cityscape of Genosha Calivia, the atmosphere remained vibrant and indulgent. Level 6 Beast Master Winston found himself on a secluded street, d in a ck hoodie that concealed his face in shadow. He knocked on the door of a residence. "Who is it?" the voice from inside inquired cautiously without opening the door. Winston lowered his voice and replied, "Charles!" Only then did the person inside unlock the door and let Winston in. The individual stood at the threshold, ncing around warily for any signs of trouble before carefully shutting the door behind them. Once inside the living room, Winston spoke first, "I know you harbor a deep resentment toward that Charles. There is now an opportunity to eliminate himpletely, it''s up to you whether you wish to seek vengeance." "Are you sure you can really pull this off? That Charles is a student at Cyber Academy, a widely celebrated genius. He won''t be easy to deal with."the man asked, his brow furrowed in concern. Winston nonchntly leaned back against the sofa, appearing rxed and at ease. "No matter how much of a genius he is, he''s still just a level 3 Beast Master. Can he really escape from me?" "That''s true, but we can''t make a move in the city. If we get caught, it''ll be the end for both of us!" The man was evidently intrigued, beginning to contemte how to eliminate Charles. For him, Charles''s presence had entirely shattered his life. Winston chuckled softly, fixing his gaze on the man''s eyes and observing the resentment and hatred within them. He slowly said, "I have already devised a n, it now depends on your cooperation." "Me?" the man replied, puzzled. Winston stood up and moved closer to the man, whispering his n into his ear. ... Meanwhile, in the most affluent district of Genosha, spanning over ny thousand square meters, a luxurious residential area filled with vis, all belonging to the Taylor family. In the highly valuablend of Genosha Calivia, possessing such a vast area speaks to the unimaginable power of the Taylor family! Inside thergest vi of the Taylor family, Leo stood beside a sofa made of ferocious beast leather, his face ashen, head lowered, and utterly frozen in ce. Sitting across from him was a middle-aged man, exuding an extraordinary presenceBenson, the head of the Taylor family! "Bang!" Benson grabbed the expensive porcin teapot from the table and, without hesitation, smashed it down onto Leo''s head. Leo didn''t even dare to dodge, he stood there obediently, bracing himself for the impact. In an instant, a horrific wound appeared on Leo''s forehead, blood streaming out quickly, turning half of his face red. Thick blood blurred one of Leo''s eyes, yet he didn''t even dare to wipe it away, his entire body frozen like a statue, showing no signs of movement. "Look at the mess you''ve created! Now there are videos of you embarrassing yourself all over the inte! You''vepletely tarnished the reputation of the Taylor family!" Benson''s eyes were filled with fury. This situation was supposed to be nothing, even failing to target Charles would have been normal. However, for Benson, the involvement of that old man Jamie forced him to calm down and think carefully. The Cyber Academy holds a much higher status in Genosha than the other two academies, and even the Taylor family is not to be trifled with. It''s not just because the principal Jamie is an eighth-level Beast Master. Any Beast Master who has dared to invade the Cyber Academy has nevere out alive, not even those of the same level, like eighth-level Beast Masters, can escape! This is also why he went to such great lengths to get Leo into the Cyber Academy as a teacher. He wanted to uncover the secrets within the Cyber Academy! And what was the result? All his ns fell apart because of Charles! "Leo, as one of the most outstanding Beast Masters in the Taylor family''s branch, you shouldn''t be unable to distinguish between big and small matters." Benson already had his suspicions in mind, Jamie''s decision to expel Leo was likely because he sensed the Taylor family''s intentions. "Master, I know I was wrong. Please give me another chance! I will make it up to you!" Upon hearing Benson''s words, Leo didn''t hesitate for a moment. He knelt down, pressing his forehead firmly against the blood-stained floor, pleading earnestly. At that moment, Leo felt no pride or sense of honor regarding his family, he looked like a dog kneeling on the ground. Benson waved his hand, telling Leo to stand up, and continued, "That Charles is nothing. Even if he has some talent, he''s just a small fry. Once he can''t resist temptation and chooses to align with any faction, his time will be up." Benson stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the brightly lit and bustling Genosha Calivia. A glimmer of madness and desire shed in his eyes as he said, "Let the past be the past. I will arrange for you to go to Aredale Academy this time. You can''t mess it up again, or else..." Leo naturally understood what the master meant. His body trembled instinctively, clearly recalling the consequences of failing again. He quickly assured, "Master, you can rest assured. I will not fail again!" "That''s best. Now get out." Benson seemed a bit annoyed, shooing Leo away like a dog. Once Leo retreated outside the vi, he extended his arm to wipe the almost congealed blood from his forehead. He turned to look in the direction of the Cyber Academy, his gaze filled with hatred, muttering, "Charles! I will make sure you suffer a horrible fate!" After Leo left, a shadowy figure quietly appeared in the room where Benson was. The figure was shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to discern their features. The mysterious person spoke, "Benson, you cannot touch Charles!" Benson''s expression turned to surprise. His body, which had been leaning against the sofa, straightened suddenly, and he furrowed his brow as he looked at the mysterious figure, asking, "What, does he still have a connection with you?" "You''re not qualified to know. Just remember, if you go after him, the Taylor family won''t see the sun rise tomorrow." The mysterious person didn''t exin further, they simply stated the consequences. Benson snorted coldly, this was the first time he had been threatened like this in Genosha. However, thinking about the other party''s strength, Benson could only suppress his displeasure and nod in agreement. The mysterious figure slowly vanished, merging into the darkness as they headed towards a library somewhere in Calivia. Inside the library, in a secret chamber, several voices echoed. "Sir, we have news. The principal of Cyber Academy, Jamie, wants to use Charles as bait to lure us out." "That old man is thinking beyond that, he wants to test Charles." "Test Charles?" "Yes, and then send a seventh-level Beast Master to him, let him go to his death." "But there are very few seventh-level Beast Masters left now." "I say we go. Can a seventh-level Beast Masterpare to Charles in any way? Hurry up!" "Understood!" The secret chamber fell silent again, followed by a soft sigh. .... Early the next morning, Charles woke up from Celestine''s bed, rubbing his sore lower back. He had quite the night yesterday, and Celestine was still fast asleep, probably exhausted. He got dressed, found a piece of paper, wrote a few words on it, and left it on Celestine''s bedside. Then he left. When he returned to Cyber Academy, he happened to run into Catherine at the cafeteria entrance. Catherine looked at Charles approaching and felt a bit puzzled because that path wasn''t the usual route from the boys'' dormitory to the cafeteria. Had Charles just returned this morning? If it were in the past, Catherine would never have cared about such things. But recently, she didn''t know why, she found herself subconsciously concerned about everything rted to Charles. "Good morning! Finished training and ready to eat? Want to join me?" Charles greeted her with a smile. Catherine, who had been lost in thought just moments before, quickly nodded upon hearing Charles''s words. She watched Charles walk ahead, a small smile appearing on her lips, radiating happiness. After they had breakfast, they arrived at the ssroom on time. Today''s ss was taught by a seventh-level Beast Master, focusing on practical training. As the practical training began, the students were stunned by the teacher''s words. The practical instructor said, "In today''s practical ss, you cannot summon your mystical beasts, nor can you use Beast Mastery. It will all rely on your physical fitness andbat experience!" At this announcement, all the students exchanged nces, murmuring among themselves: "What''s going on? As Beast Masters, how can we train without summoning our mystical beasts? What''s the point?" "Exactly! Isn''t practical training supposed to cultivatebat experience and the bond with our mystical beasts?" "Without summoning mystical beasts and relying only on the physical abilities of a Beast Master, how is this even practical training? It''s pointless!" The practical instructor, Ethan, listened to the murmurs with an expressionless face. He fixed his gaze on a few students and asked in a deep voice, "What would you do if one day all your mystical beasts were killed in battle, and you were the only one left?" Someone raised their hand and replied, "Teacher, if all the mystical beasts are dead and only the Beast Master remains, there''s no point in resisting. It''s better to surrender." Ethan sighed, he had heard such responses many times before. These new students were still young and didn''t understand the bond between mystical beasts and Beast Masters. "Imagine, in ten years or so, those mystical beasts that have been with you day and night will be just like family. If your family were all ughtered by the enemy and you were the only one left, would you surrender?" Ethan asked again. No one answered. The students tried to put themselves in that situation and realized that they really had no choice but to resist! Seeing the students lost in thought, a satisfied expression appeared on Ethan''s face. The strength of a Beast Master does not solely rely on the power of their mystical beasts, a true master of Beast Mastery is strong in their own right! Ethan led the students to a dedicated training area and then asked, "A while back, I had to step out for some matters. Do any of you know who the strongest new student is this year?" The eyes of the other students all turned toward Charles. Chapter 158: Chapter 158: I Want to Take Charles as My Apprentice "Alright, this student must be Charles."Ethan said as he looked at Charles. I''ll need you toe up and assist me with the teaching in a moment!" Charles nodded in agreement and walked to the practice area under the gaze of everyone. "Is there anyone here who wants to spar with Charles, keeping in mind that you cannot summon your mystical beasts?" Ethan asked the students outside the area. He was quite curious about Charles''s practical experience and skills, after all, someone who earned the title of strongest new student was no ordinarypetitor. After a moment, no one raised their hand. They didn''t want to embarrass themselves, they knew very well Charles''s strength. With only three mystical beasts, Charles could defeat a fourth-level Beast Master. Moreover, every student who had watched Charlespete knew of hisbat style. His close-quartersbat power and technique were unmatched, even Zachary and Cami felt inferior! The only one present who could possibly match him was Catherine. The other students turned their gazes toward Catherine, hoping she would step up to challenge Charles. Unexpectedly, Catherine kept her head down, lost in thought, showing no desire to step forward. Ethan was somewhat surprised by the situation. As far as he knew, few who could enter Cyber Academy were not proud and ambitious. They were all geniuses, and it was normal for them to not back down from one another. Now, however, no one dared to confront Charles. It seemed that this Charles had already subdued all the talented students in the audience! Suppressing his surprise, Ethan helplessly said, "Since no one is willing to step up, I will personally spar with you, Charles. You all watch closely from down there." After saying that, Ethan turned to Charles and reminded him, "Try to control your strength as much as possible, but you need to give it your all so I can see what you''ve got!" Charles nodded, he was also curious about the physical prowess of a seventh-level Beast Master. Opportunities to spar with a seventh-level Beast Master were rare. "Good, get ready. Let''s begin!" Ethan initially took it easy, remaining in a rxed state. After all, no matter how strong Charles was, he was still facing a seventh-level Beast Master! However, as soon as the word "begin" left his lips, Charles''s figure suddenly moved like a ghost, quicklyunching an attack on Ethan. His target was clear: he threw a punch aimed directly at Ethan''s throat! This was a vital area of the body and one of the most vulnerable spots. In Charles''s mind, even if Ethan was a seventh-level Beast Master, the defense of the throat would surely be weaker than that of other areas! Charles''s thinking was correct. The battle-hardened Ethan quickly reacted. Before Charles''s fist even reached him, Ethan had already ced his palm in front of his throat, praising, "No wonder you''re the strongest new student, you''ve surprised me right off the bat." However, just as Ethan''s satisfied expression appeared, he noticed that Charles''s body seemed a bit unusual as he approached. Before he could think it through, Charles instantly changed his attacking posture! The punch aimed at the throat was merely a feint! The real intention was to make Ethan let his guard down, thinking he had figured out the attack pattern, thereby distracting him. Charles, now right in front of Ethan, resolutely lifted his leg and kicked toward Ethan''s groin. There was no denying that this area was also one of the most vulnerable spots on a man''s body. A strike to this region would bring enough pain to make anyone abandon their defenses and fall into agony. Ethan''s expression became even more satisfied. He had to admit that Charles''sbat skills and choice of attack targets were impable! In a real battlefield, one must strike the enemy''s most vulnerable points with lightning speed! Ethan remained unflinching in the face of Charles''s attack. He neither defended nor retreated, instead, heunched a counterattack at a simr speed. After Charles delivered his kick, Ethan executed a whip kick, but it was much faster than Charles''s attack. His target was the leg that Charles was using to support his body. If hended the hit, it would definitely cause Charles to lose his bnce and control, ending the match! Even the students watching from below felt a sense of regret. They could clearly see the situation on stage, even Zachary and Cami didn''t believe that Charles could continue to struggle. Only Catherine''s expression remained unchanged, as if she wasn''t worried at all. Cami noticed Catherine''s demeanor and felt puzzled. Could it be that Charles had some way to change the situation? Then, the unexpected happened! The leg Charles had initially used for his attack suddenly changed direction mid-strike, as if he had anticipated this very moment. He quickly elerated toward Ethan''s attacking leg. In the next instant, their legs collided together, producing a dull thud. "How is this possible? Did Charles foresee this situation? If the punch was a feint, then what was the true attack?" Cami and Zachary were filled with questions. If it had been them, they would have already been defeated. At that moment, Ethan seemed to sense something and quickly raised his arms to protect his chin. Sure enough, in the next instant, Charles''s supporting left leg had somehow left the ground. Using the momentum from the collision with Ethan''s leg,bined with the power from his core, Charles''s left leg traced a beautiful arc in the air, striking Ethan''s blocking arm! Unfortunately, that strike was also blocked by Ethan. In mid-air, Charles could no longer maintain his bnce and fell to the ground. "Wow, incredible! No wonder it''s Charles! Good thing I didn''t go up, otherwise, I would have been kicked away!" "Wait, what just happened?" "I don''t have time to exin, just know that Charles is amazing!" "After that series of attacks, I doubt anyone besides Teacher Ethan could have withstood it!" Ethan had returned from a defensive posture to a rxed state. He looked at Charles, his expressionplex, and said, "That strike you just made? A fourth-level Beast Master would absolutely not be able to withstand it. As a fourth-level Beast Master, your physical fitness,bat skills, and experience are already at the top tier!" When Charles heard Ethan''s words and hadn''t yet reacted, the students below couldn''t hold back any longer and shouted, "Teacher, Charles is a third-level Beast Master, not a fourth-level Beast Master!" A third-level Beast Master? Ethan looked at Charles and nodded, unsure of what to say. Could a third-level Beast Master possess such strength? "Are you really a third-level Beast Master, Charles?" Ethan asked again, uncertain. Charles felt a bit helpless. He was almost used to others not believing him. He replied, "Yes, teacher, I am a third-level Beast Master." "A third-level Beast Master, a third-level Beast Master..." Ethan kept repeating it, and his gaze toward Charles grew brighter. He said anxiously, "Students, please wait a moment, I''ll be right back." Amidst the puzzled looks from everyone, Ethan ran outside, quickly pulled out his phone, and dialed the principal Jamie''s number. Ethan spoke rapidly, "Principal, I''ve discovered a true genius in Beast Mastery in ss A!" "ss A, a true genius? Are you talking about Charles?" Jamie thought for a moment and realized who Ethan meant. Ethan hurriedly continued, "Yes, Principal! Charles''s physical fitness,bat experience, and skills are exactly what I''m looking for. I''m wondering if I can take him as my apprentice." Fearing that Principal Jamie would refuse, Ethan patted his solid chest and assured him, "Principal, you can trust me, I will teach him well!" "Ha ha ha, you? Ethan, you aren''t worthy to be his teacher." Jamie replied with augh. He hadn''t expected that just after their first meeting, Ethan would want to take Charles as an apprentice. After all, geniuses shine wherever they go. "What? I''m not worthy? Does that mean the principal wants to take Charles as an apprentice?" Ethan considered this possibility. If the principal took Charles as an apprentice, then he really couldn''tpare to Principal Jamie, especially since he was only a seventh-level Beast Master. Jamie was straightforward, "Not me, I want to take him as my apprentice too." "What? Not even you, Principal? Then who else could it be? Could it be..." Ethan thought of someone who definitely had the qualifications to be Charles''s teacher at Genosha Cyber Academy. "Exactly, you''re not mistaken. It''s Ezra. If you think you canpete with him, go ahead and try to get Charles." Principal Jamie joked. Ethan felt an overwhelming sense of disappointment. He had finally encountered a genius who suited him, only to find out that someone had already taken him as an apprentice! Meet Ezra? He wanted to live a few more years! After hanging up the phone, Ethan returned to the practice area with a dejected expression. The other students looked at the changes in him, puzzled and confused. Ethan didn''t offer much exnation and continued with the lesson, but he was clearly distracted. His peripheral vision was filled with regret and disappointment as he asionally nced at Charles. Finally, the morningbat ss came to an end. Charles walked out with Catherine, and just as they were about to head to the cafeteria, Jace suddenly ran over, panicked, and shouted, "Charles, trouble, trouble!" "What''s wrong? Don''t rush, take your time."Charles replied. Jace took a breath, calming himself with a few deep inhales before saying, "Charles, there''s someone outside with arge group, specifically looking for you. They seem aggressive and don''t look like they have good intentions." "Someone is looking for me? A whole group?" Charles was very confused. He had no idea who it was, but he knew he had to go out and see what was happening. Unexpectedly, just as he reached the entrance of the academy, a particrly arrogant voice rang out, "Where is that coward Charles? Why isn''t heing out? Is he afraid?" Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Zoes Challenge Outside Cyber Academy, Zoe was at the front with a group of people, shouting and cursing. This drew a crowd, all curious about who had the guts to cause amotion in front of Cyber Academy. Soon, the security personnel stepped out, ready to disperse the gathering. However, they quickly noticed Charles walking over from inside the academy. Not only did the security staff see him, but Zoe also fixed her gaze on Charles, her muscles taut as if she were on fire. Yesterday''s image of Celestine kissing Charles kept shing in his mind, humiliating him! At that moment, Zoe couldn''t ept that the goddess he was pursuing was kissing another man right in front of him. He didn''t have any courage at that time and fled like a pathetic dog. When he returned to the dorm, Zoe burst into tears,menting to his roommate about how the goddess he had worked so hard to pursue was snatched away by a third party. Hearing this, his roommate gritted their teeth. As soon as they finished ss at noon today, they gathered a group of people, nning to teach that third party a lesson. However, upon hearing Zoe shout a certain name just now, the anger on the faces of his roommates suddenly dissipated, reced by worry. They huddled together, looking at Zoe, who was passionately cursing at the door, and whispered among themselves. "I didn''t mishear, did I? Zoe just said Charles?" "You didn''t mishear, it''s definitely Charles. What''s up? Is this Charles really something?" Someone asked, confused. "Haven''t you been keeping up with the news? This Charles is no joke. Is he really going to interfere with Zoe''s pursuit?" "He shouldn''t be, right? A guy like Charles wouldn''tck admirers. Are you saying Zoe isn''t telling the truth? That Charles isn''t the third party?" "Damn, then what are we even doing here? What if this blows up? Let''s sneak out quietly." Not only Zoe''s roommates felt this way, but quite a few others also slipped away. Meanwhile, Zoe, who was shouting furiously,pletely failed to notice that most of his followers had left, and those who remained were only there to watch the spectacle. "Who are you? Do I know you?" Charles asked, furrowing his brow as he looked at Zoe outside the academy. He genuinely couldn''t remember who this person was. Upon hearing Charles''s words, Zoe was at a loss for words, as if he had swallowed a stone and was choking on it. His face instantly turned red as he pointed at Charles and said, "You don''t go too far! Saying you don''t remember me is intentional, right? How could you possibly forget me?" Zoe hadpletely lost hisposure. Facing Charles, he directly pointed behind him and dered, "Today, in front of all these people, I''m challenging you!" "What people? There''s hardly anyone behind you."Charles replied, gesturing for Zoe to look back. When Zoe finally turned around, he realized that thepanions who had been standing behind him had already mostly disappeared. Only a few people remained to watch the drama, and as soon as they noticed Zoe turning around, they didn''t hesitate to turn and leave. Zoe''s upper and lower lips trembled uncontrobly. He knew that Charles was a genius Beast Master, a genius alchemist, and a genius cksmith, but he still didn''t expect the people who came with him to be so afraid. "Charles, I don''t care! You stole my Celestine, and today we must duel!" Zoe''s mind was devoid of any rationality at that moment. He kept reying the scene from yesterday when he had fled, a humiliating moment that would haunt him for life. Unless he could personally wash away this disgrace by defeating Charles! "Enough, Zoe! What on earth are you doing? I have no feelings for you whatsoever. What you''re doing is no different from being a creep!" Celestine shouted, panting as she saw Charles and Zoe facing off. She felt like she had hit the worst luck of her life by being at the same school as someone like Zoe. At first, she thought Zoe was somewhat normal, and that he would back off after she rejected him. Even if he couldn''t let go, she believed he would give up after she stated that Charles was her boyfriend. But who would have guessed that Zoe seemed to have a screw loose and woulde to cause trouble for Charles today! Celestine felt not only disgust for Zoe but also guilt towards Charles. She walked up to Charles and said, "Charles, I''m sorry. I didn''t know he would act like this. I''m really sorry." Before Charles could respond, Zoe interrupted, saying, "Celestine, you don''t need to apologize. After I defeat him" "Shut up!" Charles couldn''t take it anymore. How could someone be so obsessed, lost in their own world? Zoe was about to retort but looked up to see the cold glint in Charles''s eyes and instantly lost the courage to speak. After a long pause, he grit his teeth and said, "Charles, if you''re a real man, duel me. If I win, Celestine will be mine!" "Charles, don''t pay him any mind, he''s just a lunatic!" Celestine feltpletely helpless. No one wanted to be liked by a madman. If she could, she would ask Zoe what he liked about her, she would change if necessary. Charles shook his head and stepped in front of Celestine, his expression serious as he said, "First of all, Celestine is an independent person. No one has the right to decide her fate but herself!" "Furthermore, I ept your challenge just to teach you how to respect ady." "Lastly, I hope everyone witnesses that any idents during the duel are voluntary on both sides!" When Charles said thatst sentence, there was a chilling intent in his tone. He felt no sympathy for someone like Zoe, instead, he was immensely annoyed! Zoe was about to feel happy when he heard Charles agree, but then he caught thest part of Charles''s statement and felt a wave of fear wash over him. It was as if agreeing would lead to his own demise! "So cool, so handsome! No wonder you''re my idol, Charles, you''re the best!" "That was such a badass line! Seriously, what''s wrong with this Zoe? Does he have a warped sense of values?" "I heard this Zoe is a Level Four Beast Master. Could Charles...?" "Absolutely not! Our idol has defeated Level Four Beast Masters before. Don''t worry, Charles is the strongest!" "Not so fast. This Zoe does have some real power. After all, Charles is only a Level Three Beast Master, he might not be a match." Zoe listened to the discussions around him, his tightly clenched fists oozing blood. He had gripped them so hard that his fingernails pierced the flesh of his palms. He spoke up directly, "I agree to everything you said, Charles! You''ll regret thister!" Charles didn''t waste any words. Three hexagram arrays lit up, and the figures of Max, Mousie, and Mia appeared before everyone. In the next moment, he activated [Beast Mastery] while pulling out a [ck gold long knife] from his [jet ring]. In the blink of an eye, Charles was fully prepared. Zoe was not to be outdone, he summoned four mystical beasts through four hexagram arrays. Charles nced over and noted one Silver quality, two Gold qualities, and one tinum quality beastseemed like decent strength. Without a storage ring, Zoe drew two short knives from his waist, gripping them in reverse. [Green Wolf Short Knife [Blue Quality]: Made primarily from Green Wolf teeth and crafted with mystic iron, it is both hard and sharp.] "Charles, don''t me me for bullying you! My weapon is a top-notch Blue Quality piece! Since you''ve brought out a weapon, I can''t fight barehanded!" Zoe was full of pride, believing his [Green Wolf Short Knife] was among the best in Blue Quality weapons. Charles''s weapon in hand probably wasn''t any better than his, after all, a purple-quality weapon was not so easily obtained. Charles remained indifferent, showing no reaction as he unsheathed his long knife and stood confidently with it. Zoe was the first to attack, wielding his two short knives as he swiftly charged at Charles. His mystical beast was of the wind attribute, andbined with the skills of the mystical beast, his speed was incredible! Among the crowd of onlookers, someone gasped, "That speed is top-tier even among Level Four Beast Masters! Charles is done for!" "Yeah, can Charles even react in time?" "To be honest, Zoe has some psychological issues, but his strength is undeniable!" Hearing the discussions around him, Zoe''s lips curled into a smug smile, filled with pride. He was confident that even if Charles was the strongest neer at Cyber Academy, he wouldn''t be able to dodge his attack at such speed! In the next moment, "ng!" The sound of metal striking metal echoed. Zoe''s short knife aimed at Charles was directly blocked by the [ck gold long knife]. "What?! How did he block that?" Zoe was too surprised to care, quickly changing his tactics while activating his wind attribute mystical beast skill [Compressed Wind de], aiming for Charles''s neck! Charles moved with ease, as if strolling through a forest, effortlessly dodging Zoe''s skill. At the same time, Charles''s right foot pushed off the ground, and his body shot forward like a bullet, moving so fast it was nearly invisible to the naked eye as he shed at Zoe! Zoe desperately reacted, unleashing all his potential just in time to use the [Green Wolf Short Knife] to block Charles''s attack. "cksqueak!" The sound of the [Green Wolf Short Knife] shattering echoed, and in the next instant, it broke into pieces, scattering across the ground! "What?!" Zoe''s pupils dted to their maximum, his blue-quality weapon was shattered by Charles in one stroke? This scene shocked not only Zoe but also the spectators nearby, who were equally astonished. "What did Zoe just say? His weapon is blue quality? It looks more like white quality to me!" "It did seem like it was blue quality. But looking at it now, could Charles''s long knife possibly be a purple-quality weapon?" "Are you kidding? Do you even know how precious purple-quality weapons are?" Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Pants Are Soaked While the crowd debated whether Charles''s long knife was a purple-quality weapon. Zoe''s face had turned pale, and his legs felt weak. He was now weaponless, and everything had caught him off guard. Who would have thought Charles would be this fast? Not only did it leave him unprepared, but it also shattered his hard-earned blue-quality weapon! "Charles, don''t be impulsive! I know I was wrong, I concede!" Zoe was surprisingly decisive, knowing he couldn''t win a fight or escape now. Looking into Charles''s cold gaze, Zoe felt that if he didn''t beg for mercy now, death was surely waiting for him! "You don''t realize you were wrong, you just know you''re about to die!" Charles''s killing intent had not diminished. Even if he didn''t kill Zoe, he intended to give him a lesson he''d never forget! The [ck gold long knife] whistled as it swung toward Zoe''s body. When suddenly, a massive wooden spike flew toward Charles! Charles had no choice but to stop his assault. He turned to confront the flying wooden spike, and with a swift change of direction, his ck gold long knife sliced the spike in half. "Who is it?!" After fending off the sudden attack, Charles turned to the side and saw a young man with red hair slowly dismantling a hexagram array beside him. Having narrowly escaped with her life, Zoe wasted no time. She rolled and scrambled over to the man, crying out, "Brother, someone is trying to kill me!" The person who arrived was none other than Zoe''s brother, Jason! Jason looked at his sister''s terrified expression with disgust. He kicked her aside before raising his gaze to Charles and said, "If it''s a spar, it should be a spar, Charles. That was a bit too harsh, don''t you think?" Before Charles could respond, someone from the crowd immediately defended him, saying, "Who said it was just a spar? Charles clearly stated it in advance, and Zoe agreed. There''s no problem with that." "Exactly, Zoe agreed to it. He can go all out against Charles, but it''s a pity he couldn''t evenst a little longer." "Shut up!" Jason''s expression darkened as he looked around, and the surroundings immediately fell silent. No one dared to mock him anymore. At that moment, Charles spoke up, saying, "What''s this? You beat up the little one, and now the big one shows up?" Jason''s demeanor was dismissive as he took a couple of steps forward, getting closer to Charles. He said, "You think you can take me on? I''m a Level 5 Beast Master. Fighting you would be like bullying a child." Level 5 Beast Master? Charles was a bit taken aback by Jason''s words. If that was true, then Jason''s talent was indeed impressive. In his twenties, a Level 5 Beast Master was considered a genius among ordinary people. However, even a Level 5 Beast Master was not someone Charles had never defeated before! Just as Charles was about to say something, Celestine could no longer hold back. She stepped forward and positioned herself in front of Charles, staring defiantly at Jason as she said: "What does being a Level 5 Beast Master matter? It''s clearly your brother''s fault. How can you be so shameless?" "Celestine, even if you have some talent and the teachers at school think highly of you, that doesn''t give you the right to be so disrespectful. Remember, I''m your senior!" Jason said, raising his hand high. It looked like he intended to teach Celestine a lesson. At that moment, Charles gripped his ck gold long knife tightly and unhesitatingly infused it with three types of energy. A destructive aura radiated from Charles! Jason''s expression changed drastically. As a Level 5 Beast Master, he was naturally perceptive. He didn''t know what was happening, but Charles, a mere Level 3 Beast Master, was making him feel a sense of deadly threat! Jason reacted quickly. He intended to summon a mystical beast to perform Beast Mastery and defend against Charles''s attack. However, the ck gold knife glow was simply too fast. Before his mystical beast could even appear, the ck gold knife glow was already at his chest! Just as Jason thought he was about to meet his end, a wall of earth materialized in front of him, blocking Charles''s ck gold knife glow. "Little brother, having such a bad temper is not a good thing, you know." An enchanting voice came from behind Charles. A stunning woman in a ck qipao, wearing ck stockings, stepped out. Her hair was elegantly styled, and she wore red sses, with a beauty mark at the corner of her eye that added to her allure! Ruby Wang swayed her hips, and the sound of her high heels clicking against the smooth floor drew everyone''s attention to her. Her plump red lips parted slightly as she addressed Charles, saying, "Hello there, Charles dear. It''s nice to meet you for the first time. My surname is Wang, and my name is Ruby. Just call me Sister Ruby." Charles watched Ruby Wang approach, and he realized that this person was likely sent by Cyber Academy for personal protection, though he hadn''t expected her to be such a charming older sister! "Oh dear, it seems someone is scared stiff. What''s that awful smell?" Ruby Wang delicately covered her mouth and nose with her fair hand, wearing a look of disgust as she nced at Jason. "Holy crap, it''s true! Jason''s pants are soaked!" "No way, was Charles''s attack really that powerful?" "But Jason is a Level 5 Beast Master! Could Charles''s attack actually kill a Level 5 Beast Master?" "No matter what, Jason deserves it! Who told him to go after Celestine?" Jason''s expression was nk. He hadn''t yet reacted to the life-and-death crisis when he heard the whispers around him. He instinctively looked down, and he saw very noticeable water stains on his pants. Only then did he slowly realize that he had indeed wet himself out of fear from Charles''s attack! Earlier, he had been mocking his brother Zoe for being scared by Charles, not expecting that Zoe was actually stronger than him, at least maintaining his bodily dignity! And here he was, in front of everyone, having wet his pants because of Charles''s attack! "Damn it! Charles, you wait for me! I will not let this go!" Jason barely had time to spit out more threats as he covered his groin and hurriedly fled the scene. Behind him was his brother Zoe, who also hadn''t registered what had just urred. To him, his older brother had always been stronger, yet today, he was even more pathetic! "Bro, wait for me!" Zoe quickly chased after the fleeing Jason. The two brothers disappeared amidst the mockingughter of the onlookers. Ruby Wang stood in ce, assigned by the academy to protect Charles. At first, when she learned she would be protecting a Level 3 Beast Master, she was very resistant. As a top-tier Level 7 Beast Master, her time was incredibly valuable! Being a personal protector meant being avable twenty-four hours a day, never leaving his side, which felt like a waste of time! But now, seeing Charles''s performance, all her resentment had vanished. That sh of energy Charles unleashed had the power to kill a Level 5 Beast Master! Even she was shocked, she had never seen a Level 3 Beast Master capable of crossing two levels to take down a Level 5 Beast Master! While Ruby Wang marveled at Charles''s attack, she couldn''t help but have other questions arise. "You seem unfazed by my arrival."Ruby Wang observed with keen interest, noting that when she deflected the ck gold knife glow, Charles had shown no surprise at all! "Well, not really surprised. Those security guards over there probably didn''t step in because they saw you here."Charles said, pointing to the guards watching the scene unfold. During his fight with Zoe, he had noticed that whether it was his attack or Jason''s wooden spikes, the expressions on the guards'' faces were filled only with curiosity and surprisethere was no hint of concern. If a fatal incident urred at the entrance of Cyber Academy, they would face scrutiny, so their reluctance to intervene likely stemmed from knowing someone capable of stopping the situation was nearby. Putting together what the academy had said about arranging personal protection, Charles quickly deduced the situation. "Oh? So you''re that sure? What if you misjudged the situation? If I hadn''t acted, Jason could have really died."Ruby Wang''s curiosity deepened. Charles didn''t answer, he actually wanted to say that if he misjudged, so be it. He could always im who would have thought a Level 5 Beast Master couldn''t withstand an attack from a Level 3 Beast Master! "Are you okay?" Charles asked with concern, noticing Celestine still staring at him in a daze. Since Charles''s counterattack ended, Celestine had maintained that expression, gazing at him nkly, lost in thought. After a long pause, she finally came to her senses and hurriedly said, "I''m sorry, Charles. Today''s events were all my fault. If it weren''t for me, Zoe wouldn''t havee after you." Charles waved his hand dismissively, indicating it was no big deal. "It''s nothing. Just a mad dog that only knows how to bark and doesn''t respect anyone. Teaching it a lesson was no hassle." Charles didn''t lower his voice at all, so those still nearby could clearly hear him. "Holy crap! Charles is so cool! That line was just too badass!" "Exactly! Not only is he powerful, but he also respects others and knows how to protect them. He''s just perfect!" "Sometimes being too perfect can be a w. For me, there''s absolutely no hope of bing Charles''s girlfriend!" Listening to the increasingly absurd chatter, Charles quickly led Catherine and Celestine back to the academy, with Level 7 Beast Master Ruby Wang following behind. On the way, Celestine looked at Charles and asked, "Charles, are you going to the Robinson family banquet tomorrow? I heard Grace will be attending." Grace? Catherine''s ears perked up, clearly showing she was particrly interested in that name! Chapter 161: Chapter 161: The Exceptionally Fanatical Fan Upon hearing Grace''s name, Charles visibly paused for a moment. He had always remembered this genius who had signed a human contract with him. He also recalled Celestine mentioning that Grace had reached the level of a Level 4 Beast Master. Charles had originally thought they wouldn''t have any interactions for a while, but now Celestine said Grace would be attending the Robinson family banquet. For a moment, Charles felt a bit indecisive. He was still at the Level 3 Beast Master level, and on the surface, it seemed Grace had the upper hand. However, considering overall strength, Charles couldfortably defeat Grace as long as she didn''t possess a means to kill a Level 5 Beast Master. But being the direct disciple of the academy''s vice-president, could Grace reallyck a trump card for defeating enemies of a higher level? Charles suspected that Grace likely had a powerful trump card simr to the multi-attribute ck gold knife glow, allowing her to attack beyond her level. Go? Or not go? Charles wasn''t quite sure yet. There had been a lot going on recently, including the preparation of the powerful pills Colton had given him and the super miracle drug, which he hadn''t even started yet. He also needed to train Mia to reach Level 19 as soon as possible to prepare for her promotion. On top of that, Charles had to stay vignt against Constetion and Winston, tempting them into action topletely resolve the hidden crisis! "I''ll think about it some more. If I decide to go, I''ll let you know in advance."Charles replied. Catherine thought for a moment and said, "I want to go see it too." She actually had no interest in socializing at the banquet, in her eyes, she would rather spend that free time in the training room to improve her strength! However, Catherine was very curious about Grace. She genuinely wanted to see what kind of person this woman was who had signed a human contract with Charles. Deep down, she even harbored thoughts of challenging Grace! It wasn''t just for the sake of sparring with a strong opponent, she mainly wanted to test Grace''s strength in advance for Charles. If Grace turned out to be weaker than she expected, she nned to humiliate her thoroughly! When Charles heard what Catherine said, he thought about it again and decided that a night out wouldn''t hurt, so he might as well go see what it was all about. "Alright then, let''s set a time for tomorrow night and all go to the Robinson family banquet together."Charles decided. Catherine nodded, showing no other expression or movement, but Charles could clearly feel that Catherine was in a very good mood at that moment. He wondered if it was because he had agreed to apany her to the Robinson family banquet. Celestine cast a nce at Catherine, feeling somewhat ufortable. Catherine''s request had been quickly approved by Charles without a hint of hesitation. In Celestine''s eyes, this Catherine might be her biggestpetitor! Wait, whatpetition? Celestine realized that something was off with her earlier thoughts. When did she start caring about the women around Charles? Recalling what had happenedst night, as well as the soreness in her thighs and lower back when she woke up this morning, Celestine felt a bit restless! She quickly said to Charles, "Alright, I''ll get in touchter. I have things to attend to, so I''ll be leaving now." After saying that, Celestine hurriedly left as if she were escaping. Charles and Catherine were left in confusion, not knowing what had just happened! Before long, a day passed. After finishing his sses, Charles didn''t waste any time at all. He spent the first half of the night training with Max, Mousie, and Mia, and began crafting the powerful pills and the super miracle drug in the second half of the night. Mia sessfully leveled up to Level 18, and even Max and Mousie advanced from Level 24 to Level 25! It seemed that it wouldn''t be long before Mia could undergo her promotion! In the second half of the night, Charles began the process of crafting the miracle drug. [Powerful Pills Recipe] [Quality]: Green-tier Miracle Drug [Ingredients]: 20g of Returning Essence Flower, 300g of Ferocious Beast Meat... [Description]: A miracle drug that elerates the growth of mystical beasts. Only one can be consumed per day, excessive consumption in a short period can cause illness in mystical beasts. He carefully retrieved the necessary herbs from his storage space and meticulously prepared everything, only starting the crafting process after confirming everything was correct. The Powerful Pills were a green-quality miracle drug, with a difficulty level simr to that of the revival pill. In the beginning, he failed several times due to inexperience. However, as the number of failures increased, Charles became more adept, able to remember all the mistakes and avoid repeating them. His progress was rapid, and just before dawn, he finally seeded in crafting the Powerful Pills! However, the alchemical materials he had purchased were nearly exhausted. It seemed that after his morning sses, he would need to make another trip to the alchemist guild to buy more materials for the Powerful Pills. As for the Super Miracle Drug, he would have to wait until the next attempt to refine it. Recently, there hadn''t been any trials, and Charles had the protection of the Level 7 Beast Master Ruby Wang whenever he went out. Since he didn''t need the Super Miracle Drug for now, he decided to set it aside for the time being. Charles stretchedzily, it was already five in the morning, and he had three hours until his morning sses began. Not wanting to waste any more time, he went straight to bed to rest for a while. What he didn''t know was that the incident involving Zoe and the Jason brothers had spread like wildfire overnight and was nowmon knowledge! On online media, discussions about the incident had taken the top spot on trending lists, with peoplementing non-stop: "Come and see,e and learn! This is how a true Beast Master carries himself! Zoe is nothing, her brain must be malfunctioning!" "Charles is absolutely right! Everyone is independent, no one else can decide your belonging except for yourself!" "And that line about teaching a mad dog a lesson? That''s just too bold, it makes me want to marry him!" "A bunch of love-struck fools! Aren''t you all paying attention to Charles''s attack? It scared even a Level 5 Beast Master!" "I, Jace from Cyber Academy, can personally attest that Charles once used this attack to directly y three Level 5 Beast Masters!" "No way, that''s insane! He crossed two levels to kill three Level 5 Beast Masters? That''s just too exaggerated!" "Come on, I''m telling the truth! If you don''t believe me,e see for yourself! You can''t even imagine how strong Charlesis!" ... After sleeping for over two hours, Charles finally felt a bit of his energy return. He didn''t want it to be this way, but he had no choice, there had been so many things happening recently that he simply couldn''t avoid staying upte! After a quick wash and breakfast, Charles headed to his ssroom. Along the way, people kept greeting him. At first, Charles responded, but those who noticed he was acknowledging them went wild with excitement. Charles was immediately surrounded, bombarded with questions, and people were incessantly asking for autographs. Some female students even began to touch him. "Wow, I got to feel Charles''s chest muscles! I''m not washing my hands for a month!" "Sister, you''re so lucky! Step aside, let me try!" "I want to too! I want to!" With no other option, Charles had to use Quick Travel to speed out of the crowd! He wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling very puzzled. What was going on today? Yesterday, people at the academy weren''t this crazy, today, it felt like they had lost their minds! Charles didn''t understand. He had thought his poprity would fade in a day or two, and soon, not many would pay attention to him. To his surprise, it only intensified, he now had to keep his head down and use his skills just to avoid being swarmed! When he finally made it into the ssroom, he saw the students'' faces light up. They pulled out their phones, ready to take pictures with him. Fortunately, the teacher arrived just in time to start the lesson, preventing a repeat of the chaos from earlier. "What''s going on today?" Charles asked quietly as he sat down next to Catherine. Catherine didn''t respond but pulled out her phone to show him. On various social media tforms,ments about Charles read either, "Charles is so handsome! I want to marry him!" Or, "Charles is so strong! He''s my idol!" Seeing this made Charles feel a bit awkward. He scratched the back of his head, feeling helpless. "Maybe I should buy a mask to wear? That way, no one would recognize me." Catherine replied coolly, "Don''t even think about it, wearing a mask would just make you more suspicious." The morning ss ended quickly, and just as the teacher was about to leave the ssroom, Charles used Quick Travel to escape. The moment he stepped out the door, the students still in their seats rushed over to his desk, watching his retreating figure with regret. "Damn! I was a step toote. If I had known, I would have made my move before the teacher called it a wrap." "What a shame, but it''s okay. There are sses this afternoon, maybe I''ll get a chance to take a picture with Charles and post it online." "You have no idea! I mentioned in passing that I was in the same ssroom as Charles, and when I woke up this morning, I gained a thousand followers!" "Is it really that ridiculous? How many followers did you have before?" "Just one, and that was my alt ount!" ... Charles didn''t waste a moment on the way and flew to the Alchemist Guild. He continued to purchase some alchemy materials to refine Powerful Pills again. However, as soon as he reached the entrance, a figure appeared in front of Charles and said: "Charles, it''s me. I need your help with something." Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Byrons Request The person speaking was somewhat familiar to Charles, but he couldn''t quite ce who it was. Before he could ask, the other man noticed the confusion on Charles''s face, clearly realizing that Charles didn''t remember him. He took a deep breath and said, "Charles, I am Byron, a senior cksmith." Byron paused for a moment, his expression slightly grim, and continued, "I was once the apprentice of the vice president of the Forging Masters Guild, Jay''s brother-inw." Jay''s brother-inw? Hearing this, Charles felt a flicker of recognition. He recalled that Byron was present during his cksmith certification assessment. "Oh, it''s you. What do you need from me?" Charles asked. Byron nced around at the bustling passersby and said, "This isn''t a good ce to talk. Let''s go to the nearby caf. I have something important to discuss with you." "No need for that, let''s just talk here. If you don''t say anything soon, I''ll be on my way. My time is quite valuable."Charles replied, frowning. What could be so urgent that it required a quieter location? Was there any direct connection between him and this Byron that warranted such an important matter? Byron sighed and said helplessly, "It''s like this. I''m here to apologize on behalf of Jay and hope that you can help him." "Help him? Why should I help him? What happened to him?" Charles asked, looking puzzled. He didn''t have time to concern himself with a minor worker from the Forging Masters Guild. "Jay has been assigned to the bordends, where chaos reigns. He might lose his life at any moment."Byron said, his face disying just the right mix of sadness and worry. He continued, "I want to ask you to help plead his case and see if he can be transferred elsewhere." Upon hearing this, Charles understood Byron''s intention. He wanted him to go to Xavier, the president of the Forging Masters Guild, to plead for mercy? Plead for Jay''s sake? Before Charles could refuse, Byron quickly added, "Don''t reject just yet. I have a deal you can''t refuse!" Charles felt a bit curious. What kind of deal could he possibly not refuse? He asked, "What kind of deal could I not refuse?" Byron nodded and lowered his voice, saying to Charles, "I know of a ce, just outside the city, on Gourd Mountain, where a piece of orange-quality rare metal is hidden!" Charles''s eyes lit up. He wanted to enhance his ck Gold Long Knife, and orange-quality rare metal was just the right choice! No wonder Byron mentioned it, for any cksmith, high-quality rare metals were indeed enticing. "So, you mean if I go plead for Jay, you''ll give me that piece of orange-quality rare metal?" Charles asked, feeling tempted. Byron hesitated before responding, "It''s not quite like that. The rare metal is guarded by a ferocious beast, and my Beast Master skills aren''t strong enough to take it down!" Some precious alchemy and forging materials are valuable not only to humans but also to those ferocious and mystical beasts. For example, metallic ferocious beasts can absorb high-quality metal materials to enhance their own strength. "Then, how strong is this ferocious beast?" Charles pressed further. "A Level Four Beast Master can handle it. I''m only a Level Three Beast Master, so I can''t take down that ferocious beast."Byron said seriously. As a professional cksmith, his skills in Beast Mastery were indeedcking. Charles pondered, that beast should be a Level Thirty or above ferocious beast, and he could definitely deal with it. He could obtain the orange-quality rare metal and enhance his ck Gold Long Knife. However, Byron''s next statement made Charles very cautious. "How about this? I can tell you the location first, and after you get the rare metal, you can help plead for Jay. What do you think?" Once those words were spoken, Charles instantly calmed down. He feigned curiosity and asked, "Aren''t you afraid that after I obtain the metal, I won''t help Jay?" Byron replied a bit flustered, "No way! I trust you. As the most famous genius in Calivia, your reputation is more important than a piece of orange-quality rare metal." Charles rubbed his chin, "That''s true. Let''s exchange contact information. Once I''m ready in a couple of days, I''ll let you know." Byron''s face brightened, and he quickly provided his contact information. ... Soon, after bidding farewell to Charles, Byron arrived at a secluded alley where someone was waiting for himit was Level Six Beast Master Winston! Winston asked anxiously, "So, what did Charles say?" "He agreed, but we haven''t set a specific time yet!" Byron clenched his fists tightly. His resentment towards Charles was undiminished, if it weren''t for Charles, he would still be the apprentice of the vice president of the Forging Masters Guild! As for Jay, Byron harbored the same resentment. The words he spoke about wanting to help Jay were all lies! Someone like Jay, if assigned to another ce, might cause even more trouble, and he would be implicated as wellthen he would be done for. "That''s good enough. The timing doesn''t matter. Charles, this time you''re definitely doomed!" Winston already envisioned the scene of Charles begging for mercy. He had seen the news today and knew that Charles had the means to threaten a Level Five Beast Master, but so what? The strength of a Level Six Beast Master is not something a Level Five Beast Master canpare to! As long as Charles showed any interest in obtaining that piece of orange-quality rare metal, Winston was one hundred percent confident he could kill Charles silently and without a trace! Whoever it was, as long as Winston suspected them of being involved in Kevin and Thomas''s deaths, he would rather kill the wrong person than let anyone escape! After eliminating Charles, he would return to Lsengard, and no one from the Miller family or the Smith family would get away! "My lord, I''vepleted the task you assigned to me, I shouldn''t have any further involvement now, right?" Byron felt a bit scared inside and wanted to end this matter. To his surprise, Winston did not stop him, instead, he said, "You can back out now, but if you do, you''ll miss the chance to witness Charles''s tragic end." Byron recalled his situation, after meeting Charles, he had lost his status as the apprentice of the vice president of the Alchemist Guild, and his wife had been constantly ming him. All the connections he had built up over the years had gone to waste. "Fine! I''ll go that day too. I''ll go with Charles, his guard will be down. I want to see him die with my own eyes!" Byron gritted his teeth in agreement. A barely noticeable smile crept onto Winston''s lips. He would certainly fulfill Byron''s wish, but after Charles''s death, Byron would be next. He didn''t want to leave any clues that would lead Cyber Academy to investigate that would be the end for him! Meanwhile, After purchasing alchemy materials, Charles was walking back when a tall man with dark yellow skin kept following him. "The dean, Jamie, has reminded you not to leave the city recently."the man said in an unusually alluring tone, and the voice was unmistakably Ruby Wang''s. At first, Charles found it strange how Ruby Wang had transformed from a voluptuous woman into a hulking figure. He had asked about it, and the other party mentioned it was due to a mystical beast''s special ability. It was probably simr to Mousie''s Mimetic Illusion. "I recall that I never intended to go out alone."Charles stated his thoughts. Ruby Wang seemed puzzled and asked, "But didn''t you just promise him that you would inform him when you had the time?" "Yes, I''m not going out alone. Facing a potential ambush from the Constetion organization, how could I dare?" Charles''s words left Ruby Wang even more confused. She responded, "The Constetion organization? Are you saying that Byron is deliberately trying to get you to leave the city?" "What else could it be? Just a moment ago, he was very concerned about Jay''s well-being, but then he didn''t mention it at all."Charles continued to exin. "I said I''d let him know in a couple of days, yet he didn''t seem rushed at all. You have to understand, in two days, Jay might be dead at the border!" If Byron truly cared about Jay, he would definitely urge Charles to hurry, at the very least, he would try to do something. But he showed no sign of urgency whatsoever. This made Charles feel a sense of rm, he immediately concluded that Byron''s goal was to get him out of the city! However, he didn''t know which faction Byron belonged towas it the Constetion? Or Winston? Or perhaps Leo? Charles couldn''t figure it out, nor did he need to. He was well aware that the other party was doomed! Back at the academy, Charles busied himself with continuing to refine enough powerful pills to help Mia elerate her growth. Meanwhile, Ruby Wang went to find Dean Jamie to report the relevant situation and see how to n their next steps. Once Charles sessfully refined the powerful pills and prepared to head to ss for the afternoon, Catherine came to find him. "Charles, there''s a banquet tonight. I was wondering if you have a suitable formal outfit?" Catherine asked after a moment of hesitation. "A formal outfit? I don''t think I have one."Charles replied, feeling a bit strange. Given Catherine''s personality, she would usually just wear whatever to attend a banquet. She didn''t care about such things at all, outside ofbat and training, other matters werepletely unimportant to her. Why was she concerned about formal attire today? "How convenient! I don''t have anything suitable either. How about we go look for something together after our afternoon ss?" Catherine suggested naturally. Charles nodded in agreement. The two of them walked towards the ssroom, with Catherinegging slightly behind. She asionally nced down at her phone, which disyed a series of search records: [What does it mean to buy a formal outfit for a guy?] [How should a girlfriend buy a formal outfit for her boyfriend?] [Rmended formal outfits for couples] [The best formal wear shops in Calivia for couples to browse] ... Catherine, walking behind, was quietly deleting her browsing history. She had just done a simple search once, and then these rmendations popped up. Unable to resist her curiosity, Catherine clicked in. She ended up watching for an entire afternoon before realizing that she and Charles were not in a romantic rtionship! After thinking for a moment, she paused her scrolling and finally left one rmendation: [Formal Outfit Rmendations for Couples]! Chapter 163: Chapter 163: The Robinson Family Banquet When Charles and Catherine stepped out of the academy gates, a figure approached from the side. Celestine was dressed in a stunning ck gown, her feet adorned with beige Valentino high heels. Her toes were long and fair, painted with a light red nail polish, making her look absolutely exquisite. The gown was clearly custom-made, perfectly showcasing her graceful waistline. With her curvy hips and slim waist, she created a striking visual impact, making one unable to resist the urge to reach out and pull her into an embrace. "Were you waiting for me?" Charles asked, a bit puzzled. It had just been the end of afternoon sses, and there was still plenty of time before the Robinson family banquet, so he wondered what Celestine was doing there. Upon hearing Charles''s question, Celestine nced at Catherine first, then slightly arched her back like a ck swan before responding, "That''s right, Charles. I figured you might not have an appropriate formal outfit, so I thought I''d help you pick one out." "Funny enough, Catherine also said she wanted to help me choose something suitable. Why don''t we all go together?" Charles suggested. Catherine''s expression was somewhat unnatural, she didn''t know what to say. If she refused, would ite off as strange? Before she could answer, Celestine eagerly agreed. The three of them set off toward thergest mall in Calivia, and soon they arrived at their destination. Charles looked at the enormous mall filled with clothing brands he had never heard of. As he scanned the ce, he realized there were hundreds of shops! For a moment, he had no idea where to start. To Charles, clothes were just something to wear, as long as they werefortable. As a Beast Master, he didn''t often require formal wear for his daily training and life. "Which store should we go to first?" Charles scratched his head. Shopping for clothes was something better left to thedies, he would just follow along and try on whatever they picked. "Let''s go to this one!" "How about we start at this store?" Catherine and Celestine pointed at a shop simultaneously. Without thinking much, Charles walked straight over. Behind him, the twodies exchanged nces, saying nothing. The first shop they chose was, in fact, highly rmended online as the best store for couples! As soon as they entered the store, several salespeople swarmed around them. When they saw Catherine and Celestine following Charles in, the expressions on their faces instantly changed. Some stepped aside, watching Catherine and Celestine pick out clothes, whispering to each other: "This guy is really lucky, he''s surrounded by two stunning beauties. I''m so jealous!" "I wish my future girlfriend could be half as pretty as them, I''m really envious!" "Did you not know? This guy is Charles, the ones next to him are Catherine and Celestine. Both are level four Beast Masters!" "They''re both geniuses! A perfect match. I''m a bit confused about who Charles''s girlfriend actually is." "Why can''t it be both?" ... Meanwhile, Catherine and Celestine were waiting outside the fitting room for Charles toe out. Both being level four Beast Masters, they had sharp hearing and had already caught wind of the chatter around them. Yet neither of them spoke, they just looked at each other, and the atmosphere grew tense. Catherine usually didn''t care about other people''s opinions, but when she heard them debating who Charles''s girlfriend was, she couldn''t help but nce at Celestine. In her eyes, Celestine was indeed very beautiful and graceful, and she had known Charles for a while. Thinking about this made Catherine feel somewhat uneasy, she didn''t even know why, but it felt a bit like someone was trying to take her ce in the training room. On the other hand, Celestine understood her own feelings better than Catherine did, she had likely developed feelings for Charles. To her, Catherine, who spent the most time with Charles, was her biggest rival. However, she was fortunate enough to sense that Catherine didn''t understand romantic feelings at all. That was her advantage. Moreover, she had been intimate with Charles more than once. With that thought, Celestine turned her gaze toward the fitting room. Charles pushed open the fitting room door, smoothing out the wrinkles in his sleeves as he asked, "How does this outfit look? Is it good?" No one answered. Charles felt something was off and looked up at Catherine and Celestine, who were both staring at him with expressions of surprise. "You look amazing in formal wear! You have such a presence, like a prince from a kingdom!" Celestine eximed, her eyes fixed on Charles. It was the first time she had seen Charles in formal attire! Charles was dressed in a stylish ck suit, giving off the impression of a king emerging from the shadows of the night. The tailored cor hugged his neck perfectly, and the slightly open shirt cor revealed a hint of his well-defined corbone, adding a touch of nonchnce to hisposed demeanor. The fitted cut perfectly outlined his tall frame, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, every line was smooth and sharp. The words strength and elegance came to mind for everyone present! Catherine had never paid much attention to a man''s appearance before, she only recognized strength and power. But seeing Charles like this today made her nod in agreement with Celestine''s remark. "He''s just too handsome! We need to take a picture right now, it''ll be our store''s advertisement!" "Yes, yes! Where''s the manager? Hurry up and talk to Charles to see if we can get the rights to that photo!" Meanwhile, Charles was still trying on other clothes and hadn''t noticed themotion in the store. After trying on several outfits, nonepared to the first ck suit. Catherine and Celestine decided to give up on trying other clothes, especially Celestine, who was also wearing a ck evening gown that matched well with Charles. Catherine had chosen a suitable option, a white off-the-shoulder long dress. She had hardly ever worn something like that and felt a bit ufortable, constantly tugging at the neckline on her shoulder, worried it might slip down. Catherine''s figure was different from Celestine''s, she exuded a sense of vitality, energy, and health! When Charles and Catherine went to the checkout, the manager had already been called over and was waiting there. The manager cautiously asked, "Mr. Charles, the entire shopping experience isplimentary. Would you be willing to let us use this photo as an advertisement in our store?" This was the first time Charles encountered such a situation, he didn''t think much of it. It was just a photo, so he agreed without hesitation. By the time they finished buying the suitable formal wear, it was gettingte. The Robinson family''s banquet was about to start. The three of them didn''t linger too long and headed straight to the Robinson family estate. On the way, Celestine kept stealing nces at Charles, while Catherine asionally cast furtive looks his way. Clearly, both of them were very pleased with Charles''s look for the day. "By the way, Charles, did you know that an important figure is rumored to be attending the banquet today? It seems this event is being held specifically for that person."Celestine shared, rying information she had heard from who knows where. Charles didn''t really care, his goal was to see Grace, and if possible, to find out more about Professor Hale. He was curious why Hale, once celebrated as the "Pride of the Wind."had severed ties with the Robinson family. Charles had searched online but found no information at all. "Winter, do you know much about the Robinson family?" Charles asked. Celestine shook her head. Although she had been in Genosha Calivia for a long time, she hadn''t had much contact with these top-tier families. Before long, the three of them arrived in front of the Robinson family mansion. As soon as they got out of the car, countless shbulbs went off, apanied by gasps of excitement. "Look, it''s Charles!" "Our idol is here! Charles looks so handsome today, all those geniuses before him don''t evenpare!" "He''s so charismatic! He looks like royalty, it''s incredible!" Today, in front of the Robinson family estate, there were numerous luxury cars parkedMaybach S-ss, Ferrari 488 Pista, Aston Martin DB11, and so on. The attendees were either geniuses or members of elite families, none of them were ordinary. Before Charles, Celestine, and Catherine arrived, the crowd''s attention and shes were scattered. But once the three of them stepped out of the car, all eyes and shes focused on them! "Click, click, click. What''s there to photograph about a level three Beast Master?" "Are you jealous of Charles? When you got out of the car, only a few people took pictures of you. Look at Charleshe''s so popr!" "He''s just amoner. Why would I be jealous of amoner?" In contrast to the enthusiasm of the onlookers, the young members of the elite families getting out of their luxury cars were feeling quite annoyed with Charles. In their eyes, it was Charles who was stealing their spotlight, otherwise, it would be them surrounded by admirers right now! "Let''s go, stop looking. We should head inside. We need to be on our best behavior today, we can''t afford any slip-ups!" "How could that happen? We were reminded at home beforeingthere''s an important figure attending today." "By the way, I heard the Taylor family isn''t too happy with Charles. It seems to be because of Carter and Leo. I wonder if there will be any drama tonight!" "That''s unlikely. At an event like this, what kind of drama could happen?" "Well, you never know. I heard Zanefrom the Taylor family is all set to make Charles embarrass himself!" Chapter 164: Chapter 164: The Duel Inside the Robinson family vi, a Chinese-stylendscape garden is nestled within, with towering mountains and flowing waters, pavilions andkes, and various rare nts thriving in abundance. Zane, the youngest son of Benson, the head of the Taylor family, is in a pavilion, surrounded by people eager to curry favor with him. As a direct descendant of the Taylor family, he is truly the center of attention at this gathering! Even the Robinson family, the hosts of the event, can''t match his poprity. After all, the Taylor family''s power ranks just below the royal Bai family of Genosha, and people are constantlying to try to build a rapport with Zane and get known. However, at this moment, Zane is not interested in anyone else, his gaze is fixed on ady outside the pavilion. Under the dazzling lights of the banquet, Snowy Gao, dressed in a stunning red evening gown, resembles a red rose blooming in the dark night. The red evening gown resembles a blooming flower, almost like a burning me, exuding a hot and enchanting charm. Her slender waist is delicate, and her long legs peek through the high slit of the skirt, adding a touch of sensuality and mystery. The exquisite shoulder straps rest gently on her rounded shoulders, revealing ample fair skin, while showcasing her alluring corbone and proud bust, embodying both elegance and feminine charm. Recently, Zane has been pursuing Snowy Gao, but to his surprise, no matter how many gifts he sends, she doesn''t even nce his way. If it were anyone else, he would have lost his temper and resorted to more drastic measures, but Snowy Gao''s situation is different. His father, Benson, has warned him several times that he can pursue her but must not use other means, or it will lead to serious trouble! Zane sighed andposed himself again. He waved his hand casually, and a person stepped out from behind him, carrying an exceptionally exquisite gift box, following Zane toward Snowy Gao. "Snowy, this is a beauty miracle drug that I worked hard to find. Why don''t you take a look?" Zane said as he received the gift box and opened it. Before he could take anything out, Snowy Gao politely refused, "Mr. Zane, I don''t think I''m at the age where I need a beauty miracle drug yet. You should keep it for yourself." Snowy Gao spoke the truth, she was only eighteen, the age of her utmost beauty, and naturally, she didn''t need a so-called beauty miracle drug. In her view, Zane giving her such a gift was simply implying that she should pay attention to her appearance. It was quite frustrating! Hearing Snowy Gao''s refusal, Zane''s hand, which had been opening the gift box, froze in mid-air. He instinctively wanted tosh out but held back, resulting in a stiff expression on his face, as rigid as a statue. At that moment, a shout echoed from afar, "It''s Charles! Charles has arrived too!" Snowy Gao''s eyes lit up, and she lifted her long skirt slightly, skipping gracefully toward him! Charles has a fan base mostlyposed of women in Genosha Calivia, as he is not only handsome but also a genius who respects women. Every word he speaks resonates with people. Moreover, under the narration of Lan and Jace, two other phrases Charles once said have also be popr in Genosha Calivia. "True strength is not about having power to be courageous, but rather having courage that leads to strength!" "Weaklings draw their des against the weaker, while the strong draw their des against the stronger!" These two sentences have been recognized by countless individuals, especially for some confused Beast Masters. Charles''s words are like a beacon in their lives! Thus, when Charles appeared, he was immediately surrounded by admirers! Today is the Robinson family''s banquet, and those who can attend are all geniuses and members of prestigious families, including many of Charles''s fans. Snowy Gao stood at a distance, her gaze fixed on Charles, filled with recognition and admiration. Having been in Genosha for some time, she was already very curious about Charles. "Today, I finally get to see him in person, he''s even more handsome than in photos and videos!" Snowy Gao whispered to herself. Zane, who had been chasing after her, happened to hear this and his expression instantly soured. He didn''t expect that the aloof Snowy Gao would find Charles appealing at first sight while ignoring his efforts! Not to mention that Charles had publicly embarrassed Leo in front of everyone from the Taylor family! Zane couldn''t hold back any longer, he stepped into the crowd, pushing through the onlookers until he reached Charles, and spoke up: "I was wondering who it was, turns out it''s the third-level Beast Master Charles, a meremoner! Quite the spectacle." Some of Charles''s fans couldn''t stand it and wanted to retort, but after just a nce at Zane, they immediately closed their mouths. Seeing this, Zane felt even more triumphant. In Genosha Calivia, there are people he wouldn''t provoke, but Charles isn''t one of them. Amoner without connections or background didn''t intimidate him at all. "Do I know you?" Charles frowned, not recognizing the person who had just spoken. He found it strange that someone would want to provoke him using theirmoner status. Grace was the first, Leo was the same, and now herees another. "My name is Zane, the direct descendant of the Taylor family in Genosha Calivia! Benson is my father!" Zane proudly lifted his chin. Usually, at this point, even if others didn''t know him, hearing this would shock them and earn him some respect. But unexpectedly, Charles''s expression was as if he were looking at a clown. He shook his head and said, "Sorry, I haven''t heard of any of that." "You! What kind of joke is this?" Zane immediately grew agitated. Just as he was about to insult Charles, he thought of something and said, "Hmph, that makes sense. Amoner wouldn''t know about the affairs of great families." Charles, upon hearing this, didn''t get angry. He calmly faced Zane''s ridicule and replied, "I may not know about those things, but I can be sure of one thing." "What is it?" Zane asked, somewhat curious. "I can be sure that when you introduced yourself, you put your family and father first, without mentioning yourself at all." Charles curled his lip in disdain and continued, "This shows that you have no achievements of your own, you''re just a worthless person hiding in the shadow of your family''s glory." As soon as he said this, the entire venue fell silent. Everyone was contemting, and Charles''s words made a lot of sense. If it weren''t for the fact that the person being ridiculed was Zane, many would likely have apuded and cheered. "Charles! What do you mean by that? You''re just amoner, what gives you the audacity to insult me?" Zane''s anger red up instantly. He found himself unable to retort. As the son of the head of the Taylor family, no one had ever dared to speak to him like that! "I challenge you to a duel, Charles! I want to see if you have the guts to ept my challenge!" Zane''s eyes seemed to ze with fire as he red at Charles and spoke. Snowy Gao couldn''t stand it any longer. Naturally, she wasn''t afraid of Zane and directly interjected, "Zane! You''re a twenty-three-year-old fifth-level Beast Master, and you''re challenging an eighteen-year-old third-level Beast Master to a duel? How embarrassing!" Faced with Snowy Gao''s usation, Zane was momentarily speechless. He clenched his fists tightly and pointed at a person behind him, saying, "How about this, Charles? I have a servant here, a fourth-level Beast Master. You two won''t summon mystical beasts or use high-quality equipment for the duel. How does that sound?" Before Charles could respond, Zane continued to provoke him, trying to get Charles to agree."Charles, aren''t you a genius? Are you afraid of a fourth-level Beast Master? Don''t you dare?" To a fourth-level Beast Master, Charles wasn''t afraid at all. However, he didn''t want to y along with Zane''s game. He knew that Zane was aware of his strength and was deliberately trying to provoke him into a duel. Clearly, there was more to this than met the eye! Charles''s gaze turned to the person Zane was pointing at. The individual stood straight, with a rigid posture, their eyes wandering constantly, remaining alert, and emanating a faint aura of the battlefield! This must be a battle-hardened soldier! Based on his assessment, Charles made his judgment. No wonder Zane said they couldn''t use mystical beasts or high-quality weapons. With those two factors removed, it woulde down to physical fitness andbat skills. Charles thought for a moment and calmly said, "I''m just a third-level Beast Master. Why should I agree to your demands?" "You! Charles, weren''t you so arrogant before? Why are you backing down now?" Zane was afraid that Charles wouldn''t dare to ept. He continued to provoke him with words, hoping to anger Charles and provoke him into losing hisposure. Upon hearing Zane''s words, Charles became even calmer. He replied, "A duel without stakes is a bit too boring. If I win, what would you even be able to offer as a price?" Zane''s eyes instantly lit up. He was very confident in the person behind him. As long as Charles agreed not to summon mystical beasts or use high-quality weapons, Charles would surely lose! Ever since he learned that Charles had made Leo shout a hundred times in public, "I''m worthless, I''m not as good as amoner!" Zane had felt a deep resentment towards Charles. After all, Leo was a member of the Taylor family, and Charles''s actions were a disgrace to the Taylor family! As the son of Benson, the head of the Taylor family, Zane believed it was his duty to teach Charles a lesson! "A price? How about this: if you lose, you''ll kneel at the entrance of the Taylor family for a day, apologizing to us, and then you''ll leave an arm behind!" Zane''s expression turned ruthless. In his view, as long as he didn''t kill Charles, there wouldn''t be any problems. He thought to himself, he was just amoner, how could he make the Taylor family pay a heavy price? "What if I win?" Charles wasn''t intimidated by Zane''s demands. He calmly asked. Before Zane could respond, Snowy Gao''s voice rang out: "Zane, don''t go too far! Charles, don''t agree to him, this guy has no shame!" Chapter 165: Chapter 165: What Does This Mean? Charles looked at Snowy Gao with some curiosity. It seemed he didn''t recognize this person. The crowd gathered here was growingrger. As the hosts of the banquet, the Robinson family was naturally worried that something might happen, so they quickly sent the butler over. "Young Master Zane, Mr. Charles, please calm down. Today is the Robinson family''s banquet, and I ask you both to behave." The butler''s expression was somewhat displeased. "You misunderstood. I''m quite calm, it''s this Genosha Taylor family member, Benson''s son, who is not so calm."Charles replied, without mentioning Zane''s name at all. The butler clearly caught the implied meaning in Charles''s words. He was already well aware of what had transpired between Zane and Charles. Without hesitation, the Robinson family''s butler directly addressed Charles: "Mr. Charles, regardless of your grievances with Zane, I hope you can give the Robinson family some face today and avoid causing any trouble." After saying this, the butler fell silent, as if the entire situation was initiated by Charles. Charles frowned and spoke up, "Excuse me, do you know the background of this situation? What do you mean by me causing trouble?" The butler shook his head and replied, "Mr. Charles, I''m aware of how things unfolded. I ask that you remain calm and enjoy tonight''s banquet." Zane wasn''t foolish either, he was feeling very pleased. The Taylor family was far stronger than the Robinson family, which is why the Robinson family''s butler was cing the me on Charles. After all, Charles was just amoner, without connections or background. Meanwhile, Zane, who had instigated the matter, faced no consequences. He stood with his arms crossed, looking at Charles with a gaze full of provocation! Snowy Gao couldn''t take it anymore and directly approached the Robinson family''s butler, raising her voice, "What do you mean, Robinson family? Zane started this trouble, and Charles hasn''t done anything!" The Robinson family''s butler was unaware of Snowy Gao''s special identity, but seeing her dressed elegantly and exuding an extraordinary presence, he patiently exined, "Ma''am, what''s important now is that the banquet proceeds smoothly. A master of alchemy is attending, and there can''t be any mistakes." Upon hearing the butler''s words, the crowd was instantly astonished and began to murmur: "What the heck, a master of alchemy! Do we have a master of alchemy in Genosha?" "The president of the Alchemy Guild is only a master of alchemy, this master of alchemy is even more distinguished!" "Of course, a master of alchemy would be weed in any country. Who wouldn''t want to be on good terms with a master of alchemy?" "Look, it seems that royal people are here, the Grand Princess and the Second Princess have also arrived!" The others hadn''t fully processed the news about the master of alchemy when they heard that royal members were present, and they turned to look. In another direction, a group of people was approaching. Charles recognized only a couple of them: the Second Princess Cami, the general''s son Zachary, and at the back, Grace. Charles took a deep breath, and images of signing the human contract shed through his mind. Catherine, who was beside him, noticed Charles''s state. Following his gaze, she spotted Grace. "Is that Grace?" Catherine asked Celestine in a low voice. Celestine nodded but didn''t say anything. Because of Charles, she didn''t harbor any good feelings toward Grace. "Butler Zhou, what''s going on? Why are there so many people gathered here?" The speaker was Shane Lin, the younger brother of the head of the Robinson family. He had gone to greet the royal family and was taken aback by the scene before him as soon as he entered. Butler Zhou quickly ran to Shane Lin''s side and began to exin quietly. After understanding the situation, Shane Lin didn''t mind much, he simply smiled and said, "It''s understandable for young people to bepetitive, but today''s asion isn''t suitable for that. Let''s disperse, the banquet is about to begin." After Shane Lin said this, he thought he could let the matter pass, but Zane seemed displeased and sarcastically addressed Charles, "Charles, please calm down. In a situation like this, it''s better to behave and not cause trouble." Charles looked up at Butler Zhou and Shane Lin, hoping they could rify the situation. It was clearly Zane who instigated things, how did it turn into him causing trouble? Shane Lin spoke again, "Alright, everyone, settle down and disperse." Grace had naturally seen Charles. She had heard news about him while in Calivia, and not just once. However, Charles was still only a Level 3 Beast Master, while she had already reached Level 4. Although Charles could defeat a Level 4 Beast Master, she was different, she was a direct disciple of the Vice President of Aredale Academy, not just an ordinary Level 4 Beast Master! "Charles, this is not a ce formoners to stir up trouble."Grace said calmly to Charles. Before Charles could react, Catherine and Celestine couldn''t hold back anymore. The two of them moved forward, wanting to confront Grace. Charles reached out his hand to stop the two of them, allowing the two women to rush ahead while he stayed back. That simply wouldn''t do. "Those who witnessed the events should know that Zane was the one who provoked first, it''s not me who caused trouble."Charles proimed loudly. The onlookers had all witnessed what happened, but no one spoke up. "I saw it, Zane did provoke first."Snowy Gao was the first to voice her agreement. After that, no one else spoke, the remaining people were afraid of the Taylor family and worried about Zane holding a grudge and retaliating, so they kept silent. Shane Lin waved his hand irritably. He didn''t care who started the dispute, he just wanted the crowd to disperse quickly because the master-level alchemist would be arriving soon. "Alright, alright, this doesn''t matter anymore. The banquet is about to start, everyone needs to leave."Shane Lin said helplessly. "Charles, don''t dy things here. If you make that master-level alchemist angry, you won''t be able to handle the consequences."Zane said, feeling quite pleased with himself and gloating at Charles. Butler Zhou added, "Alright, Mr. Charles, just take a step back, the banquet is what''s important." Shane Lin frowned at Charles. He had thought Charles was a smart person who wouldn''t insist further, but it turned out he couldn''t see his own ce. No matter how good his talent in alchemy and forging was, could it really be more important than a master-level alchemist? "Enough, stop being unreasonable."Shane Lin said impatiently, wanting to resolve the matter quickly. Charles took a deep breath. He knew that people from these big families were often self-righteous and extremely proud. It was clearly Zane who came to provoke him, yet it had turned into him causing trouble? It was clearly Butler Zhou who made a mistake, yet it had be him who wouldn''t let it go? From the beginning, Charles had done nothing but respond to Zane''s provocation, was that really a fault? The banquet was important, and Charles understood that. Master-level alchemists were indeed rare, but Charles had seen them before. He had learned about alchemy from Colton, a master-level alchemist. The people of the Robinson family had no awareness of their mistakes. They always thought to make Charles back down. Perhaps they knew that Zane had instigated the situation but chose to me everything on Charles. "Is it because I''m amoner that this situation has turned into me causing trouble?" Charles asked. Shane Lin didn''t answer directly, instead, he said, "Charles, my patience is limited. If you continue like this, I''ll have to ask you to leave." "I won''t take the me for something I didn''t do. Right is right, and wrong is wrong."Charles replied, unfazed. He didn''t care about the big families at all. "Even if Zane provoked you first, Charles, you could have chosen to ignore it. Knowing that today is an important banquet for the Robinson family, why not step back?" Shane Lin said with a furrowed brow. Upon hearing this, Charles finally understood just how arrogant the people from these big families could be. Zane was from the top family, the Taylor family, in Genosha, so his provocations and troublemaking were perfectly eptable. But Charles was just amoner with talent in alchemy and forging, so responding to provocation was a problem! What kind of logic was that? Charles struggled to suppress his anger, trying to remain calm. He said slowly, "What you said is wrong. The responsibility is not mine. Even if it''s the Robinson family''s banquet today, wrong is wrong!" Zane was even more pleased. He hadn''t expected Charles to be so stubborn! If Charles admitted his mistake and stopped insisting, Zane wouldn''t know how to teach him a lesson. "Amoner is just amoner,pletely unaware of the gravity of the situation. The Robinson family''s banquet is far more important than your notions of right and wrong!" Zane raised an eyebrow and smiled at Charles. "Someone, throw him out!" Shane Lin didn''t waste any more words and directly issued orders to the people of the Robinson family! He had had enough. If this continued, when that master-level alchemist came out and saw such a scene, it would be terrible. "Wait, who are you throwing out?" A voice came from the Robinson family''s room. Everyone present looked up to see a middle-aged man carefully following behind an elderly man with white hair. The middle-aged man was none other than the head of the Robinson family, Lance Lin! The person who could walk behind Lance Lin must be the protagonist of today''s banquet, that master-level alchemist. As Lance Lin and the master-level alchemist walked over, people began to whisper: "Is this the master-level alchemist? He looks just like an ordinary old man." "Does anyone know who this is?" "I don''t know. He must be a master-level alchemist from somewhere else." "I heard he''s actually from Genosha, he just recently reached master-level alchemist status." "That sounds fake. The only master-level alchemist in Calivia is Owen, the president of the alchemist guild, and he''s not President Owen!" ... While others were specting about who this master-level alchemist was, Charles was stunned, because he was very familiar with this person, it was Colton, who had taught him about alchemy! Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Charles, please conduct yourself with dignity "What''s going on? The banquet is about to start, yet everyone is still lingering here!" Lance Lin took a couple of steps forward, standing in front of Colton, his expression dark as he red at Shane Line. The Robinson family had put a lot of effort into today''s banquet. If it weren''t for Colton''s connection to the Robinson family, they wouldn''t have been able to host the event ahead of so many other families. A master-level alchemist is extremely important for the current situation of the Robinson family. If things are handled well, it''s not impossible for the Robinson family to reach the same level of power as the Taylor family in the future! Thinking of this, Lance Lin shot a sharp nce at Shane Line. Shane Line hurriedly exined, "Head of the family, the reason so many people have gathered is all because of that brat Charles, who doesn''t know his ce!" Shane Line stepped in front of Lance Lin andid out the entire sequence of events. Lance Lin clearly understood that it all started when Zane caused trouble, but he was still annoyed. Even if Zane started it, couldn''t Charles just let it slide? It was evident that he didn''t have a clear understanding of his own position. Could amoner really be more important than Zane of the Genosha Taylor family? Lance Lin had heard of Charles''s name, the genius forging alchemist. He remembered that he had once asked the steward to send an invitation, hoping to smooth things over in advance. However, one Charles clearly could not bepared to Colton! Snowy Gao, standing nearby, was the first to react when Shane Line pointed the me at Charles. She immediately spoke up, "The esteemed Robinson family can''t distinguish right from wrong, it was Zane who was at fault first!" Upon hearing this, Lance Lin became anxious. After all, Colton was right behind him, and if this master-level alchemist grew dissatisfied with the Robinson family, it could jeopardize future cooperation, which would be disastrous! However, he couldn''t say much either, he knew Snowy Gao''s status. She came from beyond the Abyssal Depths and held an esteemed position, even the royal family respected her greatly. "It''s a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding, it''s all a misunderstanding. Charles and Zane are both young, hot-headed, andpetitive, which is understandable. Why don''t we just let it go for now and discuss it after the banquet?" Lance Lin, seeing things gettingplicated, decided to smooth things over, thinking it best to let the banquet proceed normally first. Colton, listening from behind, had gathered most of the details. He understood that this situation arose because Charlescked a powerful background and was being looked down upon by the Robinson family, treated unjustly. To be honest, Colton liked Charles as a disciple, he was calm and had terrifying talent in alchemy. As Charles''s alchemy teacher, he certainly wanted to stand up for him. But now was not the time, he could wait a little longer and give those who looked down on Charles a big lesson! Thinking of this, Colton spoke up, "If there''s a misunderstanding, it''s better to rify it now. I''ve heard of this Charles, he seems to be an advanced alchemist at just eighteen. He shouldn''t be so stubborn in his mistakes." Hearing Colton express some favor towards Charles, a few people in the crowd suddenly began to panic. Especially Zane, who thought that if Charles got close to Colton, it would be troublesome for him in the future. He wouldn''t be able to deal with Charles anymore, and Charles might evene back to seek revenge on him. Therefore, Zane immediately said, "Senior, you don''t know. This Charles is just amoner, and he''s quite arrogant, looking down on others!" Before Charles could respond, other young people, who didn''t like Charles, followed Zane''s lead and spoke up. "Yes, senior, Charles loves to show off and isn''t stable enough!" "Moreover, he snatched love from others and insulted people, he doesn''t know any manners!" "Senior, I also heard that Charles is dishonest and has poor character!" Instantly, a chorus of voices came forth, belittling Charles,pletely unaware that Colton''s expression was growing darker. Zane and Grace were observant, they both thought that this master-level alchemist, Colton, was bing increasingly displeased with Charles! Grace continued, "Senior, this Charles even publicly said, ''Do those gentry have blue blood, certainly!'' He''s simply arrogant beyond measure!" As Charles listened to the nder and ridicule directed at him, he remained calm, feeling an unspoken sense of anticipation. He realized something was off when Colton spoke, clearly, Colton knew him but was pretending not to recognize him. It seemed that the real show was yet toe! However, Celestine and Catherine couldn''t hold back any longer. Listening to others speak ill of Charles filled them with anger. They were just about to step forward and refute everyone when Charles quietly pulled them back. At that moment, Shane Line listened to the surrounding voices and said seriously, "Charles, this situation arose because of you. What else do you have to say?" Charles shook his head and slowly replied, "It was Zane who challenged me first, mocking me for being amoner. I am not at fault." "Oh? Charles, did I say something wrong? Aren''t you amoner?" Zane immediately shouted. "I am amoner, but what of it?" Charles replied, his expression unreadable, calm as still water. "Amoner should be looked down upon! You and your ancestors are all lowly ordinary people,pletely unambitious, otherwise, you wouldn''t still bemoners!" Zane said proudly. Upon hearing this, Charles''s eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, "So you thinkmoners are lowly?" "Exactly! Commoners are lowly, narrow-minded, and utterly ignorant!" Zane saw no issue with his statement, that was just how he viewed it. "Then let me ask you, who was the founding emperor of Genosha? What was his background?" After saying this, Charles smirked slightly, eager to see how Zane would respond! "Our founding emperor is..." Zane began to speak but then realized that the founding emperor of Genosha was named Bai Bing, born amoner, who fought all his life to establish Genosha. Zane fell silent, sweat beading on his forehead. If he had continued, he would have indirectly implied that the emperor, who founded Genosha as amoner, was a lowly person. If this got out, Zane would be finished! "Charles, you only know how to use your words to win! If you have the guts, ept the duel. I want to see just how strong you really are!" Zane quickly changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on themoner issue any longer. The royal members, the eldest princess Bai Rui and the second princess Cami, had all been watching him closely. If he made another mistake, he would surely get a beating from his father, Benson, once they returned to the Taylor family! "What are the stakes? If I win, what will happen to you?" Charles asked. Hearing Charles''s words, Zane burst intoughter and said, "You win? That''s impossible! Do you even know who he is? He''s the warrior who''s in a hundred enemies on the battlefield of Genosha! David Zheng!" Zane''s brief introduction made those present who knew about David Zheng immediately exin to others. "I''ve heard that name! He''s the one who broke through enemy encirclement by killing dozens!" "Wasn''t it a hundred enemies?" "It''s a cumtive total of a hundred! That''s quite impressive, Charles would never be his opponent!" "Exactly! David Zheng has been tempered by blood and fire on the battlefield, dealing with Charles would be a piece of cake for him!" "And David Zheng is a Level Four Beast Master, while Charles is only a Level Three Beast Master. He has no chance at all!" Hearing thest words, Zane quickly said, "What''s with the Level Three and Level Four Beast Masters? Without summoning a mystical beast or using high-quality weapons, there won''t be a significant gap!" "Charles, are you even capable? If not, just admit it early, I will definitely forgive you!" Zane ced his hands on his hips and tilted his head to look at Charles. "I''ll say it again, what are the stakes? If I win, what will you pay?" Charles wasn''t interested in anything else, his physical abilities ranked him among the strong even within Level Four Beast Masters! Zane looked at Charles''s calm demeanor and felt infuriated. He never expected that even after all this, Charles would still be foolishly thinking of winning? That was simply impossible! So Zane replied, "If you win, I''ll kneel and bow my head in apology!" Charles couldn''t help but chuckle a bit. If he lost, not only would he have to bow and apologize, but he would also lose an arm. How could Zane just ignore thetter part of the price? As things seemed to escte, Lance Lin, not wanting to let it go further, tried to intervene. However, he still chose not to say anything to Zane and instead spoke to Charles, "Charles, today is a banquet of my Robinson family. Please show some restraint, or I''ll have to call someone to throw you out!" Charles couldn''t be bothered to listen to Lance Lin''s words. It was always the same! From beginning to end, it was all about his actions, with no mention of Zane at all. It was simply too much! Just then, Colton cleared his throat and said, "An apology is fine, but let''s skip the rest. If you agree to the duel, Charles, I can give you a miracle drug that will temporarily boost you to Level Four Beast Master status, allowing you to fight better." "This? Senior Colton, that doesn''t seem right."Lance Lin hesitated, surprised that Colton was interested in the matter between Charles and Zane. "It''s no problem, these young men can use it as a performance before the banquet begins."Colton said, stroking his beard as he looked at Charles. Lance Lin nodded, about to say something, but was interrupted by Colton. Colton''s ring shed, and a bottle of miracle drug appeared in his hand. Those who recognized it immediately gasped, "That''s a blue-quality [Temporary Enhancement Potion]!" "What? Blue quality?" "That''s right, this potion can temporarily elevate the Beast Mastery level of any Beast Master below Level Six, and it has no side effects. It''s extremely valuable!" "Truly worthy of a master-level alchemist, to produce a blue-quality miracle drug! Isn''t it a bit of a waste to give it to Charles, a Level Three Beast Master?" Chapter 167: Chapter 167: The Orange Quality Reward Colton took a few slow steps forward, standing in front of Charles, and ced the [Temporary Enhancement Potion] into Charles''s palm, while quietly asking, "Are you confident?" Charles did not answer but silently nodded. "Today, I''ve been quite moved by these two young people. So, I''ll take out an orange quality miracle drug as a reward for the winner." Colton said. After receiving Charles''s response, he did not hesitate at all and took out another potion from the ring on his hand. [High-Level Auxiliary Cultivation Miracle Drug [Orange Quality]: This is a potion that aids cultivation. After use, it will rapidly enhance the user''s Beast Master cultivation speed for half a month!] "What! It''s actually an orange quality potion, and it looks like the legendary [High-Level Auxiliary Cultivation Miracle Drug]!" "[High-Level Auxiliary Cultivation Miracle Drug]? What is that? I''ve never heard of it!" "It''s a very rare potion that can help Beast Masters elerate their cultivation speed. Its greatest benefit, however, is that it can help them break through when they hit a bottleneck in their training!" "Wow! Is it really that powerful? Isn''t this just handing the miracle drug to Zane? He''s definitely going to win!" "Who can argue with that? Just look at how happy Zane is! Even the Taylor family would find it hard to get their hands on such a miracle drug!" As Zane listened to the discussions around him, a broad smile spread across his face. He hadn''t expected that targeting Charles today would result in such a reward! He was determined to im that [High-Level Auxiliary Cultivation Miracle Drug]! "Hale, since the Robinson family is hosting a banquet today and you''ve encountered such an event, why not bring out something as a reward for the winner?" Colton said with a smile to Lance Lin. Seeing Colton produce the orange quality miracle drug, Lance Lin felt it would be difficult to refuse. Given that the duel should have no suspense, Zane was likely to win. In that case, even if he brought out something precious, it wouldn''t end up in Charles''s hands. It would save face and help maintain a good rtionship with the Taylor family. With that thought in mind, Lance Lin no longer hesitated and took out a piece of metal material, [me Alloy [Orange Quality]: A rare metal material with fire attributes, suitable for weapon forging and enhancement.] Charles looked at the information prompt in front of him, feeling a surge of excitement. He hadn''t expected that the rare metal material Lance Lin brought out was exactly what he needed for the enhancement of the [ck Gold Long Knife]! With that, the duel had to go on. Whether it meant forcing Zane to admit defeat or iming the [me Alloy], he was determined to have it! At the same time, Zane''s mindset was simr to Charles''s. In today''s duel, he was set on making Charles suffer a crushing defeat! "How about it? Charles has a blue quality potion. Can you handle it?" Zane turned to David Zheng, who had been following closely behind him, and asked. David Zheng replied, "There shouldn''t be any problem. I''ve seen many geniuses, and the strongest on the battlefield is the one who survives!" With David Zheng''s response, Zane feltpletely at ease. This way, everything Colton and Lance Lin brought out would belong to him! "Charles! Are you ready to taste defeat, just like we agreed before?" Zane raised an eyebrow and shouted at Charles. After drinking the [Temporary Enhancement Potion], Charles nodded and replied, "I''m ready. Are you prepared to kneel and admit your mistake?" "What a joke! So what if you''ve reached level four as a Beast Master? Am I supposed to lose?" Zane was not worried at all, his mind was filled with thoughts of the treasures Colton and Lance Lin had brought, as well as the scene where he would humiliate Charles after his defeat! Just thinking about it made Zane feel utterly satisfied. He said to Snowy Gao, "Just watch, I''m going to make Charles kneel and apologize to me!" "Pfft! It''s not even you fighting Charles. Besides, Charles might not even lose!" Snowy Gao was furious, she had never seen someone as shameless as Zane! If it weren''t for the elders at home warning her not to get into fights beforeing here, she would have kicked Zane in the face long ago. Celestine turned her head and tugged at Charles''s sleeve, asking with concern, "Charles, be carefulter." Catherine looked into Charles''s eyes and noticed there was no trace of fear or worry. She immediately understood that Charles was confident, so she didn''t worry too much and simply said, "Be careful and don''t get hurt." Charles nodded, indicating that he understood. Unlike Catherine, Celestine, and Snowy Gao, the others were not optimistic about Charles, especially Grace. She crossed her arms and stood at a distance, quietly watching Charles as she said, "Hmph, trying to show off. Charles, you''re up against a battle-hardened warrior! How could you possibly be his match?" The Grand Princess of Genosha, Rose turned to her sister Cami and asked, "I heard this is from your ss A? Without summoning a mystical beast or using high-quality weapons, how is hisbat ability?" Cami exchanged nces with Zachary, recalling the scene when Charles fought against the level seven Beast Master, Ethan, in the practicalbat ss. Cami slowly replied, "He''s very strong. I feel that David Zheng is not a match for Charles." "Oh? David Zheng is a warrior who survived the battlefield. Is Charles really that strong, even as a student?" Bai Rui looked at Charles several times, expressing her disbelief. Zachary chimed in, saying, "He fought against Ethan, the level seven Beast Master, and almost defeated him. What does that say about hisbat experience?" "Ethan? The Beast Master known as the Tiger of Cyber Academy?" Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise appeared on Bai Rui''s face. She had heard of Ethan, a level seven Beast Master from Genosha, whose feats were somewhat legendary. For instance, Lin Zhuqing, the vice president of Nova Academy, was hailed as the Sword of Nova Academy! Ethan''s title as the Tiger of Cyber Academy was even harder toe by. He had traveled all over Genosha, seeking out level seven Beast Masters to battle, and none had been able to defeat him! Now hearing Zachary say that Charles almost won against Ethan due to hisbat skills, Bai Rui thought it might be because Ethan was too careless and didn''t take the fight seriously. However, even so, it indicated that Charles''sbat skills were quite strong. She was just unsure how he wouldpare to David Zheng, a seasoned warrior from the battlefield. Grace was close enough to Bai Rui to hear their conversation, and she was extremely shocked. She had not expected Charles to be this strong, even though she hadn''t heard of Ethan''s exploits. But she was aware of the strength of a level seven Beast Master since her own teacher was the vice president of Aredale Academy, who was also a level seven Beast Master. "Everyone, step back and clear the area!" someone from the Robinson family shouted. Soon, arge open space appeared before the crowd as Charles and David Zheng faced off, both choosing not to use weapons. David Zheng spoke first, saying, "Mr. Charles, be careful. I don''t hold back in battle. If I hurt you, I hope you won''t take it personally." Charles could sense that David Zheng''s words were not mockery but genuine concern. "It''s fine, go ahead and make your move. I trust in my own strength."Charles replied in a calm tone. Zane was bing impatient. He wanted to end the fight quickly to im his reward, so he spoke up, "Charles, stop pretending. If you''re scared, just admit defeat. Otherwise, you might get beaten half to death!" Behind him, someone shouted, "Exactly! He talks about trusting his strength, but what does he have to trust in?" "Relying on a Temporary Enhancement Potion to boost himself to a level four Beast Master. He probablycks experience since he''s only a level three Beast Master." "There''s no suspense left. Now it''s just a matter of watching David Zheng and hoping he doesn''t take it too seriously. If he identally kills Charles, that would be a disaster." "There''s no doubt. I think Charles will be defeated within a minute!" "A minute? I think it''ll be thirty seconds. In battle, there''s no time to waste. Warriors like David Zheng usually strike right at the enemy''s weak points!" "You have a point there. Given the kind of warrior David is, it would be impressive if Charlessts even thirty seconds." Cami and Zachary frowned. For a Beast Master, the mindset before battle is crucial. If their mindset is affected, they won''t be able to unleash their full potential. Being in the same ss as Charles, they naturally leaned towards supporting him. Zachary cleared his throat, fixing a warning gaze on the person speaking. The other person immediately fell silent, the son of a general was not someone to provoke lightly! Once the noise died down, Cami and Zachary looked at Charles, feeling concerned that his mindset might have already been affected. To their surprise, they saw no signs of being affected on Charles''s face, instead, there was an expression of excitement! Yes, excitementthe thrill of facing a strong opponent in battle! Rose the Grand Princess of Genosha, followed the gazes of the two and noticed this as well. She instinctively said, "It seems that Charles is going to win this duel." "He will win? How is that possible! Your Highness, are you mistaken?" Grace, of course, did not believe it at all. Even she had no confidence when facing David Zheng. If Charles could defeat David Zheng, did that mean he could also defeat her? "Just watch. I have a feeling this will be an incredible duel!" Bai Rui did not borate. As the Grand Princess of Genosha, she had seen many true warriors. Charles''s current state was identical to that of those strong fighters when they were in battle! Confident and excited! Chapter 168: Chapter 168: You Shouldnt Humiliate Him Like This! "Does Elder Colton have any thoughts about the Taylor family?" Lance Lin''s expression was conflicted at this moment, he couldn''t quite figure out Colton''s intentions. Isn''t this just openly sending something to Zane? Could it be that Colton thinks the Taylor family is stronger, more suitable for coboration than the Robinson family? Lance Lin felt he was beginning to grasp Colton''s thoughts. Using this duel as a pretext, he was actually sending that high-level auxiliary training potion to Zane. Thus expressing goodwill in advance andying the groundwork for future cooperation with the Taylor family! That seemed to be the only possibility. Could it be that he genuinely believed in Charles and thought he would win? Impossible, absolutely impossible! Lance Lin pushed that unrealistic thought out of his mind. While contemting how the Robinson family could win back Colton, he kept an eye on the situation in the clearing. He saw David Zheng and Charles both getting into position. Neither side chose to strike first, instead, they were unusually in sync, observing each other, hoping to find ws and weaknesses. David Zheng scrutinized Charles for a few moments, then set aside a hint of disdain and becamepletely serious. His experience was extensive, from Charles''s current state, he could sense that the opponent was not so simple, at the very least, a formidable opponent! Without hesitation, David Zheng conjured two fireballs in his hands and hurled them at Charles. This was the skill "Fireball Throw."belonging to his fire-type mystical beast! It was a rtivelymon skill among fire-type mystical beasts, with moderate attack power. The reason he chose to unleash this skill was that David Zheng didn''t expect these two fireballs to inflict any damage on Charles, it was merely a feint! Sure enough, the two zing fireballs suddenly changed direction just before reaching Charles, colliding with each other. In an instant, the fireballs crashed together, creating a screen of mes! Thispletely blocked Charles''s line of sight, and at that moment, Charles couldn''t see David Zheng''s movements at all! "What the hell, it can be used like this? Isn''t this just the most basic ''Fireball Throw''? How can it also be used to obscure vision?" "Truly impressive, a man who has survived the battlefield, David Zheng is really strong!" "What should Charles do? He must not have anticipated this use of the skill, he must bepletely bewildered right now!" "What can he do? He''ll just lose!" Celestine instinctively grabbed Catherine''s arm, deeply worried about Charles''s situation. To her surprise, Catherine reached out and ced her hand on Celestine''s shoulder, saying: "Don''t worry, Charles will be fine. Although the fire screen created by ''Fireball Throw'' blocked his view, David Zheng also lost sight of Charles!" Sure enough, in the next moment, the fire screen vanished. David Zheng was already prepared for his follow-up attack, but he was stunned because Charles''s figure hadpletely disappeared! The timing and location of today''s duel were perfect, it was nighttime, with only the lights from the banquet illuminating the surroundings, creating many shadows, ideal for Charles to use ''Darkness Cloak''! Seeing Charles vanish from the clearing, Zane''s pupils constricted in shock as he desperately searched for Charles''s figure. Finally, when he noticed a change in the shadow behind David Zheng. Zane shouted, "Behind you! He''s behind you!" Without hesitation, David Zheng gathered all his fire attribute energy into his right leg and executed a sweeping kick toward the back! Unfortunately, as he turned around, there was no sign of Charles at all! "Is Zane lying to me?" This thought instinctively shed through David Zheng''s mind, but he quickly realized something was offZane was on the same side as him, why would he lie? An even more improbable thought emerged in David Zheng''s mind, That is, Charles had long anticipated that Zane would alert him, intentionally exposing a w! If that''s the case, Charles should be right beside him, waiting for him to attack in the direction Zane indicated! While he attacked backward, his body wouldn''t be able to cancel the attack instantaneously, which would reveal the true w! Thinking of this, David Zheng believed he had discerned Charles''s intention to attack. As a seasoned warrior on the battlefield, he quickly considered the best solution! Though he didn''t know how Charles had vanished, David Zheng assumed it was some kind of cloaking skill, and that Charles''s body was still somewhere in the clearing. Therefore, without hesitation, he unleashed his second mystical beast skill, "me Resistance"! A circle of mes gathered around him, rapidly expanding outward, pushing away all objects that blocked the fire! Of course, this did not include Charles! He was still in the shadows. When the circr mes had moved a sufficient distance away from David Zheng''s body, Charles appearednot behind him, but in the shadow above him! Charles engaged all the muscles in his body, channeling all his strength into the tip of his foot as he kicked toward David Zheng''s temple! If this strikended, David Zheng would likely die on the spot! However, unfortunately for Charles, David Zheng was a battle-hardened warrior, and his body reacted even faster than his mind. He raised his right arm to block his temple. "Boom!" An invisible shockwave radiated from the point of contact between the two, stirring up a cloud of dust! Although he managed to block Charles''s attack, his right arm was now shaking uncontrobly, twisted at a strange angle, clearly indicating that Charles''s kick had broken it! Without a moment of hesitation, as if pain did not exist for him, David Zheng seized the opportunity before Charles couldnd andunched his counterattack! "It''s over! Charles is currently in mid-air, he has no way to change hisnding position!" "Awesome! That''s David Zheng for you, even with a broken arm, he can seize such a great opportunity!" "Both of these fighters are incredible! Charles''s attacks are powerful, but unfortunately, David Zheng is just a bit stronger!" Zane''s expression was at its peak, joy and excitement radiated from him. He clenched his fists and raised his arms in celebration, but the battle on the clearing was far from over! Facing David Zheng''s attack, Charles showed no sign of panic on his face, as if he had anticipated this all along. As he descended, two ice spikes appeared beneath him, a skill known as "Ice Pick Throwing" from Max! The ice spikes struck the ground below, allowing Charles to push off them and return to the air once more! Charles gathered all his strength into his toes and kicked toward David Zheng''s temple again! Now that David Zheng''s right arm was broken, he couldn''t block Charles''s attack. He could only watch as Charles''s foot got closer and closer! Cami, who had been watching the duel, instinctively closed her eyes, unable to bear the sight. With this strike, David Zheng had no room for resistance! What awaited him was only death. Despair! An overwhelming sense of despair filled David Zheng''s mind, and he felt as if the Grim Reaper was embracing him, death so near! If he had known, he would have stayed safely at the border. A warrior should die on the battlefield if he must die while fighting the enemy! David Zheng regretted it, he should never have tried to curry favor with the Taylor family, nor should he have listened to Zane and participated in this duel. "Boom!" A barrier of ice and fire energy suddenly materialized before David Zheng''s head, and he did not die. Charles did not want to kill him. Knocked to the ground by the energy shockwave, David Zheng reached up in disbelief and touched his head, feeling no injury at all. He calmed down and slowly stood up, bowing to Charles. "I lost this duel!" David Zheng bowed deeply, unable to raise his head or find the words to say! Zane''s happy expression froze as he realized what was happening. He angrily shouted at David Zheng, "Damn it! What the hell are you doing! Get back in there and keep fighting!" "I''ve already lost, I''m not a match for Charles."David Zheng shouted while still bent over. Zane couldn''t bear to watch any longer. He ran over and kicked David Zheng down, shouting furiously, "Damn it! Do you even realize what I''ve lost because of this? That was an orange-quality miracle drug, and orange-quality metal materials!" "You said it wouldn''t be a big deal! I trusted you! You damn soldier, you''re worse than a civilian!" "Damn it! Damn it!" As Zane yelled, he continued to kick David Zheng mercilessly. "Enough! You need to pay the price, Zane."Charles said, unable to watch any longer. Zane stopped, his eyes locked on Charles as he replied, "Price? What price? This isn''t my duel with you, go find some other damn fool for your price!" Thinking of David Zheng, Zane couldn''t hold back. He pulled his right foot back, ready to deliver another vicious kick. Unexpectedly, Charles acted. He swiftly extended his right leg to block Zane''s attack! The effect of the Temporary Enhancement Potion was still active. Faced with Zane, a level five Beast Master, Charles''s physical attributes still fell short. He staggered back while grabbing the fallen David Zheng. "Charles! What are you doing! I''m punishing this damn fool, and you want to intervene?" Zane eximed, his face full of anger and dissatisfaction with Charles''s actions! Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Charles slowly helped David Zheng up. He took a revival pill from the jet ring and fed it to him. After doing all this, Charles turned to face Zane, who was seething with impotent rage, and slowly said: "He''s not a fool! He''s a warrior who has in hundreds of enemies! You shouldn''t humiliate him like this!" Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Charles is My Apprentice! Genosha and Kingston are two neighboring countries, and at their border, countless wars rage on, with Beast Masters spilling their blood there every year. A small border region has buried the bodies of countless Beast Masters! Yet, in Genosha Calivia, thevish and decadent aristocratic families arepletely indifferent. In their eyes, even if all the warriors at the border were to die, it would not affect their quality of life at all. Zane isn''t the only one who thinks this way, the young men and women from other aristocratic families feel the same. They believe that war is just a matter for a small group of people, far removed from their lives. "Warriors who defend their homes and country should not be humiliated like this!" Charles said, standing in front of David Zheng and addressing Zane. Zane disdainfully brushed off nonexistent dust from his clothes. He turned his body and looked around at the people, speaking arrogantly, "So, what? Do you still want us to respect a soldier? He can''t even beat you, he''s just a useless waste!" "In my eyes, Zane, you''re the real waste!" Charles shot back without holding back. He was genuinely irritated with Zane, among everyone he had encountered, Zane was the most arrogant and conceited. "You think I''m a waste? Hahaha, that''s hrious! What qualifications does amoner like you have to call me a waste?" Zane tilted his head back, sneering at Charles with a sideways nce. Charles calmly continued, "Why can''t I say it? Just because you don''t want others to speak doesn''t mean it will hide the fact that you''re a waste!" "Enough! Charles, you''ve won the duel, so stop this nonsense."Lance Lin interrupted, his patience wearing thin. He hadn''t expected Charles to defeat David Zheng, the oue was quite surprising. But now, the orange-quality miracle drug and the rare orange-quality metal that Colton had would all belong to Charles. In front of so many people, Lance Lin was filled with regret. This wasn''t how he had envisioned things, those two items were supposed to be given to Zane, but now they would all go to Charles. Lance Lin kept a straight face as he turned to look at Colton. At that moment, Colton was frowning and seemed a bit angry. Lance Lin thought to himself that it must be because Charles''s victory had ruined Colton''s original ns, which was why he was so upset. "Since the winner has been decided, the terms of the duel should also be fulfilled."Colton said, his gaze sweeping over the still arrogant Zane as he spoke slowly. Zane froze for a moment upon hearing this. Was he really expected to kneel and apologize to Charles, amoner, in front of all the families of Genosha? No way! Just as Zane was at a loss for what to do, Charles didn''t give him any more time to think. He directly said, "Zane, it''s time for you to pay the price!" "Wait, Charles, just take your victory and be done with it. The orange-quality miracle drug and the metal materials are already enough. Don''t be unreasonable."said Lance Lin''s younger brother, trying to persuade Charles. After all, Zane is the son of Benson, and like the Robinson family, they are one of the prominent families in Genosha. If Zane were to kneel and apologize here, it would be a disgrace for the Taylor family, and Benson would certainly not let it go! Right now, the best option for Charles would be to forget the terms of the duel and act as if nothing had happened. However, Charles responded firmly, "What do you mean by being unreasonable? Zane, do you really want to go back on your word in front of all these people?" Standing in the middle of the clearing, Zane clenched his fists tightly. His eyes were fixed on Charles, and through gritted teeth, he said, "Charles! I am a member of the Taylor family, the future head of the Taylor family! What qualifications do you have to make me kneel and apologize to you?" Zane wasn''t the only one thinking this, Grace, standing beside the Grand Princess of Genosha, added, "This Charles really can''t see reality. If he keeps pushing Zane like this, he will definitely be retaliated against by the Taylor family!" Princess Rose nodded in agreement with Grace''s words. Charles''s earlier fight was indeed shocking, but his current behavior left her somewhat disappointed. In Rose''s view, Charles, with no connections or background, dared to continue pressuring Zane like this. Clearly, he was short-sighted, only thinking of immediate satisfaction, without considering how he would face retaliation from the Taylor family in the future! The other guests at the banquet began to murmur among themselves. "Why is Charles being so tough? Where does he get the confidence to treat Zane this way?" "Yeah, is Charles not afraid of the Taylor family''s retaliation at all?" "I''m starting to wonder if Charles has lost his mind. Now that he''s provoked the Taylor family, even if he''s a genius in alchemy and forging, it won''t help him!" "As amoner, he should be more cautious. With Charles acting like this, it''s all over for him!" Charles could naturally hear the discussions around him, but he didn''t care at all. Not to mention anything else, but Charles''s teacher, Ezra, is an Level 8 Beast Master from Cyber Academy! He also possesses the mythical beast, the nine-tailed me tiger! In Genosha and Calivia, who could possibly have a stronger background than his? Plus, his alchemy teacher is Colton, who is being courted by all the prominent families! With those two backing him, as long as Charles doesn''t kill Zane on the spot, he wouldn''t have any issues! "Zane, what you say must be followed through! You can''t escape today, whatever happens, happens!" Charles had no intention of letting Zane off the hook. Unexpectedly, Zane threatened, "Charles, I advise you to think this through. Otherwise, if something unfortunate happens to youter, it won''t be good!" "The future can wait, right now, I just need you to kneel and admit your mistake!" Charles''s tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation. "I am going to be the head of the Taylor family! Charles, you''re just amoner, you have no right to make me kneel!" As long as Zane refused to kneel, no one could force him to do so! No one spoke again, and the entire banquet fell silent. Colton slowly walked from beside Lance Lin into the open space. Though he wasn''t particrly tall, hemanded the attention of everyone present. The murmurs began again. "Is this master-level alchemist going to persuade Charles as well?" "I think so, after all, Zane represents the Taylor family, which is much more significant than Charles." "That''s not urate. A master-level alchemist wouldn''t be afraid of the Taylor family!" "Regardless, having crossed the Taylor family, Charles will have a hard time in Calivia from now on!" When Zane saw Colton approaching, he felt a bit confused, instinctively thinking that Colton was there to help him. Before long, Colton walked past Zane and stood in front of Charles. He then turned to Zane and said, "Were you just asking what qualifications Charles has to make you kneel?" Zane was stunned and instinctively nodded, he didn''t understand the meaning behind Colton''s words. "Well then, let me tell you what qualifications Charles has. He is my apprentice, Colton. Is that enough?" As soon as Colton finished speaking, the previously quiet banquet erupted into chaos. Lance Lin''s face was filled with shock, not just his, but also his brother Shane Line and the butler of the Robinson family. At that moment, all three of them shared the same thought: it was over, everything was over! Charles was actually Colton''s apprentice! The Robinson family had been trying to win over Colton, a master-level alchemist, yet they had been oppressing Charles and ming him for everything that went wrong between Charles and Zane. What was the point of that? Colton was surely very displeased with the Robinson family, after all the effort to invite a master-level alchemist to the banquet, everything they had done was now in vain! Grace felt as if she had been frozen in ce after hearing Colton''s words, her mind racing with disbelief. How could Charles possibly be taken on as an apprentice by a master-level alchemist? It''s important to note that a master-level alchemist is equivalent to an Level 8 Beast Master, and their status is even more significant than that of a typical Level 8 Beast Master. She couldn''t ept that amoner like Charles now held a higher status than her, the personal disciple of the vice president of Aredale Academy! Before anyone else could process this shocking news, the key figure, Zane, was also in a tough spot, he had no idea what to do. Should he continue to refuse to admit his mistake and offend a master-level alchemist, or should he choose to kneel and admit his fault, turning the Taylor family into a joke in Genosha? He hadn''t even had time to decide when Colton''s next words stunned everyone present again. "What? Is this status not enough for you?" Colton noticed Zane''s silence and dropped another bombshell: "I almost forgot to mention, I''m just Charles''s teacher in alchemy. He has another teacher for Beast Mastery, do you know who that is?" Zane''s eyes widened in disbelief, a thought he couldn''t ept rising in his mind. Could it be that Charles''s Beast Mastery teacher is even stronger than Colton? "Who is it?" Zane swallowed hard, he really didn''t want to know about Charles''s other teacher, but he had a sinking feeling today was going to be a major embarrassment. "Ezra!" Colton said with a smile as he revealed the name. "What? Ezra? Who is that?" Zane''s mind raced, he realized he had never heard of this name before. It didn''t seem like it could be someone powerful, maybe just a Level 6 Beast Master? Zane wasn''t the only one thinking this way, Grace was also curious. She turned to Princess Rose and asked, "Who is this Ezra? Howe I''ve never heard of him? Is he stronger than my teacher?" Rose''s expression was more serious than ever. She nced at Grace, then at Charles standing behind Colton, and replied, "Very strong! Your teacher probably wouldn''t dare to face Ezra!" "Huh? Is that for real? My teacher is a Level 7 Beast Master!" Grace didn''t believe it at all. Rose added, "Ezra is a Level 8 Beast Master!" Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Zane Admits His Mistake! "Eight, Level 8 Beast Master!" Grace stuttered a bit, she could never have imagined that Charles had a Level 8 Beast Master as his teacher. But that wasn''t all. Just as Rose finished speaking, her sister Cami added: "And he is the strongest Level 8 Beast Master in Genosha, bar none!" Grace''s mouth fell open, and she couldn''t close it for a long time, clearly unable to ept this news. She thought that bing the personal disciple of the vice president of Aredale Academy wouldpletely distance her from Charles. Little did she know that Charles''s teacher was even more powerful, to a degree she couldn''t even believe! Zane, who was on the phone, reacted simrly. He had also heard Rose''s words. He nearly fell to the ground, as the shock hit him the hardest! As he took out his phone, Zane''s hands were trembling. Even the simple task of unlocking it took him several attempts as he kept inputting the wrong password. "Dad, do you know Ezra?" Zane had a glimmer of hope in his heart, wishing that the information Rose provided was false. Benson replied on the other end of the line, "Yes, why? Did you offend Ezra? You ungrateful child!" Zane didn''t have a chance to say anything, Benson had already guessed what was going on. He knew his son''s character too well, and if he was calling, it surely meant trouble had arisen! "Where are you? I''ming over right now. You better exin what happened!" Benson''s angry voice came through the phone. Zane felt his body go weak and sank down to the ground, drawing in his neck. All his arrogance was gone, leaving behind only fear! The fact that his father, the head of the Taylor family, was so scared he had to rush over meant that Charles''s Beast Mastery teacher, Ezra, was clearly terrifying! Meanwhile, the head of the Robinson family, Lance Lin, exchanged nces with his brother Shane Line, both wearing grim expressions. They hadn''t expected that Charles was actually Ezra''s apprentice, as well as Colton''s apprentice. Now they had angered two untouchable figures, what terrible luck! "Brother, what should we do now? Ezra is a killing god!" Shane Line was filled with panic, unsure of what to do. Those who had never heard of Ezra had no idea how terrifying he truly was. If there was anyone in Genosha not to be messed with, it wasn''t the Taylor family or even the Emperor of Genosha, it was Ezra! The one known as the killing god, Ezra! Lance Lin took a deep breath, trying hard to keep himself calm, and replied, "I didn''t expect Charles to have such a significant background! Now we have no other choice but to try and see if we can gain Charles''s forgiveness." Just as the two were discussing, a loud voice suddenly echoed from the entrance of the Robinson family, "Ungrateful child! Where are you?" The person who arrived was none other than Benson, the head of the Taylor family! Benson scanned the room and finally spotted Zane, who was slumped on the ground. He quickly rushed over to Zane and, without saying a word, pped him across the face. "Smack!" "I told you to control your temper, but you never listen! You''re always causing trouble out there!" Benson looked at the blood trickling from his son''s mouth and took a deep breath, forcing down his anger. "Dad, I''m sorry."Zane said, his face stinging from the p. He realized that Benson was genuinely angry now and began to beg for forgiveness. Bensonpletely ignored Zane''s apology and directly grabbed his cor, dragging Zane in front of Colton. "Mr. Colton, it''s my fault for not properly disciplining this ungrateful child!" Colton didn''t respond. He stepped aside, allowing Charles''s figure toe into Benson''s view, and said, "The person you should be looking for isn''t me." Benson tightened his grip on Zane''s cor, pulling him forward a few more steps. With a stiff, pained smile on his face, he addressed Charles, "Everything that happened today is this ungrateful child''s fault. Charles, I didn''t discipline him well. I apologize to you. I''m sorry." Charles was somewhat surprised by Benson''s words. He never expected such an oue. The head of the Taylor family was actually apologizing to him in front of so many people. What had Teacher Ezra done to make the usually arrogant Taylor family so fearful? "No need for the apology. Zane just shouldn''t forget the promise he made."Charles replied, not dwelling on it. He certainly wouldn''t forget Zane kneeling and admitting his mistake just because of Benson''s apology. Hearing Charles''s words, Benson hesitated not a moment. He kicked Zane to the ground and shouted, "Ungrateful child! Aren''t you going to admit your mistake?" Zane numbly dropped to his knees, not daring to look up at Charles. He fixed his gaze on the dust in front of him, as if he had lost his soul, and slowly spoke, "I was wrong." His confession was loud, clearly wanting to end this humiliating scene as quickly as possible. Charles''s gaze did not linger on Zane. He scanned the crowd around him. Those who had previously mocked him now dared not meet his eyes, all lowering their heads in shame. "Charles, how about now? Is it settled?" Benson asked, suppressing his anger and humiliation. Charles nodded and replied, "What I wanted is quite simple. Just fulfill what was promised, I have no other demands." The matter was now resolved. Benson sighed in relief as he looked at Zane, who was still lying on the ground with vacant eyes. He felt a pang of sympathy, but there was nothing to be done. The situation had to be addressed clearly, otherwise, if Ezra found a suitable excuse and reason, the Taylor family would be finished! Benson didn''t linger any longer. He helped Zane to his feet and walked toward the entrance of the Robinson family home. With each passing second, Benson felt the gazes of others piercing him like sharp needles. It wasn''t until Benson left that the guests at the Robinson family banquet dared to speak. "Damn, I can''t believe my eyes. Was that really Benson, the head of the Taylor family? He actually bowed his head to Charles?" "Who is this Ezra? Why does the Taylor family fear him so much?" "I have no idea, I''ve never heard of him." "After today, I doubt anyone in Genosha will dare to mess with Charles!" "Who would dare to provoke Charles? Even Zane, who is so unruly, ended up kneeling to admit his mistakes in front of him!" "Charles is a decent guy. I''ve never seen him actively looking for trouble, it always seems like others provoke him first." "Exactly, and Charles even defended David Zheng. He''s right, a warrior shouldn''t be humiliated!" "Look, the head of the Robinson family ising over!" Lance Lin and Shane Line slowly approached Charles under the gaze of the crowd and said, "Charles, the Robinson family is at fault. We wronged you, and it was all instigated by Zane." Charles looked at Lance Lin and Shane Line with interest. Now they were willing to admit their mistakes? It was a bitughable, before knowing that Colton and Ezra were his teachers, they had been eager to shift the me onto him. Wanting to avoid confronting Zane, they chose to provoke him instead? "Charles, aspensation, the Robinson family is willing to offer you an additional piece of orange-quality metal material."Lance Lin said slowly. Charles waved his hand and directly refused, "No need. I don''t want to have any further dealings with you big families. Let''s leave it at that." Colton stood beside Charles and nodded in agreement, acknowledging Charles''s sentiment. People from these prominent families were not easy to get along with. He was only here because he had been invited, forced to attend the Robinson family banquet. Now, the carefully prepared banquet by the Robinson family had turned into aplete disaster. After Charles and Colton left, Lance Lin and Shane Line exchanged nces, sighing repeatedly. They both felt immense regret, if they had known about Charles''s situation, they would never have treated him that way. What would happen once Ezra returned? If Ezra got angry and came to the Robinson family demanding an exnation, the Robinson family would have no way to respond. "Brother, should we try again? If we can mend the rtionship, with Ezra''s and Colton''s support, it would be hard for the Robinson family to be weak in the future!" Shane Line said, unwilling to give up. Lance Lin turned his gaze toward the direction of Cyber Academy, sighed again, and replied, "Let''s wait and see. Maybe we can ask Hale for help, I''ve heard he has a good rtionship with Charles." "Ask him? Brother! He has already severed ties with our Robinson family!" Shane Line eximed, his eyes wide in disbelief at Lance Lin''s suggestion. Lance Lin helplessly raised his hands and said, "Is there any other better option? We can only try this and hope Hale remembers a bit of old friendship." Thinking of this, Lance Lin looked around again. The Robinson family had spent a considerable amount for this banquet, and now, before it had even officially started, it was already over. Those attending the banquet couldn''t wait to share their experiences online as soon as they returned. However, only a portion of the information was shared, everyone tacitly chose to forget the videos of the Taylor family admitting their mistakes and did not share them. The Taylor family couldn''t afford to provoke Charles, but finding out who spread those videos would be easy. When that time came, they would have to face the Taylor family''s retaliation! Even just the text messages and a few scattered photos were enough to cause a stir online. The topic of Charles was spreading rapidly at an astonishing speed across the inte. In just a few short minutes, all the trending topics on Genosha''swork were rted to Charles! Meanwhile, Charles, who was being discussed by countless people, had already returned to Cyber Academy. He was in his dormitory, looking at the two additional orange-quality items in his hands. [me Alloy [Orange Quality]: A rare metal material with fire attributes, which can be used for weapon forging and enhancement.] [High-Level Support Training Miracle Drug [Orange Quality]: This is a potion that aids in training. Once used, it rapidly enhances the user''s Beast Master training speed for a period of half a month!] Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Reactions from All Sides Today''s harvest was quite good. The me Alloy will be put to use soon. The enhancement of the ck gold long knife also needs to be arranged as quickly as possible. As for the High-Level Support Training Potion, Charles ns to hold off on that for now. His Beast Mastery training speed is not slow, and it''s steadily improving. He will use the High-Level Support Training Potion when he needs to make rapid progress! Additionally, Byron mentioned that there is another rare high-level metal material outside Calivia, but Charles suspects that this information is likely false. "I''m tired from today''s battles. I''ll check out the cksmith''s guild tomorrow to see if I can find some more rare high-level metals to enhance the ck gold long knife."Charles murmured to himself. After a quick wash-up, hey down on his bed and drifted off to sleep. Meanwhile, various messages were spreading wildly in the outside world. In the office of the Cyber Academy principal, Jamie looked at the messagesing through on his phone, his expression serious and focused. Originally, Charles was known as a genius. Now, he has a master-level alchemy teacher, as well as an eighth-level Beast Master as his Beast Mastery instructor. Constetion will surely be unable to hold back, and the time to take action against Charles is likely within the next couple of days. Jamie walked to the window of his office, opened it, and looked out at the night sky over Cyber Academy. He lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and muttered to himself, "If Constetion doesn''t make a move in the next couple of days, Charles, how am I supposed to see you clearly?" "Ezra has high hopes for you, and Constetion will feel the same. Charles, are you really the legendary...?" As if realizing something, Jamie stopped speaking. The cigarette he had just taken a puff from burned quickly in the wind outside. Jamie stood still, his gaze fixed in the direction of Charles''s dormitory, lost in thought. On the other side, in Byron''s home within Genosha Calivia, Byron looked at the news about Charles on his phone, his face filled with worry. Sweat poured from his palms and forehead, who would have thought that Charles actually has an eighth-level Beast Master as a teacher? If that level-eight Beast Master finds out, he ns to team up with a level-six Beast Master to lure Charles outside the city and kill him. Byron is doomed, not even his family could escape the revenge of a level-eight Beast Master! "Maybe we should just drop this. Charles is tough to deal with."Byron hesitated for a moment before voicing his thoughts. He was scared and wanted to back out. "What do you mean drop it? What if Charles asks you where that metal material is? How will you answer him?" Winston thought for a moment before responding. Byron gritted his teeth and said, "I... I''ll just say someone else took it!" "Hmph, naive. Do you think he''ll believe that? If Charles finds out you lied to him and tried to kill him, do you think you can escape?" Winston continued to manipte him. "What... what should we do then?" Byron started to panic, the n to ambush Charles had already pulled him deep into trouble. A cold glint shed in Winston''s eyes as he slowly said, "We''ll do what we have to do. Tomorrow, ask Charles again. We need to act quickly, before anyone notices, and take Charles down!" He was determined not to let Charles escape. So what if he was a level-eight Beast Master? Even if there was an investigation, it wouldn''t lead back to him, all the clues would end with Byron. Once Charles was dead, he could deal with Byron without any risk! And the people from Lsengard wouldn''t escape either! Thinking of this, Winston turned his gaze toward Lsengard. Outside Genosha, In the wind-swept and deste Atacama, Joshua looked at the exhausted Aria, his eyes filled with concern. He slowly said, "Your Majesty, why not take a break today? You haven''t eaten anything all day." Aria seemed not to hear him, continuing to handle the work at hand. During this time, the rtionships among the major forces in Atacama had grown increasingly tense, many ces had descended into chaos, and true conflict was not far off. She wanted to restore peace to Atacama, to make it united and strong, and she had to give it her all! "Sigh." Joshua sighed as he pulled out his phone and handed it to Aria, saying, "Your Majesty, there''s new information about that human you care about." Upon hearing this, Aria reacted. She paused her work, took the phone from Joshua, and carefully examined it. Seeing Aria finally take a moment to rest, Joshua felt helpless, only matters rted to Charles could capture her attention. Reflecting on the information he had just seen, Joshua was also surprised. He never expected that a human boy he met by chance would have such a powerful background and terrifying talent! A level-eight Beast Master and a master-level alchemisteither of these would be highly sought after by Aria! If they could have the help of a level-eight Beast Master, their situation would be much better, and the chances of restoring peace to Atacama would significantly increase. As for Charles, Joshua didn''t think much of him, what mattered to him was Charles''s connections and background. What could a level-three Beast Master possibly do to help? Unless Charles could rapidly grow stronger in a short time, Joshua himselfcked confidence in being able to continue protecting Her Majesty in the long run. Watching Aria regain her focus on work, a thought shed through Joshua''s mind: if there was a chance, he had to kidnap that human boy. At the very least, with that human around, Her Majesty could take a bit more time to rest. Meanwhile, Charles, who was on Joshua''s mind, was currently lying in bed, having slept soundly until morning. At seven in the morning, after a quick wash-up, Charles put on a hat and a mask and stepped out of the dormitory. Sure enough, at the entrance of his dormitory building, a crowd had already gathered, all waiting for Charles toe out. "Strange, it''s already thiste, and Charles still hasn''t woken up?" "Yeah, was he too tired from yesterday''s battle? Let''s give him a bit more time." "Brother, you really know how to manage this, you''ve even pulled out the professional camera." "Of course! Right now, any recent photo of Charles is worth a silver coin, and if it''s a good shot, it''s even more expensive!" "By the way, did you hear? A formal wear shop sold out all its clothes in one night because of Charles''s photos!" ... Wearing a hat and mask, with his head down, Charles nced at the cafeteria in the distance. After some thought, he decided against going in for breakfast. If he got spotted, he probably wouldn''t be able to get out, let alone attend ss! "Have you eaten yet?" Catherine''s voice came from beside him, holding a bag of breakfast as she looked at Charles. Charles was a bit puzzled, he had disguised himself well, yet Catherine recognized him at a nce. "Not yet. I think I''ll skip breakfast this morning and head to ss instead."Charles replied. Catherine handed the breakfast bag to Charles and said, "Here, eat this. I already had mine, I bought this especially for you." Charles didn''t refuse, he took the bag containing the breakfast but paused just as he was about to eat. "What''s wrong?" Catherine asked, confused. Charles helplessly pointed to his mask and said, "To eat breakfast, I need to take off the mask. I really don''t want to be discovered. Otherwise, a crowd will gather around me, and I won''t be able to get away." Upon hearing this, Catherine pointed behind Charles and said, "I think you don''t need the mask anymore, those people are running this way." Charles turned around to see arge crowd rushing toward them. The front few shouted, "Look! The person next to Catherine must be Charles!" "Yes, that''s right! Catherine only hangs out with Charles, so it has to be him!" "Idol! I love you!" "Handsome guy, you''re so cool! Give me an autograph!" Charles trembled, he had never imagined a day like this, surrounded by frenzied fans. It seemed that being too famous wasn''t such a great thing after all. With no time to linger, Charles quickly said to Catherine, "I have to go now. See you at the ssroom door!" Catherine nodded, and in the next moment, Charles vanished into the shadows. To escape from those frenzied fans, Charles had to use his skill, **darkness cloak**! "The handsome guy has disappeared!" "Where did Charles go?" "Wherever he went, he must be heading to ss. Let''s go to the ssroom where Charles has his ss!" "Right, you''re so smart! Let''s go! We''re off to the ssroom!" In the shadows, Charles helplessly rubbed his forehead. These fervent fans were already affecting his normal life. If it weren''t for the fact that Cyber Academy didn''t allow outsiders in, the whole academy would probably be filled with Charles''s fans by now! "Where else can I go? Maybe I should find Teacher Hale and see if he can talk to the dean about these students!" Charles muttered to himself. With no other options, he made his way to Hale''s office. Just as he stepped out of the shadows, his phone vibrated. Opening it, he saw a message from Byron. [Charles, I have some bad news. That ce has been discovered by others!] [However, they don''t know the exact location and are searching around Gourd Mountain outside the city. They will probably find the rare metal materials in just a few days.] [If you still want that metal, let me know as soon as possible so I can take you to the exact spot before someone else gets it!] Charles looked at the message on his phone, a smile forming at the corner of his mouth. Did they really think he was that greedy? Chapter 172: Chapter 172: The Origins of the Black Gold Long Knife Now, Charles was increasingly convinced that the rare metal material Byron mentioned was merely a pretext to lure him out of the city. There was no rush to respond to the news for the time being, so Charles knocked on Hale''s office door. "Come in!" Hale''s voice called out. Charles opened the door and saw Hale engrossed in his phone, ying a video of Benson and Zane apologizing at the Robinson family banquet yesterday. Upon recognizing Charles, Hale''s eyes lit up, and he smiled broadly, saying, "Charles, you were quite impressive yesterday! In front of so many people, you made the Taylor family father and son admit their mistakes. No one else in GenoshaCalivia could have done that!" Charles scratched his head, wishing to remain as low-key as possible, but it seemed that people constantly underestimated him, thinking he was easy to bully. Afterst night''s events, it was likely that very few people in Genosha would dare to provoke him again. "Charles, did youe here today for something? Have you be too famous?" Hale said with a smile, fully aware of the fervent fans who could be quite overwhelming, since yesterday, many had been inquiring about Charles. "Teacher Hale, I now feel that being too famous isn''t necessarily a good thing, it makes me feel like a rat in a sewer, always hiding and dodging." Charles sighed, expressing his frustrations. Hale''s smile faded, and his expression grew serious as he replied, "Indeed, every move you make is under scrutiny, and the fact that you are Uncle Ezra''s apprentice has already been exposed. I suspect that the people from Constetion will soon take action against you." Charles pondered for a moment before sharing what had just transpired with Byron: "Teacher Hale, how is the preparation on the dean''s side? Recently, some people want me to leave the city." Upon hearing this, a hint of concern crossed Hale''s face, and he slowly responded, "The dean has already made preparations. If you n to go out, just let me know." "How about this: I''ll leave the city right after sses this afternoon. I want to resolve this matter as soon as possible and return to a normal life." Charles stated firmly. He was determined not to dy any longer. Whether it was the people from Constetion, the sixth-level Beast Master Winston, or Leo and his crew, anyone who dared to follow him outside the city and make a move would not return alive! "Alright, I will notify the dean, as well as the others and the students in the academy. I will do my best to keep them in line, and you will need to get used to this life in the spotlight."Hale nodded and said. Charles took out his phone and replied to Byron with a message: [I have time this afternoon. Let''s meet at the city gate and go directly to retrieve the metal material to avoid any unnecessary dys.] As soon as he sent the message, it had barely been a few seconds when Byron replied: [Okay, no problem!] The speed of this response clearly indicated that Byron had been waiting eagerly for his message. Charles could already imagine how excited Byron must be on the other end of the line. "Excitedly awaiting his own demise, that''s quite amusing."Charles thought, unable to contain his curiosity about how those people would react when they discovered it was all a trap. Everything was prepared, now all that was left was to wait for the fish to bite. He couldn''t help but wonder how big the catch would be. Could it be an eighth-level Beast Master? Charles thought that was unlikely, the chances of it being a seventh-level Beast Master were much higher. A seventh-level Beast Master would already be a significant force, even the vice dean of Aredale Academy, who was also Grace''s teacher, was merely a seventh-level Beast Master. Lost in thought, Charles activated his Darkness Cloak and made his way to the ssroom. It was already time for ss, and the crowd outside had mostly dispersed. As he reached the ssroom door, he slowly walked in under the teacher''s gaze. If any other student werete, the teacher would surely say something. But when it came to Charles, the teacher at the podium remained silent, pretending not to notice. The scene of a crowd surrounding the ssroom door was still vivid in his mind. Upon seeing Charles enter the ssroom, some students could no longer contain themselves and secretly took out their phones, hoping to snap a photo or two. However, just as they opened the camera, they caught sight of Charles ring at them. The startled student nearly dropped their phone, which ttered onto the desk, drawing the teacher''s attention. "You, go stand at the back! No one is allowed to use their phone during ss!" the teacher scolded with a stern face. Charles sat down in the empty seat next to Catherine. In ss A, everyone knew that the seat next to Catherine was reserved for Charles. There were some who were foolish enough to try to approach Catherine, but her cold, indifferent gaze quickly scared them off. "Have you had breakfast?" Catherine asked in a low voice while looking up at the podium. Charles replied honestly, "Not yet." "Then go ahead and eat. I''ll cover for you, the teacher won''t notice."Catherine said, turning to look at Charles with a hint of concern. Charles nodded and began to stealthily enjoy his breakfast. The morning sses were not yet over, and the number of people waiting outside the ssroom had decreased significantly. Perhaps Hale''s influence had taken effect, as there were now far fewer fans crowding around. Charles let out a sigh of relief and, at the moment the ss ended, he activated his Darkness Cloak and headed straight for the Forging Masters Guild. The me Alloy he obtained yesterday could be used to enhance the ck gold long knife. He also wanted to check the Forging Masters Guild to see if there were any other metal materials avable. If there were, perhaps with a few more materials for enhancement, he could elevate the quality of the ck gold long knife to orange quality. Otherwise, having just one piece of me Alloy felt insufficient. Sneaking into the Forging Masters Guild, before he even began searching for metal materials, Charles ran into the guild president, Xavier. "Charles? What are you doing here?" Xavier eximed, staring wide-eyed at Charles in the hall. His exmation drew the attention of everyone around them, and as those people began to approach, Xavier quickly realized it and hurriedly led Charles to the office on the second floor. "Charles, you''re quite the sensation now. Did youe to the Forging Masters Guild for something today?" Xavier said with a tinge of jealousy in his voice. He had long intended to invite Charles but had been dyed by various matters. It was onlyst night that he finally had the time to scroll through his phone and see the news about Charles, which made him feel like the sky was falling. Good grief, an Alchemy Master and an eighth-level Beast Master are both Charles''s teachers, it made him feel like his status as a master-level cksmith was insignificant. Charles scratched his head and said, "Mr. Xavier, I was hoping to see if the Forging Masters Guild has any rare metal materials of orange quality." Xavier thought for a moment and regretfully replied, "Unfortunately, a piece of rare metal material was exchanged a couple of days ago, and now there isn''t a single one left in stock." He then asked, "Charles, you''re now a high-level cksmith, you probably don''t need orange quality materials, do you?" Charles didn''t hide anything, his forging experience was far less than that of Xavier, who was a master-level cksmith. He took out the ck gold long knife along with the me Alloy. Xavier''s eyes instantly lit up as he fixed his gaze on the two items and excitedly asked, "I can''t believe he actually entrusted this weapon to you. Are you nning to enhance it?" Charles found Xavier''s reaction a bit strange, it seemed like Xavier recognized the ck gold long knife. "That''s right. I''m looking for a couple more pieces of rare metal materials to see if I can enhance it to orange quality. Mr. Xavier, do you know this long knife?" Charles inquired. Xavier nodded and carefully took the ck gold long knife, examining it closely. He answered, "Of course I know it. This long knife was forged by my teacher, and I assisted with some of the work at the time." As he looked it over, Xavier reminisced, saying, "The original quality of this long knife was indeed orange quality, but it was damaged along the way, and after repairs, it only reached purple quality." "Originally orange quality?" Charles was a bit surprised, he had thought the ck gold long knife was only a purple quality weapon. "It wasn''t just orange quality, it had the potential to be upgraded to gold quality. How about this: if you ever want to enhance this weapon,e find me."Xavier said, his gaze filled with nostalgia and regret as he looked at the ck gold long knife. His forging teacher had already passed away, and if he could enhance the ck gold long knife back to its original orange quality, it would ease his regrets. Faced with Xavier''s promise, Charles didn''t refuse. Having a master-level cksmith enhance it would certainly be better than him, a high-level cksmith. "One more thing you need to keep in mind: the ck gold long knife can amodate multiple properties of energy, but each time there will be a significant wear expense."Xavier cautioned as he returned the long knife to Charles. Charles was somewhat surprised, he hadn''t known this information. Perhaps it was because the wear on the ck gold long knife hadn''t reached the point where a notification would appear. It seems that the ck gold knife glow with multiple properties can''t be used too frequently in the future. There''s still more than a week until thergest auction in Genosha Calivia begins. It might be best to wait until then to see if there are any other materials avable. Participating in the auction will require quite a bit of money. Charles nced at his current bnce, he still had: [Gold Coins: 47, Silver Coins: 230, Copper Coins: 800] During this time, he had spent quite a bit on crafting revival pills, great restorative pills, and purchasing materials for super miracle drugs. Forty-seven gold coins definitely won''t be enough, so it looks like he needs to earn some more money. Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Damn Byron! There aren''t many ways to make money in a short time, so Charles nned to craft more revival pills recently. This miracle drug, used for healing, is quite popr and fetches a good price. If the sess rate of his crafting improves, there will still be a decent profit margin. On his way back, Charles kept thinking, "If more peoplee this afternoon, and I can loot some bodies, maybe I''ll strike it rich!" He just didn''t know if the attackers who came after him had any loot that would belong to him after being in. "After all, I was the bait, surely I deserve a share of the fish that gets caught."Charles thought as he returned to the academy. Time passed quickly, and the afternoon sses came to an end. After briefly chatting with Catherine, Charles left the academy and headed to the ce he had arranged to meet Byron. He pulled out his phone and sent Byron a message: [I''m here, where are you?] Byron replied: [On my way, I''ll be there soon. Just wait a bit.] Charles put his phone away, his expression unreadable. He knew that Byron and the people behind him were definitely watching to see if Charles had brought anyone else. But Dean Jamie and the others were not so easy to spot, were they? Charles wasn''t in a hurry and waited for about ten more minutes. Finally, Byron''s figure appeared around the corner, running over while pretending to be out of breath. "Mr. Charles, I''m here. I got held up on the way."Byron said in a low voice. He was dressed all in ck, wearing a mask and a hat, clearly trying to avoid being recognized by others. Charles pretended to be curious and asked, "What''s with the getup? Are you hiding from someone?" Byron was startled and quickly exined, "No, no, no! I just thought it would be better to keep a low profile. If others find out we took the rare metal materials, we might get targeted." Charles nodded and said, "That makes sense. I''ll wear a mask too, and you can lead the way for now." The two of them didn''t linger any longer and headed out of the city. Behind them, Winston''s figure quietly emerged. He didn''t rush to follow Charles immediately, instead, he waited a moment longer. Only after not spotting anyone else following them did he slowly walk out of the city. At the same time, others were keeping an eye on Charles. Once they saw Charles leaving the city with a mysterious person, they immediately reported back to their superiors. In Genosha Calivia, at the Taylor family home, Zane was sprawled out on the sofa, the living room a mess from his rampage. Ever since the incident at the Robinson family banquet yesterday, he hadn''t set foot outside, staying home to vent his anger. Whenever Zane caught someone''s gaze, memories of kneeling before Charles in front of so many prominent families flooded his mind. That was a mental scar he could never ovee! "Charles! I will make sure you pay for this!" Zane gritted his teeth. He had considered revenge, but after returning homest night, His father, Benson, had repeatedly warned him not to entertain any thoughts of attacking Charles. "Alright, stay at home for a while and adjust yourself before going out."Benson said, ncing at a message on his phone. He didn''t mention that he no longer dared to have any thoughts about Charles. He had already been warned that if heid a hand on Charles, the consequences would be beyond what the Taylor family could bear. At that time, they didn''t even know that Charles was Ezra''s apprentice. Now that he knew, even if Benson had the opportunity, he wouldn''t dare to act rashly. This grudge had to be avenged, but not now! Seeing his son Zane''s lost expression, Benson felt a pang of sympathy, but for the sake of the Taylor family, he had no choice. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he made a phone call. "Leo, stay put in Calivia today. Don''t go anywhere, understood?" On the other end of the line, Leo''s surprised voice replied, "Got it, Head of the Family." After hanging up, Benson let out a sigh of relief and returned to his study. "You should be grateful that you didn''t choose to go after Charles, this way, our cooperation can continue."a dark figure quietly emerged from the shadows of the study. Benson took a deep breath, he couldn''t help but ask out of curiosity, "What exactly is Charles? Is he one of your people?" "It''s best not to know what you shouldn''t. He''s not one of us yet."the person in the shadows replied without borating. That was enough to give Benson room for imagination. The fact that Charles was not one of them now implied that he might be in the future? One Ezra and a master-level alchemist were not enough. Now there was an additional mysterious and powerful organization. Benson couldn''t fathom how Charles, as amoner, had connections with these people. On the other side of Genosha Calivia, Jason, who had wet his pants in public out of fear from Charles, looked at a message on his phone. He gritted his teeth and slowly said to Zoe beside him, "The opportunity hase. It''s time for us to wash away our shame!" Zoe looked a bit hesitant and replied, "Bro, I heard that Charles is an apprentice of an eighth-level Beast Master. Maybe we should let it go and endure for a while." Without saying another word, Jason kicked his brother. He twisted his face as he opened his phone, where a video of him wetting his pants in public was ying. "Do you know what I see every time I close my eyes? This humiliation! If we don''t act now, we''ll have even fewer chancester!" Jason knew they couldn''t afford to mess with an eighth-level Beast Master, but anger and humiliation clouded his judgment. "As long as we do it cleanly, no one will suspect us. There are plenty of people who hold a grudge against Charles, who can be sure it was us?" Jason exined. "Bro, but Charles is strong too. Are we really his match?" Zoe was still hesitant to take action against Charles. Even though he hated Charles for stealing Celestine, his life was more important than that! Jason couldn''t forget the de-like aura that Charles emitted, it was just like the scythe of death! He pulled out a bottle of red miracle drug from his pocket and said to Zoe, "It''s fine. With this, Charles is as good as dead!" Zoe''s eyes widened in shock, trembling as he pointed at the bottle of miracle drug. "Bro, how do you have that? That''s a prohibited miracle drug!" "There''s no turning back now, brother. We just need to kill Charles. Kill him, kill him!" A sh of red light crossed Jason''s eyes, and he seemed possessed, slipping into madness. ... Inside a library in Calivia, in a secret room, "Charles has made his move, it''s time to send out the bait." "Yes, Elder, but is sacrificing a seventh-level Beast Master really worth it?" "That''s not for you to question!" "Sorry, Elder. I''ll arrange it right away." The discussion ended, leaving only the one referred to as the Elder, who held a book in his hands, an expression of fervor and madness appearing on his face. "Just a seventh-level Beast Master, as long as there''s even a sliver of hope for the Master''s arrival, no price is too great!" he spoke slowly, his voice old and hoarse, yet filled with immense determination. Charles, who was being eyed by several factions, had already arrived at Gourd Mountain. Byron was leading the way in front of him. They had been walking for a long time but still hadn''t reached the ce Byron mentioned. Charles felt a bit disappointed, he had held onto a sliver of hope that Byron truly knew about the existence of the rare metal materials, but it seemed unlikely now. "What''s taking so long? Haven''t we arrived yet?" Charles asked, growing impatient. Byron cautiously turned back to look and replied, "Almost there, almost there! It''s just up ahead!" "Alright, I''ll trust you one more time. If we don''t find it, I''m turning back!" Charles said, observing Byron, he didn''t seem like a member of the Constetion organization. That only left Leo and Winston as his remaining enemies. After walking a bit further, they still hadn''t found anything special, and Charles and Byron''s location became increasingly remote. "This ce isn''t bad, no one would discover anything if we disposed of the body here."Charles remarked casually, causing Byron to break out in a cold sweat. "Mr. Charles, what do you mean by that? I" Byron stammered, wanting to exin. With Winston not appearing, if Charles grew suspicious and took action against him, he would undoubtedly die! At that moment, footsteps suddenly echoed behind Charles and Byron, and someone shouted: "Charles! Today, you will undoubtedly die!" Hearing that voice, a look of joy spread across Byron''s face as he stepped back while ncing toward the source of the sound. However, when he looked, he was left stunned, because the neers were not Winston, but two people he had never seen before! The one in front, slightly older, looked at Charles with eyes filled with hatred and resentment, and continued, "Today, neither you nor yourpanions will leave here alive!" "No, no, no! That''s not it! I''m not with Charles!" Byron was terrified, his mind was spinning as he hurriedly exined. Unfortunately, no one was listening to his exnation! Just as the two people were about to charge forward, another figure suddenly appeared! Winston, wearing a ck hooded sweatshirt that concealed his face, looked at the scene in front of him with a bewildered expression, feeling an extraordinary shock in his heart: Could it be that Charles came out on purpose? Had he arranged for help all along? No, that can''t be right, this was a ce he and Byron had chosen! Had Byron betrayed him? "Damn it, Byron! So you''re in league with Charles! I''m going to kill you!" Winston shouted furiously. Upon hearing this, Byron''s legs went weak, and he copsed to the ground, desperately trying to exin, "No, it''s not true! I really don''t know what''s going on!" Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Charles, Youre Dead! "Wait! Are you here to kill Charles too?" Zoe, who was still rtively clear-headed, immediately reacted upon hearing Winston''s words. This person in the ck hoodie was also here to kill Charles, just like them! It seemed that the person lying on the ground next to Charles was not hispanion but rather the one who had lured Charles here. "Really? Aren''t you Charles''s allies?" Winston quickly calmed down and asked cautiously. "Allies? I''d kill to see Charles suffer, to have him torn apart and begging for mercy! How could I be his ally?" Jason spat out, filled with hatred. He was itching to see Charles kneeling on the ground, pleading for his life. "Charles! Who would have thought that not only the two of us are out to kill you, but there are others as well. You''re dead today!" Jason dered, wanting to end the conversation. His hand reached into his pocket, trying to retrieve that bottle of red miracle drug. Unexpectedly, Winston interjected, saying, "Charles is undoubtedly going to die today. I don''t want to lift a finger, but I have a question I want to ask him before he goes!" "What question do you have? Hurry up and ask! Once you''re done, I want to torture Charles and make him wish he were dead!" Jason was anxious, he couldn''t wait to take action against Charles. After Jason agreed, Winston took a couple of steps toward Byron, ensuring he could kill him first before turning back to Charles and asking: "Charles, answer me honestly: what really happened out in the wilds of Lsengard?" Winston had always questioned whether Kevin and Thomas were truly killed by Charles, it was essential for his revenge, so he had to ask! To his surprise, Charles showed no intention of answering. With a mocking smile on his face, he addressed the group: "You''re all here to kill me? Isn''t that a bit foolish? Jason, Zoe, Winston, you''re all so foolish!" "Charles, you''re about to die, and you''re still pretending!" Zoe scoffed, thinking Charles was merely struggling. "My master is a master alchemist, and also an eighth-level Beast Master. Aren''t you afraid of retaliation?" Charles spoke slowly. Zoe hadn''t processed this yet when he replied, "What''s there to fear? No one knows" Before he could finish, Charles quickly pointed at Byron and Winston, saying, "They know." "What! Charles, what do you mean? I''m here to kill you too!" Winston hurriedly exined. His original n was to kill Charles and then deal with Byron, but he hadn''t expected Charles to guess his identity. Winston now regretted asking that question, he had given Charles an opening! Now there were two groups wanting to kill Charles, both fearful of leaving clues that could lead to retaliation from a master-level alchemist or an eighth-level Beast Master. So Winston, along with Jason and Zoe, had to consider who would kill Charles and what they would do afterward! "Since you''re all here to kill me, you must have ways to easily deal with me. I''m dead today anyway, so why don''t you take care of each other first and thene kill me?" Charles said lightly. That statement seemed to act like a trigger, especially for Jason. If he wanted to kill Charles, he had to use the illegal red miracle drug, and he couldn''t leave any witnesses behind. Otherwise, it would be a huge problemter! The same went for Winston, the people from Lsengard were still waiting for him to exact revenge. He couldn''t let Zoe and Jason leave, if they leaked any information, everything would be over! After some thought, Winston feigned a rxed tone and said, "Hey, brothers over there, how about we all take a stab at Charles and work together to kill him?" Upon hearing Winston''s suggestion, Jason''s eyes lit up. This n could work, and he wouldn''t even have to pull out the illegal miracle drug, thus lowering the risk! Both sides had finally reached an agreement to cooperate and were just about to make a move on Charles. Who would have thought that at that moment, a figure emerged from the woods behind them, shouting, "Charles, die! You''re dead today!" This person was a level-seven Beast Master from [Constetion]. Seeing the scene before him, he didn''t immediatelyprehend what was happening, thinking Charles had called for help. Seven hexagram arrays lit up, and chaos erupted in an instant. Zoe, Jason, and Winston quickly eximed: "Wait! We''re here to kill Charles too." "Yeah, don''t get the wrong idea, we''re not on Charles''s side!" "Please, let Charles go, I''ll be on my way!" Upon hearing this, the level-seven Beast Master finally caught on. He looked at the people present: one level-four Beast Master, one level-five Beast Master, and one level-six Beast Master. They didn''t appear to be there to protect Charles. Could it be true? Were they also here to kill Charles? A question formed in the level-seven Beast Master''s mind: why were so many peopleing to kill Charles? Zoe, Jason, and Winston saw that the level-seven Beast Master had paused. They all breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the neer was also there to kill Charles, otherwise, things would have turned disastrous! "Charles, with so many people here to kill you, no matter how capable you are, you can''t escape death!" Winston said, looking at Charles. In this situation, Charles was undoubtedly doomed! "Oh, really?" Charles hadn''t expected so many people woulde to kill him today. He felt no fear at all, instead, there was a hint of anticipation. After thinking for a moment, Charles asked, "Can I ask something before I die?" "What do you want to ask? Do you have any questions left?" Winston was a bit curious. He was surprised that Charles could remain calm and not desperate in such a situation, he was quite a character! Charles felt a bit embarrassed. He scratched his head and asked, "Is what you''re carrying valuable? Or, if you all dieter, can I find some high-value treasures on your corpses?" Upon hearing Charles''s words, Winston retracted his earlier thoughts and said, "I thought you were mentally strong, I didn''t realize you''ve gone mad!" Charles grinned widely, pleased that he could resolve so many hidden dangers today. Seeing Charles''s smile, the level-seven Beast Master felt a bad premonition rising in his heart. Just as he was about to make a move, Charles shouted, "Dean! If you don''t intervene now, I''m done for!" "What! Dean?" "Has Charles gone crazy? Where is there anyone else?" Those who wanted to kill Charles instinctively thought this, but in the next moment, A tremendous pressure descended upon the area. A massive vine had sprouted in front of Charles, separating him from the others. [Giant Wood Python Vine] [Attribute]: Wood [Level]: 79 [Quality]: Diamond [Skills]: Vine Binding, Silent Growth, Giant Whip Strike, Rapid Regeneration... [Weakness]: Fire Attribute The information prompt in front of Charles disyed the details of this wood attribute mystical beast. This was indeed the mystical beast of Dean Jamie, the diamond-quality level-79 Giant Wood Python Vine! No wonder Dean Jamie was so formidable, his strength was truly impressive! The moment the Giant Wood Python Vine appeared, it split into five tendrils and swept toward those who wanted to kill Charles! Only the level-seven Beast Master reacted quickly. Moreover, since he hadn''t canceled the hexagram array, he was able to summon his mystical beast and used Beast Mastery just in time to evade the attack! As a member of the Constetion organization,pleting the mission was the most important thing. Otherwise, even if he returned alive, it would be worse than death. So he hesitated not at all. In his Beast Mastery state, he activated his skills and continued to attack Charles! However, all those attacks were blocked by the vines, and Charles was not harmed in the slightest! Dean Jamie''s figure descended from the sky. He did not summon any other mystical beasts. With his toes lightly touching the very top of the Giant Wood Python Vine, he stood there steadily like a bird in flight. "Ah, what a pity, just a little fish!" Jamie sighed and extended his right hand, transforming his palm into a fist. In the next moment, countless wooden vines suddenly erupted from beneath the feet of the level-seven Beast Master, firmly binding him! Charles watched intently. It was his first time witnessing a battle between high-level Beast Masters. However, due to Jamie''s overwhelming strength, the entire fightcked any sense of spectacle. It waspletely one-sided. The level-seven Beast Master from Constetion, realizing he was trapped, gave up struggling. He trembled all over, spewed forth a mouthful of blood, and died on the spot. "See, the people from Constetion are ruthless, even to themselves!" Jamie floated down from the Giant Wood Python Vine, standing expressionless in front of Charles, seemingly lost in thought. As Charles observed Jamie''s contemtive expression, a sense of danger quietly arose in his heart. He couldn''t shake the feeling that Dean Jamie''s gaze was somewhat strange. His mind raced, and Charles said, "Dean, you''re really strong! I haven''t seen my master in action, I wonder if he''s as powerful as you!" Upon hearing Charles''s words, Jamie recalled Ezra''s figure in his mind. He spoke to Charles with a hint of resignation, "Tsk tsk tsk, what a clever person. Don''t worry, it''s all over." After saying this, Jamie casually waved a hand, and those still strugglingZoe, Jason, as well as Winston and Byronwere directly strangled to death by the entangling vines! "How about that? They''re all dead now. You can rx, right?" Jamie said slowly. Charles let out a sigh of relief. He nced at the corpses of the others and then looked back at Jamie, remaining silent. "Ah, your master is much stronger than I am, he''s definitely not just an eighth-level Beast Master!" Jamie addressed Charles''s unspoken question. Then he continued, "It''s all yours, I''m not that petty." Charles''s eyes lit up. A level-seven Beast Master, a level-six Beast Master, and all the items on Zoe and Jasonthose could be quite valuable! He wondered what kind of treasures they might contain! Chapter 175: Chapter 175: The Strange Tentacle The level-seven Beast Master from the Constetion organization didn''t have much on him, leaving Charles feeling a bit let down. There were only five gold coins and some miracle drugs and materials. This was clearly not in line with the identity of a level-seven Beast Master, he didn''t even have something like a jet ring for storagewhat a miser! As for Winston, he had quite a bit more. He had thirteen gold coins alone, not to mention several other high-value items, which would likely bring in even more gold coins. The exact amount would only be known after selling everything at the shops in Calivia. Then there were Byron and Zoe, both looking poorer than thest, making Charles frown in frustration! Finally, there was Jason. When Charles picked up the red miracle drug, Jamie, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke up, "Wait a minute, that thing seems a bit off. Let me take a look!" Charles was curious, it was his first time seeing such a miracle drug. ording to the information in front of him, [Red Corruption Miracle Drug] [Grade]: Special [Description]: Consuming this miracle drug can activate a Beast Master''s potential for an extended period, enhancing reaction speed, attack power, recovery speed, and more. However, ites with severe side effects, causing loss of reason and descent into madness, where one is controlled by various inner desires! This [Red Corruption Miracle Drug] had a quality that Charles had never seen beforesomething special? Moreover, judging by its effects, it was indeed very powerful, the only drawback was that the side effects were hard to ept, leading one to lose their sanity and be controlled by desire. This was the first time Charles had seen such side effects! Jamie examined the miracle drug that Charles had handed over, his brow furrowed tightly, and his eyes filled with intense disgust, as if he had seen something that made him want to vomit. After a moment of contemtion, he said to Charles, "You''d better give this to your alchemy teacher, Colton. He will tell you everything about this miracle drug!" "Okay, Dean. I''ll go see Professor Colton as soon as I get back."Charles replied, nodding. He understood that it was best for someone of Colton''s master-level alchemist status to take a look at this incredibly strange miracle drug. "Remember, you must not use this miracle drug. You need to hand it over to Colton, understood?" Jamie reiterated, a hint of concern in his tone, and continued, "This is a miracle drug that causes Beast Masters to lose their sanity and be Fallen Beast Masters. I never expected to see it appear in Calivia!" Charles was puzzled by Jamie''s words and quickly asked, "Dean, what do you mean by Fallen Beast Masters? I don''t think I''ve ever heard of that before!" Jamie looked up towards the direction of Genosha Calivia. The once peaceful and quiet Calivia appeared to him as a ce roiling with turbulence and hidden dangers! He sighed and said heavily to Charles, "A Fallen Beast Master is someone who has used such a miracle drug, bing addicted to false power and being controlled by their inner desires. They typically show up in chaotic and disorderly ces. I can''t believe this miracle drug has appeared in Genosha Calivia!" "It seems we need to conduct a thorough investigation with the royal family and the other two major academies!" Jamie was right. In his experience, once a peaceful ce had such a potion, it wouldn''t be long before that ce wouldpletely lose its order. Charles watched Jamie''s retreating figure, and a vague feeling told him that something significant would happen in Genosha soon. Even Jamie, as an eighth-level Beast Master, was this serious and heavy. A strong sense of crisis welled up in Charles''s heart, he needed to enhance his Beast Master abilities quickly and reach fourth-level Beast Master in the shortest time possible! "By the way, Charles, if you have time in the future, you can try going to the academy''s Trial Tower. You might find some unexpected surprises!" Jamie almost forgot about this and quickly said to Charles. "Trial Tower? Dean, what kind of ce is that? Is there something special about it?" Charles asked. As Jamie walked ahead, preparing to return to Calivia, he exined, "That''s a ce you can enter after studying for half a year, but you''re special, so you should be able to try it out early." "The Trial Tower is a ce that helps students rapidly improve theirbat abilities. If you have enough insight there, you can learn various powerfulbat skills!" When Jamie mentioned bat skills."Charles instinctively recalled the "Break the Enemy''s Marksmanship" that Zachary, the general''s son, used during the ss divisionpetition. That must be what Jamie was talking about! Charles voiced his thoughts, and Jamie nodded, saying, "Combat skills are a special means of attack or defense, primarily used by Beast Masters to enhance their power andbat capability." "In the Trial Tower, you will face various battlefield simtions, and through repeated battles, you''lle to understand thebat skills that suit you best!" "Charles, you need to improve your strength quickly. Genosha won''t remain peaceful for long, only with strong abilities can you protect yourself well." After exining, Jamie reminded Charles with a hint of concern. By the time the two returned to Cyber Academy, it was already evening. Today was also the time to learn alchemy from Colton. After a simple dinner, Charles hurried over to Colton''s bamboo house without stopping. As soon as he entered, he pulled out the Red Corruption Miracle Drug and asked Colton, "Teacher, I came across this this afternoon, and Dean Jamie asked me to hand it over to you." Colton was in the middle of refining a miracle drug when he looked up and saw what Charles was holding. He immediately set aside his ongoing steps and rushed over to Charles, taking the Red Corruption Miracle Drug from him. "How did this thing end up in Genosha?" Colton asked, disbelief written all over his face. He didn''t hesitate to ask Charles how he obtained this miracle drug. Charles exined the whole situation, and after listening, Colton pondered for a long while before responding. Colton led Charles to a shelf and casually pressed a spot on the wall. The entire shelf began to slowly move aside, revealing a hidden passage. Charles suppressed his curiosity and followed Colton into the passage. After walking for a long time, they finally arrived at a secret chamber. In the center of the chamber stood a massive ss container, inside which was a writhing red tentacle! The tentacle looked incredibly strange, covered in countless eyes. As if sensing their presence, hundreds of eyes on the tentacle opened simultaneously, fixating on Charles. For a brief moment, Charles''s gaze locked with that of the tentacle, and it felt as if a hallucination appeared before him. In a crimson space, pools of blood and chunks of flesh coalesced into a massive, unfathomable unknown creature. On its surface, numerous bizarre and distorted grayish-white humanoid figures emitted a maddened, painful hiss-roar! It was chaotic and twisted! "Wake up!" Colton shouted sharply, jolting Charles from that hallucination. Charles felt a bit dazed, unsure of what had just happened. "Teacher, what was that just now?" Charles asked, as if he had just woken from a dream. He couldn''t recall what had just urred, as if that segment of memory had vanishedpletely. Colton looked at Charles with intense shock and concern, slowly saying, "I didn''t expect your spiritual sensitivity to be so high. If I had known, I wouldn''t have brought you in." "Spiritual sensitivity? What is that?" Charles was taken aback by the unexpected events of the day. In just one day, he had encountered many things he had never known before. He felt a sense that a vast, chaotic, and perilous world was about to unfold before his eyes. Colton exined, "Charles, this world is not as simple as it seems on the surface. In certain corners of the world, there are hidden horrors that ordinary people are unaware of! Spiritual sensitivity is the means of perceiving those horrors." "The higher your spiritual sensitivity, the more you can sense things that others cannot, like that thing inside the ss container." Charles asked, "Teacher, what is that?" Colton picked up the Red Corruption Miracle Drug in his hand and said, "That is one of the raw materials used to make this miracle drug, and it is also the culprit that drives Beast Masters to lose their sanity. It used to be a Beast Master, but now it has be a servant of unknown horrors!" Unknown horrors? Once a Beast Master? Servants? Charles''s mind was filled with questions. Ezra had once taken him to hunt the "salivate over a humpback whale."where he had seen ten indescribable meatballs hanging in the sky! Now, it was connected to these so-called unknown horrors and the servants that Beast Masters had been corrupted into? Charles tried to speak, wanting to know more information, but Colton seemed to sense his thoughts and quickly shook his head, saying, "Don''t ask any more questions. We''ve talked enough for today. Your current level as a Beast Master is too low to handle more information." "If you want to know the whole story, wait until you be a Level Seven Beast Master!" Charles understood that Colton was looking out for him. He pushed his questions back into his heart. The most important thing now was to increase his strength! Not only did he have to face the inter-academy exchangepetition in a little over a month, but there was also the Cyber Academy''s main assessment in six months, along with even greater crises in the future! Taking a deep breath, Charles nced at the tentacle trapped in the ss container, which seemed to have lost its vitality and remainedpletely still. Charles couldn''t fathom that such a thing had once been a Beast Master? After Charles and Colton left, the bizarre tentacle began to slowly writhe, its entire body trembling rhythmically, as if it were trying to convey some kind of message. Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Catherines Anomaly Back in Colton''s cabin, the scene he had just witnessed still lingered in Charles''s mind. At the moment he saw that strange tentacle, it felt as if he had fallen into a hallucination, encountering something horrifying. However, by the time Colton called him, he couldn''t remember anything at all. "Teacher, I think I just fell into a hallucination, but when I woke up, I had no memory of it."Charles voiced his concerns. He felt that everything about it was just too bizarre. Colton didn''t respond immediately, instead, he pulled a bottle of miracle drug from the ring on his hand and handed it to Charles, reassuring him, "Don''t think too much about it. You might be mistaken. This is a miracle drug meant to calm your mind. Just take it and get some sleep." Charles took the miracle drug, and an information prompt appeared before his eyes: [Special Suppression Miracle Drug] [Grade]: Purple Quality [Description]: Taking this miracle drug can temporarily suppress a Beast Master''s special perception abilities, making them indistinguishable from ordinary people for a short period. Charles looked at the miracle drug in his hand with a strange expression. Colton said it was meant to calm his mind, which, to some extent, was true. It seemed that the situation was moreplicated and dangerous than Charles had imagined. Colton, in an effort to keep him from worrying, had deliberately referred to the special suppression miracle drug as a calming miracle drug. "Alright, you don''t need to follow me to learn alchemy today. You should head back and rest early. Don''t think too much, I have some matters to attend to."Colton said directly. Charles nodded, he needed to go back and digest the information he had received today. Once he returned to his dorm, Charles took a hot shower and theny down on his bed, starting to contemte the future. He wondered what Teacher Ezra was busy with, he hadn''t heard anything in a while, and there was no new progress regarding his parents. He still needed a bit more enhancement material for the ck gold long knife. When he had timeter, he could refine some miracle drugs for sale and purchase a piece of suitable orange-quality rare metal material. That should be enough. Having an orange-quality weapon would give Charles a bit more sense of security. He also wanted to see if there were other ways to improve the quality of the Nine Netherworld Armband, that would be even better. The next priority was to enhance his Beast Master abilities. The immediate task was to level Mia up to 19 and prepare for her advancement first. As for the trial tower that Dean Jamie mentioned, there was no rush for that, he could put it on hold for now and visit when he had time. With these thoughts in mind, Charles found it hard to rx. He headed directly to the training area where he had practiced before and summoned Mia, Mousie, and Max to train! As time passed, Mousie used its Mimetic Illusion to project and replicate mystical beasts, which Mia continuously defeated, gaining experience with each victory. [ Ding! Your mystical beast Mia Lv.18 has defeated Bloodthirsty Rhino Lv.19. Experience points +20! ] ... Finally, Mia''s level reached 19! He then opened the Pets tab to check Mia''s attribute panel. [ Level ]: Lv.19 [ View Advancement Materials ] After selecting to view the advancement materials, a pop-up window appeared on the screen. [ Advancement Materials ]: Wind Attribute Beast Core [Tier 2] 3, Swift Wind Grass 3, 10 kg of Blood from a Tier 5 Wind Attribute Mystical Beast! The earlier advancement materials were rtively easier to find. Both the wind attribute beast cores and swift wind grass could be purchased at the Alchemist Guild. However, the blood of a Tier 5 wind attribute mystical beast was not somon. Charles wasn''t sure if the Alchemist Guild had any in stock. It seemed he would have to make another trip to the Alchemist Guild tomorrow. It was already quitete, so after finishing his training, Charles returned to his dorm and took the miracle drug Colton had given him, enjoying a good night''s sleep. After his morning sses the next day, Charles hurried to the Alchemist Guild to find President Owen. "10 kg of Tier 5 Wind Attribute Mystical Beast blood? Charles, that''s hard toe by. Calivia doesn''t have much in stock. Let me see if I can call some over from other cities."Owen replied. Mystical beast blood can also be used for alchemy, but its consumption isn''t as high as other alchemy materials, so the Alchemist Guild doesn''t have much in stock and can only draw from nearby cities. Owen continued, "The fastest it can arrive is in about two days. I''ll message you when it gets here, and you cane pick it up." Charles nodded, two days wasn''t too long. He could wait. "By the way, President, I have some alchemy materials here. Can you take a look and give me a price?" Charles had some alchemy materials he had harvested yesterday that were ready to sell. Unexpectedly, Owen shook his head and said, "Selling to the Alchemist Guild isn''t very profitable. A new treasure house has opened in Calivia, and they are currently buying various items at a premium. You might want to check it out." Charles was a bit surprised. President Owen was quite good to him, making a bit more money was always better. He decided to check out the new treasure house, as there might be other items he needed as well. After paying a deposit and bidding farewell to Owen, Charles nned to head to the treasure house. Just then, Catherine''s call came in. "Charles, are you busy right now? I have something I want to discuss with you."Catherine''s voice sounded somewhat downcast on the other end. This was the first time Charles had ever heard her speak like that. He quickly replied, "I''m not busy. I was nning to check out the treasure house soon. Is something wrong?" Catherine didn''t respond directly but said, "Then I''lle with you. Wait for me at the entrance, I''ll be there soon." After saying that, Catherine quickly hung up the phone. Charles felt a bit puzzled. He could detect a hint of sadness and reluctance in Catherine''s tone, something he had never noticed before. Suppressing his curiosity, Charles arrived at the entrance of the newly opened treasure house. After waiting for about ten minutes, Catherine finally appeared. Her outfit was different from usuala fitted ck knit top that revealed half of her smooth, fair shoulder, paired with form-fitting khaki jeans that entuated her alluring curves. "What''s wrong? You seem a bit off today."Charles asked. In his eyes, Catherine usually wore casual clothes, but today she had dressed up deliberately. It looked like she had even put on lipstick, making her lips more enticing. Catherine shook her head, a stiff smile on her face. "Nothing. Charles, you wanted to check out the treasure house, right? I''ll apany you." Seeing that Catherine didn''t want to borate, Charles didn''t press her and nodded in agreement. Once Catherine walked closer, Charles turned to head into the treasure house. Unexpectedly, just as he turned, Catherine suddenly linked her arm with his. Charles''s body stiffened, and he stopped in his tracks, looking down at Catherine''s arm. "What''s wrong? Aren''t we going in to look around?" Catherine spoke before Charles could. Charles raised his head, looking ahead as he replied, "No, it''s nothing. Let''s go." But Catherine lowered her head, her ears turning red. She realized her actions were sudden, yet she didn''t want to let go. She tightened her grip, pressing her body closely against Charles. "Wee to the treasure house! May I ask if you''re selling or buying today?" A staff member quickly approached and inquired. Charles casually replied, "Both. Let''s sell first." With Catherine by his side, Charles sold all the alchemy materials, forging materials, and other useless items he had collected yesterday. They were worth a total of 22 gold coins and 380 silver coins. His current assets were: [Gold Coins: 87, Silver Coins: 610, Copper Coins: 800]. Of course, he hadn''t yet given Owen the money for the wind attribute beast cores, swift wind grass, and the blood of the Tier 5 wind attribute mystical beast he had asked him to prepare. "I wonder what the purchase price for green-quality miracle drugs is here?" Charles thought for a moment and asked. The staff member replied, "Dear customer, the price depends on the quality and use of the miracle drug. We have professional alchemists here. If you''re sure you want to sell, I can get them toe over for an appraisal." Charles nodded, feeling a bit flusterednot because of buying and selling these items, but because of Catherine beside him. Throughout the entire process, Catherine didn''t say a word. Her azure eyes were fixed on him the whole time. Charles caught a fleeting nce and saw the reluctance and sadness filling Catherine''s eyes. Not knowing why, Charles felt a tightness in his chest, as if countless threads were wrapped around him and pulling him down, making him ufortable. After a while, the alchemist from the treasure house arrived. Charles took out the revival pill and handed it over for inspection. Soon, the purchase price was settled. For each revival pill crafted, Charles could earn nearly 1 gold coin in profit. If the sess rate remained stable, the profit would be even higher! But right now, Charles''s mind was not on making money at all. He took Catherine outside the treasure house and onto the street. Catherine was still tightly linked to his arm, refusing to let go. "What''s wrong? Is something bad happening?" Charles couldn''t hold back and asked. Catherine looked up, staring nkly at Charles''s face. She looked slowly and seriously before answering, "I''m going back, Charles." "Going back? Where to? Are you leaving Genosha?" Charles was a bit taken aback. Catherine nodded slowly, "Yeah, I''m leaving." Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Farewells and the Trial Tower "What happened?" Charles tried to calm his emotions. He wanted to know why Catherine was leaving. Catherine slowly lowered her head, looking at their shadows on the ground in the sunlight. She began to answer, "There was an ident at home, and I need to go back for a while." "Where? Is it near Lsengard or the Heritaliana Mountains, your hometown, the Gaoshan nationality?" Charles wanted to rify. Catherine took out her phone and recorded the shadow of herself and Charles standing together before continuing, "I''m going back to the Heritaliana Mountains, and I''m afraid it will be a long time before I can see you again." Beneath her calm tone, there seemed to be a hint of choked emotion. Charles didn''t catch it clearly, perhaps it was because the wind had picked up just then. "It shouldn''t be too long, right? Aren''t you going to the Cyber Academy''s main campus? We can meet there."Charles said, looking at Catherine''s hair being tousled by the wind. He instinctively reached out to smooth it down. "I don''t know exactly how long it will take, but I''ll be a Level 5 Beast Master soon. As long as I achieve it before I''m twenty, I can go to the Cyber Academy''s main campus."Catherine said, not daring to look up at Charles. She was afraid of seeing Charles''s expression, the tears she was holding back would spill over uncontrobly. As a member of the Gaoshan nationality, Catherine had always been strong and powerful. Before meeting Charles, her life had revolved only around fighting and training, nothing else. She didn''t know when it had startedperhaps it was during their first sparring match, or maybe when she met Celestine. It could also have been the moment she first hesitated to train and wanted to find Charles instead. Or maybe it was abination of all those moments, she had changed. Fighting and training no longer held the same importance, someone had taken their ce. That someone was right in front of her, watching her. Catherine squeezed her face, exhaled deeply, and suddenly looked up at Charles with a unique smile. Under the midday sun, her slightly reddened eyes shone even brighter. Those blue eyes, as captivating as the sea, sparkled with a blend of emotions. The curve of her lips held both eptance and reluctance, melting into the most sincere honesty in the world. "Hey, Charles, can you walk with me a little longer? Can we walk back to the academy together?" Catherine said, looking at Charles. Charles was stunned by the scene before him. In that moment, his heart, which felt as if it were wrapped in threads, beat wildlyboth in pain and in fervor. It was a feeling he had never encountered before. "Yeah, let''s take our time getting back."Charles nodded. He knew Catherine must have something important going on, but since she didn''t say anything, he couldn''t force her to. "You''ll wait for me at the Cyber Academy, right?" Charles suddenly said as they walked. Silence followed. The bustling street lost all sound at that moment, as if the entire world had turned into a paused ck-and-white silent film. Finally, the girl''s answer broke the stillness, bringing vibrant color back to everything. "Yeah, I will." Charles let out a sigh of relief. He pulled his arm out from Catherine''s embrace. Under Catherine''s puzzled gaze, Charles ced his palm over hers. They looked at each other, not saying another word. They continued walking like that, the sun stretching their shadows until they eventually disappeared at the end of the road. The afternoon sses ended. Charles walked out of the ssroom alone. Not a single person dared to approach him. At that moment, Charles exuded an aura that warned others to stay away. Anyone who tried to get close would be intimidated by his cold gaze. Catherine had left in a hurry at noon, leaving everything behind. Charles could piece together some information: Catherine must have received sudden news. She chose not to pack her things and instead decided to spend thest moments before their farewell with him. For instance, when Catherine promised to meet at the Cyber Academy, she was filled with confusion and uncertainty. Charles felt a bit chaotic inside. During ss that afternoon, he had already tried to subtly ask Catherine about her reasons for returning to the Heritaliana Mountains. But Catherine didn''t share any information at all. He had also asked Hale, and Hale''s response was the samehe knew nothing and waspletely in the dark. When Charles returned to his dormitory, hey on his bed with one arm over his forehead. He had taken leave from Professor Colton today because he wanted to find a ce to vent. Nothing felt better than abat environment like the Trial Tower. After packing up briefly, Charles headed straight to the Trial Tower. As soon as he entered, he overheard someone nearby say, "What''s going on? Isn''t that the strongest new student from ss A? What''s he doing here at the Trial Tower?" "Is he looking to challenge it?" "Maybe he''s just here to take a look. He''s only been enrolled for a few days, challenging the Trial Tower seems a bit arrogant." "Exactly! These young people today have never faced setbacks, they don''t know their own limits!" "Although the Trial Tower won''t physically harm you, if you die in there, your mental state can be severely impacted. Some Beast Masters with insufficient mental strength can even end up in a vegetative state, so you need to pass a mental test before entering the tower." Charles remained expressionless as he approached the registration desk and said to the staff, "Hello, I''d like to register for a trial." The staff clearly recognized Charles and replied with a puzzled expression, "Are you sure? It''s not yet time for new students to challenge the Trial Tower, is it?" "I''m sure." Charles didn''t borate further. He felt an urge inside him that needed to be released, otherwise, he couldn''t train properly. "Alright then, I have to warn you first. If you die in the Trial Tower, a Beast Master''s mental strength can take a serious hit. Some Beast Masters with insufficient mental power can even end up as vegetables, so you must pass a mental test before you can enter the tower."the staff exined earnestly. Charles nodded, not caring at all. Since Dean Jamie suggested hee to this ce, it meant his mental strength must meet the requirements. The staff took out a specially made crystal and said slowly, "You will ce your palm on this testing crystal shortly. Don''t think about anything, just gradually empty your mind." "If the crystal lights up one-third, then you meet the standard to enter the Trial Tower. Do you need to prepare a bit more?" Charles shook his head. He took a deep breath, cleared his mind of distractions, and then ced his palm on the crystal. Meanwhile, Cami and Zachary were following several senior students to the front of the Trial Tower. The senior student leading the way earnestly advised, "The most important thing to remember at Cyber Academy is to never overreach and aim too high!" "In a ce like the Trial Tower, you need to go through six months of training before you can enter, otherwise, you risk injury and fall behind other talents." "I''ve seen too many fools who, after just two or three months of enrollment, couldn''t wait to challenge the Trial Tower and ended up being surpassed after suffering mental trauma!" "Got it, Senior Aero, we will remember!" Cami and Zachary nodded while curiously ncing around. When they saw Charles''s figure, Cami covered her mouth and eximed, "Isn''t that Charles? What is he doing?" As a senior, Aero had heard of Charles but had never seen him. He looked towards the front desk of the Trial Tower and noticed a stranger testing his mental strength, curiously saying, "Do you know that guy? Is he the Charles who earned the title of strongest new student?" Cami and Zachary nodded in response, equally surprised by Charles''s presence there. With the answer, Aero smirked disdainfully and said, "Another overconfident fool. He''s only been in school for a few days and he''s already trying to challenge the Trial Tower. It''s ridiculous!" Other senior students nearby chimed in, "Exactly! He hasn''t even undergone training, he probably can''t meet the minimum requirements to enter the tower." "When I finished my training, my first test of mental strength barely lit up the crystal by one-third!" "Ah, you''re that strong? The strongest in our ss only lit the testing crystal halfway during their first test. That guy was really something else!" "No kidding, that was Zhang Quan! He''s the strongest genius in thest five years. Who canpete with him? He reached the fourth floor on his first attempt!" Aero turned to Cami and Zachary and warned, "You two must not follow this Charles. You need to take it one step at a time. People like Charles will eventually trip up, he''s too overconfident!" "But..." Cami started to say, but was interrupted by Aero. "What''s with the ''but''? Just listen to your senior and don''t try to be like him!" Cami pointed in Charles''s direction and continued, "But the testing crystal in front of him has already lit up about one-third!" "What!" Aero initially thought Cami was joking. He immediately turned to look at Charles. The testing crystal under Charles''s palm had indeed lit up one-third, and that was not all! The brightness of the crystal was still gradually increasing, showing no signs of stopping! "Impossible, it has to be fake. How can someone who just entered school make the testing crystal shine so brightly? There must be a malfunction!" Aero closed his mouth, which had dropped open in shock, and made his own judgment! Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Entering the Trial Tower Cami and Zachary watched from the side, and they couldn''t believe how powerful their fellow neer Charles was. Just by looking at the reactions of the senior students nearby, they could tell how astonishing Charles''s performance truly was! "How is this possible? The brightness of the testing crystal is still increasing. It can''t be, the testing crystal must be broken." Aero focused intently on Charles''s side, not daring to blink. He had never seen a genius like Charles before. Typically, after systematic training and improvement, it''s impressive for an average student to make the testing crystal light up one-third. When it came to Charles, not only had it lit up one-third, but the brightness was still increasing! The brightness of the testing crystal reached half before slowly dimming. This scene left the other students with their mouths agape, and someone said to theirpanion: "Put your face over here, let me smack it and see if it hurts. I suspect I''m still not awake, and that whole scene was a dream." "Why don''t you just hit your own face?" "I''m afraid it''ll hurt." Smack! "My face really hurts! It looks like I''m not dreaming. That only leaves one possibility: the testing crystal must be broken!" Many would rather believe the testing crystal was faulty than ept that Charles''s mental power was so strong that he lit it up to half on his first test! That''s something even a Level 5 Beast Master would struggle to achieve! Aero couldn''t contain his excitement and rushed up to the front desk, addressing the staff, "What''s going on? The testing crystal must be broken, you need to check it right away." The staff member was also taken aback by Charles''s performance. He quickly picked up the testing crystal and examined it closely, then said with a face full of disbelief: "The testing crystal is perfectly fine, there''s not a single issue!" Aero still didn''t believe it. He quickly ced his hand on the crystal, trying to calm himself. It slowly lit up, and the brightness was just like usual, reaching two-fifths! "Wow, it really isn''t broken! I''m not dreaming, the testing crystal isn''t damaged. He really is that strong!" Aero muttered to himself, as if his whole worldview had been shattered. As a senior student, he was a Level 4 Beast Master, with decent mental strength. Combined with his diligent training, he could only get the testing crystal to light up to two-fifths. He never expected to encounter Charles today, a neer who hadn''t undergone training and had only been in school for a few days, yet could make the testing crystal shine to half! That level of talent was simply terrifying! Charles nonchntly nced at the surrounding gazes. He had long since grown ustomed to the way people reacted in shock around him, as if he always brought surprises. "How is it? Did I pass? Can I enter the Trial Tower now?" Charles asked calmly. The staff member, still a bit stunned, nodded and said, "Yes, not only did you pass, but you exceeded expectations by a lot!" "Great, then I''m going in."Charles replied, nodding as he turned to enter the Trial Tower. "Wait a moment, since it''s your first time inside, there are some important points I need to tell you." The staff member finally snapped back to reality, Charles''s earlier performance had been too shocking. Seeing Charles stop and turn back, he hurriedly continued, "When you enter the tower, there''s a stone wall at the beginning where you can clear your mind and take a moment to feel your surroundings before proceeding further." "After finishing each level, you must return to the stone wall at the start to reflect on your battle experience and feel the wall again. This will greatly help you, provided you have enough insight." After listening, Charles nodded. ording to the staff member, that stone wall was the key toprehending the [Battle Techniques]. At that moment, Charles wasn''t thinking too much, he just wanted to fight well and release the emotions he had inside! When a person''s mind is chaotic, it''s impossible to focus on training properly. They will always feel like everything around them is a distraction, and at such times, it''s necessary to let it all out to calm the mind. Taking a deep breath, Charles walked into the Trial Tower under the gaze of the crowd. Outside the towering Trial Tower, which stretched straight into the clouds, countless onlookers watched as Charles''s figure disappeared before they began to discuss among themselves: "So this is the strongest neer of the new generation? He seems impressive!" "Impressive doesn''t even begin to cover it, his talent is simply inhuman. You can''t even call him a genius! He''s more like a monster!" "Do you think he can make it to which level?" "That''s hard to say. After all, the Trial Tower doesn''t take your Beast Master level into ount. Itpletely relies onbat skills and instincts. I''d say he''ll probably max out at the second level." "Isn''t the second level a bit low? I feel like he can reach the third level! Maybe even the fourth!" "I think that''s impossible, he''s just too young. I heard he''s only eighteen. The second level should be enough!" Cami and Zachary listened to the discussions around them. The two exchanged nces, both aware that the difficulty of the Trial Tower was beyond what they could attempt right now. Zachary had other thoughts in his mind, he wanted to know just how big the gap was between him and Charles. After pondering for a moment, Zachary approached the front desk of the Trial Tower and politely said, "Hello, may I try that testing crystal?" "Don''t tell me you''re another monster like that guy from earlier?" The staff member asked, having been shocked by Charles''s performance. Zachary shook his head, forcing a bitter smile as he replied, "I just want to know how big the difference is between us!" "Listen to me, young man, you might not fully understand what it means for the testing crystal to light up halfway. When you realize the gap, you might feel despair." The staff member kindly warned him. Zachary took a deep breath and remained resolute, refusing to change his mind. The staff member looked at him with sympathy and retrieved the testing crystal once more. Like Charles, Zachary ced his hand on it, trying hard to calm his mind. His actions piqued the curiosity of others, who turned their attention toward him. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the testing crystal slowly lit up, eventually stabilizing at about one-fifth of its brightness. "Oh man, you scared me! I thought we had another monster on our hands, but this is more like it!" "Speaking of which, if he''s also a new student, his talent is pretty decent. But I''m not surprised at all." "After seeing that monster''s performance earlier, I''m no longer interested in these ordinary geniuses." "Me too! Right now, I just want to know how far he can get in the Trial Tower!" The onlookers quickly shifted their focus from Zachary to therge screen in front of the Trial Tower, where they could see information about Charles''s progress. Zachary gazed at the brightness of the crystal ball, filled with disappointment, and fell silent. The staff member patted him on the shoulder, offering constion: "Young man, ept your fate. Even among geniuses, there are differences. That person earlier was more than just a genius! He''s practically a monster!" Zachary nodded impassively and turned to return to the line. He also looked up at therge screen, and now he was left with only one thought: he wanted to know just how monstrous Charles really was! Charles had no idea that so many people outside were concerned about him, and even if he did, he wouldn''t care. Walking through a narrow corridor, Charles arrived at a hall where a massive stone wall stood in the center, appearing to be dozens of meters long and high! "Strange, it didn''t look this big from the outside."Charles thought, puzzled. He figured the Trial Tower must have some special features, with more space inside. In front of the stone wall, there were several cushions ced, and about ten people were sitting on them, intently staring at the wall. Seeing this, Charles found a cushion towards the back and sat down. Following the advice of the staff member, he carefully observed the stone wall, wanting to see what was special about it. To his surprise, just a few seconds into watching, it felt as though a hallucination appeared before him, with countless figures engaged inbat! Every move was incredibly profound, as if they were imparting some knowledge to him! "Is this the key toprehending Battle Techniques?" Charles suppressed his thoughts and continued to watch. However, there were so many figures that he felt dazzled and made little progress. Finally, someone stood up from their cushion and walked toward the exit. Charles quickly followed and asked, "Excuse me, I have some questions I don''t quite understand. May I ask you?" The person, noticing that Charles looked unfamiliar, assumed he was a new student and replied enthusiastically, "No problem at all! What seems to be the issue?" Before Charles could respond, the person continued, "You probably can''t see what''s on the stone wall, right? That''s okay, it has to do with your insight. Just calm down ande a few more times." Charles shook his head and replied, "That''s not it. I saw a lot of figures just now, but I didn''t make any progress. What''s the reason for that?" "A lot of figures? You must be joking!" The person frowned, stepping back from Charles, their expression bing distant. "Look, you can''t see it if you can''t see it. It''s not embarrassing. Those with high insight might see two or three figures, but you''re iming you saw a whole bunch? That''s too far-fetched!" Without waiting for Charles to speak again, the person shook their head and walked away. Charles scratched his head. He had indeed seen many figures practicing something, but because there were so many and it was all so chaotic, he hadn''t made any progress at all. "Could it be that my insight is just too high? Or is it for some other reason?" Charles thought, feeling somewhat confused. He decided to first enter the first level of the Trial Tower and give it a try. Perhaps by the time he came out, things would be clearer? Meanwhile, outside the Trial Tower, the older students were continuously asking the recently emerged student questions. Chapter 179: Chapter 179: The Right Method "ssmate, did you just see a new student in front of the stone wall? They just went in, and they should be pretty easy to recognize."Aero asked eagerly. The student who had just been talking to Charles answered somewhat confusedly, "I dide across a new face, but they shouldn''t be a new student. They just enrolled not long ago, how could they possibly enter the Trial Tower?" Upon hearing the response, Aero''s eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "You don''t know! The strongest new student this year, Charles, was able to make the testing crystal glow to half! He''s already inside the Trial Tower!" Ryan was stunned by this answer, and his first reaction was disbelief. He said, "April Fool''s Day has been over for a long time, why are you still joking?" Aero shrugged helplessly, turned to look at the others around him, and said, "I''m not joking. If you don''t believe me, go ask them. They all saw it!" Ryan followed Aero''s gaze and looked around. He saw everyone nodding their heads, confirming that what Aero had said was true! Seeing this scene, Ryan instinctively reached out and pinched his own cheek. After realizing he wasn''t dreaming, he eximed in shock: "Oh my gosh! I just met that new student, and he even asked me a question!" "What question? What did he ask?" Many people gathered around, hurriedly asking. Ryan replied somewhat uncertainly, "He asked me why he saw so many figures on the stone wall." The crowd instantly erupted in discussion, with various voices chiming in: "Is that for real? I looked for a whole week and only saw one figure! I still haven''t learned the rtedbat skills!" "That''s impossible. The strongest record is six figures. If he says there are many, how many could that be?" "Maybe there''s really a possibility. Don''t forget, he was able to make the testing crystal glow to half on his first try. He''s practically a monster. It''s not surprising if something unusual happens with such a monster!" ... Charles entered the first level of the Trial Tower. He now found himself in a thick fog where he couldn''t see his hand in front of his face, feeling lost. Once the fog cleared, he saw that he was in a lush, green forest! "Strange. I was just in the Trial Tower. How did I end up in the woods in the blink of an eye? Could this be an illusion?" Charles''s first reaction was that he had fallen into a hallucination. However, he could clearly perceive everything around himthe sensation of the soil beneath his feet, the sound of the wind in his ears, and the rustling of leaves. Everything felt incredibly real! Charles took a sniff, and the scent in the air was exactly like reality, it was as if he had truly arrived in a forest. Just then, from behind the leaves on his right, a wind attribute attack, a [wind de], sliced through the leaves and came charging at Charles. Instinctively, Charles used [quick travel] and calmly dodged the ambush! Immediately after, two figures emerged from the forest, wrapped in white mist, obscuring their faces. However, each of these figures was apanied by three mystical beasts! A total of six mystical beasts. The two white figures'' Beast Masters surrounded Charles. Charles looked at the scene before him, surprised. Was he really facing double the enemies on the first level of the Trial Tower? Currently, Charles was only a level three Beast Master, and he was about to face two level three Beast Masters in battle, and they were ambushing him! After assessing the situation, Charles suddenly became excited. Such a battle was quite rare for him. It would have been better if the enemies were level four Beast Masters. Not wanting to bother summoning Mia, Max, or Mousie, Charles decided to rely solely on his physical abilities and strength to meet this trial head-on! He was confident in this, after all, he was just a level three Beast Master. It wasn''t that much of a hassle! Just as Charles was about to draw his [ck gold long knife], he realized that the long knife in his hand was just an ordinary one. It seemed that in the Trial Tower, he couldn''t use his own weapons! "What about the miracle drug?" The two Beast Masters wrapped in white mist across from him didn''t move. Charles wasn''t in a hurry, he tried to take out the miracle drug from his storage space but found that there was no response at all. Charles pondered. He felt that this Trial Tower was a scene constructed in a mental world and had certain rules designed to enhance students''bat abilities and teach some uniquebat skills! With that thought, Charles stopped hesitating. He directly wielded the unknown long knife in his hand and charged at the enemies! The two Beast Masters wrapped in white mist coordinated well, onemanded the mystical beasts to block Charles''s attack while the other used skills to target vital areas on Charles! However, in the face of Charles''s speed, their efforts were simply insufficient! Charles casually dodged twice and surged forward, slicing through thest wind attribute attack with the long knife, sessfully reaching one of the white mist-wrapped Beast Masters! With a slight twist of his wrist, he leveled the long knife and smoothly struck out, aiming to decapitate the enemy in front of him! The next ten seconds belonged to Charles as a personal showcase. If anyone were watching, they would surely be amazed by Charles''s dodging and attacking process, because it was incredibly smooth, like a natural bodily reaction. In the face of various situations, Charles was always able to react quickly, resolving crises, even organizing counterattacks from unexpected angles! Twenty secondster, only Charles remained in the entire forest! Once again, countless white mists rose, and Charles stood still for a moment. When the mist cleared, he found that the scene before him was indeed inside the Trial Tower! During the previous battle, Charles seemed to have sensed something different. When faced with the most dangerous attacks, his mind instinctively recalled the movements of the figures on the stone wall, and he involuntarily wanted to execute them! However, since Charles had strong control abilities, he suppressed that thought. Now it seemed that this might be the method for understandingbat skills in the Trial Tower, taught through the figures on the stone wall, and then learned through specific battles! But the key problem was that there were just too many figures for Charles to learn from, all performing various actions, making it impossible for him to focus! Thinking about this, Charles returned to the stone wall at the center of the Trial Tower while pondering a solution. As he was contemting, the crowd outside the Trial Tower became restless: "Oh man, did I just see that right? He just entered the first level, and it''s already over?" "You''re not mistaken, the big screen shows it clearlyonly thirty-three seconds!" "Wow, that should definitely get him in the top ten rankings, right?" "Not quite, but it''s still pretty impressive, especially since he faced two Beast Masters of the same level, one of whom ambushed him!" "Don''t remind me, I didn''t even react in time during my first attempt and got decapitated right away!" Cami and Zachary listened to the chatter around them. Zachary said to Cami, "Against two Beast Masters of the same level, I should be able to take them down in that time!" As he spoke, he tightly clenched his fists, still harboring the thought that he wasn''t much worse than Charles! "I can''t do that, especially not against an ambush. Charles is really impressive."Cami replied, shaking her head. She was speaking the truth. What no one knew was that Charles had not only refrained from summoning mystical beasts but had also dyed a bit of time due to his thoughts. Otherwise, he would have finished even faster! At that moment, Charles was sitting in front of the stone wall, and suddenly, he had a sh of inspiration. Since the staff said to clear his mind as much as possible, it meant that overthinking would affect his understanding of the stone wall! His problem wasn''t ack ofprehension or insight, it was that he was overwhelmed by too much information with too many figures to learn from. With this in mind, Charles looked back at the stone wall, thinking about his alchemy knowledge as he gazed at it. This method turned out to be effective! In his eyes, the figures on the stone wall had diminished somewhat, no longer ovepping to the point of being dazzling. Unfortunately, there were still too many, it still wasn''t few enough! Charles gritted his teeth, recalling the moment he walked down the street with Catherine, her smile constantly resurfacing in his mind, etched in memory! The figures on the stone wall before him rapidly decreased until only thest one remained, the one he had understood the most. Charles slightly controlled the longing in his heart. As time passed, that figure continued to move, its speed increasing until it ultimately vanishedpletely! Charles understood that he had learned enough, it was time to test himself in actualbat. Without any dy, he headed toward the second level of the Trial Tower. Meanwhile, outside the Trial Tower, someone pointed at therge screen, eximing, "Look! Charles has entered the second level!" "How is the time so short? He should at least spend half an hour in front of the stone wall to gain something!" "Maybe he didn''tprehend anything at all and chose to enter the second level instead?" "That''s just jealousy talking. Why don''t you consider that he might haveprehended everything, and only after the figures on the stone wall disappeared did he choose to move on?" "Do you really think that''s possible? Genosha Cyber Academy has been around for years, and no one has ever done that. Charles definitely can''t either!" "I think it''s possible. The rest is just the understanding needed in actualbat. He might grasp thebat skills within a week!" "Impossible! Not a chance!" The person who supported Charles was being rebutted by those around him. Nobody believed his im, the speed was too fast,pletely unrealistic! Feeling somewhat frustrated, he replied, "Just wait, when Charleses out, I''ll ask him myself!" Chapter 180: Chapter 180: "Ezra, just wait!" In the second level of the Trial Tower, Charles frowned at the three Beast Masters wrapped in white mist before him. Not only was there one more opponent, but the scenery had also changed from a forest to a swamp. The mystical beasts summoned by the three Beast Masters were all water-type, giving them a clear advantage in a ce like the swamp. Moreover, due to the swampy terrain, Charles''s quick travel ability was significantly restricted. He had a premonition that this battle would not be as simple as thest one. However, Charles did not intend to summon a mystical beast for assistance. He wanted to test whether he could take down these three Beast Masters using only his physical abilities! He had discovered in the first level of the Trial Tower that only in dangerous situations did the insights he gained from the stone wall transform quickly into his own skills. By not relying on mystical beasts, he could gain a better understanding ofbat skills! With this in mind, Charles stopped hesitating, gripped his long knife tightly, and charged at the three level-three Beast Masters and their nine mystical beasts, initiating an attack that was entirely his own! Three minutester, Charles plunged his long knife into the mud and leaned against its handle, gasping for breath! Behind him, the Beast Masters wrapped in white mist and their mystical beasts began to dissipate, turning into swirling fog that enveloped the surroundings. Charles paid no mind to what was happening around him, he focused on the information in his vision and began to think. [Unknown Combat Skill in Progress, 15%] It seemed his intuition was correct! Indeed, the more dangerous the situation, the faster he couldprehendbat skills. Beforeing to Cyber Academy, he had never heard of such a concept asbat skills. Clearly,bat skills were not mainstream, they were something only a select few Beast Masters could learn. Charles was not satisfied with learning just onebat skill. What he had been contemting was an even bolder idea: there were still many figures on the stone wall in the center of the Trial Tower that he had yet toprehend. He wondered if it would be possible toprehend all those figures, then learn from their strengths and weaknesses, continuously gaining insights until he mastered abat skill that was the most suitable for him and also the strongest! Charles took a deep breath and then exhaled. If he could truly achieve that, the path to bing a genuine powerhouse would be much smoother. However, Charles was also somewhat worried, it would likely require a lot of time and energy. ording to Dean Jamie and Colton, the situation in Genosha wouldn''t remain peaceful for long, a turmoil was certain to arise in the near future. Before that, he needed to elevate his Beast Master level as much as possible, contract higher-quality mystical beasts, and enhance hisbat power! "Forget it, I''ll take it one step at a time. I can''t rush things too much. I can juste back to the Trial Tower whenever I have time."Charles nned. In theing period, his main focus would be on training as a Beast Master and tackling the Trial Tower. Back at the stone wall in the center of the Trial Tower, Charles continued to think about Catherine whileprehending the figures on the wall, just likest time. Soon, this time, he found that hisprehension was even faster than before. Without the time to ponder why, Charles didn''t rest long and continued toward the third level of the Trial Tower! Once again, the white mist dissipated, and this time his opponent was only a level-four Beast Master, who summoned a fire-type mystical beast, and the scene in the third level of the Trial Tower was set on a volcano! The intense fire energy surrounding him continuously boosted the strength of the opposing Beast Master. For others, this might have been a more difficult challenge, but for Charles, it was a relief. He felt he could handle a level-four Beast Master and four mystical beasts. The three level-three Beast Masters and nine mystical beasts from the second level had almost forced him to summon Mia, Mousie, and Max. There was no choice, at that moment, attacks from enemies surrounded Charles from all directions, and he nearly faced defeat. Taking a deep breath, Charles dered he wouldn''t summon any mystical beasts and initiated the battle! Outside the Trial Tower. The crowd of onlookers remained in ce, and furthermore, numerous students were continuously gathering around. Clearly, they had also heard about a new student who had lit up half of the testing crystal and was currently challenging the Trial Tower! Anyone would feel a strong curiosity about this student, such a thing had never happened at Cyber Academy before! In the academy known for only epting geniuses, any student could be considered a true genius in the outside world, but among this group of geniuses, a monster had emerged! Even Ethan, the teacher responsible for the practical training in ss A, had rushed over. He quickly spotted Zachary and Cami standing outside and asked, "Have you two been here since the beginning? Are you sure it was Charles who went in?" Cami nodded and replied, "Teacher Ethan, Charles really went into the Trial Tower, and he only took thirty-three seconds on the first level. He took a bit longer on the second level and is now in the third level of the Trial Tower." Ethan fell into deep thought upon hearing this, he was well aware of Charles''sbat abilities. For someone who could make him want topete with Ezra for a disciple, taking thirty-three seconds on the first level of the Trial Tower seemed unusual. "That shouldn''t be right, if Charles could enter the Trial Tower, with his abilities, he shouldn''t have taken that long on the first level!" Ethan couldn''t help but voice his doubts. Many people recognized him and gathered around, eager to hear his thoughts on Charles. To their surprise, they were all taken aback by what they heard. Someone eximed: "Teacher Ethan, thirty-three seconds is still considered long, I couldn''t do that even if you killed me!" "Exactly! Charles taking thirty-three seconds already makes him a genius among geniuses. Isn''t that enough?" Ethan waved his hand, in his eyes, there were significant differences even among geniuses. Charles''sbat abilities had left asting impression on him! "He''s not like you all, thirty-three seconds must indicate something unusual!" Ethan responded. Aero stood to the side and muttered softly, "What could be the issue? Could it be that he didn''t summon any mystical beasts and solved the two enemies of the same level by himself? Dream on!" Unexpectedly, Ethan heard his voice, and his eyes lit up as he murmured, "That''s right, that must be it! Only that can exin why it took thirty-three seconds." Ethan recalled the scenes from his battles with Charles and all the footage he hadter found of Charles in action, continuously simting them in his mind. He meticulously reconstructed all of Charles''s battles on the first level of the Trial Tower and calcted the time, finding a difference of about three or four seconds. "These three or four seconds should be the adjustment time for entering the Trial Tower for the first time, that makes perfect sense."Ethan confirmed to himself, realizing that Charles hadn''t summoned any mystical beasts! He looked up at the big screen, observing the time Charles took on the second level of the Trial Tower and began to specte again. However, the estimated time turned out to be significantly quicker than the actual time. "It must be due to the environment, perhaps the constraints of the second level''s terrain limited Charles''s speed, leading to this result. I wonder if it was a swamp or underwater, it should be the former."Ethan continued. Everyone nearby was left confused,pletely unaware of what Ethan was talking about. Aero couldn''t help but ask, "Teacher, how much time do you think Charles took on the third level of the Trial Tower?" Ethan thought for a moment and replied, "It should be within three minutes. If he still hasn''t summoned any mystical beasts, it would likely be between two minutes and two and a half minutes, depending on the specific battle scenario!" The next moment, the information on the big screen refreshed! Charles, Trial Tower third level time: two minutes and thirty-six seconds! This time was quite close to what Ethan had predicted, and someone swallowed hard, incredulously eximing, "Could it be true that Charles really didn''t summon any mystical beasts and relied solely on his physical strength andbat experience?" "Oh my gosh, could it really be? If so, Charles is simply invincible! I wouldn''t even dare to dream about such a thing!" "I said it before, Charles is different from us, he can definitelyprehend abat skill in just one week!" Ethan ignored the chatter around him, if not for the fear of disturbing Charles, he would have gone in to ask him directly. "Ezra, oh Ezra, you are so lucky to have found someone like Charles as a disciple. Damn it! Why couldn''t I be the first to discover him?" Ethan thought to himself. This was the first time he had encountered a genius like Charles, if he weren''t afraid of Ezra beating him up, he would have snatched Charles away long ago! With that thought, Ethan looked up at the big screen outside the Trial Tower again, wondering what kind ofbat skill Charles mightprehend. There are manybat skills within the Trial Tower, but only a few are truly powerful. He hoped even more that Charles could create a uniquebat skill through one battle after another, that way, Charles''s potential and future would be immeasurable! However, this was just a bold thought from Ethan, and he knew the likelihood was low. The prerequisite for creating a uniquebat skill is having incredibleprehension! At the very least, one must perceive no less than fifteen silhouettes on the stone wall to have that possibility! Ethan sighed, Charles was already a monster as he was, and he shouldn''t have higher expectations. With his fists tightly clenched, a new goal began to form in Ethan''s mind. Ever since he traveled through Genosha, challenging seventh-level Beast Masters, he hadn''t had such a clear goal. "Ezra, just you wait. Once I be an eighth-level Beast Master, I will snatch Charles away and make him my disciple!" Ethan silently vowed to himself! Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Ezra! You Really Deserve It! The reality of the situation was indeed as Ethan had described, Charles faced the fourth-level Beast Master in the Trial Tower without summoning a mystical beast. This time, the injuries he sustained were slightly less severe than before. When the surrounding white mist cleared, Charles returned to the real Trial Tower. All of his injuries had vanished, reced by a sense of mental fatigue. However, there was still some exciting news, the information prompt in front of him disyed: [Unknown Combat Skill (1) in mastery, progress 35%] [Unknown Combat Skill (2) in mastery, progress 20%] Not only that, but through these several battles, Charles could feel that his practical experience and skills had improved a bit, making him stronger than before! Counting the time, it was already around eight in the evening. Charles didn''t have time to think about anything else and hurried to the stone wall at the center of the Trial Tower, beginning hisprehension of the thirdbat skill! Outside the Trial Tower, many people were staring at the entrance, hoping to catch a glimpse of Charles. After waiting for a long time, there was still no sign of himing out. Someone spoke up, "Is Charles still not out? Is he continuing to challenge the fourth level of the Trial Tower?" "How is that possible? He has already challenged the third level continuously today. His mental state is probably affected, he must still be in front of the stone wall!" "That''s true. He''s still a new student, he wouldn''t choose to continue challenging, right? If he fails, he could be out for a long time. It''s not worth it." As these people were discussing, Charles''s information appeared again on therge screen outside the Trial Tower! Everyone quickly looked up, and many gasped, "What the hell? Is he really challenging again?" "Is he that reckless? If he fails, he''ll waste a lot of time recovering!" "That''s so arrogant. The fourth level has a Beast Master of the same rank and another one of a higher rank teaming up, plus the battlefield environment is advantageous for them!" "Exactly! Defeating a higher-ranked Beast Master at the third level was impressive enough. Just adding one more of the same rank at the fourth level makes it even harder!" Amidst the doubts from the crowd, only Ethan wore a smile. He understood Charles''s strength, and it seemed everyone had forgotten that Charles''s mental power had already lit up half of the testing crystal! Passing the fourth level should be no problem! Beside him, Cami, Zachary, and Aero all noticed the smile on Ethan''s face. Cami curiously asked, "Teacher, do you think Charles can pass the fourth level of the Trial Tower?" Without a moment''s hesitation, Ethan replied, "Of course he can. Charles is no ordinary student. If nothing unexpected happens, his future achievements will definitely surpass mine!" Hearing Ethan''s decisive answer, Cami showed an expression of admiration. An eighth-level Beast Master is a top-tierbat force in any country within the Abyssal Depths, earning the respect of countless people! Meanwhile, Zachary and Aero stood frozen in ce, contemting Charles''s future and the gap between them and Charles, unable to suppress a bitter smile. In the spirit of youth, among geniuses, it''s natural for everyone to be proud andpetitive. But facing a monster like Charles, they could only bury their unwillingness deep in their hearts. Inside the fourth level of the Trial Tower, Charles remained vignt, surveying his surroundings. This time, the battlefield was set on a snowy in, where the soft, thick snow created deep pits with every step, making the environment no different from a swamp, which would affect his speed. However, the good news was that Max had ice attributes, providing some advantages in this environment and slightly offsetting his disadvantages. Without hesitation, Charles directly summoned Max, mousie, and Mia. Max didn''t show any reaction, but as soon as mousie appeared, it shook all over and jumped into Charles''s arms, trembling with fear. Charles didn''t have time tofort it and immediately assumed a fighting stance. In the distance, two Beast Masters emerged in the snow, apanied by seven ice attribute mystical beasts! One was a fourth-level Beast Master, and the other was a third-level Beast Master! In an instant, Charles thought of the most suitable tactic for the current situation: to let Max, mousie, and Mia distract the third-level Beast Master while he faced off against the fourth-level Beast Master and four mystical beasts. This approach was risky but was the most suitable n forprehending thebat skills. The battle unfolded in an instant! In the icyndscape, various attack skills flew through the air, and from time to time, ice attribute skills sent snow flying into the sky, creating a beautiful yet dangerous scene. Max, Mia, and mousie coordinated well, especially Mia, who managed to hold off two of the enemy''s mystical beasts in this environment, buying time for Charles. Meanwhile, Charles wielded his long knife, constantly dodging the attacks of the fourth-level Beast Master in the snow. In this white environment, the darkness cloak was somewhat restricted, which meant that Charles''sbat abilities were being put to a greater test. Fortune and misfortune interdepend, and under these circumstances, thebat skill that Charles hadprehended from the stone wall was rapidly transforming. Ten minutester, Charles''s right hand still firmly gripped the long knife, while his left arm hung limply at his side, having been broken by a sneak attack from one of the enemy''s mystical beasts! A sharp pain radiated from his arm, and this pain felt just as real as it did in reality. Yet, Charles''s face showed no expression at all. After waiting for a moment, the swirling snowkes transformed into a white mist. The familiar scene reappeared, and his broken arm healedpletely. However, Charles''s body suddenly swayed, and he struggled to maintain his bnce. After several umted injuries, even his mental strength was starting to wane. It seemed that he would have to wait a bit longer for the fifth level of the Trial Tower, in his current state, failure would mean a lengthy recovery period. Charles was still clear-headed enough to recognize that it wasn''t worth it to waste time out of impulsiveness. Taking a deep breath, Charles shook his slightly dizzy head and looked at the information prompt before him: [Unknown Combat Skill (1) in progress, 60% mastery] [Unknown Combat Skill (2) in progress, 45% mastery] [Unknown Combat Skill (3) in progress, 25% mastery] All his efforts were worthwhile. He still recalled the [Break the Enemy''s Marksmanship] that Zachary had used, it had piqued Charles''s interest since it could directly enhance a Beast Master''sbat ability. Who wouldn''t want that? Moreover, if all went well, with some additional time and effort in the future, he could at least acquire threebat skills! It was gettingte, Charles had spent quite a while in the Trial Tower, and it was time to leave. When Charles stepped out of the Trial Tower and into the night, he felt a bit disoriented. It was alreadyte at night, yet outside the Trial Tower, there was a massive crowd, with countless eyes fixed on Charles. From time to time, murmurs and shouts erupted: "Man, you''re amazing! Wow, I''ve never seen such a talented person!" "This isn''t talent, he''s a monster! Monster Charles!" "Yeah! Monster Charles!" "I give up, bro, you''re way cooler than I am!" Charles was still somewhat unustomed to being surrounded by people. He hadn''t expected that simply seeking to vent his bad mood in the Trial Tower would attract such a crowd. Were these students not busy with training at night? Charles wondered to himself. At that moment, Ethan approached with a starry-eyed Cami beside him. He asked, "Charles, I have a question for you. How many figures did you see on the stone wall?" Looking into Ethan''s curious and expectant eyes, Charles scratched his head. There were still many onlookers nearby, and he didn''t want to create another stir or shock. "I saw about fifteen figures."Charles thought for a moment but decided to say half of what he really saw. He wanted to keep a low profile. He had been drawing too much attentiontely, and it was starting to affect his life. "What! Did you just say fifteen figures?" Ethan''s eyes widened, and he instinctively eximed. Charles immediately realized he might have said too much and thought, "Uh-oh, I should have said less, now I''ve caused amotion." Sure enough, when the crowd heard Ethan''s shout, they erupted in excitement again. "Fifteen? Is that for real? I''ve struggled toprehend even two figures!" "Two is already impressive. I only have one and don''t know when I''ll finish!" "A monster! He''s not even human. Wait, are we really the same species? How can the gap be so huge?" "He must be lying! How could anyoneprehend fifteen figures?" "If you can''t do it, don''t doubt others. Charles is a monster!" As Charles listened to the murmurs, he felt no guilt at all, he had indeed only seen fifteen figures! Before the situation could escte further, Ethan grabbed Charles and rushed toward the dean''s office. When they arrived at the office, Jamie was brewing tea and looked nervously at the flustered Ethan, asking, "What''s going on? Is someone attacking the academy?" "No, no, it''s not that, Dean. This guy Charlesprehended fifteen figures from the stone wall in the Trial Tower!" Ethan reported hurriedly. Jamie, after hearing this, nonchntly took a sip of tea and said, "Four or five figures, huh? That''s about what I expected." Suddenly, Jamie realized something was off. If it were only that many, Ethan wouldn''t be making such a big fuss! He set his tea cup down and asked again, "How many? What did you just say?" "Fifteen!" Ethan''s answer was straightforward and clear. Jamie plopped down in his chair, looked up at the ceiling, and shouted, "Ezra! You damn thief! You stole my apprentice!" Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Mias Advancement! In response to Jamie''s shout, Charles felt a bit awkward. After all, Ezra was his teacher, and he could only pretend he hadn''t heard anything. On the other hand, Ethan''s eyes lit up as he said to Dean Jamie, "Dean, why don''t we team up and take Charles as our apprentice?" Hearing Ethan''s suggestion, Jamie quickly calmed down and shot back, "Don''t even think about it. Even if you reach Level 8 Beast Master,bined with my skills, we still wouldn''t be a match for Ezra alone!" The atmosphere instantly grew tense. After a while, Jamie looked at Charles with aplicated expression and asked, "So, did youprehend a figure today?" Charles nced around and saw there were no other people. He decided to be honest, saying, "Iprehended not just one, but three! However, I still need some time to fully grasp them." "What!" "Three!" Jamie and Ethan''s eyes widened, staring at Charles in shock, left speechless. Charles had originally intended to reveal the full number of figures he hadprehended from the wall. But seeing their expressions, he quickly abandoned that idea. Jamie took a couple of steps forward, looking at Ethan, and said, "What you suggested earlier isn''t impossible. Work hard, and when you reach Level 8 Beast Master, we''ll give it a try!" "Don''t worry, Dean. I won''t keep you waiting too long!" Ethan straightened up, his eyes filled with determination as he replied earnestly. "Charles, do you know why Ethan brought you here?" Jamie asked, as the shock on his face slowly faded. Charles shook his head, he wasn''t sure why Ethan wanted him to see Jamie. Jamie exined, "There''s a saying that when a person canprehend fifteen figures, they can create the most suitablebat techniques for themselves!" "Such techniques are considered top-tier. Within the Abyssal Depths, only a few can im to have created their ownbat techniques!" "Charles, you have that potential!" After hearing this, Charles felt it aligned with his previous thoughts, but he wondered how to go about it. "Dean, I''d really like to have thebat techniques that suit me best. What''s the specific method?" Charles asked. Jamie thought for a moment and replied, "There''s just one approach: try toprehend as manybat techniques as possible, and during actualbat, control their understanding to a simr level." "Then, engage in a life-and-death battle for the finalprehension!" Charles tried to imagine this but found it somewhat challenging. Still, at least he had a direction now. It was already quitete. Just as Charles was about to leave, Jamie suddenly said, "Charles, if you have the time, try to create your ownbat techniques. Only those who can create their own techniques have hope of passing the final level of the Trial Tower!" "The final level of the Trial Tower?" Charles was somewhat puzzled. Jamie nodded and said, "Yes, after passing the final level, there will be a hidden reward. You''ll find out what it is once you get through." Charles nodded. He was curious about the hidden reward, and judging by the Dean''s expression, it must be significant! After Charles left, Dean Jamie walked to the window and watched Charles walk back to his dorm, wondering what he was thinking. Once back in his dorm, Charles didn''t have time for anything else. After taking a shower, hey down on his bed and fell into a deep sleep. Early the next morning. Charles quickly freshened up and went to the window, looking outside. Countless shes of light illuminated the area, and the crowd outside was still dense. It seemed the events of yesterday had stirred up quite a buzz. Feeling somewhat helpless, Charles put on his hat and mask and walked out from the back of the dormitory building. To his surprise, there were still people waiting behind him. Fortunately, he had put on his hat and mask in advance, so he wasn''t recognized. Now that Catherine had left Cyber Academy, no one could identify Charles through her. Thinking of this, Charles let out a quiet sigh and headed to the cafeteria to grab some breakfast. The morning and afternoon sses wrapped up as usual, but for some reason, Charles felt a greater distance between him and the students in ss A. After dinner, Charles walked into the bamboo cabin where Colton was. As soon as he entered, before he could say anything. Colton handed him a bottle of miracle drug. [Powerful Mental Recovery Miracle Drug] [Grade]: Purple Quality [Description]: Consuming this miracle drug can restore damaged mental strength in a short time with no side effects. Charles held the miracle drug in his hand, just about to say something. But Colton spoke first, "Hurry up and drink this. You must be exhausted from yesterday. It''ll help you regain your energy, and you''ll be able to learn betterter." "Thank you, Teacher. I will."Charles replied without hesitation, downing the [Powerful Mental Recovery Miracle Drug] in one go. Before long, a refreshing sensation filled his mind, like a gentle breeze on a scorching summer day, invigorating himpletely. It was clear that his mental strength, damaged during the Trial Tower, had recovered, and he felt even better than before! Today''s alchemy ss ended unusually early, likely due to the effects of the [Powerful Mental Recovery Miracle Drug], as Charles was learning at a faster pace. Before night fell, the president of the Alchemist Guild, Owen, sent a message saying that all the materials had arrived. Thinking that Charles might not be in great shape today, he had sent someone to deliver them and asked Charles to sign for the package, stating that the payment could be madeter. Charles felt a bit curious, it seemed like everyone knew about what happened with him in the Trial Tower yesterday! Since there was still time in the evening, Charles nned to sign for Mia''s advancement materials and then upgrade her in Colton''s bamboo grove, where it was quiet and no one would disturb him. After briefly seeking Colton''s consent, Charles quickly brought the advancement materials over. Then the hexagram array lit up, and Mia fluttered her wings, flying around in the bamboo grove before finallynding on Charles''s shoulder, tilting her head to look at him. Charles understood the longing look in Mia''s eyes, she wanted to drink again. Unfortunately, there was no alcohol left in his [Storage Space]. With no other choice, Charles could only make a promise, saying, "Once you sessfully advance, I''ll go get you some delicious wine, even better than [Peach Blossom Brew]! How does that sound?" Mia threw her head back and howled in delight, eagerly agreeing. The advancement began! The once peaceful bamboo grove was suddenly swept by a strong wind, with the bamboo leaves rustling against each other. Wind attribute energy surged from Mia''s beast core, and the Gale Grass around her turned to dust, merging with the blood of a fifth-tier wind attribute mystical beast to form arge, reddish-blue cocoon,pletely enveloping Mia. Then, the sound of powerful heartbeats echoed through the air! [Your mystical beast Mia is in the process of advancing. Please choose an evolution path!] [A. Ordinary Evolution]: Level up to 20, learn a new skill, sess rate 90%, evolution failure maintains emerald quality. [B. Random Evolution]: Level up to 20, enhance a random skill, sess rate 55%, evolution failure maintains emerald quality. [C. Designated Evolution]: Level up to 20, evolve into the Howling Sky Demon Falcon, sess rate 100%. Requirements: Fifth-tier wind attribute beast core 2, Moonlight Howling Grass 1, Wind Demon Flower 1. [D. Bloodline Evolution]: Level up to 20, enhance the ancient bloodline within, transforming [Quick Travel] into a bloodline-exclusive skill, sess rate 90%, evolution failure maintains emerald quality. Charles examined the options carefully. The one with the highest sess rate was [C. Designated Evolution], but he didn''t have the required materials, so he couldn''t choose it. The remaining options with powerful potential and high sess rates led him to thest evolution path, [D. Bloodline Evolution]. Without hesitation, Charles chose [D. Bloodline Evolution], curious about what bloodline-exclusive skill Mia would awaken after her evolution! Looking around, it seemed like it would take some time, so he wasn''t in a rush. He summoned Max and Mousie to quietly wait beside Mia. He definitely didn''t want any unexpected events to ur that could lead to Mia''s evolution failure. It wasn''t until the moon rose that Mia began to show new signs of movement. Her heartbeat sounded like thunder, growing louder and more frantic. Finally, therge cocoon enveloping her vanished, revealing a slightlyrger Mia. Her feathers had also changed. The outeryer was a vibrant green, while the inneryer transformed into a silvery white, resembling the clearest and brightest moonlight! Mia''s information now read: [Moon Riding Wind Falcon] [Name]: Mia [Attribute]: Wind [Level]: Lv20 [Quality]: Emerald [Skills]: [Moon Riding Wind] , [Sharp w Strike] [Weakness]: Abdomen / Lightning Attribute [Hobby]: Alcohol [Emotion]: Happy [Health]: Good [Loyalty]: 71 ... Originally, [Quick Travel]: Increases speed and evasion, allowing the user to move or dash toward a target at an incredible speed, as elusive as the wind, quickly changing positions in battle to evade enemy attacks. Now, [Moon Riding Wind] not only retains the effects of [Quick Travel], but it also adds another benefit: under the influence of moonlight and natural wind, speed and evasion receive an enhanced boost. The stronger the moonlight, the greater the wind, the higher the enhancement! Seeing this effect, Charles''s eyes lit up with excitement, although Mia hadn''t learned any other skills, this [Moon Riding Wind] was just too powerful! Just in time, the moon had risen. With the moonlight present, Charles couldn''t help but give it a try and used [Moon Riding Wind]. In an instant, two Charles appeared in the bamboo forest from Mousie''s perspective! This was because his speed was so fast that Mousie''s eyes couldn''t react in time, resulting in the appearance of two Charles! Now, with this, Charles was confident that against a typical Level 4 Beast Master, under the effects of [Moon Riding Wind], the opponent wouldn''t even be able to touch him! Chapter 183: Chapter 183: Bounty Mission It wasn''t particrlyte yet. After recalling Mia, Mousie, and Max, Charles returned to his dormitory alone. He still had time to refine some more [Revival Pills] before going to bed, making it convenient to sell them at the Treasure Pavilion tomorrow. He also needed to check on the items he promised Mia to see if there was any better wine than [Osmanthus Wine]. It wasn''t until midnight that Charles stored the 10 sessfully refined [Revival Pills] back into his [Storage Space]. He didn''t even want to take a shower, he simplyy down on the bed. The next day around noon, Charles made his way from Cyber Academy to the Treasure Pavilion. It was still the same attendant fromst time. However, when he saw Charles, he waited for a moment, and after not seeing anyone else, he led Charles to the counter. When the alchemist from the Treasure Pavilion came out, Charles took out 10 [Revival Pills] from his [Jet Ring]. After deducting the costs of the alchemy materials, he ended up earning a total of 10 gold coins. His current assets were: [Gold Coins: 97, Silver Coins: 610, Copper Coins: 800], with an additional 15 gold coins still owed from the alchemist guild. This was mainly due to the expensive blood of the fifth-tier wind attribute mystical beast, which cost a full 10 gold coins! After those deductions, Charles had: [Gold Coins: 82, Silver Coins: 610, Copper Coins: 800]. "I''m still a bit broke, I wonder if this gold is enough for the auction."Charles remarked. The alchemist from the Treasure Pavilion and the attendant exchanged nces, their mouths twitching. In their eyes, Charles was openly showing off, earning 10 gold coins in a single sale. That was something others wouldn''t even dare to dream of, and he still said he was too poor? "By the way, do you have any fine wine? Anything better than [Osmanthus Wine] would be good."Charles asked. "Better than [Osmanthus Wine]? We have some, please follow me."the attendant said as he led Charles to a shelf of wines. He pointed at a pottery jar and said, "This is the superior [Monkey Wine], brewed from various fruits gathered by the spirit monkeys in the mountains. It''s way better than [Osmanthus Wine]!" "How much is this [Monkey Wine] per jar?" Charles asked, looking at the pottery jar, which wasn''t very big, probably only about a liter. "Right now, there''s a special promotion, a jar only costs 1 gold coin!" the attendant replied. Charles thought that Mia would probably like this type of wine, and without any hesitation, he bought a jar and ced it into his [Jet Ring]. As he exited the doors of the Treasure Pavilion, he was just about to head to the alchemist guild to buy more materials for refining [Revival Pills] when Xavier''s call came in: "Charles, I have news about orange-quality rare metal materials. Do you want to know?" "Of course I do, Mr. Xavier! What''s the news?" Charles''s eyes brightened. If he could get another piece of orange-quality rare metal, he could have Xavier help him enhance the [ck Gold Long Knife] to orange quality! "This, you might not be able to buy with money. The information I received is that the Beast Master Guild has a bounty mission regarding this material."Xavier replied. "A bounty mission from the Beast Master Guild?" Charles asked, a bit curious. Since arriving in Genosha Calivia, he had been busy with other matters and hadn''t visited the Beast Master Guild. "Yes, it seems there are certain requirements for this task, it must be epted by a Level 4 Beast Master. Do you need me to help you contact one?" Xavier asked. Charles thought for a moment, he didn''t have any other Level 4 Beast Masters he was familiar with in Calivia, except for Celestine. He wondered if she was avable. Thinking of this, Charles didn''t refuse Xavier''s help and said, "I have a friend, I''m not sure if she''s free. Let me ask her first." Xavier replied, "No problem. Just call me back when you need me. Try to be quick, there are limited spots for this mission." After hanging up the phone, Charles didn''t pause for a moment and directly dialed Celestine''s number. "Charles? What''s up?" Celestine''s surprised voice came from the other end of the line. Charles asked, "Do you have time this noon?" Celestine paused for a moment and then responded with even more joy, "Yes, yes, yes! I always have time!" "Great! I just happen to need a Level 4 Beast Master to take on the Beast Master Guild''s bounty mission. Can you apany me?" Charles asked. Celestine hesitated again, feeling a bit disappointed. "No problem, I''ll head over right now. Just wait for me at the entrance of the Beast Master Guild, I''ll be there soon." Charles nodded. As he walked toward the Beast Master Guild, he was lost in thought. The departure of Catherine had left him feeling somewhat down these past few days. Since meeting Catherine, they had hardly ever been apart and had grown ustomed to each other''s presence. Charles had also called Catherine several times, but after she got home, she left a message saying it was unlikely she would have the chance to reply within the year, and he had not heard from her since! This made Charles feel a bit worried. He currently had no way to leave Genosha Calivia and was very busy every day, so it seemed he would just have to wait a little longer. Soon, Charles spotted Celestine standing at the entrance of the Beast Master Guild. She was wearing a blue short skirt today, paired with a simple yet beautiful whitece short-sleeve top. On the bottom, she had ck leather shoes and knee-high socks withce trim, which entuated her long, straight legs and made them even more stunning. "Charles! Over here!" Celestine called out when she saw him, lightly bouncing on her feet and waving her hands. Her beautiful and alluring appearance caught the attention of passersby, who stopped to watch. As Charles approached Celestine, several people admired, "What a perfect couple! They really match well!" "Yeah, the handsome guy with the beautiful girl, it''s really a sight for sore eyes!" Celestine wore a big, bright smile on her face. She loved hearingpliments like that, and if Charles had given her a heads-up, she could have done her makeup even better! "Let''s go inside."Charles said as he led Celestine into the Beast Master Guild. After asking around, he finally found the bounty mission that Xavier mentioned. [Urgent Bounty Mission] [Task Reward]: One piece of orange-quality metal material, meteorite iron. [Task Content]: Six children have recently gone missing in the Crossroads area of North Calivia, with no leads. The whereabouts of the missing children need to be found. At least one Level 4 Beast Master must participate to ept this mission. [Task Penalty]: None [Remaining Spots]: 1/4 "Hehe, we arrived just in time, there''s one spot left in the team."Celestine said, just as she was about to take on the task when a voice suddenly came from behind, "Hold on, we''re taking this task!" Three Beast Masters walked over, and the one in front continued shouting, "All three of us are Level 4 Beast Masters. We''re more suited for this task than you two, so be smart and give up the mission!" "Why should we give it to you? Firste, first served, understand? We got here first!" Celestine retorted loudly, showing no signs of backing down. The man sneered and casually nced at them, saying, "You two? How do you think you can handle this bounty mission? Let us three take it, we''re definitely stronger than you!" Charles frowned, turned around, and calmly looked at the three of them, asking, "Are you really that strong?" "Kid, what do you mean by that? Who are you looking down on? You look like just a Level 3 Beast Master, so what are you trying to act tough for?" the first speaker said angrily, ring at Charles. Behind him, a seemingly short teenager nced at Charles''s face, and his expression quickly turned tense. He immediately reached out and pulled the front man, saying, "Y-yeah, sorry for bothering you. You came first, so this task is yours!" "Wait, little bro, what do you mean? The reward for this task is so generous, how can we just give it up?" The Beast Master who had been blocked looked confused as he turned to see the expression on his brother''s face. "Bro, trust me, I''ll exinter!" The short teenager urged as he pulled the others away. Once the three of them were far enough from Charles and Celestine, the anxious teenager whispered, "We can''t mess with this guy!" "Who is he? What''s so scary about him?" the other two protested. "Hush, keep it down! He''s Charles! We can''t afford to mess with him!" the short boy exined. "It doesn''t matter who he is, he looks like just a Level 3 Beast Master!" the man who had been in front scoffed. "Shh, let me tell you something. Do you know Jason and Zoe? After they crossed Charles, they just vanished into thin air! Jason is a Level 5 Beast Master!" the short boy finally revealed the reason. The other two gulped and exchanged nces. Though they felt a bit scared, they were mostly skeptical. "Stop thinking about it, my dude. You know about the Cyber Academy''s Trial Tower, right? Charles charged straight to the fourth floor yesterday!" an even bigger piece of news was shared. The remaining two had no thoughts left at all. Being locals of Genosha Calivia, they naturally understood what it meant for Charles to have cleared the fourth floor of the Trial Tower! Just as Charles and Celestine finished epting the mission and were about to head out, they passed by the three. Without a second thought, the three stepped aside to clear the way, their faces adorned with smiles that were both eager and submissive. Celestine nced at them a few more times, and once they were outside, she curiously asked, "Charles, those three were so arrogant just now, why did they get scared when they saw you?" Chapter 184: Chapter 184: It’s Not That Simple When Charles heard Celestine''s question, he spread his hands and shrugged, indicating that he didn''t know either. "Probably scared because they know about you," Celestine said, blinking her big eyes and staring at Charles. She was quite concerned about Charles and had been quietly keeping an eye on him. She knew about Catherine''s departure, and she could sense that Charles was feeling a bit sad and down. Aside from some mental turmoil, Celestine mostly felt jealousy and relief! She was jealous of how important Catherine was to Charles. What would happen to Charles if she ever left him? On the other hand, she was relieved that Catherine was gone. Now, Charles only had her as the opposite sex by his side, which greatly increased her chances! The two of them didn''t say anything further and hurried toward Cross Street. By the time they arrived at the specific location of the bounty task, it was already noon. At 9527 Cross Street, the small courtyard was already surrounded by quite a few people, among them nine individuals who were part of the earlier team that epted this task. "Finally here; now we have everyone!" said a Beast Master with a terrifying scar on his face as he looked at Charles and Celestine''s arrival. "Hello, we''re both Beast Masters who took the task as well. Is there any information you can share?" Celestine asked while holding Charles''s hand. Students from the three major academies were required toplete a certain number of tasks at the Beast Master Guild each semester, as part of the coboration between the guild and the academies. This wasn''t Celestine''s first time taking on a task from the Beast Master Guild, and she knew more details about it than Charles did. "What a joke, just two people, and they don''t look that strong," someone muttered quietly. "Isn''t that better? The weaker they are, the better for us. Now, no one canpete with us!" "That''s true, but I think I''ve heard of that male Beast Master. His name is Charles, right? He''s a student from Cyber Academy!" "Just a student. There''s nothing to worry about. Those academy students are all rookies; they haven''t experienced anything!" Charles listened expressionlessly to the murmurs around him. This was normal; he and Celestine were inpetition with the other Beast Masters. Whoeverpleted the task first would be able to im the reward, while the others might just end up working for nothing! The first to speak was the scar-faced Beast Master, who said, "I''m Jason Long. The situation is like this: there are basically no usable clues." "The ce where the children went missing is on this street, but the exact location is unclear, and there are no usable cameras nearby." Charles wasn''t surprised. Cross Street was one of the more chaotic areas in Calivia. It was inhabited by outsiders, all sorts of people, and even if surveince equipment were installed, it would likely be destroyed at the first opportunity. Finding any relevant footage was essentially impossible. Just then, a couple walked out of the house. The man wore thick sses and appeared schrly, while the woman was in an apron, her eyes red and swollen, her face filled with sorrow. "Everyone, I''ve said what I needed to say. The hope of finding my daughter is in your hands!" The bespectacled man slowly bent his waist and bowed to the Beast Masters in the courtyard. His wife, seeing this scene, immediately choked up again, crying as she said, "We only have this one child. She''s usually very well-behaved. It''s all my fault; I sent her to buy some spices yesterday, and then she disappeared!" "Don''t worry, we''ll do our best. By the way, I see from the task that five other children are also missing. Where are their parents?" Jason Long, the scar-faced Beast Master, asked. "They''re inside. Some of the children went missing a week ago. We reported it to the constable, but there hasn''t been any news. They''re all poor people and can''t afford to post a bounty." The husband, whose emotions were somewhat stable, replied. He took out several printed documents from his pocket and handed them to everyone, saying, "These are all the relevant details. I put this together just yesterday. See if you can find anything." Charles took one of the documents. He didn''t open it immediately but instead focused his gaze on the bespectacled husband. Clearly, this man was the type who preferred to stay low-key. He could afford to pay for a piece of orange-quality rare metal as a reward. If it weren''t for that, no one would know about these missing children. Thinking this, Charles began to look through the documents in his hand. After carefully reviewing them, he casually handed them to Celestine. He fell into deep thought: from the information provided, the missing children didn''t have any obvious distinguishing features. There were both boys and girls, and their birthdays and zodiac signs varied. However, they were all under ten years old, and the ces where they went missing were all within the area of Cross Street. Charles quickly made a judgment that this was likely an organized crime activity. With so many children missing and no clues at all, it was clear that the perpetrators hade prepared. If they hadn''t made a mistake and kidnapped the child of this low-key couple, no one would know what was happening here! The Beast Masters in the courtyard began to take action, with some summoning mystical beasts to use their sense of smell to find clues. Others started canvassing door to door to see if there were any eyewitnesses. Only Charles, Celestine, and the scar-faced Jason Long remained, exchanging nces that showed their surprise at why they weren''t out searching for clues. Jason Long spoke up, looking at Charles, and asked, "Hey, friend, are you thinking of something?" Charles shook his head, found a chair, and sat down. While pulling out his phone, he replied, "No, I don''t think those who went out will find any clues either." "Oh? Why do you say that?" Jason Long asked with curiosity, while Celestine and the couple also turned their attention to Charles. Charles continued searching for information on his phone, not looking up as he answered, "This matter isn''t that simple. The children went missing too cleanly; typical clues are definitely not going to be found." Upon hearing Charles''s words, Jason Long was taken aback; clearly, he had thought the same thing. Sending the team out was just an attempt to try again. Based on his experience, he judged that there must be some other secret behind the children''s disappearance! He didn''t expect that Charles would be so perceptive, and his judgment was even more decisive than his own. Jason Long watched Charles busying himself on his phone, feeling a bit curious as he stepped forward a couple of paces to discreetly nce at the content on Charles''s screen. Charles looked up at him, showing no hesitation, and said, "Actually, I''m having a bit of troublepiling this information by myself. If you have some free time, you could help me out." Jason Long instinctively nodded in agreement, but then realized, as an experienced Level 5 Beast Master, why he was taking orders from a young guy? Not wanting to dwell on it too much, he focused on the most important task: finding useful clues. He asked directly, "What do you need me to do?" Charles replied, "Check various public tforms to see if there are any other missing children cases. I''m looking for those without eyewitnesses, no surveince, and no clues at all!" At first, Jason Long didn''t grasp the full implication of this. After thinking it over for a bit, he understood what Charles meant, and he spoke up in shock, "Are you saying there are more than just these six missing kids?" "Yeah, also look at other areas, but it''s best if they are in ces with more chaos and poverty. This is just my guess; let''s start by taking a look," Charles exined. The couple nearby listened to the conversation between Charles and Jason Long, and their eyes instantly lit up. Compared to other Beast Masters, Charles, who seemed likely to uncover something as soon as he arrived, clearly gave them more hope! "Sir, is there anything I can help with?" The husband, having lost his daughter, didn''t intend to sit tight and wait for death; he wanted to contribute in some way. Charles paused his search, thought for a moment, and said, "If possible, could you find a detailed map of Calivia? A printout from online would be fine." "Sure, no problem!" Seeming to see Charles''s determination, the bespectacled husband immediately agreed, and his wife followed him out. Now, in the courtyard, only Celestine was left with nothing to do, unsure of what to upy herself with. Watching Charles and Jason Long busy at work, Celestine thought for a moment and then turned to head to a coffee shop on the street. She bought two cups of coffee, onerge and one small, therge one naturally for Charles. The small one was for Jason Long; since he was helping Charles, a little coffee wouldn''t hurt. When Celestine returned, several of the Beast Masters who had gone out had alreadye back, all looking dejected. It seemed they hadn''t found a single useful clue! "Jason Long, no discoveries at all? This is strange; there couldn''t possibly be no clues left behind!" one of Jason Long''s teammates spoke up directly. Jason Long''s expression grew heavier as he looked at the information on his phone, remaining silent. "Jason Long? What''s wrong?" the teammate continued to ask. Jason Long nced up at Charles, his expressionplex, and slowly replied, "It''s nothing; this matter may be more troublesome than we imagined." "Jason Long, did you find anything?" The teammate''s first reaction to Jason Long''s words was that he had uncovered some clue. Before Jason Long could speak, Charles interjected, "There''s nothing significant yet." As he spoke, he looked at Jason Long, who seemed to have thought of something and quickly nodded, saying, "Not yet; I just have a gut feeling that this situation is not simple." "If it were simple, we wouldn''t need to be here. Look at thest two Beast Masters who came back; they didn''t do anything and just went off to drink coffee!" Someone, feeling frustrated, spoke up toin. Jason Long and Charles exchanged nces, both ignoring what the others were saying. "Mr. Charles, right? I have a few questions I''d like to ask you. Could I have a moment of your time?" Jason Long asked cautiously. Charles nodded, and the two moved to a corner of the courtyard. Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Zachary and Camilla Offer Help "Damn, did you hear what Jason Long just said? He called that kid ''sir''!" Jason Long''s teammate eximed, shocked as he discussed it with his partner. "I heard it. Jason Long even said he wanted to consult that kid. What happened while we were out?" "Exactly, Jason Long really respects that kid!" Jason Long''s attitude left people feeling puzzled. In the squad, Jason Long had always been the one who could take charge and lead the team. Several times during life-and-death crises, it was Jason Long''s decisive orders that turned danger into safety. For these team members, it was their first time seeing Jason Long like this, which clearly indicated that something they didn''t know had happened. In the corner, Jason Long looked at the informationpiled on his phone and, with a heavy heart, asked, "Why did you stop me from sharing this? More people can help us find other clues." Charles shook his head and replied coolly, "It''s not the right time yet." "Not the right time? Do you know how serious this is? In addition to Cross Street, there are other ces where children have gone missing, and the number has reached over twenty! And that''s without aplete count!" Jason Long tightened his grip on his phone. He had initially thought this was just an ordinary bounty task, but thanks to Charles''s reminder, he discovered the underlying issues! "I know; that number is about what I estimated. The number of missing children around Cross Street is also around twenty," Charles said, understanding Jason Long. He was also shocked after calcting this figure! The missing persons cases hadn''t just started a week ago; the earliest could be traced back three months! At first, no one paid attention, as it was quite normal for a few children to go missing in these chaotic areas. However, in the past week, the frequency of disappearances had drastically increased. Plus, the recent case of a missing little girl had a family that could afford the bounty, which led to the arrival of Charles and these Beast Masters. "No, this isn''t something we can interfere with; we should report it to the sheriff. Clearly, some forces are involved!" Jason Long sighed. He wasn''t naive; ordinary criminal gangs didn''t have this kind of power. Charles looked at him as if he were foolish and asked, "Report it to the sheriff? Has reporting every missing case helped?" "I''m talking about reporting your findings to the sheriff, telling them there''s arger conspiracy behind this!" Jason Long exined himself. Unexpectedly, Charles still disagreed. He voiced his concerns: "What if the sheriff is involved in this conspiracy?" Once those words were spoken, Jason Long was taken aback. He said uncertainly, "No way, this is Genosha Calivia!" "Yeah, this is Genosha Calivia. Do you really think that so many children could go missing quietly without anyone noticing?" Charles said softly. Jason Long was at a loss for words. Although he was reluctant to admit it, Charles had a point. He thought for a moment and asked, somewhat confused, "You don''t look very old, yet you think things through more thoroughly and cautiously than middle-aged people. So what should we do next?" Charles ignored the first half of Jason Long''s statement. After thinking it over, he asked seriously, "Do you want to continue investigating this?" Jason Long was taken aback again. He understood what Charles meant; behind therge-scale child disappearance, there was certainly a powerful force involved. If they were detected, there could be life-threatening consequences! After a while, Jason Long reached up to touch the scar on his face and said, "This scar was left when I was saving someone. I''m not one to back down easily." Charles looked at Jason Long for a moment longer and gave him a contact number. He didn''t say anything else and turned to leave. When the two of them returned to the crowd, all eyes were on Charles, filled with curiosity. "It''s already noon, and ss is about to start. Let''s head back," Charles said to Celestine under everyone''s gaze. Celestine nodded. She had sses in the afternoon as well, so it seemed she would have to wait until after ss to discuss things further. Just as they were about to leave, they encountered the couple rushing back. After Charles briefly exined, he took the map from them and left without looking back. "What''s going on? Those two just walked off?" "It seems like they still have ss. Students are so unreliable. I think they just want to wait for us to find the clues before they make their move!" "That sounds about right. While we were out looking for clues, they were just here resting and doing nothing!" "Exactly! If they took on a bounty task, they should put in some effort. These young people are sozy these days." Hearing the murmurs, Jason Long shouted, "Enough! Instead of gossiping, why not think about how to find clues?" He watched Charles''s departing figure, tightening his grip on his phone with increased intensity. Clues about the missing children have emerged, but for the sake of future progress, no one can speak about it yet; they can only wait for Charles''s next move. Jason Long took a deep breath and walked up to the couple standing at the door, looking lost. Heforted them, saying, "Don''t worry, things will be resolved soon." The couple exchanged nces, then turned to stare in the direction Charles had left, their eyes filled with anticipation and hope! In the afternoon, at Cyber Academy in ssroom A, the teacher was conducting the lesson. Charles sat alone in the back row of the ssroom, analyzing the case. The map that had been brought back was not very useful. The reason he had asked that couple to do this was simply to help them feel a little better. The helplessness of facing a loved one''s disappearance is the greatest pain. Charles deeply understood this; his own parents were still missing, and he could rte to that feeling. In front of him was aptop disying a 3D map of Calivia. Charles sent Jason Long a message, asking him topile the information on the missing children, including specific locations. If exact locations weren''t avable, a general area would suffice. Jason Long was quick to respond, sending over one piece of information after another. Charles input the addresses into hisputer while analyzing the data. It wasn''t until the afternoon ss ended that he finally wrapped up this work. The teacher stood at the podium, clearly aware of every student''s actions. He knew that Charles hadn''t listened to a single part of the lesson today, but for an outstanding student like Charles, asional absences from ss were understandable. Besides, just being present in the ssroom was enough to show respect to the teacher! As Charles walked out of Cyber Academy, he didn''t pause for a moment. He headed to a nearby caf, found a booth, and waited quietly. Before long, Zachary and Cami arrived one after the other at the caf. As soon as they sat down, Zachary looked at Charles and asked, "You sent us a message and called us here to meet. Is there something urgent?" Charles nodded. He sought out Zachary and Cami because, among the people he knew, these two had sufficient backgrounds and could ensure they wouldn''t be involved in the missing children cases. "I need you both to help me investigate some information," Charles replied. "Investigate information? What kind of information?" Cami blinked, her curiosity piqued. Charles continued, "Information about some missing cases, and it must not be known to anyone else." "Missing cases? And it can''t be known to others?" Zachary frowned. He had no idea what Charles was getting at. Before he could ask more questions, Cami readily agreed, "No problem! Charles, do you have anything else you need?" Zachary turned to look at Cami. He took a deep breath and voiced his confusion, "Charles, what exactly are you trying to do? If you don''t rify, I won''t help." Seeing the determination on Zachary''s face, Charles decided to stop holding back and exined what had happened today. "What! You''re saying you uncovered a huge conspiracy from a simple missing case? And it might involve other forces?" Zachary''s mouth dropped open, his first reaction was disbelief! "These must be coincidences. Even in Calivia, kids going missing isn''t that unusual. It shouldn''t be as serious as you think," Cami said cautiously. Charles sighed and showed them the information on hisptop, saying, "I wish these were coincidences. You can see for yourselves." Zachary and Cami took theptop, and the data was clear! "The number of missing cases three months ago wasn''t high; it fell within a normal range. However, after that, the numbers became rmingly exaggerated," Charles exined briefly. His data wasn''t entirely precise, but it was sufficient for making judgments. "Is this true?" Zachary eventually looked up, staring at Charles. Charles nodded and continued, "Whenever a missing case urs, the victims'' families report it to the sheriff. The online information isn''tprehensive, so the rest depends on you two." "I still need some missing addresses to urately analyze the key clues." Zachary and Cami exchanged nces, both nodding as they said, "No problem, we''ll head back to investigate right away!" After the two of them left, Charles looked at the 3D map on hisptop. In fact, he had already deduced some important information. However, to convince others, this evidence wasn''t enough! Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Only Two Shadows Charles didn''t stay in the caf for too long. He had nothing more to do now but wait for news from Zachary and Cami. If all went well, this bounty task would bepleted soon. Two pieces of rare orange-quality metal materials would definitely elevate the quality of the "ck gold long knife" to orange quality, and at that point, Charles''s strength would see a significant boost! Lost in thought, Charles returned to his dormitory. He didn''t want to involve Celestine any further in the missing children cases. In the face of unknown dangers, his best option was to seek help, perhaps from Dean Jamie. However, there was a prerequisite: Charles needed to present some evidence. Otherwise, without proof, no one would believe him. Even if he asked Jamie for help, the speed would be about the same as now. Once Zachary and Cami sent over the information, Charles would be able to analyze the addresses of each missing person''s case and pinpoint the likely location of the forces behind it on the map! Since it was an organized and premeditated event, certain characteristics unique to "humans" would inevitably emerge. As long as it wasn''tpletely random, there would be patterns to discover and clues to follow! Charles rubbed his temples, he had done a lot of thinking today, and his brain was starting to feel tired. Since he didn''t have to go to Colton''s ce to study alchemy tonight and there was still plenty of time before bed, Charles wanted to unwind. He stood up and walked out of the dormitory, finding himself in front of the Trial Tower. As soon as he appeared, he was surrounded by onlookers. The students stared at Charles while pulling out their phones to make calls: "Hurry, hurry! Don''t meet your girlfriendCharles is here!" "Charles is here? Where?" "At the Trial Tower! It looks like he''s going to challenge it!" "No way, I can''t miss this! I''m on my way!" "Are you not on a date?" "What''s more important, a girlfriend or Charles? That''s a no-brainer! You can find another girlfriend, but missing Charles''s challenge at the Trial Tower would be a real regret!" The person on the phone was standing a bit too close to Charles, and he could hear their entire conversation. Not wanting to linger any longer, Charles quickly tried to enter the Trial Tower, only to be stopped by a staff member who said: "Student Charles, ording to the rules of the Trial Tower, you must undergo a test before entering. This is to prevent students with mental fatigue from forcefully attempting the challenge." "I hope you understand, Student Charles." Charles nodded and, just likest time, ced his palm on the testing crystal. This action drew another round of gasps: "Here hees, the legendary person who can make the testing crystal light up halfway is about to perform!" "I missed itst time and only got to see it on video. It''s amazing to witness it in person this time!" "But wait, didn''t Charles just challenge it yesterday? Has his mental state recovered?" "You reminded me! It''s only been a day, and the recovery speed is quite slow. What if Charles can''t challenge the Trial Tower?" "Exactly! My friend is on his way here. If he can''t do it, he''ll kill me!" "Shh! Be quiet, the testing crystal is starting to glow." No one spoke anymore, everyone fixed their eyes on the crystal under Charles''s palm, afraid that any noise might disrupt him. Under everyone''s watchful gaze, the testing crystal began to glow slowly, lighting up halfway just like Charles''s first test result! "Whew! It''s real! I thought the video from yesterday was edited!" "Awesome! He fully recovered in just one day. How did he do that?" "Wait, did you all forget? Charles''s alchemy teacher is a master-level alchemist. He must have some miracle drug for mental recovery!" "Damn, why is there such a huge gap between people! I want a master-level alchemist as my teacher too!" "The miracle drug for mental recovery is way more precious than an ordinary miracle drug. This Charles is not only a genius, he also has resources!" Charles ignored the envious voices around him and calmly turned around to enter the Trial Tower. He didn''te this time to challenge the fifth level of the Trial Tower, Charles just wanted to gain more insight from the figures on the stone walls to better understand thebat techniques during the battles in the tower. Moreover, he wanted to try to control the progress of mastering these techniques as much as possible. After all, Jamie once said that to create the most suitablebat technique, one must control the understanding of existing techniques to a simr level before engaging in a life-and-death battle! Charles''s current mastery progress of techniques was: [Unknown Technique (1) in progress, 60%] [Unknown Technique (2) in progress, 45%] [Unknown Technique (3) in progress, 25%] After ncing at the information prompt, he tried to disturb his own mind as much as possible and then focused his gaze on the stone wall to begin his contemtion. Afterpleting the understanding of one figure. Charles didn''t get up but continued to sit on the mat, starting to perceive the second figure. It wasn''t until he finished understanding the third figure that he noticed the speed of hisprehension had slowed down significantly, prompting him to stop. After resting for a moment, Charles headed straight to the fourth level of the Trial Tower, where he faced a Level 4 Beast Master and a Level 3 Beast Master, beginning his attempt to control the mastery progress of his techniques. Meanwhile, outside the Trial Tower, The onlooking students looked at the information on the big screen and began toin: "What''s going on? After all this time, he''s not even here to challenge the fifth level!" "This is a waste of my time! I was in the middle of my shower and didn''t even have time to rinse off the soap!" "Bro, I left my girlfriend on a date toe here. You think your situation is worse than mine?" "Don''t rush! Have you guys thought about why Charles would challenge the fourth level again if he had already passed it?" "Are you saying that he has alreadyprehended the figures on the stone wall? Is he officially starting to master thebat techniques now?" "Really? That can''t be right. Comprehending the figures on the stone wall usually takes at least three days. How could he finish understanding one figure in just one day?" "One figure in a day? That''s way too fast! I wouldn''t even dare to dream of that!" "I don''t believe it. How could anyone be that quick? It took me over a week! I can''t ept this!" As Charles challenged the fourth level of the Trial Tower, the opinions of the onlooking students varied, with only a few believing that Charles had fullyprehended a figure on the stone wall. What they didn''t know was that Charles was currently inside the Trial Tower, controlling the mastery progress of his seventhbat technique! He discovered that as long as he could suppress his body''s instinctive reactions to danger and choose the response he wanted, he could control the progress of mastering the techniques! However, this process sounded easy but was quite difficult in practice. Charles had already taken quite a bit of damage, there were several instances where he couldn''t control his instinctive reactions, causing the mastery progress of his top technique, [Unknown Technique (1)], to increase significantly! Now he was getting better at controlling it, and with a little more time, managing the mastery progress of all his techniques would be a reality! This would also mean that Charles would havepleted half of the creation of his ownbat technique! The rest would require a life-and-death battle, allowing him to create a technique that truly belonged to him! Ten minutester, Charles, covered in wounds, resolved the battle. His mental state was damaged, but not as severely as before, and without the need for a recovery potion, he would be back to normal in a few days. His current mastery progress of techniques was: [Unknown Technique (1) in progress, 63%] [Unknown Technique (2) in progress, 47%] [Unknown Technique (3) in progress, 30%] ... [Unknown Technique (6) in progress, 10%] After ncing at the information prompt, Charles frowned. Indeed, in facing the fourth level of the Trial Tower, the mastery progress of the techniques had slowed down considerably. If he wanted to quickly increase his progress, he would need to challenge the higher levels of the Trial Tower. "Maybe I should wait a bit longer. Creating my own techniques is more important. I should fullyprehend enough figures and understand plenty of techniques before controlling their progress and then trying for the fifth level." Charles''s mind was still quite clear. He could distinguish what needed to be done in the short term and executed it seriously. Feeling aplished, he walked out of the Trial Tower. Before he could even use his [Darkness Cloak], he was surrounded by students who had been waiting for him. "Charles, did you finishprehending the figures on the stone wall?" someone asked. Charles shook his head and replied, "No, I haven''t finishedprehending the figures on the stone wall." The person turned to theirpanion and said, "See? I told you it wouldn''t be that fast! That speed is just impossible!" Charles was a bit puzzled, he didn''t know what speed they were referring to. "Charles, you really didn''t finishprehending even one figure on the stone wall?" someone asked, unwilling to ept the answer. Charles thought for a moment. He wanted to keep a low profile, so he directly answered, "Well, I onlypleted theprehension of two figures. That shouldn''t be considered fast, right?" In an instant, Everyone went silent. They exchanged nces, then all turned to Charles and asked in unison: "What did you just say? How many?" Charles scratched his head. He thought he had already said very little. He replied, "Two figures. Is that a lot?" "Two figures isn''t a lot?" "You''re such a freak, it must be fake!" "Charles, you must be joking. That''s not funny!" Charles felt a bit regretful. If he had known, he would have just said one. He looked at the growing crowd and pointed behind him, shouting, "Dean! What are you doing here too?" Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Jason Longs Hesitation Taking advantage of the other students looking away, Charles quickly activated his [Darkness Cloak] and slipped away from the crowd, returning to his dorm. Just as he was about to rest, a message popped up on his phone. Upon opening it, he saw that Zachary and Cami had sent over the file regarding the missing child information. Charles quickly got up and went to the desk, opening hisptop to conduct aparative analysis. As time passed, the expression on his face grew more and more disappointed. The files sent by Zachary and Cami contained a lot of urate information, but it was specifically about false case details. "It seems there really are people from the other side inside the security office. He must have modified this information to make it look fake."Charles muttered to himself. He sent his deductions to Zachary and Cami. At the same time, he also messaged Jason Long, arranging a meeting ce for the following morning. It seemed like there were no further developments, all leads had gone cold, and finding the enemy within the security office was not an easy task. After all, Charles was just a civilian now, and he had no authority to conduct an investigation. Moreover, doing so would likely alert the enemy. However, Charles had other methods! The next day just happened to be a rest day at Cyber Academy, with no sses scheduled. Charles woke up early, finishing his grooming before dawn had fully broken. After a quick breakfast, he practiced for a while. When it was almost time to meet Jason Long, he headed straight to the caf outside the academy. Inside the private room, Jason Long anxiously awaited Charles''s arrival. Something had happenedst night that made him reconsider whether to continue. "Charles, I have something to discuss with you as well."Jason Long said hurriedly as he spotted Charles, eager to speak. "Perfect timing. I have some new findings too. Let''s go inside and talk."Charles replied. Once they entered the private room, Jason Long tightly shut his mouth, unsure of how to begin. Charles seemed to sense something was off and asked curiously, "What''s wrong? Did something happen yesterday?" Jason Long nodded slowly and began to speak, "Last night, someone came to my house, and I didn''t even notice! It wasn''t until this morning that I found a bloody dog''s head in the living room!" Upon hearing this, Charles furrowed his brow instantly. Logically, the other party shouldn''t have reacted so quickly to their investigation, especially since no information had been leaked at all. Could it be that there was some sort of oversight during Zachary and Cami''s information gathering yesterday that alerted them? Did that lead the enemy to realize someone was investigating the child''s disappearance, prompting them to send a warning to Jason Long? Charles''s mind raced. He felt that wasn''t the case, the warning Jason Long received seemed too mild. It was more like a preemptive warning to discourage him from continuing the investigation. "So, do you have any thoughts on this?" Charles asked. Jason Long hesitated, opening his mouth only to close it again, and after a moment, he said, "Well, I really have no choice. The safety of my family is more important. Charles, I don''t want to continue the investigation." Charles wasn''t surprised, he understood. He replied, "In that case, it''s probably best if you don''t know about some of the uing matters. It''s okay, I understand your choice." "Yeah, I want to keep going, but" Jason Long opened his mouth but didn''t say anything further. He nodded at Charles, his previously straight posture now slumping. He walked out of the caf with a heavy sense of despair. Charles stayed alone in the private room, scratching his head in frustration. He still had other methods to uncover the forces behind the child''s disappearance case. But now he was all alone, which would slow him down significantly. Over time, that could lead to unexpected incidents. As Charles contemted whether to hire some Beast Masters, his phone vibrated. Zachary sent a message: [No sses today, Charles. Where are you? I''m feeling unwell at home and want to go out for a walk.] There was also a message from Cami: [How''s it going? Do you need help?] Compared to Cami''s straightforwardness, Zachary was a bit more roundabout, but both expressed a willingness to help. A faint smile appeared on Charles''s face. Zachary and Cami were not ordinary citizens, they could dispatch arge group of Beast Masters from their families. Moreover, they didn''t have to worry about the information leaking. Without hesitation, Charles changed to a different caf and sent the new address to both of them. In the private room, Charles summoned Mousie and had it use [Darkness Cloak] to blend into the shadows. Then, Charles left the caf. In the shadow of a nearby building, a figure was closely watching him, rying messages through a walkie-talkie: "The target has left the caf. Should we continue tracking?" On the other end of the walkie-talkie, a response came: "Continue. Remember to avoid being detected, and do not engage the target. Just investigate everyone he has met." "Understood." The figure replied while following Charles. In the darkness behind him, Mousie was closely monitoring the figure. As Charles walked down the street, he pulled out his phone and sent the same message to Zachary and Cami: [The address has changed, let''s meet at the academy, in the private room on the second floor of the cafeteria.] Ever since Jason Long mentioned his experience from yesterday, Charles had suspected there would be someone tracking him outside. Perhaps the target wanted to send him a warning as well. No matter what the other party wanted, they likely wouldn''t dare to enter Cyber Academy, which was why Charles changed the meeting location with Cami and Zachary to inside the academy. When Charles returned to the academy, the person following him indeed didn''t dare to go any further. Instead, they stopped at a beverage shop at the entrance, ordered a drink, and waited quietly. Charles didn''t call Mousie back, he wanted to see if he could track this person in return and gather more clues. When Charles arrived at the private room on the second floor of the cafeteria, Cami and Zachary were already waiting. Before Charles could even take a seat, Zachary impatiently asked, "Charles, there''s a problem with the information from yesterday. Could there be someone from the other side at the security office?" He hadpletelye to trust what Charles had said. As the son of a general, Zachary couldn''t just ignore such serious matters! Cami felt the same way. As a member of the royal family, she had a responsibility and duty to care about the safety of the people. Moreover, this was directly rted to the case of the missing children, she wouldn''t turn a blind eye to it! "Yes, the leads have run cold now, and it seems the other party is also aware of it. If we wait any longer, the clues will dwindle even further!" Charles replied. Originally, he just wanted toplete the bounty task and obtain a piece of orange-quality rare metal. But after learning about the developments, Charles couldn''t just disregard it. He needed to not only finish the bounty task but also uncover the forces behind the child abduction incidents and resolve the issuepletely! "What should I do now? Charles, do you have any other ns?" Zachary asked. He understood the situation and had thought for a long time, but he really didn''t know what to do next. Investigating the enemies within the security office was a decent approach, but it wasn''t something he could handle alone, he would need to seek help from the elders in his family. Right now, there was no solid evidence. Everything relied on Charles''s judgments and spections, making it difficult to convince the elders at home. They had to make some tangible progress first! Cami turned her gaze to Charles. As the second princess of Genosha, this was the first time she had encountered such a situation. Growing up in the royal family, she had only heard about things like abductions, disappearances, and murders. Cami had no ideas for solving the problem and could only rely on Charles. Charles spoke calmly, "There''s a way, but I need your help. The three of us alone aren''t enough, we need more people!" Zachary responded without hesitation, "No problem! As long as you have a n, I can gather a lot of people who are absolutely safe and reliable!" "Cross Street has drawn the attention of Beast Masters due to the bounty task. If the other side isn''t foolish, they definitely won''t act in the near future!" Charles expressed his thoughts. Cami and Zachary both nodded in agreement, they felt the same way. Charles continued, "However, we can see that the frequency of all the missing persons cases has greatly increased over the past week. This indicates something!" "This mysterious force must have encountered some abnormal situation in recent days, prompting them to need more children!" "In other words, they won''t act near Cross Street, but the frequency of missing persons cases in other backward and chaotic areas will likely rise significantly!" "This is our opportunity." After Charles shared his thoughts, Zachary and Cami contemted carefully and agreed that Charles had a valid point. Zachary asked, "Charles, are you suggesting we should send people to monitor those areas and then apprehend them?" Charles replied, "No, capturing them will only alert the other side. What we need is the most up-to-date and urate information about the cases. Once I pinpoint their location, everything will be resolved!" "Additionally, I need someone to investigate discreetly. We need the urate addresses of families whose children have gone missing but haven''t posted anything online!" Charles looked at Zachary and Cami,ying out his needs. Cami and Zachary nodded, these tasks were not difficult for them. One was the son of a general, and the other was the second princess of Genosha. The resources they could mobilize were not something ordinary people couldpare to. Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Locking onto the Enemy! After Zachary and Cami left, Charles returned to his dormitory. Mousie was still outside and had note back, which suggested that the person tracking him was still not giving up and was waiting. Without waiting for him to rest for a while, Celestine sent another message: [Charles, you took a break today, right? How about going to Cross Streetter to investigate a bit more?] Charles replied: [No need, I''ve made some progress here and don''t need to go again. You should take it easy today.] Less than a second after he sent the message, Celestine responded: [Alright then, I don''t have anything to do today and I''m quite free.] Charles understood Celestine''s implication, she was hinting at something. However, he didn''t n to meet Celestine. It was better to be cautious until the situation was resolved. Besides, Charles didn''t want Celestine involved, as there could be dangers. He reminded Celestine by sending her a message: [Try to stay inside the academy these days and avoid going outside.] [But I''m living outside now, and there''s nothing in the dorm. I might as well stay at home.] Celestine''s first reaction was to follow Charles''s suggestion. After a moment, she realized something and asked: [Charles, is there some danger? Are you alright? Maybe we should just forget about it.] Seeing Celestine''s concern warmed Charles''s heart. He replied: [It''s nothing, don''t worry. Everything will be over soon.] Charles put away his phone. He had rested enough and it was time for his Beast Master training. He waited until noon when Mousie''s figure finally appeared from the shadows. It climbed onto Charles''s shoulder and said, "Master, that person is really strange. They can also move in the shadows, and I lost track of them!" Hearing this news, Charles furrowed his brow. Could the person tracking him also possess a dark attribute mystical beast? Charles inquired in detail about what Mousie had seen. He wanted to know where the person had disappearedst. He opened hisptop and pulled up a 3D map of GenoshaCalivia, asking Mousie to confirm the location. To his surprise, Mousie pointed to the most luxurious residential area in Genosha. Charles looked at it and noted that there were many powerful factions nearby, making it hard to judge. However, it was worth mentioning that the Taylor family was the strongest faction in that area. Thinking of this, a thought shed through Charles''s mind. Could the case of the missing child involve the Taylor family? Suppressing that thought, Charles couldn''t be sure, he needed more information and intelligence for analysis and judgment. Next, he would have to see how things were going with Zachary and Cami. Meanwhile, in the royal pce, Cami was filled with excitement. She nned to seek out the Beast Masters in the royal family to carry out Charles''s arrangements. As the second princess of Genosha, pursuing criminals and upholding justice was an incredibly novel experience for her! As a result, many people noticed her unusual behavior. It seemed like the second princess was a bit too happy today? The crown princess of Genosha, Rose, looked at her sister''s excited face and asked curiously, "What''s going on? Is there some good news today?" Cami instinctively covered her mouth and shook her head wildly. She didn''t dare say too much, fearing that she might leak Charles''s ns. Although telling her sister should be fine. "What on earth is wrong with that girl? Today is really strange!" Rose thought to herself as she watched Cami''s departing figure, feeling even more puzzled. On the other side, at the Genosha Allen family, Zachary knocked on his father Mason''s study door and walked in. In the study, a middle-aged man with an elegant and calm demeanor, wearing gold-rimmed sses, was intently focused on the book in his hands. "What''s the matter? Aren''t you training at the training grounds today?" Mason asked, putting down his book. As the son of the general, Zachary usually spent all his spare time training. The Allen family had very strict upbringing, and at neen years old, Zachary had never been to a ce of entertainment. "Father, it''s like this. Charles needs my help with something today. Didn''t you say we should try to maintain a good rtionship with him? I think this is a great opportunity!" Zachary replied. The gentle smile on General Mason''s face broadened as he looked at Zachary and said, "You think I don''t know you? If you''re not interested, no matter how great the other person is, you wouldn''t bother getting closer!" "Now tell me, what is it about this that has piqued your interest so much?" Mason''s insight was quite sharp, he could sense that the situation was not that simple. Zachary shook his head. He didn''t want to reveal what Charles had entrusted him with. He had several Beast Masters under hismand, but most of them did not have high mastery levels, and theycked experience in covert operations. The reason he mentioned this to his father was that Zachary knew Mason had several seasoned warriors on his hands. These warriors had been injured on the battlefield and were now back in Calivia, responsible for intelligence gathering. They would be perfect to assist Charles! "Come on, can''t I even ask?" Mason said with a smile, having no ulterior motives. He simply felt that Zachary had matured a lot in how he handled matters. "Father, please don''t ask. I can handle this!" Zachary''s tone was resolute. He wanted to help Charles properly. Getting closer to Charles was secondary, the key was those missing childrenhe couldn''t just stand by and do nothing! "Alright, I have a good impression of that Charles kid. I liked what he said the other day, he''s a decent young man!" Mason seemed to agree. He continued: "How about this: go find your Uncle Remnant Sword and have him arrange some personnel for you." Upon hearing "Remnant Sword."Zachary''s eyes instantly lit up. Uncle Remnant Sword was the strongest among his father''s subordinates, and the old warriors he led were the best! With them, he would surely be able to aplish what Charles had arranged! "Thank you, Father! I''m off!" Zachary didn''t linger and left without looking back. Once Mason was alone in the study, he put away the book and ced it back on the shelf. He then spoke to the air beside him, saying, "Go and investigate this matter thoroughly. I don''t want to see anyone taking advantage of Zachary!" In that moment, the temperature around him dropped a few degrees. As the general of Genosha, Mason was now showing his true authority! The air rippled for a moment before quickly returning to normal. As for Charles, he was unaware of what was happening outside. The morning training had ended, and after a quick lunch in the cafeteria, he returned to his dormitory. It was only then that Charles remembered the day he parted ways with Catherine. He had once gone to the treasure vault to buy a jar of "Monkey Wine."intending to fulfill the promise he made to Mia. However, due to the impact of Catherine''s departure, Charles hadpletely forgotten about it. He hurriedly summoned Mia and ced the opened "Monkey Wine" in front of her. Mia, who had been listless, instantly transformed into a ball of joy, chirping happily. If it weren''t for the small space in the dormitory, she would have already taken to the air! [Ding! Your pet Mia has drunk the Monkey Wine. She is very happy, loyalty +5.] Mia''s loyalty had now reached 76, and it was not far from 80. Seeing Mia''s happy expression lifted Charles''s spirits significantly. Sometimes it''s truly strange, for a Beast Master, keeping their mystical beast in a positive and healthy state of mind is very important. Moreover, when a Beast Master is feeling down, a qualified mystical beast will do everything it can to improve its master''s mood. This is the bond between them. ... In a certain library in Genosha Calivia, in a secret chamber, an ancient voice echoed once more: "Don''t worry about Charles. If he continues to investigate, just give him a warning. At this rate, we only need three more days toplete the task!" "Elder, many Beast Masters have already been attracted to Cross Street. Should we continue as we did before?" someone asked. "Let''s put Cross Street on hold for now. We can''t let those people in Calivia catch on. We can elerate our progress in other areas. In three days, even if Charles investigates, he won''t uncover anything."the ancient voice replied. They were confident in this, every time they kidnapped a child, they never left a trace at the scene, and they even had people within the security office. Finding out the truth in a short time and locating them would be harder than climbing to the heavens! No one could do it! "Elder, Charles has been staying inside Cyber Academy and hasn''te out. Do we need to go in and warn him?" someone asked. "It''s fine for him to stay inside. That way, he can''t continue his investigation. There''s no need to risk being discovered by Jamie. Ezra hasn''t returned yet, so as long as we are careful, no one can stop us!" "Understood, Elder!" An afternoon passed quickly. News kepting in from Zachary and Cami, and everything was indeed as Charles had judged. In just one afternoon, aside from Cross Street, six more children had gone missing! Some people had witnessed how those children disappeared, being pulled into the shadows and vanishingpletely! No wonder there were no traces or clues left at the scene. Charles looked at theptop in front of him, the 3D map marked with numerous annotations. He took a deep breath and began to analyze and simte in his mind. Eventually, his gaze settled on an abandoned factory! Without any dy, Charles went straight to Dean Jamie''s office and knocked on the door. "Come in!" Chapter 189: Chapter 189: The Battle Underground! "Is that you, Charles? What''s going on? Is there something you need?" Jamie said, noticing it was Charles who entered, sounding a bit puzzled. Charles didn''t waste any words and went straight to Dean Jamie''s desk, cing hisptop on it. He began, "Dean, I''ve discovered something very important in the past few days..." As Charles exined the background of the situation, he detailed how he had discovered and pinpointed the enemies. Jamie listened intently, maintaining a calm expression. However, when he heard Charles specte that the adversaries possessed dark attribute stealth skills. His expression suddenly changed drastically. He became exceptionally serious and spoke in a more earnest tone, "Charles, is everything you just said true? Are you certain they have dark attribute stealth skills?" Charles nodded without any hesitation and said, "People have seen it. They directly took the children from the shadows, it''s definitely dark attribute stealth skills!" "Dark attribute, children, dark attribute, children..." Jamie kept muttering to himself. At that moment, Charles voiced his lingering doubts, "But there''s one thing I''ve never been able to understand: what is their purpose in abducting these children?" "They''re just ordinary kids from regr families. What could they possibly be useful for?" It seemed Jamie suddenly had a realization. He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed Colton''s number, asking, "You mentioned to me before how that bottle of ''Red Corruption Potion'' was concocted. What were the key materials involved?" Colton replied over the phone, "Pure blood, and pieces of the blessed one''s flesh, as well as..." "Stop, stop, stop! What does ''pure blood'' refer to? Does the blood of children count?" Jamie quickly asked. Colton exined, "Of course it does. The blood of younger children is purer, and they have fewer thoughts and negative emotions. It qualifies as pure blood and can be used to neutralize the effects brought by the blessed..." Before Colton could finish, Jamie abruptly hung up the phone. He suddenly turned to Charles, locking eyes with him, and asked again. "Charles, are you absolutely certain it''s that abandoned factory? Those people, those missing children, are inside?" Charles nodded and replied, "That''s correct. I''m about eighty percent sure. I''ve analyzed the locations where those disappearances urred and the information about the missing people. It should be urate!" "That''s good to hear. You won''t need to goter. The follow-up on this matter will be very dangerous, so you should stay at the academy."Jamie said slowly. Charles was startled by this. In his original thoughts, Jamie might send a few Level 7 Beast Masters to assist him. Now, from Dean Jamie''s words, it seemed he intended to take matters into his own hands? Charles had also heard the information from the phone call. He never expected that those missing children might have their blood drawn to concoct the "Red Corruption Potion"! How utterly insane! It was outrageous! "Oh, and Charles, inform Zachary and Cami to recall all deployed personnel to avoid alerting the enemy. We''ll handle the rest."Jamie said as he walked to the door. "We?" Charles wondered, sending a message to Zachary and Cami. He was puzzled, he couldn''t think of who else could be involved. "Yes, it''s us, including Nathaniel and the royal family!" Jamie answered. He didn''t have time to say more and activated "Beast Mastery."bringing Charles along as they shot through the air toward the pce like a meteor! By the time Charles realized what had happened, he found himself in a pitch-ck conference room. Jamie said, "I''ve already notified everyone. Charles, please share your screen and exin everything clearly." "Exin? Do you want me to repeat what I just said?" Charles asked. Jamie replied, "Yes. There are only a few people who can be here in person, and if everyone gets involved, the hidden enemy might catch wind of it." Charles was now thinking that he might be involved in something major again. Anyone of the same status as Dean Jamie would likely be on par with Nathaniel, either an Level 8 Beast Master or an important member of the royal family. In front of these people, Charles felt no nervousness at all. Soon, two figures entered the conference room and took seats at the back. Due to theck of lighting, Charles couldn''t see their faces clearly. "The equipment is set up, we can begin!" Jamie announced. Charles remained calm, his demeanor steady and collected, without a hint of tension. He exined the situation again in a clear, straightforward manner. When Charles finished speaking, the atmosphere fell silent. After a moment, someone finally spoke up, saying: "Jamie, did you call this emergency meeting just forughs? What credibility does a Level 3 Beast Master have?" "Shut up! Don''t you understand the severity of the situation? I''ve already told you before that those people have set their sights on Genosha Calivia!" Jamie retorted angrily. "That''s just your guess! You''re scared out of your wits over a single forbidden potion?" the person continued, mocking. Jamie clenched his fists tightly. If the person hadn''t been right in front of him, he would have already taken action! "Enough! Let''s get to the vote. If you have any thoughts, voice them directly!" amanding voice came from the speakers. The results came in quickly. Charles couldn''t see them, but he noticed Jamie exhale in relief, realizing that the motion must have passed. What happened next was no longer relevant to Charles. Jamie had more to handle. He originally nned to find someone from the royal family to take Charles back, but considering the risk, he decided instead to let Charles stay at the pce for the night! By the time Charles reached his resting ce, it was already nine o''clock at night. At that moment, Charles was very curious about what the oue of these missing children''s cases would ultimately be. Countless bigwigs were worried and distracted by this issue. He had heard that authoritative voice before, he remembered it was during Genosha''s annual National Day celebration, standing at the highest podium, addressing the nation. The severity of the situation had exceeded Charles''s imagination. He was also self-aware, he was just a Level 3 Beast Master at the moment. Just then, there was a knock at the door. Charles instinctively became alert. Unexpectedly, a voice came from outsideit was Cami. "Charles, Charles, are you in there?" He opened the door and stepped outside. He saw Cami standing in the hallway with a group of maids and asked, "How did you know I was here?" Cami smiled but didn''t answer the question. Instead, she said, "Charles, my father just asked me what exactly happened." Charles recalled that authoritative voice and felt it was not the right time to say anything. It wasn''t time to discuss it yet, they would have to wait until Jamie and the others resolved the situation to ensure there were no furtherplications. "This matter is a bitplicated to exin for now, it will be clearer tomorrow."Charles replied. "Tomorrow, huh? Alright, Charles, since this is your first time at the pce, would you like me to give you a tour?" Cami invited Charles to step out for a walk. However, Charles wasn''t in the mood for that and directly declined Cami''s invitation. He returned to his room, took off his clothes, andy in the bathtub, his mind racing! Charles could guess a bit about the people who attended the emergency meeting today, they were the topbat forces and important figures within Genosha. Thinking about the false documents from the security office, he felt a flicker of doubt. Could any of the people present today be connected to the force that had kidnapped the children? Jamie calling an emergency meeting directly suggested he might not have considered this angle or perhaps had other ns. What was it that made Jamie so anxious? What consequences would the emergence of the "Red Corruption Potion" bring? Countless thoughts flooded Charles''s mind. He was feeling quite exhausted todaynot physically, but mentally. A simple missing persons case had unexpectedly escted into something so serious. Charles began to feel uneasy. He thought that being a Level 3 Beast Master was too weak, he needed to focus on raising his Beast Master level! Originally, he had nned to save that bottle of "Advanced Auxiliary Training Potion" forter. Now it seemed he couldn''t put it off any longer. Tomorrow, once everything was resolved, he would use it right away to speed up his Beast Master training! As Charles was lost in thought, he fell into a deep sleep. Not long after, a loud explosion jolted him awake. Without a moment to think, Charles rushed to the balcony and looked outside. He saw towering mes erupting from the direction of the abandoned factory. From time to time, he heard sounds resembling bomb explosions. Watching such a scene of battle, Charles tightly gripped the railing of the balcony. He knew all too well that if he were on such a battlefield, he would surely die! The fight between a Level 7 Beast Master and a Level 8 Beast Master was something he wasn''t even qualified to witness! "I need to raise my strength as soon as possible. At this rate, I could also get my hands on a second piece of orange-quality rare metal. If there are no other distractions, my Beast Master training speed will increase significantly!" "I also need to set aside my understanding ofbat techniques. And I should talk to Teacher Colton about reducing my ss hours!" As Charles watched the sounds of battle gradually die down, he plotted his short-term goals. Now that he couldn''t sleep, Charles began his Beast Master training right there in his room! About two hourster, Jamie''s voice came from outside the door. "Charles, get ready, I''m taking you to see the scene!" "Dean, has the battle ended? What happened?" Charles asked as he got up and headed for the door. Jamie sounded slightly regretful as he replied, "Unfortunately, we let the biggest fish get away!" Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Don’t Overthink It Hearing Jamie''s response, Charles felt a bit puzzled. How could so many people get involved and still allow the enemy to escape? Before Charles could ask, Jamie''s expression grew heavy as he said, "It''s not that simple. Many people have already realized that there are still enemies within Genosha." As he led Charles toward the chemical nt, he continued, "Earlier tonight, many people died in the security office. It seems the enemies are acting very quickly and decisively!" Charles didn''t respond, he was staring nkly at the battlefield after the fight had ended. The massive chemical nt had almost been reduced to rubble,pletely devastated. Everywhere he looked, there were shattered buildings, and many areas were engulfed in fierce mes, apanied by piercing rm sounds. ck smoke merged with the night sky. Amidst the ruins, many people were busy at work. Charles noticed that a temporary medical tent had already been set up in a rtively t area nearby. "What happened to those children?" Charles asked as he stood still, his voice filled with concern. Jamie sighed and slowly replied, "There are only twenty-six children left alive, the others..." Silence followed. A gust of wind swept by, stirring up the dust on the ground. Jamie turned and led Charles to an underground entrance, and they both walked inside. Compared to the devastation above ground, the underground structure remained intact. Before long, under Jamie''s guidance, Charles arrived at the room where the children were being held. The white walls were stained with dried blood, with countless scratch marks left by the young children, remnants of their fear and pain. "Don''t look anymore. Let''s go, up ahead is where they keep the most important things."Jamie said softly. Charles did not respond, he continued to stare at the wall. After a while, he took a heavy step forward and approached the wall. In the corner at the bottom of the wall, a few blurred bloodstains formed some words. The handwriting was crooked, and it read, "Mom, I want to go home." Charles crouched down. He could imagine that after experiencing unimaginable suffering. There had once been a young child curled up in the corner, repeatedly calling for their mother, using bloodied fingers to slowly write these words in despair and defiance. He reached out, wanting to touch the words, but then paused his fingers in mid-air. He spoke, "How many children survived in this room?" Jamie fell silent, not answering. Charles knew that among the children in this room, not a single one was still alive, they had all been drained of their blood. "Well, it couldn''t be helped. We discovered this toote. Charles, luckily you found it in time, otherwise, these twenty-six children would..." Jamie''s words trailed off. Charles stood up, his expression emotionless as he continued deeper inside. Deeper underground, there were various strange instruments and devices. Jamie stood behind Charles and said, "It''s a shame, we lost an eighth-level Beast Master, and he took what he was refining with him." Charles wasn''t concerned about that, he was more worried about something else and asked, "Where are the bodies of the deceased children?" "Charles, that''s enough. Don''t look anymore. Let''s go back up."Jamie urged, not wanting Charles to see any more. Those images were something even the warriors on the battlefield could hardly bear, and he was worried about Charles. Just then, footsteps and voices came from behind them. "Father, why did you bring me here?" Zachary''s voice rang out. Mason replied calmly, "I brought you to see this. I never expected that what you did to help Charles would be so important." The voices grew closer, and after a few seconds, Zachary and Mason appeared in front of Charles. "Charles, you''re here too?" Zachary said as he entered. His father hadn''t yet shown him around properly, and Zachary seemed rtivelyposed. Charles nodded expressionlessly, he wasn''t concerned with anything else, only wanting to see the bodies of the children once more. "Director, I want to see."Charles said to Jamie with unwavering determination. Jamie nced at Mason and then at Zachary beside him. Mason sensed the scrutiny and calmly said, "It''s fine. Let them see it together, young people need to understand this world if they want to go further." "Are you serious? Aren''t you worried this kid will be traumatized?" Jamie voiced his concerns, looking at the bewildered Zachary. "It''s okay, it''s a good opportunity for him to toughen up. I think he can handle it."Mason replied, his gaze fixed on Charles. As the General of Genosha, Mason was very perceptive and could sense the immense killing intent and anger hidden beneath Charles''s seemingly calm demeanor! He wondered if Charles would explode after witnessing the hellish scene, losing his sanity in the process. Thus, under Jamie''s guidance, Charles and Zachary slowly made their way deeper underground. Zachary felt nervous, he wasn''t naive and could guess what he was about to see. A white door appeared before them. Jamie stopped, turning to Charles and Zachary, saying, "Go ahead. Push open the door, and you will see the evilsmitted by those people." Zachary felt a bit anxious, his legs felt heavy, and he struggled to take a step forward. However, Charles showed no hesitation and directly pushed open the white door, walking inside. Zachary took a deep breath and followed him, but within ten seconds, he was trembling as he ran back out. "Devils! Devils! Those people are simply devils! How can they be so cruel?" Zachary''s eyes were bloodshot. He forced himself not to think about the images he had just witnessed, but those hellish scenes kept surfacing in his mind. In the pure white room, there were bodies of children everywhere, carelessly discarded like trash. The bodies had been drained of their blood, resembling dried branches, their skin wrinkled, clinging to their bones, almost like skeletons! Each corpse had its eyes wide open, filled with pain and fear, contorted into various bizarre positions due to the unbearable agony they endured before death. Zachary could only take a nce before he could no longer bear it, he leaned against the wall and vomited. "I told you, Zachary is still young, he can''t handle it."Jamie sighed, speaking to Mason beside him. Mason pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, and took a deep drag before saying, "He''s doing quite well, at least he didn''t break down on the spot." Time passed slowly, and Charles''s figure still hadn''t appeared, he was still inside. Jamie and Mason exchanged worried nces, quickly moving to the door to see what was happening. "Could it be that Charles couldn''t take it and has copsed?" Jamie suggested. Mason shook his head, disagreeing with that notion. The emotions he sensed from Charles earlier were real, he shouldn''t be in that state. Before they could enter, Charles slowly walked out of the room, he said nothing as he walked towards the exit. Jamie and Mason were unsure of what had transpired. They entered the white room and took a look, staring at each other in shock, unable to speak for a long time. All the bodies had originally been wide-eyed, unable to close their eyes in death, but Charles had gone one by one, closing their eyes to make them look more peaceful, less in pain. After a long time, Jamie turned back to look at Charles''s retreating figure with aplex expression and slowly said, "Did you expect him to do that?" "I didn''t see iting. It''s not a good thing, he''s still too young. I''m worried that if he can''t express his emotions, he will get trapped in them."Mason replied. Jamie gradually closed the door, his movements very careful. He didn''t say anything else and walked outside. After returning to the surface, Charles made his way to the temporary medical tent. All the surviving children were asleep, not because they were too tired, but because the doctors had to use tranquilizers to temporarily put these traumatized kids into slumber. Even in sleep, many of the children would asionally tremble, their faces that should have been filled with innocent smiles now twisted with uncontroble fear and terror. "What happened to them?" Charles asked softly. A doctor pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and led Charles outside the tent. He responded, "The physical injuries are easy to treat. The key issue is that this painful memory will haunt them for the rest of their lives." Charles watched as Zachary approached, along with Jamie and Mason. He didn''t speak, but Jamie came over, patted Charles on the shoulder, and said, "Charles, don''t think too much. You saved these children, you''ve done enough." Charles didn''t care for those words, instead, he asked, "Director, do you know who did all this?" Jamie actually didn''t want Charles to know, but when he saw the determination in Charles''s eyes, he changed his mind. In Charles''s eyes, Jamie sensed an unusually strong resolve and determination. Even if he didn''t say anything, Charles''s intelligence would soon lead him to the truth. "It was Constetion. They attempted to use the forbidden miracle drug to incite chaos and war, corrupting the Beast Master''s mind."Jamie revealed the truth. Charles asked again, "What''s their purpose? Why are they doing this?" Jamie shook his head, "I don''t know either. They are too mysterious, and there''s very little information avable." Constetion! Charles was not unfamiliar with this organization, this was the third time he had encountered them, and there would surely be more interactions in the future. For now, he did not have the strength to get involved. Not lingering any longer, Charles headed directly toward the academy, the situation had been resolved. To his surprise, when Charles arrived near Cyber Academy, the surrounding darkness suddenly thickened even further! Chapter 191: Chapter 191: Everything is Fates Arrangement Charles possessed the dark attribute mystical beast, Mousie, and was quite sensitive to dark energy, while ordinary Beast Masters would bepletely unaware of the changes around them. With no time to think further, Charles instantly summoned Mousie, Max, and Mia. But in the next moment. A massive sense of crisis swept over Charles''s entire being, his body was sending constant warnings that he must not act recklessly, or death would be his only fate! "Hello, Charles. This is our first meeting, isn''t it?" An ancient voice echoed around him, sounding incredibly ethereal. Charles couldn''t pinpoint the source of the voice, his mind raced as he desperately tried to devise a way to resolve the impending crisis! The ability to use dark energy and the overwhelming sense of danger it brought, within Genosha Calivia, could onlye from an eighth-level Beast Master from Constetion! "Do they think I ruined their ns, so they chose to act against me despite the risk of being discovered?" Charles spected in his mind, maintaining an outward calm. The ancient voice continued, "I didn''t expect to underestimate you, you were able to pinpoint my exact location in such a short time. Charles, you are a true genius!" Charles stayedposed, wanting to buy some time. After all, he was near Cyber Academy, and the director, Jamie, might finish what he was doing and return to the academy at any moment. If he could just hold on until then, there might be a glimmer of hope! How could a third-level Beast Master escape from the hands of an eighth-level Beast Master? As Charles pondered a way to break the stalemate, he replied, "The reason I was able to pinpoint your location isn''t because I''m exceptionally clever, it''s simply that you left some openings." "Oh? What openings? You don''t think I''m asking you, do you? Stop trying to buy time."said the eighth-level Beast Master from Constetion, revealing that he had guessed Charles''s thoughts. Charles took a deep breath, the gap between a third-level Beast Master and an eighth-level Beast Master was akin to one being in the sky and the other underground. Faced with such a situation, Charles did not want to give up! During their conversation, Charles had wanted to try using darkness cloak to see if he could escape into Cyber Academy, but unfortunately, it seemed that the surrounding darkness was entirely under the control of the eighth-level Beast Master before him, showing no response whatsoever! "Stop thinking about it, you can''t escape, and I won''t kill you."the voice echoed again. This took Charles by surprise, he couldn''t understand the situation. If what the other party said was true, then what was the reason? He had clearly caused Constetion significant losses, yet this eighth-level Beast Master from Constetion genuinely seemed not to intend to kill him. Why was that? Charles remained vignt, continuously contemting various possibilities. A simple sentence carried a wealth of information. "Do you have something to tell me? A warning, or perhaps a threat?" Charles asked. A figure slowly emerged from the darkness, it was the eighth-level Beast Master, wearing a uniquely styled robe that concealed the material, with not a hint of skin exposed. "Let me introduce myself. I am an elder of the Horned Wood Dragon organization from the Seven Stars of the Azure Dragon. You can call me Elder Shadow."said the figure in ck. Charles curiously inquired, "Seven Stars of the Azure Dragon? Horned Wood Dragon? What is that?" "There are a total of twenty-eight lodges in Constetion, and those active in the Abyssal Depths are just a small part. Charles, this world is farrger than you can imagine."the figure exined, continuing, "Because of you, the ns for Genosha Calivia were canceled at thest minute. Charles, I came to find you to say this: strengthen yourself as soon as possible." Twenty-eight lodges in Constetion? The eighth-level Beast Master before him was just an elder of one of the lodges? Charles received astonishing news, the power of this Constetion organization was simply unimaginable! However, what intrigued Charles more was the meaning behind thest sentence. He asked, "You want me to get stronger quickly? Why?" "Because this world is on the brink of destruction! Charles, only by bing stronger will you be qualified to know the truth of the world and join us!" As he said this, the figure in ck raised his hands with fervor, palms open and facing outward, covering his eyes! Charles remained on high alert, as he saw this scene and was about to make a move, the palms of the ck-robed man suddenly split open, revealing a pair of indescribable eyes that fixed intently on Charles! Before Charles, an illusion appeared againthe chaotic, twisted, indescribable unknown creature he had seen in the secret chamber of the Colton cabin emerged once more! "Indeed! Everything is the arrangement of fate. Charles, you cannot resist destiny. I await your joining us!" The figure in ck seemed to hear something, growing even more fervent. The eyes in his palms began to emit thick ck mist, and soon, the ck-robed man vanished, leaving Charles alone in ce. "Damn it! What do they mean the world is about to be destroyed? What fate are they talking about? Do they ever speak inly?" Charles exhaled, staring at the spot where the figure had disappeared, lost in thought. He contemted the purpose of the ck-robed man''s appearance. Charles felt that the figure hade to confirm something: his reaction to the eyes in the ck-robed man''s palms! Telling him about the world''s destruction, the arrangement of fate, and the general power of Constetion was likely just to heighten his sense of crisis. As for joining Constetion? Charles didn''t even think twice, that was absolutely impossible! A group that used innocent children to concoct forbidden miracle drugs deserved to be eradicatedpletely! Moreover, should he inform Director Jamie about this? Charles felt uncertain. He simply couldn''t exin why, despite causing significant losses to Constetion within Genosha Calivia, they had found an opportunity yet chose to let him go. "Sigh, I guess I''ll just wait a bit longer, the director hasn''t returned yet."Charles thought to himself. He returned to his dormitory, quickly washed up, and theny down on his bed. So much had happened today, and the impact was overwhelming! He couldn''t figure out the purpose of Constetion. What was the reason behind concocting forbidden miracle drugs? And what about that eighth-level Beast Master who called himself an elder? What was the deal with the eyes in his palms? Could it be the familiar that Teacher Colton mentioned? What about that chaotic, twisted, indescribable unknown creature that appeared in his illusion? This was the second time Charles had seen it. Was it a hallucination, or did it truly exist? Too many questions and confusions flooded Charles''s mind, and he finally fell into a deep sleep around three in the morning. The next morning, Charles, as usual, went to the cafeteria to eat with Max, Mousie, and Mia. During this time, Mia had been growingrger every day, looking like she was nearing adulthood. He wondered if she would awaken any new skills once she reached adulthood. With this thought in mind, Charles walked along the path to the ssroom. The crowd that usually gathered around him had all stopped in their tracks, standing at a distance, watching Charles''s figure and whispering among themselves: "Did you hear about what happened yesterday? There seemed to be a battle in the city!" "Of course! I was scared awake in the middle of the night, thinking an enemy country had invaded." "This morning, the Genosha officials announced that they were targeting criminal gangs, and it seems to involve human trafficking." "I saw that too! It was Charles who uncovered the truth and saved twenty-six innocent children. Truly my idol!" "Now people online are calling Charles a hero! I heard major media outlets want to interview him!" Charles listened to the chatter around him, feeling no joy. The information was only part of the truth, while the rest waspletely covered up. It was probably because Genosha didn''t want the general public to know about the existence of Constetion, to avoid causing unrest and panic. However, this meant that apart from the twenty-six surviving children, the rest who died in the abandoned factory would remain invisible to the public. No one would know, except for their parents, and perhaps even those parents might never find out that their missing children had already died. Charles could imagine that if it were truly the case, the only thing left for the families of the missing children would be a false hope, making them wait day after day. Taking a deep breath, Charles veered off the path, he didn''t want to go to ss anymore. He wanted to visit Director Jamie''s office to ask a few questions. Just as he reached the door, he saw Teacher Hale walking out of the director''s office. Hale looked a bit surprised, it was almost ss time, and he wondered what had brought Charles to the director''s office. Recalling the director''s instructions and the events of yesterday, Hale likely had a guess about what was going on. He opened his mouth, intending to say something, but then swallowed those words. He simply patted Charles on the shoulder and said, "The director is inside, you can go right in." Charles nodded and walked into the director''s office. Jamie was looking down at the documents in his hands, seemingly unaware of Charles, until Charles spoke up, "Director, have the families of those children been informed about their deaths?" Jamie ced the documents on the table and replied, "That''s not a decision I can make. Most people''s opinion is to maintain social stability and choose not to disclose this information." Upon hearing this, Charles fell silent. He desperately wanted the families who had lost children to know the truth, but he also understood that this was something he could not change! Who would believe the words of a third-level Beast Master anyway? Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Claiming the Reward for the Bounty Mission Jamie was looking down at the documents in his hands, seemingly unaware of Charles. It wasn''t until Charles spoke up that he noticed, "Director, have the families of those children been informed about their deaths?" Jamie ced the documents on the table and replied, "That''s not a decision I can make. Most people believe that maintaining social stability means choosing not to disclose this information." Upon hearing this, Charles fell into silence. He desperately wanted the families who had lost children to know the truth. But he also knew that this was something he could not change! Who would believe the words of a third-level Beast Master anyway? "Don''t think too much about it, Charles. There are some things you can''t change right now. Focus on bing stronger first."Jamieforted him. Charles nodded, he clearly understood what he needed to do. "Director, yesterday on my way back to the academy, I encountered that eighth-level Beast Master."Charles said calmly as he recounted what had happened. As soon as he spoke, Jamie''s figure appeared right in front of Charles. "What! Are you sure? That eighth-level Beast Master didn''t escape?" Jamie''s expression was particrly serious and shocked! He had faced that eighth-level Beast Master from Constetion yesterday and knew how strong the opponent was. Having such a person lurking within Genosha Calivia was a significant threat! However, Jamie was even more curious about how Charles had managed to survive the encounter with that eighth-level Beast Master. "Charles, tell me everything that happened yesterday in detail. Don''t leave out any details."Jamie asked. Charles recounted the events of his encounter with the eighth-level Beast Master step by step. As he listened, Jamie paced back and forth in the office, disying signs of unease and urgency. As the director of Cyber Academy, Jamie knew more than the average person, yet this was the first time he had heard about the Constetion organization! As for the notion of the world facing destruction, he didn''t take it seriously at all, dismissing it as the fantasy of a fanatical organization. However, the idea that everything was fate''s arrangement piqued Jamie''s curiosity. He asked Charles, "Is there anything else?" "There shouldn''t be, Director."Charles replied. In his earlier ount, he hadn''t mentioned the hallucinations or the eyes that had grown on the eighth-level Beast Master''s palm. For some instinctive reason, Charles felt he needed to visit Teacher Colton. Would the strange tentacle he saw in the hidden room that day produce the same hallucination as the one he experiencedst night? Director Jamie stared into Charles''s eyes, remaining silent as he pondered what had allowed Charles to survive against an eighth-level Beast Master. "Charles, I will report the situation regarding Constetion to the Cyber Academy headquarters. Don''t overthink it, your primary focus should be on strengthening your abilities."Jamie said. Charles nodded. It was almost ss time, and he didn''t n to go to the ssroom. He needed to visit Colton first. "By the way, Director, can you help me talk to the teacher? I have some matters to discuss with Teacher Colton."Charles directly asked. Director Jamie nodded, indicating that this was a minor request. He watched Charles walk out of the office, lost in thought as a previous suspicion resurfaced in his mind. "Does Charles have any connection to the Constetion organization? He also possesses the dark attribute, he..." Jamie mused while opening the hiddenmunication device in his office to ry the information Charles had just mentioned to the Cyber Academy headquarters. Meanwhile, Charles hurried to Colton''s cabin, knocking on the door only to find that Colton was not there, apparently having stepped out for some reason. However, tonight was designated for alchemy knowledge instruction, so Colton should be back by then. Charles thought for a moment, since he had already taken the day off, he might as well use the time this morning to head to the Beast Master Guild and im the reward for the bounty mission. Perfectly timed, he could then go to the Forging Masters Guild and ask Xavier to enhance his ck gold long knife. Without further ado, Charles sent a message to Celestine, asking if she was free to join him at the Beast Master Guild. At that moment, Celestine was in the middle of a ss. She nced at the teacher in front of her and then at the message Charles had sent on her phone. Without any hesitation, Celestine replied: [I happen to be free. Afterpleting the task, I need to be there as a fourth-level Beast Master. Charles, please wait for me a moment, and I''ll meet you at the entrance of Cyber Academy!] Charles put away his phone, feeling a bit confused. It was clearly faster to go directly to the Beast Master Guild, why meet at the entrance of Cyber Academy? But it didn''t matter, Celestine had helped him a lot recently. With that in mind, Charles went to a nearby caf and bought two cups of handcrafted coffee, waiting for Celestine to arrive at the entrance. After quite a while, Celestine finally appeared before Charles. She was wearing denim shorts, and her legs were wrapped in ck stockings, glimmering under the sunlight. As for her upper body, she wore a fiery red tank top, and with every step she took, her chest bounced up and down, momentarily distracting Charles. "Sorry, I got caught up with something just now. Is this coffee for me?" Celestine said, bringing her hands together and bowing in apology. Charles was significantly taller than Celestine, and from his vantage point, he could see everything inside her tank top quite clearly. "It''s fine. Here, I bought the coffee a while ago, so it''s not as cold anymore. Should we go get a fresh one?" Charles asked. Celestine took the coffee from Charles and started drinking it. In truth, she could have arrived a bit earlier, but she had gotten dyed by changing her clothes and doing her makeup. "Let''s go to the Beast Master Guild, Charles! I''m really curious about how youpleted the task yesterday!" Celestine said, leaning closer to Charles, tilting her head, and blinking her eyes. Charles didn''t resist and offered a brief exnation. As they chatted, they made their way into the Beast Master Guild. Inside the Beast Master Guild, there were already a dozen people waiting, including those Beast Masters who had epted the investigation into the missing children. Among them was Jason Long, a fifth-level Beast Master, who had arrived early and was simply watching the entrance, hoping to spot Charles. Many Beast Masters had sensed themotion from yesterday''s conflict in Calivia. The higher the Beast Master''s level, the better they could discern that it was a battle between high-tier Beast Masters! Initially, Jason Long hadn''t connected it to the missing children case, but this morning, he saw the news on his phone. He finally understood that everything was caused by Charles, it was Charles who investigated the enemies behind the missing children cases and pinpointed their locations! When Charles had asked him if he wanted to continue the investigation. Jason Long had replied with determination, but after his family was threatened, he chose to back down! With a heart full ofplex emotions, Jason Long looked at Charles''s figure outside the door and lowered his head. The transfer of the bounty task went smoothly and didn''t require any key evidence, after all, today''s news clearly stated that it was because of Charles''s investigation that twenty-six innocent children were saved! "No wonder they call him genius Charles, how does he do it? I can''t understand it at all!" "What genius! A genius doesn''t even deserve to bepared to Charles! Being a genius is just the threshold to meet Charles!" "Are you as smart as Charles? If you could figure it out, you would have be a hero like him long ago!" Charles ignored the murmurs around him, he had grown ustomed to it, and the rare orange-quality metal materials were sessfully obtained. Just as Charles was about to leave the Beast Master Guild, he spotted Jason Long and hesitated for a moment before walking over. Jason Long sat on the sofa in the hall with his head down, and in his line of sight, Charles''s shadow slowly appeared. "Thank you, I was able toplete this task, and you contributed quite a bit as well."Charles said. Immediately, all eyes in the room turned to Jason Long. "II don''t deserve it!" Jason Long suddenly raised his head and looked at Charles''s serious expression as he replied. Charles shook his head and exined, "What''s done is done, you did help me at the beginning, and that''s a fact you can''t refute!" Jason Long was momentarily taken aback, then slowly nodded in acknowledgment. Charles continued with a hint of regret, "Things can''t be changed now, and neither can I. If there''s ever anything you need in the future, juste to me, I''ll definitely help if I can!" This was Charles''s promise, even if Jason Long chose to back down, it couldn''t be denied that he had helped Charles investigate the case! Charles would never ignore those who had helped him. Jason Long also understood that the number of missing children exceeded what an ordinary person could imagine, and the official reports only covered a small fraction of it. He realized what Charles meant when he said, "Things cannot be changed." Nodding with deep gratitude, he felt fortunate that Charles was smart enough to get to the bottom of things, otherwise, he would have been burdened with guilt and self-me forever. "It should be you who helped me, Charles! Thank you." Jason Long said firmly as he watched Charles''s departing figure. At the same time, just as Charles stepped out of the Beast Master Guild, he was instantly surrounded by a crowd. These people didn''t seem to be Beast Masters, they were just ordinary citizens. Charles was about to ask what was going on when, to his astonishment, they all knelt down before him. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Arriving at the Forging Masters Guild A middle-aged man wearing sses stepped out of the crowd. He was the same man who had posted the bounty that Charles encountered at the crossroads. Behind him was his wife, along with a little girl who looked around ten years old but had a somewhat vacant expression. "Mr. Charles, I truly thank you for saving my daughter. If it weren''t for you, I really don''t know what I would have done." The man, who had initially managed to keep hisposure, could no longer hold back his emotions as he spoke. He slowly bent his knees, tears of relief streaming down his face, wanting to express his gratitude before continuing. Charles couldn''t stand to see others like this, it felt very ufortable for him. So he directly pulled the middle-aged man, who was about to kneel, back up and said, "It''s nothing, it''s just good that everything is fine, and you''ve already paid the reward, so no need for this." "I know, that piece of metal is nowhere near as precious as my daughter. Mr. Charles, thank you so much!"The man, wearing sses, seemed to remember something, and carefully reached out his hand to pull his daughter closer. Charles looked at the little girl, her eyes filled with confusion and fear, mingled with a hint of surrealism, as if the scene before her was a dream. Slowly extending his hand, Charles gently patted the little girl on the top of her head, speaking very softly, "You''re safe now. Everything that happened was real, and those bad things are over." Upon hearing Charles''s words, the little girl began to tremble, and finally burst into tears. She clutched her mother''s shirt tightly, choking on her sobs, "Mom, I miss you so much. I''m scared it''s all a lie, and I''ll wake up and still be there." Seeing this, the girl''s parents half-squatted down, and the three of them embraced each other, crying together. Charles sighed, ncing at Celestine, and walked aside with her to avoid those who wanted to thank him. "Charles, that little girl is so pitiful. Even now, she thinks she''s dreaming. What on earth happened to her?" Celestine seemed to be affected, her eyes were slightly red as she asked. "It''s better if you don''t know those things. It''s fine, I''ll remember it." Charles thought for a moment, he still didn''t want Celestine to know the specifics. Celestine sensed that Charles''s tone was a bit strange, especially thest part, "I''ll remember it." It was filled with emotions she couldn''t quite understand, and an inexplicable charm radiated from Charles. Celestine couldn''t help herself and reached out to loop her arm through Charles''s. Noticing that Charles seemed like he wanted to move, she instinctively said, "Don''t move, just wait a moment." After saying this, memories of that night flooded her mind, when she had been held by Charles against the wall, and he had said something simr. Charles was a bit puzzled. He looked at Celestine''s flushed ears, unsure of what had happened, and after a moment of contemtion, he asked, "Do you want toe with me to the Forging Masters Guild? I have a few things to take care of there, but if you have other ns..." Celestine cut him off before he could finish, eximing, "No, I''m free!" "Alright then, let''s go." With that, Charles led Celestine toward the Forging Masters Guild. He currently had two pieces of orange-quality rare metal materials, enough to enhance the [ck gold long knife] to orange quality. At that point, hisbat ability would see a significant boost! When faced with various unexpected dangers, the multi-attribute [ck gold knife glow] could serve as a trump card. Inside the Forging Masters Guild, Charles''s arrival instantly drew the attention of everyone present. The previously bustling hall fell silent in an instant, only to erupt once more into heated discussions. "Isn''t that Charles? I heard he did something big yesterday, saving the lives of twenty-six children!" "I heard that too, but it seems moreplicated. There are rumors that an eighth-level Beast Master was involved in a battle yesterday!" "That can''t be true. There are hardly any eighth-level Beast Masters in all of Genosha, how could that be?" "Exactly! I heard Charles''s Beast Master talent is really extraordinary, it has astonished all the students at Cyber Academy!" "I just wonder what he''s doing here at the Forging Masters Guild today?" Once again, he was met with familiar chatter. Charles felt like he was being discussed wherever he went, it was inevitable. He wanted to keep a low profile, but his talent and achievements simply wouldn''t allow it. "Hello, is President Xavier in? I need to talk to him about something." Charles brought Celestine directly to the front desk and asked the staff. The staff at the Forging Masters Guild had a deep impression of Charles, just a few days ago, they received news that Jay, the staff member who had offended Charles, had died at the bordends! "Mr. Charles, hello! The president instructed us that you can go directly to his office on the second floor without needing to make an appointment." The staff replied carefully, their tone very gentle. Charles nodded and led Celestine up to the second floor. Seeing this scene, a businessman behind Charles spoke up, "Wait, who is this guy? Why does he get to see the president without an appointment? I''vee all the way from another country to Genosha and have been waiting for two days, and I still haven''t seen the president! Why does he get to see him right away?" The staff turned to nce at Charles, noticing that he seemed not to have heard. They sighed in relief and kindly exined, "That gentleman just now is Charles! His alchemy teacher is a master-level alchemist, even higher than the president''s forging level!" "A master-level? Are there really master-level alchemists in Genosha?" The businessman''s voice suddenly dropped several octaves as he quietly inquired. "Of course there are, and Charles''s Beast Mastery teacher is an eighth-level Beast Master! He is even hailed as a monster of Cyber Academy!" There were many other things about Charles that the staff did not mention. Instead, they directly suggested that the businessman pull out his phone and search for the information himself. After learning about all of Charles''s achievements, the businessman took a deep breath, constantly feeling grateful that he hadn''t spoken too loudly just now, hoping Charles hadn''t heard. Meanwhile, in the office of the president on the second floor of the Forging Masters Guild, Xavier looked at the two pieces of orange-quality rare metal materials on the table, and he appeared utterly shocked. As the president of the Forging Masters Guild, he knew much more than the outside world, and the more he knew, the more astonished he became! "Charles, how did you manage this? That organization has been hiding in Calivia for quite some time, yet you pinpointed its location in just two days! You truly are a monster!" Xavier asked, his eyes wide open. Charles scratched his head and started to exin to Xavier, "It wasn''t that difficult. The locations of the missing children were confirmed, and as long as there''s enough data, their positions can be analyzed." "You''re amazing, truly amazing. I''ve never met someone like you. But Charles, you still need to be carefultely and try to stay within Cyber Academy." Xavier said with concern. Hearing Xavier''s words, Charles understood that the matter regarding the eighth-level Beast Master from the Constetion organization had not been leaked by Jamie. "Got it, don''t worry, President. I''m fine." Charles replied. Xavier reached out and gathered the two pieces of orange-quality rare metal materials from the table. He then picked up the [ck gold long knife] and said: "The enhancement process for this knife will take some time. After all, we''re upgrading its quality from purple to orange, which is quite challenging." Xavier paused for a moment and continued, "It should be done by tomorrow afternoon. You don''t need toe pick it up, I''ll personally bring it to you." "Thank you, President." Charles said, unsure of what else to say. Although Xavier had mentioned he was helping Charles enhance the [ck gold long knife] for free to fulfill a wish, Charles couldn''t take such kindness for granted. He could only remember this goodwill in his heart and repay it when he had the chance in the future. As Charles and Xavier discussed the [ck gold long knife], they didn''t notice Celestine standing nearby. Her mouth was agape, and her expression was one of shock. What did it mean to upgrade to orange quality? Would Charles''s knife really be an orange-quality weapon? Moreover, the president of the Forging Masters Guild was personally working on it and would even deliver the weapon to Cyber Academy? This was all too astonishing for Celestine. She had never even seen a purple-quality weapon, let alone an orange-quality one! She felt that even the vice president''s top disciple at Aredale Academy, Grace, might not possess a purple-quality weapon! Her curiosity about Charles intensified, to her, he was always full of mysteries, endlessly captivating. Unbeknownst to her, her feelings for Charles had already reached a point where they could no longer be hidden or suppressed. "Alright, President, I''ll be waiting for you tomorrow. Thank you so much." Charles said. Xavier waved his hand, clearly unconcerned, and replied, "I won''t see you out. The sooner I start the enhancement, the sooner you''ll get your upgraded long knife." Charles nodded and turned to look at Celestine. He found her gaze distant, unfocused, as if she were deep in thought. "Okay, we''ve finished everything, we can leave now." Charles said as he approached Celestine and gently tapped her forehead. Celestine jolted, snapping out of her daze. She stared intently at Charles and asked, "Charles, how many things are there that I don''t know about you?" Charles walked toward the exit, replying, "There are still many things you don''t know. Let''s go, I''ll treat you to lunch." Celestine''s eyes lit up, and she hurriedly followed him. Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Inquiring About Colton After having lunch with Celestine, there was still some time left. Charles suggested, "How about I take you back to your academy first, and then I''ll head back?" Celestine was especially happy today, her whole demeanor was excited. When she heard Charles say this, she was about to agree but paused for a moment. Then she said, "Maybe it''s better if I don''t. I can take you backter, and you can have some rest before your afternoon sses." Charles felt a slight warmth in his heart upon hearing Celestine''s response. He shook his head nonchntly and said, "Don''t worry about me, I have plenty of energy." Upon hearing the words "plenty of energy."Celestine''s face turned red again. Charles stared at Celestine''s face, which looked as if it had been painted. He recently noticed that Celestine had changed a lot. When they first met earlier, her attitude was not only cold but also full of sharp remarks directed at him. Now, however, she was blushing and her ears were red, he couldn''t help but wonder what was going through her mind. After dropping Celestine off at her academy, Charles immediately returned to Cyber Academy. Taking advantage of the little time he had left, he went straight to the wooden cabin where Teacher Colton was supposed to be. Unfortunately, Teacher Colton still hadn''t returned. Charles had no choice but to head to the ssroom for his afternoon sses. As he walked into the ssroom, he sat in his familiar spot, but the person next to him was no longer there. Catherine''s seat remained empty, and no one from ss A dared to sit in it. At that moment, Zachary came up behind Charles and found a seat nearby. Cami also hesitated for a moment before joining that area. This action piqued the curiosity of the other students in the ssroom, who whispered among themselves, "What''s going on today? Why did Zachary and Cami sit over there with Charles?" "I think I know a little. I heard that someone saw Zachary and Charles at that abandoned factory yesterday. You can''t tell anyone." "Zachary is connected to that incident too? That''s not simple. I heard from my family that it''s a big deal and very serious." "I also heard that either today or tomorrow, a reward from the royal family ising down, supposedly a first-ss honor medal!" "Wow! An eighteen-year-old receiving a first-ss honor medal? That seems unprecedented." "Has there ever been a genius like Charles before? No, a monster?" "True, he really is a monster. It''s quite despairing." Charles was somewhat surprised by Zachary and Cami''s presence, but he didn''t mind. After all, the two of them had helped him a lot yesterday, and he discovered that they werepletely different from people like Zane. They had been raised well and possessed great manners and upbringing. "Charles, you were incrediblest night! I just took a few nces and couldn''t handle itI ended up throwing up!" Zachary said, leaning toward Charles with heavy dark circles under his eyes, quietly expressing his admiration. Yesterday, when he still didn''t understand what was going on, Mason exined to him what Charles had done in that pristine white room. Zachary imagined the scene, and it kept him up all night. So, his admiration for Charles was heartfelt and sincere, especially since he had yed a part in helping him. His father, Mason, even praised him and gave him the authority to mobilize more people! "Zachary, where did you and Charles gost night?" Cami quietly leaned in closer. She had prepared breakfast that morning and thought about what to say when she delivered it to Charles''s door. To her surprise, Charles had leftst night and returned to Cyber Academy. Thinking about this, Cami nced at Charles, a hint of resentment in her eyes, which quietly vanished when she saw his serious expression. "Cami, it''s not really appropriate to tell you, it''s a matter between men."Zachary said. What he really thought was that he absolutely couldn''t let the details of his own vomitinge out. "Pfft, if you don''t tell, Charles will, right?" Cami turned to look at Charles, her eyes filled with anticipation. To her surprise, Charles replied, "It''s indeed not something I can share with you." Cami felt even more curious. She had helped with Charles''s investigation and was involved in the rescue of twenty-six children, but she didn''t know much more than that. She had asked her father and others in the royal family, but they all gave her the same excuse, saying it was not appropriate to discuss. Charles straightened his back and leaned against his chair, focusing intently on the teacher at the podium while he spoke. "I''m not sure if you two are free after ss this afternoon, but I''d like to invite you to the cafeteria for a meal." Zachary''s eyes lit up, he was eager to get closer to Charles, not just because of his father''s request, but because he found Charles to have a unique charm. "Sure! I have nothing scheduled this afternoon!" Cami thought for a moment. She also wanted to go, but her schedule was already nned out. After her sses ended this afternoon, she had to go learn about flower arrangement. Looking up at Charles, Cami bit her lip and quietly took out her phone to send a message to her father, the Emperor of Genosha: [Father, Charles is inviting Zachary and me to dinner today. Can I skip my flower arrangement ss? I want to go eat with Charles.] After a moment, Cami received a new message on her phone: [With Charles? No problem, but remember to return to the pce before nine o''clock, and make up the flower arrangement sster.] Seeing this message, Cami was overjoyed and pumped her fist in the air. Just then, the teacher''s gaze from the podium shifted toward her, and he said, "Alright, then let''s have Cami answer the question I just posed." Cami''s expression went nk. Her mind had been solely focused on having dinner with Charles, and she hadn''t heard what the teacher had asked. At that moment, Charles quietly reminded her by repeating the teacher''s question. Cami quickly answered the question, and the teacher nodded in satisfaction before continuing with the lesson. While the teacher was writing on the board, Cami turned to Charles and said, "I can join you guys too, I''ll go to the cafeteria with you after ss." Charles nodded. He could sense that both Zachary and Cami were genuinely interested in the invitation to the cafeteria, without any hint of reluctance. In fact, he had initially nned to take them to the best restaurant in GenoshaCalivia, but he needed to visit Teacher Coltonter to ask some questions, and time was tight. There would be plenty of opportunities to spend time together in the future. The afternoon passed quickly, and after ss ended, Zachary and Cami followed Charles to a private room on the second floor of the cafeteria. The three of them chatted while enjoying their dinner. Being the same age, there were naturally many topics to discuss, but Zachary and Cami''s attention was primarily on how Charles was so exceptionally talented. After finishing their meal, the three of them parted ways. Charles checked the time and headed directly toward Teacher Colton''s wooden cabin. Colton was in the wooden cabin this time. As soon as they met, Charles immediately shared what had happenedst night. Colton''s hands shook, and he nearly dropped the miracle drug he was preparing. He quickly asked, "Are you sure you saw the hallucination against night, and you can remember it clearly?" Charles instinctively tried to recall, but Colton raised a hand to stop him. "It''s okay, this isn''t a big issue. Look at me, focus on my next alchemy steps. Pay close attention and concentrate entirely on this." Colton took a deep breath to calm himself and began demonstrating the alchemy steps. He had been so shocked that he almost forgot a crucial detail: Charles could remember what he had seen. That wasn''t a good sign, staring into the abyss allows the abyss to sense you. If it discovered Charles, things could getplicated! With Colton''s guidance, Charles sessfully forgot what he had been trying to remember and started learning about alchemy. As they were nearing the end of the session, Colton pulled out a bottle of miracle drug from his pocket and casually handed it to Charles. "This is the same miracle drug asst time, it''s meant to calm your mind. Drink it and get some sleep when you get home." He was still a bit concerned, but he couldn''t show it. He continued, "By the way, Charles, focus on your training for a while. Try to level up your Beast Master skills, don''t dwell on unrted things." Charles nodded. He understood Colton''s intent, he clearly didn''t want him to keep thinking about the strange events of that night. However, sometimes, the more you try to suppress a thought, the stronger it bes. Charles felt as if something special was appearing before his eyes again. The shadows behind Colton began to sway, and tentacle-like forms emerged. Taking a deep breath, Charles recalled his moments with Catherine, the yful Beep, his closeness with Celestine, and the situation with Lily. Sure enough, it was effective. The world around Charles returned to normal, and the shadows behind Teacher Colton appeared normal as well. "Teacher, I''ll head back now to rest."Charles said as he was about to say goodbye. Colton suddenly called out to him, saying, "Charles, I have to leave GenoshaCalivia tomorrow for about a week. You don''t need toe looking for me during that time." "Oh, and during the evenings, make sure to train well. If you''re really bored, visiting some entertainment venues isn''t a bad option." Charles scratched his head, curious about why Colton had to leave so suddenly. Chapter 195: Chapter 195: Just a Commoner Like You "Alright, alright, it''s nothing serious, just a little outing. You should head back now and drink the miracle drug to get some rest."Colton said, appearing somewhat impatient. He waved his hand, signaling Charles to leave. Charles didn''t press further and turned to exit the wooden cabin. Once Colton saw Charles''s figure disappear from view, the relief and nonchnce on his face quickly shifted to heaviness. The situation was actually not as simple as he had described. Over time, even if Charles didn''t actively think about it, those images would still influence him spontaneously. "Sigh, this is the downside of having such high talent. In a sense, it''s a disaster!" Coltonmented. He hadn''t expected Charles''s spiritual sensitivity to be even higher than he had imagined! It was as if fate had arranged for Charles to encounter a "familiar"! Colton recalled what Charles had mentioned. That eighth-level Beast Master fromst night was undoubtedly some indescribable being''s "familiar."and it had a certain connection to the tentacle he had seen in the secret chamber! If the timing had been different, or if it had been a different "familiar."the situation wouldn''t have been so severe. The reason Colton had to leave for a week was that he needed to help Charles find a way to suppress it! "By the way, I need to notify Ezra about this, his irresponsibility as a teacher is uneptable!" Colton felt a surge of anger at the thought. Although he understood that Ezra had important matters to attend to, as Charles''s Beast Mastery teacher, he had never even shown up in Calivia! Without any dy, Colton sent Ezra the information about Charles. Then he quickly packed a few things and left GenoshaCalivia under the cover of night. ... On the other side, Charles returned to his dormitory. After a quick wash-up, he followed Colton''s instructions and downed the "special suppression miracle drug" in one gulp. In an instant, he felt mentally lighter, and his entire being became more free. After sleeping soundly until the next morning, Charles, as usual, had breakfast and then headed to the ssroom. "Good morning, Charles."Cami greeted him first, and Charles responded briefly. The morning sses started quickly and ended just as fast. Zachary and Cami followed Charles out of the ssroom. As they stepped outside, they saw arge crowd approaching them. Charles frowned and instinctively thought about using the "darkness cloak" to leave the area. Unexpectedly, Zachary spoke up, "Charles, those should be royal people. It looks like they''re here to present you with a medal!" "Charles, I asked Father about it yesterday. Besides the first-level honorary medal, there are other rewards too."Cami said with a smile, clearly wanting to keep the specifics a surprise for Charles. Hearing Cami''s words sparked his curiosity, despite his initial urge to leave with the "darkness cloak." In no time, the crowd reached Charles and surrounded him. The people parted automatically, A tall, imposing middle-aged man dressed invish clothing slowly approached Charles, drawing everyone''s gaze. As he walked, he recounted the contributions Charles had made. When he was about two meters away from Charles, he finished his speech, and his tone softened. Looking at Charles with admiration, he spoke: "Mr. Charles, it''s a great honor to personally present you with this medal. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Avery Bai, and I am Cami''s uncle." Charles didn''t know who Avery Baiwas, but he understood that since he was Cami''s uncle, he must be a direct brother of the Emperor of Genosha, if not at least a prince! He was surprised that a prince was the one here to award him the medal! In front of many witnesses from Cyber Academy, as well as numerous media reporters, Charlespleted the award ceremony! But that wasn''t all. Avery Baicontinued to speak to Charles, "In addition to the first-level honorary medal from Genosha, you also have the opportunity to enter the royal treasury to select equipment, along with a reward of fifty gold coins!" As soon as the words left his mouth, the crowd erupted in astonishment and began to discuss among themselves: "A first-level honorary medal isn''t enough? He also gets a chance to enter the royal treasury! Damn, I''m so envious!" "Normally, a single honorary medal would be sufficient for what Charles has done. Why is the reward so generous now?" "Am I the only one drooling over those fifty gold coins? That''s fifty gold coins! I''ve never even seen that much!" "Me too! My family is wealthy, but I''ve neverid eyes on fifty gold coins!" "Getting to enter the royal treasury to select equipment isn''t as exaggerated as you think, there are so many items inside that it''s easy to pick some fairly ordinary gear." "Why don''t you mention that there are orange-quality items inside? Those are orange-quality items!" "There are only a few orange-quality items. Will Charles really be that lucky?" As Charles listened to the voices around him, he felt particrly at ease. When it came to selecting equipment, he had absolutely no difficulty! Ordinary people needed to identify the material, craftsmanship, usage, and so on of the equipment, but Charles only needed to look at the information prompts in front of him. As long as there were orange-quality items in the royal treasury, they would certainly not escape his notice! The first-level honorary medal was an honor reserved for heroes, it was an honor that many would fight for but never obtain! Charles didn''t care about that. What intrigued him the most was the royal treasury, especially since obtaining orange-quality equipment was a challenge, even for him. "Charles, you don''t have anything nned for noon, do you?" Avery Bai asked. Charles thought for a moment, Xavier would likely be delivering the "ck gold long knife" around that time, but he could ask Teacher Hale to receive it for him, so it should be fine. "I don''t have anything nned."Charles replied. Avery Baistated directly, "That''s perfect! There''s no need to open the royal treasury again. It just so happens that there are others who need to enter the royal treasury at noon, which saves us some trouble." "Others?" Charles repeated. Avery Bai exined, "Yes, besides you, there are two other people who need to enter the royal treasury, and one of them you know." Charles thought carefully, he didn''t know many people in GenoshaCalivia, and none of them fit the criteria. Under the envious and jealous gazes of the crowd, Charles followed Avery Bai out of Cyber Academy, and the two made their way to the pce. On the way, Charles sent a message to Hale, briefly exining the situation and asking him to collect the "ck gold long knife." Hale replied to the message instantly. He reassured Charles and reminded him, that the royal treasury is divided into an outer treasury and an inner treasury. There''s no significant difference in the quantity of equipment, but most of the truly rare and high-quality gear is located in the inner treasury. No one knows that Charles can see the information prompts, and for him, entering the royal treasury to select equipment is incredibly easy. Following Avery Bai deeper into the pce, after passing through several checkpoints, Charles finally arrived at the legendary entrance to the royal treasury. There were already two people waiting there. One of them was someone Charles recognized, it was David Zheng, who had dueled him at the Robinson family banquet! He didn''t expect David Zheng to also have the opportunity to enter the royal treasury to select equipment. But upon reflection, it made sense, someone like David Zheng, a warrior serving the country and fighting bravely, would naturally have such an opportunity. As for the other individual, Charles had no recollection of him, clearly someone he hadn''t met before. "Charles!" David Zheng waved his hand, looking somewhat excited. During the duel at the Robinson family banquet, it was a situation he had to face. At that time, David Zheng had just returned from the battlefield and needed to seek the Taylor family''s help for certain matters. To that end, he had even followed Zane around, driving him around and carrying things, which led to his duel with Charles. David Zheng had thought that after losing the duel, his prospects were bleak, but to his surprise, General Mason had heard about it and extended a helping hand. Charles responded to David Zheng, as he held a certain respect for warriors who protect their homnd. That was also why, during their duel, even though he could have killed David Zheng, Charles chose to spare him. "Alright, enough chit-chat. Time is tight, and soon you will enter the royal treasury to select equipment. There are a few things you need to be aware of."Cami said, pausing briefly before outlining the requirements: "Each person can only bring out one piece of equipment. Every item inside has a tracking device, so don''t harbor any fantasies." "The treasury is divided into the inner and outer sections. Currently, only Charles is qualified to enter the inner treasury. Don''t cross the line, there will be people watching." "You have only one hour. If you don''te out within that time, it will be considered a voluntary forfeiture, and you will lose your qualification." Charles, David Zheng, and the stranger nodded, understanding the requirements. Avery Baiwasted no time and directly opened the door to the royal treasury, allowing the three of them to enter. As soon as they stepped inside, David Zheng and the stranger were stunned by the scene before them. In the enormous treasury, various pieces of equipment were scattered across the floor, and rows upon rows of shelves were filled with even more gear. Moreover, in the inner treasury, disy cases showcased items that appeared exceptionally powerful! "Charles, I really envy you for being able to enter the inner treasury and pick out items. I just want to find one top-notch blue piece, as for purple or orange ones, I can''t even dare to think about them."David Zheng whispered. Charles patted him on the shoulder and said, "Dream big, I''ll help you keep an eye out when I have time. After all, the blood you''ve shed and the injuries you''ve endured on the battlefield deserve better gear!" "Hmph, what are you bragging about? You, a meremoner, can tell what''s good and what''s bad?" the stranger suddenly interjected. Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Orange Quality [Overlord Heavy Armor] Before Charles could make a move, David Zheng suddenly approached him and reminded, "Charles, that person is also from the Taylor family. His name is Bailey Zhao, so you shouldn''t get into a conflict with him." Hearing David Zheng''s words, Charles understood. No wonder this person mocked him as soon as he entered the royal treasury. It turns out he is from the Taylor family. "It''s such a great opportunity to enter the treasury and select equipment. For people like you, it''s simply a waste. You might end up leaving with just a white-quality piece of gear." Bailey Zhao wore a look of disdain on his face. The slots for entering the royal treasury to select equipment were limited, and not everyone had the chance. This time, he didn''t expect to be entering with Charles and David Zheng. In Bailey Zhao''s eyes, giving such a precious opportunity to twomoners was undoubtedly a waste! "Enough. Time is limited, so you all should hurry up and pick out suitable equipment," Avery Bai said from the doorway, his gaze fixed on Bailey Zhao, revealing a look of discontent. Bailey Zhao immediately fell silent. Once the door was closed, he turned back to Charles and continued, "What''s wrong? Not brave enough to speak? If you beg me and make my mood a little better, I might help you pick out a decent blue-quality piece of gear." Charles looked up at Bailey Zhao and asked curiously, "Oh, are you that confident?" "No matter how you look at it, I''m still better than youmoners!" Bailey Zhao was not being entirely truthful. As a member of the Taylor family, many of his predecessors had entered the royal treasury before him. Those individuals not only selected suitable equipment but also recorded other high-quality gear they encountered inside. As long as one wasn''t greedy and dared to take risks by choosing newly avable equipment, there wouldn''t be any surprises! Bailey Zhao was at least capable of selecting a purple-quality piece of equipment! Thinking about this, a more arrogant expression spread across Bailey Zhao''s face. He arrogantly spoke to David Zheng, "Last time you embarrassed the Taylor family. I''m a kind person. If you kneel down and apologize now, I''ll help you pick the best blue-quality equipment." David Zheng''s fists were tightly clenched. Although he wanted high-quality equipment, he wasn''t at the point of selling his dignity. Last time, he only sought help from the Taylor family because of his seriously ill sister. Now that there was no more issue with his sister, he didn''t need to degrade himself! "No thanks, I still trust Charles." David Zheng nced at Charles, who seemed a bit dazed next to him. He wasn''t entirely sure he believed what Charles had said. In terms of talent andbat power, Charles was someone he greatly admired, but selecting equipment required insight, experience, and a bit of luck. David Zheng didn''t believe that Charles possessed all of these qualities. Even so, when faced with Bailey Zhao and Charles, he chose to trust Charles. After all, if Charles hadn''t shown mercy back then, he would have been dead by now, and perhaps no one would care about his sick sister. Thinking of this, David Zheng''s heart was filled with gratitude towards Charles. He thought that if luck was on his side today, the equipment he picked might be of higher quality than what Charles chose, and then he could swap items with Charlester. Meanwhile, Bailey Zhao continued to mock him sarcastically, but Charles ignored him. An hour wasn''t much time, and he needed to make the most of it. The earlier distraction was due to the overwhelming number of information prompts appearing before his eyes. [Mystic Iron Supreme Spear [Green Quality]: A standard mystic iron forging, but during the forging process, the power of the earth fire was utilized, making it extremely hard, with average sharpness.] [Spirit Crocodile Armor [Blue Quality]: A decent piece of armor crafted from the hide of a crocodilian mystical beast, enhancing defensive capabilities without hindering movement, making it rtively lightweight.] ... As Charles walked toward the inner storage, he nced at the various equipment information beside him. There were quite a few blue-quality items, and asionally one or two purple-quality items appeared, but based on the descriptions and effects, they didn''t seem that impressive. As Charles was about to enter the inner storage, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. He walked over to the right shelf and pulled out a piece of equipment from the corner. [Toxic Dagger [Purple Quality]: Forged from the fangs of a sixth-tier ferocious beast, the Green Venom Python, this dagger is extremely sharp and carries a potent poison with each attack.] Charles''s eyes lit up. This was the first time he had seen equipment that carried poison, and judging by the effects and description, it was quite impressive for the outer vault of the royal treasury. At that moment, Bailey Zhao walked behind him, his gaze fixed on Charles, filled with disbelief. "How could it be? How does Charles know that piece of equipment is high quality? It''s impossible!" Bailey Zhao murmured to himself. The dagger in Charles''s hand was his top choice! It had also been intentionally ced in the corner by someone from the Taylor family who had previously entered the vault, to avoid detection by others enteringter. "Charles must just be curious; he definitely doesn''t know that the dagger he''s holding is a purple-quality weapon!" Bailey Zhao couldn''t tear his eyes away. He could only hope that Charles would merely pick it up to look at it. However, the oue was beyond his expectations. Charles actually took the dagger directly into the inner storage and casually ced it on a disy stand. "Damn it! I don''t have the qualifications to enter the inner storage. What should I do now?" Bailey Zhao trembled all over. He simply couldn''t understand why Charles would bring that dagger into the inner storage. Although there was only a simple separation between the outer and inner vaults, Bailey Zhao knew that every move they made was under someone else''s scrutiny. Changing the position of equipment was not against the rules, but forcing one''s way into the inner storage without qualifications was not allowed. "It seems I''ll have to settle for a backup purple-quality piece of equipment. Damn you, Charles!" Bailey Zhao''s expression was the worst it had ever been; no one wanted to lose out on a better option. Meanwhile, Charles, who had arrived in the inner vault of the royal treasury, was deep in thought. The inner storage wasn''t veryrge, and the various weapons and equipment on the disy stands all looked extraordinary. The specific information prompts for all the equipment appeared before his eyes, and there were only three orange-quality items in total! They were: [Thunder Breaker Spear [Orange Quality]: The spearhead is forged from the horn of an eighth-tier ferocious beast, the Thunder Unicorn, while the spear body is made of a mixture of various rare metals, making it both hard and somewhat flexible. Effect: Can actively release arge-scale thunder and lightning attack through the supreme spear, causing a wide range of enemies to fall into states of paralysis and fainting.] [Gale Bird Feather Shoes [Orange Quality]: Made from the feathers of the rare high-tier ferocious beast, the Gale Bird, these shoes enhance the user''s speed and reduce stamina consumption during long-distance running. Effect 1: Instant burst, allowing the user to dash forward a certain distance. Effect 2: Gliding, preventing a direct fall from heights by allowing the user to glide down.] [Overlord Heavy Armor [Orange Quality]: Crafted from special metal materials, this armor not only offers excellent defensive capabilities but also allows for weight adjustment, aiding the Beast Master in strength training and enhancing physical attributes and abilities. Effect: Weight adjustment, enabling instant changes to the armor''s weight.] Charles wanted all three pieces of orange-quality equipment, but unfortunately, he could only choose one. The first to be excluded was naturally the [Thunder Breaker Spear]. The [ck Gold Long Knife] was also orange quality after enhancement and was better suited for multi-attribute energy, so there was no need to choose this one. That left the choice between the [Gale Bird Feather Shoes] and the [Overlord Heavy Armor]. To be honest, Charles was quite interested in the [Gale Bird Feather Shoes]. His speed was already unparalleled among Beast Masters of the same level, and with the boost from the [Gale Bird Feather Shoes], he would be even more formidable. Moreover, both effects of the [Gale Bird Feather Shoes] were appealing, especially the gliding effect, which was perfect for a quick escape from the battlefield. "s, it''s a pity; the strength I truly train for is my own. Clearly, the [Overlord Heavy Armor] is more suited for me." Charles didn''t hesitate and directly picked up the [Overlord Heavy Armor]. He still wanted to use the [Overlord Heavy Armor] to effectively train his physical strength, and if utilized properly, the effects of the [Overlord Heavy Armor] could rival those of the other two orange-quality pieces. Just think about the ability to instantly change his own weight; it could be used for offense and could also alter his speed to catch enemies off guard. With two orange-quality items left, Charles pondered whether he could take the other one out of the inner storage and ce it in the outer vault. Just as he was about to walk out of the inner storage with the [Thunder Breaker Spear], a voice suddenly rang in his ear: "Young man, you''d better not do that. It''s against the rules." Charles looked around but didn''t see anyone else around. It seemed that the person speaking must be a high-level Beast Master, skilled in hiding their presence. What a pity for David Zheng; he would have to wait outside and help him find some suitable equipmentter. In the outer vault of the royal treasury, David Zheng furrowed his brow as he looked at the various pieces of equipment before him, struggling to make a choice. Meanwhile, Bailey Zhao had already picked out a purple-quality piece of equipment. Charles took a casual nce; it was indeed purple quality, but its effects were quite weak, making it one of the lesser items in that category. Even so, Bailey Zhao''s smile was utterly unabashed. He raised the equipment in his hand and said to Charles, "This one I have doesn''t even need a specialist appraisal; it''s definitely purple quality!" Charles couldn''t be bothered to respond. He walked up to David Zheng and asked, "Do you have any specific requirements for the equipment? Are you looking for a weapon or armor?" David Zheng was quite surprised. Instead of stating his requirements, he asked with concern, "Have you already made your selection so quickly? There''s still plenty of time. Charles, why don''t you take another good look?" Chapter 197: Chapter 197: Bailey Zhao, You’re Truly Despicable! Charles shook his head. The information prompt in his eyes showed that selecting orange-quality equipment was no challenge for him at all. "Let''s hear your requirements. There''s still some time, and I can help you take a look," Charles asked again. David Zheng, no longer hesitating, directly stated his needs: "I need a supreme spear." "No problem, leave it to me. I''ll find you a purple-quality supreme spear in a bit, so don''t worry," Charles replied. On the other side, Bailey Zhao''s disdain for Charles became increasingly apparent. He spoke up, saying, "Charles, stop pretending. You think you can find a purple-quality supreme spear? That''s just a joke!" Before Charles could respond, Bailey Zhao continued to mock him: "Maybe the armor you got is just white quality! So David Zheng, why don''t you bow down to me now, and I''ll help you pick one out!" Neither Charles nor David Zheng said a word. They both regarded Bailey Zhao as nothing more than a fly, toozy to pay him any attention. "You don''t believe me? I''m from the Taylor family! I know there''s a purple-quality supreme spear nearby!" Bailey Zhao grew anxious. What he wanted was to see David Zheng begging him on his knees. "Is this the purple-quality supreme spear you''re talking about?" Charles finally spoke up, holding a ck-and-red supreme spear and directing the question at Bailey Zhao. "How is that possible! No, that''s not it!" Bailey Zhao was utterly shocked. Even as he tried to deny it, David Zheng and Charles weren''t foolish; they saw right through his thoughts. David Zheng''s hands trembled slightly. He truly hadn''t expected Charles to help him find a purple-quality supreme spear! "Charles, that''s just an ordinary blue-quality supreme spear! You picked the wrong one! The purple-quality spear isn''t that one!" Bailey Zhao shouted urgently, still trying to mislead others. Unexpectedly, Charles directly pointed at the equipment in Bailey Zhao''s hand and said, "Did I make a mistake? The one you have is also purple quality, and it seems to be called the [me Dagger]. It''s quite suitable for a fire attribute Beast Master." Bailey Zhao waspletely stunned, unable to speak. He looked down at the dagger in his hand, then back up at the calm Charles. He had already been shocked that Charles found that purple-quality supreme spear. Now, Charles not only identified the quality of the weapon in his hand but even knew its name! How did he manage to do that? At that moment, Charles addressed the excited David Zheng, saying, "Hold on, don''t rush. I just noticed an even better supreme spear, close to orange quality. I''ll go get it for you." David Zheng nodded vigorously. He trusted Charles''s wordspletely, without a hint of doubt in his mind. Bailey Zhao also came to his senses. He was unwilling to let Charles and David Zheng find suitable weapons without a fight. Following Charles''s gaze, he saw a rather impressive supreme spear on the shelf to the left front. A supreme spear close to orange quality would be far better than the [me Dagger] in his hand! If he could get that nearly orange-quality supreme spear for Zane, the son of the Taylor family''s head, his position in the Taylor family would be secure! Bailey Zhao hesitated no longer. In an instant, he summoned his mystical beast and activated [Beast Mastery], elerating his movements and reaching for the supreme spear before Charles could. This unexpected turn of events left David Zheng furious. He shouted, "Bailey Zhao, you''re so shameless! How can you just steal it?!" "Steal? Everything in this treasure vault can be freely chosen. How is that stealing? What I grab first is mine!" Bailey Zhao clutched the supreme spear tightly in his hand. As he rebutted, he ran toward the vault''s exit, the [me Dagger] still in his possession. "Bailey Zhao! How dare you steal my stuff? That''s the one I was helping David Zheng pick out! How can you be so despicable?" Charles''s face showed clear anger, and his tone was very unfriendly. As Charles cursed Bailey Zhao for being despicable, he pretended to chase after him. Seeing Charles''s expression, thest shred of doubt in Bailey Zhao''s heart vanished. He didn''t hesitate to toss aside the [me Dagger] and chose to take the supreme spear out of the vault. "Why the rush? There''s still some time left. Have you made your choice?" Avery Bai, who had been waiting at the vault''s entrance, seemed a bit surprised and asked. Bailey Zhao turned to nce at Charles, who had given up the chase. He replied to Avery Bai with immense pride, "I''ve chosen! It''s this supreme spear!" "Alright then, once everyone is out, I''ll help you appraise it," Avery Bai said, looking carefully at the supreme spear in Bailey Zhao''s hand and speaking slowly. Inside the royal vault, David Zheng''s anger had not dissipated at all. He clenched his fists tightly and squeezed out a few words, "This is too much!" At that moment, Charles stopped and handed the original purple-quality supreme spear to David Zheng. "Don''t worry, that supreme spear is just white quality, it only looks nice; everything else about it is garbage," Charles said with a smile, speaking slowly. David Zheng was momentarily taken aback. He couldn''t quite understand and asked, "Wasn''t that a supreme spear close to orange quality?" Charles shook his head and replied, "No, I was just joking. I didn''t expect Bailey Zhao to be so despicable as to actually make a move to steal it." "Ah? Is that how it is?" David Zheng held the supreme spear Charles had given him, looking at Charles with aplex expression. He truly hadn''t expected that everything was part of Charles''s n. If Bailey Zhao had just shown a bit of dignity and not resorted to stealing, he could have at least walked away with the [me Dagger]. "Mr. Charles, you''re really clever. When ites time for the appraisal, Bailey Zhao will definitely regret it," David Zheng thought about what might happen next. Charles shook his head and replied, "It''s not that I''m clever; it''s just that Bailey Zhao is too foolish and too greedy." David Zhengpletely disagreed with Charles''s assessment. As a member of the Taylor family, Bailey Zhao had seen a lot and wasn''t easily fooled. It was because Charles was too smart, with a keen mind and excellent acting skills, that Bailey Zhao ended up suffering such a huge loss! "Let''s go, we should check out Bailey Zhao''s expressionter," Charles said, no longer dying, as he walked toward the vault exit with a satisfied David Zheng. As soon as they stepped outside, they saw Bailey Zhao tightly clutching the white-quality supreme spear, boasting to Charles with a triumphant look. "Charles, thank you so much! If it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t have gotten this supreme spear that''s close to orange quality!" The oue was already determined and couldn''t be changed. Charles couldn''t be bothered to act anymore. His face remainedpletely calm, and all traces of anger had vanished. Seeing Charles''s demeanor, a sense of unease rose within Bailey Zhao. He nced over at David Zheng, who showed no signs of resentment and even had a slight smile on his face, looking quite pleased. "Alright, everyone has made their selections. Bring your items over for appraisal and registration," Avery Bai said straightforwardly. David Zheng didn''t hesitate at all and was the first to hand over his supreme spear. "A purple-quality [Bloodthirsty Supreme Spear]? You have a good eye and some luck," Avery Bai remarked with some surprise. A purple-quality weapon isn''t easy to choose. He hadn''t expected David Zheng, as a warrior, to have such discernment. David Zheng, feeling a bit embarrassed, scratched his head and replied, "It wasn''t me; it was Charles who helped me pick it out." Hearing this, Avery Bai turned to look at Charles and said, "I didn''t realize you were so talented, Charles. Now I''m really curious about what kind of equipment you would choose." Charles handed over the armor he was holding to Avery Bai, who took just a nce and gasped in amazement. As one of the few pieces of orange-quality gear in the royal vault, he was clearly impressed by the [Overlord Heavy Armor]! "You really have an eye for this, kid. There are only a few pieces of orange-quality equipment in the vault, and you actually managed to pick one out," Avery Bai finally said after catching his breath. As soon as those words were spoken, everyone present was left in stunned silence. David Zheng initially thought that Charles had only selected a purple-quality piece of equipment, but to his surprise, it turned out to be orange quality! He felt no jealousy or envy; instead, he gave Charles a thumbs up, expressing his admiration. As for Bailey Zhao, his first reaction was a fleeting desire to snatch the [Overlord Heavy Armor] away. However, since they were in the pce and Avery Bai was present, he quickly dismissed that thought. What followed in Bailey Zhao''s mind was joy. Since Charles was able to pick out an orange-quality armor, then the supreme spear in his hand must also be, as Charles said, close to orange quality! With that thought, Bailey Zhao eagerly handed over his supreme spear to Avery Bai. After taking the supreme spear, Avery Bai examined it closely, ultimately looking at Bailey Zhao with a strange expression on his face. "What''s wrong? Is the quality too high?" Bailey Zhao asked, slightly confused. Avery Bai replied, "Didn''t the Taylor family members tell you anything before you came? How could you choose a white-quality supreme spear?" "White quality? No way! You must have made a mistake in the appraisal. This is a supreme spear close to orange quality!" Bailey Zhao was in disbelief, bing agitated as he snatched the supreme spear back. "Indeed, it''s a white-quality supreme spear, and it''s the worst among white-quality ones. It only looks good on the outside and is generally used for performances," Avery Bai said calmly, not angry at all. He found it very strange. Logically, with the family''s assistance, Bailey Zhao should have at least been able to choose a purple-quality piece. How could he end up bringing out a white-quality supreme spear? At that moment, Bailey Zhao felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He stood there in shock, and the supreme spear he had considered a treasure fell to the ground with a crisp sound. "Charles! How dare you scheme against me!" Bailey Zhao roared in anger. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Evaluation of Charles Bailey Zhao wasn''t foolish; he realized that everything Charles had said in the vault was a lie. It was just a white-quality supreme spear! It was by no means a weapon close to orange quality! At that moment, Bailey Zhao''s eyes were filled with unprecedented rage. Five hexagram arrays lit up, and his anger made him forget that they were still inside the Genosha pce, with others around. David Zheng immediately gripped the supreme spear in his hand, positioning himself protectively in front of Charles. Avery Bai calmly stated, "Bailey Zhao, you need to understand the consequences of acting out in the pce. You should know better." Those words fell like a bucket of cold water, dousing half of Bailey Zhao''s fury. He stood there, taking deep breaths, trying hard to calm himself down. After a moment, Bailey Zhao approached Avery Bai and lowered his once-proud head, pleading, "Can you give me another chance? I was deceived by Charles, which is why I brought out a white-quality supreme spear." Avery Bai shook his head and replied, "You know the rules. Once you step out of the vault, there is no second chance to choose." Bailey Zhao took two steps back, his body swaying, clearly unable to ept this reality. He turned to Charles and shouted in anger, "It''s all your fault! Charles, you are truly despicable and shameless for deceiving me!" "Deceiving? Bailey Zhao, don''t nder me. When did I ever deceive you?" Charles said calmly. Bailey Zhao clenched his fists tightly, blood dripping from them. He questioned, "If you didn''t say this supreme spear was close to orange quality, then why would I have given up the [me Dagger]?" Charles turned to David Zheng and said, "When did I ever say it was close to orange quality? What I meant by close to orange quality was only referring to the appearance of this supreme spear." David Zheng thought carefully and realized that Charles had indeed never imed it was close to orange quality. "You did it on purpose!" Bailey Zhao was nearly beside himself with anger, his resentment toward Charles nearly boiling over. "What do you mean I did it on purpose? You were the one who directly snatched that supreme spear away. You''re just too foolish," Charles said, not wanting to say any more to someone like Bailey Zhao. Some people never reflect on their own mistakes and push all their misfortunes onto others. If Bailey Zhao hadn''t started belittling Charles and making various taunts as soon as he entered the vault, Charles wouldn''t have targeted him. Or if Bailey Zhao had been a bit smarter and less greedy, this oue wouldn''t have happened at all. People whock self-reflection and are both foolish and greedy are not worth Charles''s time. Just as Charles was about to leave with David Zheng, Bailey Zhao blocked their way. His target was no longer Charles but rather David Zheng. "If you know what''s good for you, you''ll trade me your supreme spear. I''llpensate you with something else!" Bailey Zhao said, clearly reluctant. He had set his sights on the [Bloodthirsty Supreme Spear] in David Zheng''s hands. David Zheng looked confused and asked uncertainly, "What? You want to trade your white-quality supreme spear for my purple-quality supreme spear? Isn''t that just robbery?" "It''s a trade, and there will be other things aspensation," Bailey Zhao insisted. "What kind ofpensation?" David Zheng pressed for more information. To his surprise, Bailey Zhao replied, "I''ll throw in an extra five gold coins aspensation." As soon as those words were out, even Avery Bai, who had been watching from the side, couldn''t hold back. "Bailey Zhao, you need to be more aware of yourself. You''re part of the Taylor family; don''t embarrass yourself." Bailey Zhao acted as if he hadn''t heard, his gaze fixed intently on David Zheng. David Zheng outright refused, "Sorry, but I won''t treat a white-quality supreme spear as a treasure!" "How dare you refuse me!" Bailey Zhao raised his voice, his toneced with threats. This made Avery Bai''s brows furrow. He felt that Bailey Zhao was bing a bit too arrogant. After all, David Zheng was a warrior of Genosha. Threatening a Genosha warrior in front of him, a prince of Genosha, was disrespectful. "Bailey Zhao, get lost before I take action! And if you dare make any other moves, you''ll experience the wrath of a prince!" Avery Bai dered decisively. Coming to his senses, Bailey Zhao shot a deep nce at David Zheng and Charles and left without saying another word. "Don''t worry, don''t be afraid of his threats. I will look out for you," Avery Bai said to David Zheng. David Zheng nodded. His only concern was for his sister; nothing else could make him humble himself again. Before long, under Avery Bai''s lead, Charles and David Zheng left the pce. In front of Cyber Academy, David Zheng wore a serious expression and bowed deeply to Charles, saying, "Charles, thank you so much today. You''ve already helped me twice. I have nothing to repay you with now, but if you ever need anything, don''t hesitate toe to me!" Charles waved his hand dismissively. To him, these were just small favors, and he had a good impression of warriors who protected their homes and country. "It''s no problem. I have some things to take care of back at the academy," Charles replied. After exchanging contact information, they parted ways. Back at Cyber Academy, Charles arrived at Hale''s office. He was looking forward to the enhancement of his [ck Gold Long Knife] to orange quality. "Professor Hale, I''m back," Charles said. Hale looked a bit curious and asked, "So, what kind of equipment did you pick in the vault?" Charles directly pulled out the [Overlord Heavy Armor] and handed it to Hale. Hale waved his hand, not epting it. He wasn''t very skilled at equipment appraisal and simply said, "Just tell me what quality it is. Is it purple quality armor?" Charles shook his head. Hale frowned slightly, looking somewhat disappointed. "That''s alright; blue quality armor is still pretty good. Better than nothing." "It''s orange quality," Charles said. Hale''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Orange quality? There are only a few pieces of orange quality equipment in the vault, and you actually found one?" Charles nodded. He was used to people''s astonishment; it couldn''t be helped. Everything he did seemed impossible to others, but for him, those things were quite simple. "Alright, no surpriseing from you. By the way, the president of the Forging Masters Guild, Xavier, sent over the [ck Gold Long Knife] at noon. Take a look," Hale said, calming himself a bit as he handed the [ck Gold Long Knife] to Charles. Charles looked at the information prompt before him: [ck Gold Long Knife [Orange Quality]: Forged from ck gold and mixed with other rare metal materials, crafted using a special techniquebined with the fires of the Earth''s core. It can conduct various attribute energies, is incredibly tough, and exceptionally sharp. In the face of damage caused by the fusion of multiple attribute energies, it can slowly self-repair.] [ck Gold Knife Glow]: Inject attribute energy to activate and generate knife light capable of long-distance attacks. The information prompt didn''t change much; the quality had improved to orange, and it had gained self-repair capabilities. Charles was somewhat surprised. He remembered Xavier mentioning that the fusion of multiple attribute energies would cause wear on the [ck Gold Long Knife], requiring metal materials for repair. He didn''t expect that after the [ck Gold Long Knife] upgraded to orange quality, it would actually be able to self-repair! Now he just needed to control the frequency of using the fusion of multiple attribute energies, and he wouldn''t have to look for other rare metal materials of orange quality anymore. Thinking of this, Charles almost forgot that he still needed to find Sadie to practice the fusion of multiple attribute energies using her light attribute skills! There had been so many things going on in the past few days that Charles was nearly overwhelmed. After saying goodbye to Hale, Charles went to the dedicated testing grounds at Cyber Academy to test the [ck Gold Long Knife]. Meanwhile, In the Genosha pce, a dignified middle-aged man with an imposing presence was listening to Avery Bai''s report. "Wait a minute, you''re saying Charles not only picked the [Overlord Heavy Armor] but also made the Taylor family suffer a huge loss?" Emperor Bai Qianli of Genosha asked with curiosity. Avery Bai looked down and said, "I''m not clear on the specifics, but it seems that Charles has impressive appraisal skills and used his acting to make Bailey Zhao take the initiative topete." "Interesting. It''s been a while since I''ve encountered such an interesting young man. You met Charles today; what are your impressions of him?" Bai Qianli was not concerned about the orange quality armor. After all, it was meant for others to select from in the vault. If Charles took it, it only showed how capable he was. He was quite curious about Charles and had reviewed a lot of information about him, which is why he wanted to hear Avery Bai''s opinion. "Your Majesty, I have a very good impression of Charles. There''s a saying thates to mind to describe him," Avery Bai expressed his thoughts on Charles. Emperor Bai Qianli replied, "What saying? Go ahead and share." "With a heart like a fierce tiger, he delicately sniffs the roses," Avery Bai recalled his interactions with Charles. He continued, "Moreover, Charles has a great attitude toward David Zheng. He truly admires warriors." "Very good, very good, very good," Emperor Bai Qianli said three times in session. This was the first time Avery Bai had heard such praise, but considering who was being evaluated, he wasn''t surprised. "We should encourage Cami to spend more time with Charles. A genius like him growing up is a good thing for Genosha," Bai Qianli said, then turned to look in Kingston''s direction. His gaze was deep, and it was unclear what he was thinking. After a moment, he sighed, "War is approaching, and this world is about to fall into chaos. We need to be prepared." Avery Bai slowly replied, "Yes, I have a sense of foreboding about the future." Chapter 199: Chapter 199: Zanes Fury In the Genosha Calivia, at the Taylor family vi. Bailey Zhao was carefully lowering his head, tightly gripping the white quality supreme spear in his hands. Across from him sat Zane. The son of the head of the Taylor family, the same Zane who had bowed his head and apologized to Charles at the Robinson family banquet. At this moment, Zane was clearly unaware of what had happened in the royal treasury. Bailey Zhao had gone to the royal treasury to help Zane select a suitable weapon. ording to the experience of the Taylor family''s ancestors, this was clearly not a difficult task. Under normal circumstances, it should at least be a purple quality weapon. The Taylor family was not only tied to Benson but also had other factions. As Benson''s son, Zane currently had no better options. A purple quality weapon would already be more than satisfactory for him. "Is this the purple quality supreme spear you selected? It should be that Bloodthirsty Supreme Spear, right? Why isn''t it the Toxic Dagger?" Zane asked, somewhat perplexed. Members of the Taylor family also had to meet certain criteria to enter the royal treasury. Just when Bailey Zhao was on the verge of asking, he sessfully obtained the qualification with the help of the Taylor family. "The Toxic Dagger was taken into the inner treasury by Charles, and I couldn''t get it." Bailey Zhao still hadn''t revealed the truth of the matter, he was too afraid. Zane took a deep breath. Whenever he thought of Charles''s name, his whole body would tremble, not from fear but from anger. He said, "Charles! It''s always Charles. One day, I will repay the humiliation I bear tenfold to Charles!" Zane gritted his teeth as he spoke. He reached out, wanting Bailey Zhao to hand over the supreme spear, but to his surprise, Bailey Zhao hesitated. "What''s wrong? Did something happen?" Zane sensed that something was off and asked. Bailey Zhao''s legs went weak, and he knelt on the ground, trembling as he replied, "I had originally obtained the me Dagger, but, but I was deceived by Charles. This supreme spear is only of white quality." "What! White quality? You were allowed to enter the royal treasury, and you chose a white quality supreme spear?" Zane''s eyes widened, he simply couldn''t ept it! While kneeling on the ground, Bailey Zhao exined what had happened in the treasury, of course omitting some details, mainly not mentioning his own foolishness and greed. He focused on Charles''s despicable and cunning nature. "Damn it! Damn Charles, damn you! Did you provoke him?" Zane wasn''t foolish, he understood that Bailey Zhao must have initiated the confrontation with Charles. Otherwise, Charles would never have gone out of his way to cause trouble. "I didn''t! I just spoke the truth, Charles is just amoner..." Before Bailey Zhao could finish his sentence, Zane kicked him to the ground, causing him to spit out blood. "Commoner? Even if you consider him amoner, his teacher in Beast Mastery training is Ezra! You idiot!" Zane was extremely angry. He never expected that this time Bailey Zhao would bring it upon himself, and it would involve his weapon situation, leaving him with only a white quality supreme spear! "Damn it! Damn it! Charles deserves to die, and so do you!" Zane repeatedly kicked at the fallen Bailey Zhao. The blood that flowed pooled slowly on the smooth marble floor, reflecting Zane''s crazed expression fueled by anger. He didn''t know how long it had been before he stopped and shouted angrily, "Charles! I will not let you off." "And that David Zheng! With the borders tense, someone from the Taylor family will definitely go to the border. At that time, I will make sure he knows the power of the Taylor family!" Meanwhile, Charles, being targeted, was happily putting the ck Gold Long Knife back into his storage space. After being enhanced by Xavier, the power of the ck Gold Long Knife had significantly increased! Facing the fusion and conduction of three types of elemental energy, he felt no loss at all, and the activated ck Gold Knife Glow was much stronger than before. However, against a level six Beast Master, it might still be somewhatcking. After all, as time goes on, the gaps between Beast Masters berger, making it increasingly difficult to battle above one''s level. "It seems I need to ask Sadie for help soon, using her light attribute skills to practice multi-attribute energy fusion." With that thought, Charles took out the newly acquired orange quality equipment from his storage space. Wearing the Overlord Heavy Armor, Charles initially felt no pressure at all, the entire suit felt as light as a thin piece of clothing, not affecting his movements in the slightest. As the weight was adjusted, Charles began to feel more strain, until he felt his muscles trembling with every step he took, at which point he stopped increasing the weight. Afterward, dressed in the Overlord Heavy Armor, Charles entered the training room to begin his Beast Master training, along with physical exercise. With every exertion, Charles could clearly feel the pain of his muscle fibers tearing, yet his face remained calm, showing no signs of difort. By the time afternoon sses started, Charles still hadn''t taken off the Overlord Heavy Armor, instead, he put on a loose-fitting garment and headed to the ssroom. As soon as he entered, all the eyes of ss A were drawn to Charles, and they began whispering: "I wonder what quality equipment Charles picked in the royal treasury." "I think a blue quality piece would be impressive, if he got a purple quality item, that would be a huge win!" "Are you dreaming? Charles doesn''t have any family support, relying on himself, how could he possibly pick a purple quality item?" "That''s true, for amoner Beast Master, it takes a lot of luck. I heard that someone from the Taylor family also entered the royal treasury today, they definitely picked a purple quality item!" "That''s a given, especially since it''s the Taylor family." Meanwhile, Charles was carefully distributing his weight onto his legs, knowing that if he didn''t, the chair would surely copse under the weight when he sat down! "Charles, I''m really curious about what kind of equipment you picked in the treasury today. Can you share?" Zachary asked, sitting behind Charles. Cami was nearby, and upon hearing Zachary, she eagerly chimed in, "I know, I know! I asked my father about it at lunch, and he told me. Charles, can I say?" Thest question was directed at Charles, clearly indicating that Cami wanted to see his reaction, as it wasn''t proper etiquette to speak without permission from others. Charles didn''t mind, the fact that Bailey Zhao and David Zheng already knew made it unnecessary to keep it a secret, so he nodded in agreement. "Could it be that Charles really picked a purple quality item? That would be amazing."Zachary seemed to have guessed something, he thought Charles must have chosen a purple item, which was why it needed to be kept a secret. Unexpectedly, Cami spoke up, "No, it''s an orange quality item! Even my father was surprised!" "What! An orange quality item!" Zachary''s eyes widened, orange quality gear was extremely precious, even for someone like him. Zachary, shocked, spoke a bit too loudly, catching the attention of nearby students, who exchanged nces filled with disbelief. Someone said, "Is it true? Did Charles really pick an orange quality item? No way." "It must be true, just look at how shocked Zachary is. It doesn''t seem fake." "So that means Charles is already strong enough, and now with an orange quality item, how can anyone elsepete?" "Sigh, I wanted to challenge him, but now I don''t feel like it at all." "Don''t be discouraged! Even without gear, Charles could still easily defeat you!" Throughout the afternoon ss, there were whispers among the students, and even after the teacher corrected them multiple times, some still couldn''t contain their shock and continued talking to their neighbors. Finally, as the ss was nearing its end, Cami turned her head, her big eyes blinking rapidly, and quietly said to Charles, "Charles, you treated me to dinner yesterday, and today I want to treat you. Do you have time?" Faced with Cami''s invitation, Charles politely declined, he still needed to meet with Jace and Sadie, mainly to ask Sadie for help with training. However, he also realized he hadn''t contacted Jace in a while, so he might as well meet them togetherter. Cami felt a bit disappointed by Charles''s rejection, and Zachary, with a smile, chimed in, "You can invite me! I have time." Cami ignored Zachary, remaining silent. Taking advantage of the fact that ss hadn''t ended yet, Charles quietly pulled out his phone and sent messages to Jace and Sadie, [Do you have timeter? I''d like to grab dinner with you both.] Soon, replies came back from both of them, indicating they were free. In the evening, in a private room of the cafeteria on the second floor of Cyber Academy, an excited Jace sat down right next to Charles and said, "Charles, I can''t tell you how envious I am of you! You''re amazing! In the past few days, news about you has spread all over Calivia!" "Charles, you know, many people are offering high prices to buy your autograph from me, it''s almost driving me crazy!" "Charles,..." Charles felt a bit overwhelmed and quickly replied, "Enough about that, let''s eat first. After we finish, I have something I''d like to ask you both for help with." Jace immediately quieted down, his excitement bing even more apparent, and even Sadie looked a bit curious. Soon after they finished dinner, Charles began to speak, "So, here''s the deal: I mainly want to ask Sadie to help me with training, and in return, I will give you a revival pill for each session." Upon hearing this, Sadie''s eyes widened, as a green quality miracle drug, she had certainly heard of the revival pill. A newly opened treasure vault in Calivia was selling this miracle drug, and it was quite valuable. After a moment of hesitation, Sadie asked, "Charles, what do you need me to do?" Chapter 200: Chapter 200: The Mysterious Gift Charles slowly exined, "Here''s the deal: I need your light attribute skills to help me with training, and it won''t take too longabout an hour should be enough." "Huh? That''s it? No other requirements?" Sadie was clearly surprised. This task was not difficult for her at all, in fact, it was incredibly simple and hardly seemed worth a revival pill aspensation. "That''s all. So, what do you think? Can you do it?" Charles asked. Sadie nodded without hesitation, agreeing readily. If others found out about this, they would definitely be insanely jealous! "Charles, what about me? What can I do to help you?" Jace asked, a bit impatiently. Charles scratched his head and replied directly, "For now, there isn''t anything you can assist with. Why don''t we wait and see?" Jace''s expression fell. He knew he couldn''t help Charles at the moment, unlike Sadie, who had light attribute support skills. "Alright then, if you ever need me, just let me know."Jace said. After a moment, he curiously asked, "Charles, I heard from the A-ss students that you picked an orange-quality piece of equipment from the royal treasury. Is that true?" Charles answered without hesitation, "It''s true. It''s just an orange-quality piece of equipment, though." "Just an orange-quality piece? Oh my gosh! For most Beast Masters, not only is it rare to own one, but they''ve never even seen one!" Jace exined, listening to Charles. Sadie nodded beside him. The reason she agreed to Charles'' request was that she wanted to buy a suitable weapon butcked the funds. "Charles, can I see that orange-quality equipment? That way, I would already be ahead of most Beast Masters!" Jace said, his face filled with anticipation as he stared at Charles. Charles couldn''t stand it anymore. He took off the outeryer of clothing and handed the Overlord Heavy Armor to Jace. Clearly, Jace didn''t know much about weaponry and couldn''t tell the quality of the Overlord Heavy Armor, but that was enough to make him happy. Heughed like a child beside him. Charles thought to himself that he still had an orange-quality Overlord Broadsword that he hadn''t revealed yet, otherwise, Jace would be even more shocked! After a while, Charles and Sadie left the cafeteria. Jace seized every moment to train diligently. ording to Sadie, Jace had been working really hardtely, as if he wanted to challenge the A-ss students, hoping to attend sses with Charles. Charles could only wish him well in that regard. Before long, Charles took Sadie to the training ground at Cyber Academy. To prevent any interruptions from others, Charles specifically spent extra money to secure a private training area. Charles took out the ck gold long knife, ready to go. Sadie summoned her light attribute mystical beast, the white deer with giant horns [Attribute]: Light [Level]: 24 [Quality]: Gold [Skills]: Extremely fast light bullet, blessing of light... [Weakness]: Dark attribute ... [Blessing of Light]: Condenses light attribute energy from the antlers, enhancing speed and defense, and also boosting the Beast Master''s energy control. Charles looked at the information prompt before him. It seemed that the level of the white deer with giant horns was higher than before, indicating that everyone was making progress. Without thinking too much, the blessing of light fell upon Charles. He quickly tried to infuse the attribute energy from his body into the ck gold long knife. The first attempt at merging the three types of energy took a full thirty seconds, far slower than the explosive speed he had shown when facing three level five Beast Masters before! The terrifying energy gathered within the ck gold long knife. Charles did not rush to unleash the ck gold knife glow, he wanted to control this energy as much as possible. Time passed little by little. Before an hour had psed, Charles felt himself growing weak, clearly unable to continue any longer. "Let''s call it a day. Next time, I''ll contact you in advance."Charles said to Sadie. Sadie''s expression had long since gone numb. She had witnessed the knife light that Charles unleashed, which was not only fast but incredibly powerful. He truly was a monster student at Cyber Academy! "It''s not even an hour yet. How about...?" Sadie felt the time was insufficient and wanted to suggest reducing the reward a bit. To her surprise, Charles waved his hand dismissively and said, "It''s fine, we''ll count it as an hour. Your help has been very important to me, so it''s only fair." He took a revival pill out of the jet ring and ced it in Sadie''s hand. "This... this is too much, it''s a bit too precious."Sadie hesitated. Charles said, "It''s nothing. I made it myself, it''s not as valuable as you think." At this, Sadie''s eyes widened as she stared at Charles. She knew that Charles was a high-level alchemist, but she only had a vague understanding of it. She hadn''t expected that Charles could actually create a miracle drug like the revival pill. In Calivia''s treasure house, a revival pill was worth two gold coins! Ordinary green-quality miracle drugs were nowhere near as valuable. However, the revival pill was essential for Beast Masters, as it was perfect for healing injuries. This made the price of the revival pill higher than that of other miracle drugs of the same quality. "Thank you, Charles. If you ever need anything, please feel free to contact me."Sadie said. After saying this, she suddenly realized something was off with her previously cute expression. Why did that statement seem to carry other meanings? Her face gradually turned red. To prevent Charles from noticing, Sadie turned and jogged out of the training room. There was still some time left in the evening. Charles didn''t return to his dorm to rest, instead, he went to a ce specifically for Beast Masters to train. He wanted to make the most of his time to improve his strength. He took out the miracle drug that Colton had given him earlier from his storage space. [High-Level Auxiliary Training Miracle Drug] [Quality]: Orange [Description]: This is a training aid potion that, once consumed, rapidly increases the user''s Beast Master training speed for half a month! Without any hesitation, Charles downed the high-level auxiliary training miracle drug in one gulp. After digesting the effects of the drug, Charles didn''t notice anything special, he would need to train as a Beast Master to see the specific results. Sure enough, with the assistance of the orange-quality miracle drug, Charles''s training speed increased by more than double! At this rate, in just over a week, he would be a level four Beast Master! "However, advancing too quickly isn''t necessarily a good thing. After bing a level four Beast Master, how should I choose my fourth mystical beast?" Charles didn''t allow himself to get lost in joy. He remained quite clear-headed. If he were to contract a fourth mystical beast, and there were no better options avable, Charles nned to contract a gold attribute mystical beast. This would better enhance his defensive capabilities and physical attributes. Fortunately, there was still a little over a week until the biggest auction in Genosha Calivia began. He would check the auction to see if there were any suitable mystical beasts avable. It was already quitete. After finishing his training and just returning to his dorm, he encountered Hale waiting at the door. "Teacher Hale? Were you waiting for me?" Charles asked, somewhat puzzled. Hale helplessly disyed what he was holding and said, "Of course, I was waiting for you. These things are all gifts sent to you by others." "Gifts for me?" Charles was even more confused. He didn''t have many close rtionships in Genosha Calivia and couldn''t think of anyone who would send him gifts. He opened the dorm door and let Hale into the room. Charles took the bag from Hale''s hand, opened it, and looked closely at its contents, instantly stunned. Inside were various itemssweets, fruits, vegetables, and several letters. "Teacher Hale, who sent all this?" Charles asked while carefully unpacking the letters. Hale didn''t answer. He knew that Charles would understand once he finished reading the letters. Charles pulled out a sheet of paper. The handwriting was messy and crooked, with some misspellings: [Brother Charles, thank you for saving me. I can see Mom and Dad again!] [Brother Charles, Mom said you saved me. You''re really a hero.] ... Hale had thought that Charles would be very happy and joyful upon seeing these letters.Unexpectedly, Charles remained silent. There was no expression on his face at all, he carefully ced the letters back into the envelopes and then into his storage space. Hale, who was perceptive, sensed an undercurrent of sadness in Charles, like an iceberg floating on the surface of the sea. Beneath that sadnessy boundless anger! "Don''t overthink it. You''ve done enough, Charles. Having too strong of an empathetic ability isn''t a good thing for kind-hearted people."Haleforted Charles. He seemed to recall something, and a flicker of pain crossed his previously calm eyes. "I''m fine, Teacher Hale. It''s gettingte, you should head back and rest."Charles replied. Seeing this, Hale didn''t press the issue further and quietly left. Once Charles was alone in the dorm, he slowly took an apple out of the bag, washed it, and started eating. As he ate, Charles looked out the window towards the direction of the abandoned factory. He had not forgotten what had happened in that pure white room underground, it was etched deeply in his mind. "316, 316, 316!" A calm voice echoed in the room. If Jamie were beside Charles and heard this number, he would surely be shocked, because it was the exact number of children who had met their fate underground! Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Mysterious Fragment Early the next morning, Charles was awakened by the text message alert on his phone. Ezra had sent him a message: [Something should arrive at the academy tomorrow night. Once you receive it, make sure to wear it properly and don''t take it off casually.] Charles nced at the message and instantly perked up. He hadn''t expected Ezra to send him a message! He quickly picked up his phone and replied: [Teacher, what is it? Also, do you know what happened with Catherine?] After a long wait, Ezra went silent again. "Teacher Ezra seems to be busy with something, it feels like it might be dangerous." Charles thought carefully and realized that there hadn''t been any special events recently. Teacher Colton had left for a week, and he had no idea what was going on. Could it be that Teacher Colton had told Teacher Ezra about what happened that night? Charles had some spections in his mind, he suspected that the item Ezra mentioned could help him face the unknown... As soon as he thought of this, the world before Charles began to blur. The once ordinary shadows of the table and chair seemed to quiver, almost as if they hade to life, sprouting tentacle-like appendages. "Damn it!" Charles cursed under his breath. He began to desperately calm his racing heart. Ezra hadn''t shared any other information with Charles, likely out of concern that Charles would overthink things. However, spection and contemtion were habits Charles couldn''t change, he often analyzed various situations, and it had be second nature! Now, he had no choice but to distract himself. Charles frantically recalled the times he spent with Catherine, along with the nights he shared with Celestine, not to mention the events involving Lily. Again and again, the most primal desires of humanity helped to sessfully shift his focus. But that wasn''t enough, although the shadows of the surrounding objects no longer seemed eerie, they still felt alive to Charles. "I need toe up with a way to amp up the excitement and temporarily forget all of this."Charles muttered to himself. He had woken up earlier than usual this morning, with more than two hours to spare before sses began. He directly dialed Celestine''s number. "Who is this?" Celestine''s voice was groggy, clearly still waking up and a bit dazed. Once she realized it was Charles calling, she quickly sat up in bed, adjusted her tone, and said, "What''s up, Charles? Calling me so early? Are you missing me?" Charles thought back to the times he had encountered Celestine after arriving in Calivia, and a warm feeling rose within him. He replied, "Uh, do you have time right now?" "What? Right now! Wait a second, is something going on?" Celestine''s voice was filled with surprise, she hadn''t expected Charles to respond like this! "Nothing much, I''m just going to swing by your ceter."Charles answered. "Come to my house?" Celestine was taken aback. She had no idea why Charles woulde to her house so early. Charles felt he needed to exin a bit, so he said, "I''ve been dealing with some strange thingstely, and I thought maybe having you around would help." He was speaking the truth, faced with such bizarre urrences, Charles wanted to see if being with Celestine would make things feel a little better. When Celestine heard the mention of strange happenings, she instantly became anxious and asked worriedly, "What''s wrong? Are you okay? I''m home, so you cane over anytime." "It''s nothing, don''t worry. I should be fine."Charles said before heading out of Cyber Academy toward Celestine''s house. Meanwhile, Celestine quickly got out of bed. She rushed to the bathroom, washed her face, and then blew on her palms to check for any scent. After that, she started applying her makeup and pulled out a set of pajamas from the closet that she had never worn. It was a ckce nightgown, very sexy. Ever since she bought it, it had been sitting in the closet. Now that Charles wasing over, Celestine suddenly remembered this nightgown. Although she wasn''t entirely sure what Charles wanted to do, she understood that this was a rare opportunity! Catherine had been away from Charles for several days, and Celestine had to seize the opportunity to make her mark in Charles''s heart! After quickly finishing everything, Celestine was satisfied as she looked in the mirror, but felt something was still missing. She found a pair of ck stockings and put them on, her already straight and fair legs became even more alluring! She then slightly adjusted the neckline of her nightgown, ensuring that Charles could see the view of her chest. Celestine suppressed her inner excitement as she stared at Charles. Before long, the doorbell rang. Celestine peeked through the peephole and confirmed that it was indeed Charles, so she opened the door without hesitation. The moment he saw therge expanse of fair skin exposed at Celestine''s chest, Charles was momentarily stunned. This was exactly the effect Celestine wanted, and she felt quite satisfied, though she tried not to show it. Seeing Charles still standing at the door, she reached out her arm and pulled him inside, pressing her breasts against the bare skin of his arm. The silky feel of thece nightgown,bined with her curves, stirred something deep within Charles. Once they entered the room, Celestine bent down, lifting her rounded hips, swaying slightly as she searched for her slippers in the shoe cab. Charles watched Celestine''s slow movements and suddenly realized something. He stepped forward and pressed against Celestine''s backside. Celestine shuddered slightly, her voice turning soft and flowing like water as she said, "First, let''s change shoes, and once we go in..." After removing his shoes, Charles picked Celestine up and said, "I came today to talk to you, to see..." Before he could finish his sentence, Celestine wrapped her arms around Charles''s neck and pressed her lips against his mouth. The scene instantly spiraled out of control, leaving only the sound of gasping breaths from Charles and Celestine. Without any hesitation, Charles carried Celestine into the bedroom. Just as he was about to ce her on the bed, she tightly wrapped her arms around his neck and said with a dreamy look, "No, don''t put me down. Do it likest time." Charles naturally knew what that position fromst time was. Holding onto the unwilling Celestine, he made his way to the wall. Celestine''s hands instinctively slipped under Charles''s shirt, constantly caressing as she said, "Just take it slow at first." Before long, the room was filled with uncontroble moans. They moved from the wall to the bed, then to the mirror, until two hours had passed and it was almost time for morning sses. "Wow, I''m exhausted! Two hours!" Celestiney on Charles''s chest,pletely drained but utterly satisfied. She listened to the strong, steady beat of Charles''s heart while drawing circles on his chest. "Alright, it''s almost time for sses to start. Let''s get up and tidy up."Charles said, feeling much more rxed now. His mind waspletely clear of distractions. "It''s all your fault! I''mpletely worn out, and you seem fine."Celestine pouted, opening her mouth and gently biting Charles''s chest. Charles instantly became intrigued again. Looking at Celestine''s flushed lips, he reached out and gently pressed her head down. Before long, the sounds of swallowing echoed through the bedroom. In the ssroom of Cyber Academy, Charles listened to the lecture with unusual quietness. His mind was exceptionally clear, and what he needed to focus on now was diligently practicing his Beast Master training and working on the fusion of multiple energy types to speed up the process. Yesterday, with Sadie''s assistance, Charles still couldn''t match the speed he had achieved during his first attempt at triple energy fusion. At that time, he had been in a life-or-death crisis, and human potential was infinitely amplified. Now, he could only practice as much as possible, shorten the time, and increase his speed. Chapter 202: Chapter 202: Ezras Warning Charles felt a surge of surprise. Since parting ways with Ezra in Lsengard, he hadn''t seen the Beast Mastery teacher again. Now, he had many questions he wanted to ask in detail. For instance, he wanted to know about his parents, the reason Catherine left, and the bizarre scene he witnessed during the hunt for the "salivate over a humpback whale." In that sky, ten bloody meatballs were floating, with countless tentacles obscuring the entire sky. What on earth was going on? Now, wearing the Mysterious Fragment, even when he thought of those past scenes, the things before his eyes would no longer change. It seemed that the item Ezra sent him was indeed very useful. Just a fragment, and its quality was already at the orange level. If it were whole, wouldn''t it reach the golden quality? Thinking of this, Charles felt a bit curious. He already had three pieces of orange-quality gear on him, and if he mentioned it, no one would believe him. Even in the Genosha royal treasury, there were only a few pieces of orange-quality gear, while he had three all to himself! After bidding farewell to Hale, Charles continued into the training room at Cyber Academy. Today, he was primarily focused on his Beast Master training and enhancing his physical strength. Charles sensed that it wouldn''t be long before he reached the level of a fourth-tier Beast Master. In addition, he needed to help Max, Mousie, and Mia level up as well. Right now, Max and Mousie''s levels were a bit low, not to mention Mia, who had just advanced and needed a lot of time and energy dedicated to her improvement. That''s just how Beast Master training works, the further you go, the harder it bes, and the greater the gap in strength! Moreover, once Charles reached the fourth tier of Beast Master, he would need to contract a suitable mystical beast within a short period. Otherwise, he would dy his progress in training again. Days passed as he continued training and honing his skills bit by bit. Charles was just one step away from bing a fourth-tier Beast Master. It was during the noon of that day when Charles received a message from Ezra. [I''m back, in Hale''s office.] Seeing the message, Charles had no time to reply. He immediately activated the Darkness Cloak and arrived at Hale''s office. It was still that familiar ck robe, and Ezra''s figure was concealed beneath it, making his face hard to see. "Teacher!" Charles called out from the doorway. Ezra stood up and carefully scrutinized Hale before slowly speaking, "I''ve heard about the recent events. You truly are my student, almost reaching the fourth tier of Beast Master." Charles felt a bit embarrassed and scratched his head as he walked into the office. He immediately asked, "Teacher, I have some questions I''d like to ask." Upon hearing this, Hale stood up and walked toward the door, saying, "I have some matters to attend to. You two have a good chat." Once Hale left, Ezra spoke up, "I know you have many questions. I came back today mainly to check on you. Feel free to ask whatever you need." "Today? Teacher, do you have to leave again?" Charles asked in surprise. He initially thought Ezra could stay in Genosha Calivia for a while, but it seemed that he would be leaving tomorrow. "Yes, I have to leave tonight. There are many matters that need my attention."Ezra replied with a sigh, as if recalling something, and he didn''t borate further. Charles decided to ask his most pressing question first, "Teacher, do you have any specific news about my parents?" "I can only say that your parents are temporarily safe. They are no longer in the Ethereal Grove. To find them, you must at least reach the seventh tier of Beast Master, otherwise, it''s impossible."Ezra answered. "Not in the Ethereal Grove? Then where are they?" Charles pressed on, unwilling to give up. Ezra replied, "They are, of course, outside the Ethereal Grove. Charles, this world is muchrger and more dangerous than you can imagine. Above the ninth tier of Beast Master, there are even more powerful beings!" As if recalling something terrifying, even Ezra, an eighth-tier Beast Master, felt a hint of fear. He continued, "You are currently only a third-tier Beast Master. Focus on improving your strength as much as possible." Charles nodded. Ever since arriving in Genosha Calivia, everything that had happened was telling him that this world was about to descend into chaos. To protect himself and his family, he needed to possess great power! "Teacher, I have another question about Catherine''s departure. Is there any news? I''ve sent her quite a few messages, but I haven''t received any replies."Charles asked. Ezra looked up at Charles with a strange tone and said, "What''s this? You''re so concerned about her?" "Well, did something happen to her?" Charles didn''t argue back. "I''ve investigated as well. It''s rted to the Gaoshan nationality, and she needs to return for a year."Ezra replied tly. Charles felt that the situation might not be as simple as Ezra described. When Catherine left, her emotions suggested that they might never see each other again. "Teacher, is that really true?" Charles asked again. "s, no one can interfere in this matter. All the geniuses of the Gaoshan nationality have returned to their homnd because there is an exceptionally brutal trial awaiting them."Ezra revealed without holding back. He exined to Charles what the Gaoshan nationality''s trial entailed. It turned out that the Heritaliana mountains, where the Gaoshan nationality was located, were not just a single mountain but a vast range of mountains. In the Gaoshan nationality, there is a tradition: whenever the cry of the ck Stone Eagle echoes through the mountains, it signifies the start of the trials for the Gaoshan people. All the talented youths must enter the mountains to seek the legacy of their ancestors. "The dangers hidden within the Heritaliana mountains are such that even I wouldn''t dare to tread lightly, so..." Ezra stopped there, and Charles understood the implied meaning. He didn''t react much, remaining unusually calm, as if he wasn''t worried at all. "Don''t keep so many things bottled up inside you, Charles. You still have time."Ezra said before turning to leave. He still needed to visit the principal, Jamie. Left alone in Hale''s office, Charles slowly exhaled and clenched his fist. Aftering out of Principal Jamie''s office, it was already evening, and it was almost time for him to leave. However, before leaving, there were still some matters to attend to. To prevent any future provocations against Charles, Ezra decided to take advantage of the night to visit the Taylor family''s territory. In the darkness of the night, The head of the Taylor family, Benson, was busy in his study. Recently, there had been quite a few matters to deal with, and all of Charles''s informationy on his desk as he scrutinized it carefully. Just then, a terrifying pressure suddenly descended upon the Taylor family. Everyone in the Taylor family was startled, standing frozen in ce as if it were the end of the world. Many faces were filled with despair and fear. Benson didn''t have time to leave through the door, he opened the window and jumped out instead. Looking up, he saw a pitch-ck tiger with mes burning around it stepping out from a hexagram array. Its jewel-like eyes exuded an overwhelming aura of dominance. The tiger was enveloped in ck mes, under the moonlight it resembled the scythe of death, radiating an infinite sense of danger. "This, this is the Nine-Tailed me Tiger! Ezra has returned?" Benson said, his body stiffening as he trembled out those words. Then he looked at the sky, and indeed, behind the Nine-Tailed me Tiger, there was another figure quietly floating in the air. "Ezra! What do you mean by this? The Taylor family has not provoked you!" Benson was filled with dread, he remembered how terrifying Ezra was. In Genosha Calivia, no one was a match for Ezra! "Hmph, this is just a warning. If Ie again, not a single soul will be left alive in the Taylor family."a calm voice reached the ears of everyone in the Taylor family. In the next instant, both Ezra and the Nine-Tailed me Tiger vanished without a trace. All that remained were the members of the Taylor family, copsed on the ground, grateful to be alive. "Damn it! This is simply too much! Ezra, Charles!" Benson first sighed in relief, then became furious. As one of the top families in Genosha, he had always been the one to threaten others. Now, Ezra had summoned a mystical beast to their territory to issue a warning, which was a disgrace to Benson! But what could he do about it? Was there anyone who could stand against Ezra? As he thought of something, a flicker of resentment and determination shed in Benson''s eyes as he looked in the direction Ezra had left. The Robinson family experienced something simr, these two families had provoked Charles. Facing Ezra''s warning, they spent the night without sleep, all in fear and anxiety, unsure of what to do. As for Charles, the key figure, he waspletely unaware of what was happening outside. At that moment, he was diligently training in the training room. When he finished his training and stepped out of the room, he immediately spotted Hale''s figure waiting for him. "Hale, what''s going on? Is there something happening thiste?" Charles asked, somewhat puzzled. Hale wore aplex expression on his face and slowly began to speak, "Charles, something happened just now. The people from the Robinson family are asking me to arrange a time for them to apologize to you." "The Robinson family is apologizing? What happened?" Charles asked, his face filled with confusion. Hale exined, "Just now, Uncle Ezra visited the Taylor and Robinson families to warn them, and it scared both families half to death." Chapter 203: Chapter 203: The Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association After hearing the details of the situation, a warm feeling rose in Charles''s heart. Even though Ezra hadn''t said much when he returned. Thebination of the Mysterious Fragment and the warning to the Taylor and Robinson families was enough to show how much he cared for Charles. Now, it seemed that no one in Genosha Calivia would dare to provoke Charles without reason. "Hale, do you have any suggestions regarding the Robinson family?" Charles asked, passing the matter over to Hale. After all, Hale used to be part of the Robinson family, and he might still have some feelings for them. To Charles''s surprise, Hale responded directly, "The Robinson family is the Robinson family, and I am me. Charles, you don''t need to worry about my feelings. However, I still suggest you set a time to have a good talk with the Robinson family. If they want to apologize, they must show sincerity and will likely offer some valuable things." Hale was also considering Charles''s situation. He knew that Charles was about to reach the fourth level as a Beast Master, and that would require a good amount of money for contracting mystical beasts. This was just the right opportunity. Charles nodded and replied, "Alright, I''ll see when I have time. For now, I need to focus on breaking through to the fourth level of Beast Master in the next few days." "By the way, there''s one more thing I just found out: the exchangepetition of the three academies is going to be held earlier."Hale said. He briefly exined the general situation. The tension at the border between Genosha and Kingston was increasing, with other countries stepping in to mediate the situation. However, neither Genosha nor Kingston was willing to back down or suffer losses. They had no choice but to agree to hold a battle between talented Beast Masters to negotiate based on the oue. Therefore, the exchangepetition of the three academies was moved up, scheduled for a month from now. "A month from now?" Charles thought about the timeline. By the time he broke through to the fourth level as a Beast Master, a month should be enough for him to contract his fourth mystical beast and raise its level to a decent standard. However, a month was still a bit short, he needed to speed up the creation of hisbat techniques and the fusion of multiple elemental energies. "Charles, my suggestion is that you should try to participate. When you face off against the talents from Kingston, you will likely encounterpetitors for the Cyber Academy''s main campus slot."Hale advised. Charles nodded, agreeing with Hale''s perspective. Moreover, gaining exposure to the talents from other countries would be beneficial. After Catherine left, there had been no new students in the Cyber Academy who could keep up with Charles, which was not advantageous for his Beast Master training. Competition brings pressure, and that is what elerates improvement. "Additionally, the top few in the exchangepetition of the three academies will have the opportunity to enter a special secret realm in Genosha, where they can expedite their Beast Mastery training. It''s a precious opportunity."Hale added another piece of news. Charles''s eyes lit up at this. A secret realm that could speed up Beast Master training? This was extremely important to him, and now he had to participate in the exchangepetition and the subsequent battles. With only a few days left until Colton returned, Charles found that he no longer needed to study alchemy at night, making his schedule even tighter. "The Calivia auction is starting in three days. I wonder if I have enough money to buy a suitable mystical beast egg. Should I refine some revival pills to make some extra gold?" Charles pondered. He didn''t want to find himself in the same situation as before, where after reaching the third level as a Beast Master, he couldn''t find a suitable mystical beast. However, that would dy his training progress. If only Colton could give him that diamond-quality mystical beast egg ahead of time. Thinking about this, Charles shook his head. There was still a long time before the agreement with Colton was to begin, and he hadn''t fulfilled his part yet. How could Colton hand him a diamond-quality mystical beast egg? "I guess I should sleep less in the next few days and refine some miracle drugs to earn a bit more gold."Charles said to himself. After returning to his dormitory, he didn''t rest but began the process of refining revival pills. Time passed quickly, and on the day the auction was set to begin, Charles sessfully reached the fourth level as a Beast Master. No one knew this news, The gold coins in Charles''s possession had reached one hundred and fifty! This includes the gold earned from refining revival pills over the past two days, as well as the fifty coins awarded by Genosha before. One hundred and fifty gold coinssome of the smaller families in Calivia would have to liquidate all their assets to gather this much! With dark circles under his eyes, Charles took out his phone to check his bnce and said uncertainly, "I wonder if there''s an emerald-quality mystical beast egg. This money should be enough, right?" Charles sighed. Human desire never diminishes. He now only wanted to contract an emerald-quality or diamond-quality mystical beast, he had already lost interest in silver or gold quality. After thinking for a moment, he realized that he had been so busy with his Beast Mastery training and refining pills that he hadn''t seen Celestine muchtely. Charles pulled out his phone and arranged a time to meet Celestine at the location of the Calivia auction. This auction was the annual event in GenoshaCalivia, hosted by the renowned Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, which was well-known throughout the Abyssal Depths. It was a coalition of major forces from seven different countries. The auction would take ce over three days, with the items bing more valuable as the event progressed. Charles didn''t know much about this auction, most of his information came from online searches, and there was very little avable. Clearly, this was an event that only the upper echelons of Genosha''s elite could know about and attend. Before long, Charles arrived at the most bustlingmercial area of Genosha. A towering building stood before him, with the words "Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association" prominently disyed on a sign. At the entrance, a stone statue carved from rare materials exuded an imposing presence, almost appearing alive at first nce. After waiting for a moment, Celestine''s figure appeared in front of him. "Charles!" As soon as she got out of the car, Celestine eagerly waved her arms to greet Charles. She knew that Charles had been very busytely, so she had refrained from disturbing him. However, during the quiet of the night, she often found herself thinking about him. So, as she jogged over to Charles, Celestine once again unhesitatingly linked her arm with his, a satisfied smile on her face. "Alright, let''s go inside. I heard online that you need to register as a member to participate in the auction." Charles led Celestine into the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. As soon as they entered, a receptionist dressed in ck stockings respectfully called out, "Wee to the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. How may I assist you?" "Hello, I''d like to participate in this year''s auction. Is there anything I need to do?" Charles replied calmly. As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall began to buzz with conversation. "Annual auction? This young man doesn''t look like hees from money. He can''t possibly belong to any major family, people from big families don''te here to handle procedures." "He''s probably just an inexperienced kid who thinks he''s important because he has a few gold coins." "That''s true. He looks like he''s only eighteen or neen. How much money could he possibly have?" "However, he does look somewhat familiar. I feel like I''ve seen him somewhere before." At this moment, in the hall of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, many people were busy with other matters. Upon seeing the young Charles and Celestine, they began to whisper among themselves. Some staff members found Charles somewhat familiar, but before they could pinpoint who he was, a mature female staff member wearing a name tag quickly jogged over. "Hello, I am Yana, the hall manager of the Genosha branch of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. It''s a pleasure to serve you."Yana said, swaying her ample bosom as she extended her hand toward Charles. Charles had not reacted much yet, but Celestine was feeling a bit jealous. She nced at Yana''s chest, then looked down at her own. Unconsciously, she tightened her grip around Charles''s arm. Charles showed no change in expression and said, "Hello, I would like to process my participation in the annual auction." "Sure, Mr. Charles, please follow me."Yana replied with a gentle smile. Charles looked at her a bit longer, he hadn''t introduced himself, yet this manager already knew his name, clearly having heard of him before. Meanwhile, the others in the hall were starting to react, chatting among themselves: "I remember now! He is Charles! The apprentice of the Level 8 Beast Master and also the apprentice of a Master-level Alchemist!" "So it''s him! I thought it couldn''t be someone from a major family, they wouldn''t need toe here to handle procedures." "Damn, I hesitated for a moment, thinking this guy was just an ordinary Beast Master, and now Yana has stolen my client!" "Don''t feel bad, maybe this Charles doesn''t have much money after all. Just because he''s the apprentice of a Level 8 Beast Master and a Master-level Alchemist doesn''t mean he''s rich." "That''s true!" As Yana led the way, she listened to theughter and discussions of those around her, and her smile grew even brighter. Could Charles really be short on money? She didn''t think so. She had seen clearly that while Charles dressed simply and modestly, the items he wore were anything but ordinary. Even a single jet ring was worth a pretty penny, not to mention the ne he wore at his chestshe couldn''t even tell what quality it was! These people talking really had no sense of perception at all! Yana brought Charles and Celestine to a private room and turned to ask, "Mr. Charles, ording to the rules of the Seven Kingdoms Chamber of Commerce, the annual auction is held in three sessions, each with different participation requirements." "I was wondering which session you would like to participate in?" Yana continued to ask. Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Small Auction Charles thought carefully. His main purpose for attending the auction was to contract a mystical beast, everything else was secondary. However, since it was the annual auction of Genosha, there should be plenty of good items avable. It wouldn''t hurt to take a look. "I would like to participate in all of them. Are there any requirements?" Charles replied. "Well, Mr. Charles, in order to participate in all of them, you must be a senior member of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association."Yana said. Charles continued to ask, "Senior member? How can one be a senior member?" "It requires the rmendation of two other senior members, or one distinguished member, along with a verification of certain assets."Yana exined in detail, worried that Charles might not understand. "The membership is divided into five levels: junior, intermediate, senior, distinguished, and the highest, supreme level. To be a senior member, you need rmendations from others." Charles frowned at this information. He hadn''t expected that attending the auction of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association would be soplicated, requiring him to seek rmendations from other members. "If I don''t know any other members, does that mean I can''t participate in the auction?" Charles asked. Yana shook her head and replied, "Mr. Charles, you must be joking. If you mention that youck member rmendations, there will be plenty of people eager to be your referee." Charles nodded. He didn''t n to do that. Instead, he took out his phone and sent messages to Zachary and Cami to ask for help. Within a minute, Cami replied: "[Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association member, Charles, let me ask my father. He seems to be a supreme member.]" Charles quickly replied: "[No, it''s just a small matter. I only need two senior members.]" It seemed like Cami didn''t see the message, as there was no further reply. On the other hand, Zachary sent a string of numbers and said, "[Charles, this is my father''s member ount. Just use this.]" Momentster, Cami also sent a string of numbers, clearly another Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association member ount. Charles looked at Yana and said, "I have two member ounts here. Is that okay?" Yana appeared somewhat surprised. She nodded and walked over to the equipment in the private room, starting to input the two ounts from Charles''s phone. When the ount information appeared on the screen, Yana froze in ce, unable to move. Seeing this, Charles slowly said, "What''s wrong? Is it not possible?" "No, no, no, Mr. Charles, there''s absolutely no problem. Please wait a moment, I need to report to my superior."Yana said, a bit flustered. Given her extensive experience, she usually wouldn''t be so shocked. But the information from the two ounts Charles provided was truly astonishing! One was the membership ount of the Emperor of Genosha with the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, and the other was the ount of General Mason of Genosha. Both were supreme-level members! Originally, there would have been no issues processing a senior membership, but Yana had other thoughts in mind. She wanted to make a good impression on Charles as much as possible. So, Yana went directly to the office of the president of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association''s Genosha branch and briefly introduced the situation. Unexpectedly, the president, Daniel Long, immediately became sharp-eyed. He knew a bit more than the average person. What Ezra did that night at the Taylor family and Robinson family had spread among the upper echelons of Genosha! Without further thought, Daniel Long hurried to the door of the private room where Charles was, knocking carefully. After receiving Charles''s permission, he entered. "Hello, Mr. Charles, I am the president of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association''s Genosha branch. Given your special circumstances, we will directly process a supreme-level membership card for you. Please hold on a moment." Charles was somewhat bewildered. He hadn''t expected that the ounts sent by Zachary and Cami would attract the president''s attention. "Is it because of those two member ounts?" Charles inquired. To his surprise, Daniel Long shook his head and said, "No, Mr. Charles, it''s because of you. If I had known you were here to apply for membership, I would have been waiting for you." This was no exaggeration. While the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association was powerful, they usually didn''t pay much attention to ordinary Beast Masters, even disregarding them entirely. It was simply because Charles''s teacher was Ezra! The information of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association was moreprehensive than that of some prominent families, and the more they knew, the clearer Ezra''s strength became! Soon, the membership processing waspleted, and just as Charles was about to leave, Daniel Long said, "Mr. Charles, there''s a small auction starting shortly, and there are quite a few good items inside. I''m not sure if you''re interested?" Charles was a bit puzzled and asked, "Isn''t the auction supposed to officially start tomorrow evening?" "Yes, Mr. Charles, the annual auction indeed officially begins tomorrow night, and the list of auction items will also be sent to your phone then."Daniel Long exined first, then continued, "The small auction happening shortly features some special items, such as information, news, and other things. There might be something you want." Upon hearing this, Charles nced at Celestine beside him. He was somewhat interested, a small auction for special items might yield some good finds based on the information presented. Noticing Charles''s interest, Celestine directly said, "Charles, I have nothing nned forter. Why don''t we go check it out?" Charles nodded, and under Daniel Long''s guidance, they headed down to the underground of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. On the other side, Yanapleted her reception duties and returned to the hall, where a colleague immediately asked curiously, "Yana, is that Charles really here for the auction?" "Yes, could it be that he actually got his membership and is qualified to participate in the auction? The requirements for a mid-level membership are not low."Yana replied. Thinking of President Daniel Long''s attitude and the two supreme-level member ounts, she smiled and said: "Guess what level of membership Charles has now?" Someone guessed, "It can''t be a high-level membership, can it? Does he really have that much money?" Yana shook her head, indicating that was incorrect. Others discussed, "I told you, he seems like just amoner. How much assets could he possibly have? He must be a mid-level member." "But Yana, you really have an eye for talent. You sessfully processed a mid-level membership, so your performance this month won''t be low." "Pfft, it''s just a mid-level membership, it''s not that difficult." Yana replied, listening to her colleagues'' discussions while her mind kept recalling moments spent with Charles. This was the first time Yana had met someone like Charles. He was clearly a big shot but had no airs about him, exceptionally low-key and calm. Thinking of this, Yana nced disdainfully at the colleagues who were gossiping and said lightly, "Yeah, he just processed a supreme-level membership. With a little effort, you could do it too." "What! A supreme-level membership? No way!" "What qualifications does Charles have to be a supreme-level member? There seem to be only fifteen of them in all of Genosha!" "He seems to be just a third-level Beast Master. How could he possibly be a supreme-level member? Yana, you shouldn''t make up such ridiculous stories." Yana didn''t exin. Having seen many people, she naturally understood that some would struggle to ept things they had never witnessed. She wouldn''t attempt to convince them, once the rewards from the association were handed out, they would know that everything she said was true. Meanwhile, in the underground elevator of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. Daniel Long stood in the elevator and said, "By the way, Mr. Charles, the small auction will officially start in an hour. Before that, there will be a market for item exchanges, and you can take a look. You''ll be notified when it''s about to start." "Item exchange market?" Charles hadn''t heard of that before. He had only been aware of the annual auction of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association and didn''t realize there were so many other activities involved. It seemed that only by entering the upper echelons of society in Genosha would one be qualified to know these things. "Yes, Mr. Charles. The items in the exchange market are generally unidentifiable in terms of quality or purpose, a mixed bag. The Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association only provides the venue and takes no responsibility for anything else."Daniel Long exined a bit further. This intrigued Charles even more. He understood Daniel Long''s implication: the items in the exchange market varied in authenticity, and it depended on one''s discernment and appraisal skills. For Charles, that was no problem at all! With his information prompts, taking advantage of a good deal in the exchange market would be incredibly simple! "Charles, let''s just wait for the auction to start."Celestine said with some concern. As a student at the academy, she was only proficient in Beast Mastery, she didn''t understand anything about item appraisal. "Don''t worry. With me around, no one knows appraisal better than I do."Charles replied confidently. Daniel Long in the elevator twitched his mouth at Charles''s words. Even the most skilled appraiser wouldn''t dare to say such things, considering the vast number of items in the world that not everyone could recognize. He assumed Charles was just trying to impress hispanion with exaggerated ims, so he didn''t think much of it. "Alright then, we''ll see. I don''t have much money on me."Celestine whispered close to Charles''s ear. Looking into Celestine''s sincere eyes, Charles felt a warmth in his heart. He knew she was worried about not having enough money. The Stokes family only had a bit of influence in Lsengard, and in Genosha Calivia, they were nothing significant. "Don''t worry, leave it to me. Trust me."Charles said. At that moment, the elevator stopped, having reached its destination. Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Gold Quality Mystical Beast Egg After Charles and Celestine followed Daniel Long through a narrow passage, their surroundings suddenly brightened. Various calls of vendors filled the underground space. The lights were bright, making it feel nothing like being underground, and there were quite a few peopleing and going. It seemed everyone was waiting for the small auction to start, looking to pass the time at the item exchange market. "Mr. Charles, feel free to browse around and see if anything interests you. I have some matters to attend to, so I''ll be leaving for now." Daniel Long said, slightly bowing before turning to leave. Now it was just Charles and Celestine. Charles nced at Celestine, who wore a curious expression, and he led her into the crowd. "Top-quality alchemy materials, an absolute must-have for every alchemist! Come take a look!" "Gold quality mystical beast egg, don''t miss your chance! Come and see!" "Purple quality forging materials, absolutely rare, and the price is very lowonly 50 silver coins." When Charles heard about the mystical beast egg, he instantly perked up. Out of curiosity, he approached the stall and examined it closely. An information prompt appeared immediately, it was merely a Silver quality mystical beast egg, coated with a specialyer of paint to make it look more like a Gold quality one. Noticing Charles'' lingering gaze, the vendor eagerly said, "Hey there, young man,e take a look! A Gold quality mystical beast egg is quite a rarity." "Are you sure this is a Gold quality mystical beast egg?" Charles asked deliberately. "Absolutely! I even have an identification certificate! Here, take a good look!" The vendor said as he pulled out a dirt-covered identification certificate. Charles had never heard of the identification agency listed on it, it was clearly fake. Thinking this, Charles was about to get up and leave when he heard a voice from behind: "Isn''t that Charles, the genius? What brings you to the item exchange market?" It was Zane, speaking in a sarcastic tone, barely suppressing his anger. He was also there to attend the small auction, hoping to find a suitable weapon. Last time, Bailey Zhao picked a white quality supreme spear from the royal treasury, which nearly drove him mad! His father, Benson, had explicitly instructed him not to provoke Charles during this time. However, the moment Zane saw Charles, he lost control. A deep-seated hatred within him made it impossible to ignore Charles. "It''s you? What''s the matter?" Upon recognizing Zane, Charles decided to stay at the stall, unwilling to leave. "Can''t Ie to take a look if there''s nothing going on? Charles, I''m not here to cause trouble, I''m just passing the time, just like you."Zane recalled his father''s warning, his tone slightly less aggressive. He didn''t want a direct confrontation with Charles at that moment. Instead, he thought of other ways to annoy Charles. Like intentionally buying something Charles wanted before him. Or he could drive up the prices at the auction, making Charles spend more money. These were all tactics Zane nned to employ, and no one could really say anything about it, after all, it wouldn''t be fair for only Charles to buy items. With that in mind, Zane''s gazended on the mystical beast egg at the stall, and he curiously leaned towards a nearby person and whispered: "Didn''t Charles just contract his third mystical beast not long ago?" The person quickly replied in a low voice, "Yes, ording to Charles'' records, he contracted his third mystical beast only about half a month ago." Hearing this, Zane''s heart stirred with an impossible thought. Could it be that Charles had already broken through from a Level 3 Beast Master to a Level 4 Beast Master? How could that be possible! Reaching Level 4 Beast Master in just half a month? Anyone who heard that would surely think it was a joke, no one would believe it! At that moment, Charles asked the stall owner, "How much for this Gold quality mystical beast egg?" The stall owner''s eyes immediately lit up, and he quickly replied, "This one originally costs fifteen gold coins. Since you''re the first customer, I can offer a slight discountonly thirteen gold coins." "Thirteen gold coins, huh?" A flicker of interest crossed Charles'' face, though he appeared hesitant. It seemed he was tempted, but the price of the mystical beast egg felt a bit high, and he didn''t have enough money on him. "Only thirteen gold coins? Boss, I''ll buy this mystical beast egg for thirteen gold coins!" Zane pushed through the crowd and shouted directly at the stall. His gaze remained fixed on Charles. Regardless of whether Charles had indeed broken through to Level 4 Beast Master, this mystical beast egg was definitely something Charles needed. And at thirteen gold coins, the price for a Gold quality mystical beast egg was hardly steep! Charles turned around, ring at Zane with evident annoyance. "Zane, didn''t your family ever teach you about taking turns? I haven''t even said I''m not buying yet!" "What do you mean taking turns? All I know is that having money is what truly matters. So, boss, I''ll offer fourteen gold coins for this mystical beast egg!" Zane''s expression was arrogant. For him, this amount of gold coins was substantial. The Taylor family was wealthy, but that money wasn''t something Zane could easily ess. As the son of the head of the Taylor family, Zane''s total assets amounted to about twenty-five gold coins. Buying this Gold quality mystical beast egg would leave him with very little left. "Of course, that''s no problem! Naturally, whoever offers the most gold coins gets the mystical beast egg!" The stall owner''s face radiated joy, it was clear to everyone. Zane, being part of the Taylor family, wasn''t just wandering around the item exchange market alone, he had a friend with him who was skilled in identification. "Bailey, I feel like there might be something wrong with this mystical beast egg, the price seems a bit low."his friend, Peter, whispered as he discreetly tugged at Zane''s sleeve. Zane frowned and scrutinized the mystical beast egg on the stall. He started to have doubts, the price was indeed significantly lower than the typical Gold quality mystical beast eggs. Moreover, once a transaction waspleted in the item exchange market, it could not be changedthat was the rule. Everything relies on personal insight and experience, and there are plenty of things that are fake or of inferior quality. Just as Zane was hesitating, Charles said without hesitation, "I will offer fifteen gold coins, this mystical beast egg is mine!" After saying that, Charles bent down to pick up the mystical beast egg from the stall. Seeing Charles''s movement, Zane didn''t have time to think, his only goal was to disgust Charles as much as possible. So Zane immediately shouted, "Wait, I''ll offer fifteen gold coins plus fifty silver coins! That mystical beast egg belongs to me!" After saying this, Zane, without waiting for Charles and the stall owner to react, quickly snatched the mystical beast egg from the ground. "Hey, wait a minute, I haven''t said I would sell it to you!" the stall owner shouted immediately, he wanted Charles and Zane to continuepeting. Zane quickly packed up the mystical beast egg and said, "My offer is higher than his, so it naturally belongs to me." The stall owner looked at Charles and asked, "Young man, are you going to raise your bid? If you don''t, the item is his." To his surprise, Charles shook his head and slowly said, "How can I raise my bid? It''s just a Silver quality mystical beast egg, spending fifteen gold coins on it is just foolish." When these words were spoken, the whole ce fell silent. The first to react was the stall owner, whose face wore a stiff smile as he said: "Young man, that''s a Gold quality mystical beast, don''t speak carelessly!" Even Zane started to panic, he quickly handed the mystical beast egg to Peter, who was good at appraisal, and asked, "Take a close look, is there anything wrong with it?" Peter took the mystical beast egg and carefully examined it. He felt that the price of fifteen gold coins for a Gold quality mystical beast egg was a bit cheap. After a long time, he couldn''t find anything wrong. "Charles, you said that on purpose to cover up your own unwillingness!" Zane immediately took back the mystical beast egg, thinking he had seen through Charles''s thoughts. Wearing an exceptionally smug smile on his face. As long as he could make Charles ufortable, Zane felt very happy. Charles slowly spoke, "If you can''t even identify this, that''s pretty weak. It''s just a mystical beast egg disguised with special paint as a Gold quality egg. You can easily tell the difference by applying an alchemy potion." "Really?" Zane quickly turned to look at Peter. Before they could test it as Charles suggested, the stall owner couldn''t hold back any longer and quickly said, "ording to the rules of the item exchange market, once the transaction isplete, there are no returns or exchanges!" Immediately, Zane and Peter''s bodies stiffened. They looked at the stall owner and slowly asked, "What do you mean? Isn''t this a Gold quality mystical beast egg?" "The appraisal certificate says it''s Gold quality, I''m just reminding you of the rules of the item exchange market."the stall owner said while packing up his items, clearly nning to make a quick exit. Charles looked at Zane and Peter and continued to remind them, "Oh, by the way, even though this mystical beast egg is Silver quality, due to the paint, there''s a high probability that it won''t hatch into a mystical beast." "In other words, you spent so many gold coins and got nothing. That''s just in foolish." "Wait! I don''t believe it. Charles, you''re just saying this because you''re unwilling to ept it and feel upset."Zane said, feigning disbelief, but his body was quite honest as he walked toward the stall selling alchemy potions. Zane wanted to try Charles''s method to see if this mystical beast egg truly matched Charles''s judgment! Chapter 206: Chapter 206: I Want It All "Charles, is that really a Silver quality mystical beast egg?" Celestine, who had witnessed the entire situation, asked. She couldn''t see anything unusual about the mystical beast egg at all. In Celestine''s eyes, Charles had never touched the mystical beast egg, he simply relied on his sight to determine that it was disguised with special paint! Thispletely shattered Celestine''s understanding! Charles nodded and said, "Yes, you''ll see soon enough. ording to the rules of the item exchange market, Zane will have to swallow this loss since he tried to steal my stuff." Upon hearing Charles''s words, Celestine realized that just moments ago, Charles was about to leave, but he returned to the stall after hearing Zane''s snide remarks. Did Charles already have everything nned out in just a second or two? Celestine looked up at Charles''s calm face, which showed no signs of triumph or mockery. It seemed like everything was under his control, and all events were part of his n. Zane had been led around by Charles. Thinking he could annoy him, but he had no idea that Charles didn''t even want that mystical beast egg. Many people had witnessed what was happening, and they began to gather around. Some appraisers came over to Zane''s side, carefully examining the mystical beast egg to see if it was indeed as Charles had said. "Looking at the appearance, the texture, and the overall feel of the mystical beast egg, it doesn''t seem fake." "Exactly, this should be a real Gold quality mystical beast egg. It might just have some ws, which is why the price is lower." "I can''t see any issues. That young guy is so inexperienced, his judgment must be wrong!" Listening to the discussions around him, Zane gradually felt more at ease. He held the alchemy potion in one hand and the mystical beast egg in the other, shouting at Charles: "Open your eyes and look closely, Charles! This is a Gold quality mystical beast egg. Even if you don''t admit it, it..." Before Zane could finish his sentence, the mystical beast egg touched by the alchemy potion began to lose its color, gradually revealing its true hue in just a few breaths. The onlookers widened their eyes, stunned by the scene before them, and they began to discuss among themselves: "This... this really is just a Silver quality mystical beast egg!" "Oh my God, I''ve never seen such a disguise before, I''ve never even heard of it!" "Exactly, I can''t believe they used special paint to disguise a Silver quality mystical beast egg as Gold quality." "Who is this young man? At such a young age, his appraisal skills and experience are even stronger than mine!" No one paid attention to Zane''s dark expression. Many appraisers had already walked over to Charles, eager to seek his advice. "Damn it! How dare he deceive me? Doesn''t he know I''m from the Taylor family?" Zane was furious, not only because he had been tricked but also because he had once again lost face in front of Charles. The truth had once again proven that Charles''s judgment was correct. He had spent so many gold coins only to end up with a Silver quality mystical beast egg, one that was very likely unable to hatch! And with so many witnesses around, Zane''s foolishness would soon be known to others. When that time came, people would look at him with pity and sympathy. Thinking of this, Zane rushed toward the stall owner, who hadn''t yet had a chance to escape, grabbed his cor, and punched him. The scene immediately erupted into chaos, and several people responsible for maintaining order rushed over to separate the two. Meanwhile, Daniel Long, the president of the Genosha branch of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, hurried over, shouting: "Stop! Who dares to act so recklessly and disrupt the rules of the item exchange market?" When he spotted Zane, Daniel Long''s expression darkened. He listened to reports from his subordinates as he approached Zane. Daniel Long calmly said, "Zane, even if you are from the Taylor family, you must adhere to the rules of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association!" "This person deceived me, iming that was a Gold quality mystical beast egg, but it turned out to be just a Silver quality one!" Zane retorted, his eyes filled with anger. "Rules are rules. Once a transaction ispleted, it cannot be altered. It''s your misjudgment, so you can''t me others." Daniel Long understood that Zane had been deceived, but the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association had its rules. In the item exchange market, there were both fakes and real items. If one wanted to buy high-value items at low prices, they naturally had to bear the associated risks! If Zane were allowed to disrupt the rules, no one would dare toe to the item exchange market in the future. "Let''s go, calm down and alsopensate the stall owner for some medical expenses." Daniel Long''s aura exploded, he was actually a Level Seven Beast Master. Under the pressure of a Level Seven Beast Master, Zane became more aware. He looked at Charles with some reluctance. Unexpectedly, Charles spoke up, saying, "I really learned something today. Are all the people from the Taylor family this unreasonable and rule-breaking?" Under Charles''s lead, the onlookers began to discuss among themselves: "Exactly, knowing the rules of the item exchange market, and still behaving like this is just embarrassing." "I think Charles is right, Zane is just foolish and can''t take a loss." "Is it really that hard to admit you made a mistake? Wanting to gain without taking any risksthere''s no such thing in this world." Zane clenched his fists tightly, struggling to hold back the urge to teach Charles a lesson right there. But thinking of his father Benson''s warning, Zane took a deep breath and dismissed the thought, feeling immense regret. Why did he have to provoke Charles? If he had just pretended not to see Charles earlier, he wouldn''t have been so humiliated. Not only did he lose face, but he also lost over ten gold coins that he had worked so hard to save! For Zane, the consequences were even more serious. In front of so many people, he had brought shame to the Taylor family. When he returned home, he would undoubtedly face punishment from his father, the family head! Charles slightly lowered his head and quietly said to Celestine, who was staring wide-eyed beside him, "I''m quite skilled in appraisals. If you see anything you liketer, just let me know, and I''ll help you take a look." Celestine nodded. Her admiration for Charles was beyond words. In her mind, Charles was not only a genius in Beast Mastery but also capable of refining miracle drugs, forging equipment, and had such impressive appraisal skills. So many people had failed to notice the issues with the mystical beast egg, yet Charles had figured it out with just one nce. It was simply perfect! "By the way, Charles, were you looking at that mystical beast egg to prepare for bing a Level Four Beast Master in the future?" Celestine recalled that Charles hade straight here, likely preparing for whaty ahead. Charles scratched his head and slowly replied, "Not exactly. I just broke through to Level Four Beast Master and wanted to see if there were any suitable mystical beast eggs." "I thought so... Wait, what did you just say? You''re a Level Four Beast Master now?" Celestine initially didn''t register the information. It was only halfway through her sentence that she realized Charles had already be a Level Four Beast Master. Charles nodded and said, "I just broke through, I haven''t had a chance to tell anyone else yet." Celestine''s eyes lit up as she cautiously asked, "So, am I the first to know?" "Yes, let''s go. We can check out some other things." Without giving it much thought, Charles led Celestine to other stalls. He didn''t notice that Celestine''s face was filled with joy, and she kept softly repeating, "I''m the first, I''m the first..." Not just Celestine, but many others saw Charles leaving and quickly followed him. These were people interested in Charles''s appraisal skills, curious about what he would buy next. Charles wasn''t concerned about the others. He was focused on the information prompts appearing before him, searching for something special. Finally, he stopped in front of a stall. As soon as he did, those who were following him brightened up and crowded around, carefully examining the items on disy. The stall had very few itemsonly fiveconsisting of some strange objects, like a basketball-sized stone and a branch about the length of an arm. The rest were three pieces of worn-out equipment that had no special features whatsoever. Someone spoke up to theirpanions, "What''s going on? Is my skill level too low? It seems like there''s nothing good here." "I think so too. Is there something special inside that stone?" "How is that possible? Can the human eye see what''s inside a stone? Don''t be silly." Charles approached the stall owner and directly asked, "How much do I need to pay if I buy everything here?" Hearing this, the stall owner widened his eyes, it was the first time he encountered a customer wanting to buy everything. Looking at the people around him who were constantly discussing, the stall owner realized that there must be something special on his stall that had caught this person''s attention. He tried to identify what the special item could be, but after a long look, he found nothing. Charles spoke up again, "Are you selling or not? If not, I''m leaving." "Yes, yes, yes! Of course, I''ll sell it! How about five gold coins in total?" The stall owner, fearing that Charles would walk away, quickly responded. Charles didn''t haggle, he simply pulled out five gold coins and handed them to the stall owner, saying, "Alright, you can go now. This stall is mine." The stall owner excitedly nodded while holding the coins and hurriedly left the stall. Amidst the confused gazes of the crowd, Charles pointed to the cloth at the bottom of the stall and said, "Eighth-grade ferocious beast hide, thirty gold coins. Is anyone interested?" Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Unexpected Gain "What! Eighth-grade ferocious beast hide? Is that for real?" "To me, it looks like just a regr piece of fabric. It doesn''t resemble beast hide at all." "Could it be that Charles is doing this on purpose, iming a normal piece of cloth is high-grade ferocious beast hide, trying to find a sucker?" While others were discussing, the stall owner could no longer contain the smile on his face and spoke up: "The rules of the item exchange market state that once a deal is done, it cannot be changed. This is not ferocious beast hide, it''s just a piece of rag I picked up in the wild!" Celestine was standing nearby. She crouched down and reached out to touch the fabric. It felt very ordinary, as if it could be torn with just a bit of force. In her eyes, it didn''t resemble ferocious beast hide at all, it was just a low-quality piece of cloth. "Charles, is this really high-grade ferocious beast hide?" Celestine didn''t ask in front of everyone, instead, she approached Charles and quietly inquired. Charles nodded and took a sharp dagger from his [jet ring]. Without further ado, he stabbed it directly into the fabric. To his surprise, the fabric showed no signs of damage, the sharp dagger didn''t leave a single mark. Seeing this, the faces of those who had beenughing froze instantly. Especially the stall owner, who had just mentioned the rules of the item exchange market, widened his eyes, trembling hands raised in disbelief as he eximed, "How can this be? This is just an ordinary piece of cloth I found in the wild!" Charles tossed the dagger over to him, signaling him to give it a try. The stall owner slowly picked up the dagger and exerted all his strength, yet he couldn''t make a single mark on the fabric. Looking at the silent and shocked crowd, Charles spoke directly, "This hide is different from ordinary beast hide. It''s quite special,ing from the abdomen of a [wingless beast]. It has neither feathers nor fur." Upon hearing Charles''s exnation, someone immediately said, "I think I''ve heard of this creature before. However, it''s so rare that not many people know about it. I can''t believe you recognized it at a nce!" Charles continued, "That''s right, the number of wingless beasts is indeed very scarce. An average Beast Master might only encounter one in their lifetime. Therefore, the research value of this hide is quite high. Is there anyone interested?" He didn''t n to keep the hide. The information prompt in front of him included methods for using this hide to forge equipment, but it was too troublesome and would take a long time. So Charles intended to exchange it directly for gold coins, hoping to use that at the uing small auction to see if he could purchase a suitable mystical beast egg. "I''ll offer thirty gold coins for that hide!" Someone immediately raised their hand and shouted, eager to buy the hide. To Charles''s surprise, others also expressed interest in the hide, calling out, "I''ll offer thirty-one gold coins for it! Can you sell it to me?" The first bidder, seeing someonepeting with him, was about to raise his bid, but Charles spoke up, "I''m sorry, but I''ve decided to sell to the first person who bid. After all, I initially set the price at thirty gold coins, and he was the first to offer." Witnessing this, those around them recalled what had just happened. Faced withpeting bids, they were surprised that Charles remained indifferent, sticking strictly to the price he had initially announced. "What a pity! If he had let thempete a bit more, he might have sold it for thirty-five gold coins!" Someone felt regret for Charles. Others countered, "Do you think everyone is like you? Money is important, but integrity is even more important!" Celestine stood behind Charles, her admiration for him growing stronger, and his image in her mind became even more perfect! The man who sessfully purchased the hide was a middle-aged individual, dressed in ordinary clothing and wearing thick sses. He was the one who had mentioned hearing about the wingless beast earlier. After transferring the gold coins to Charles''s ount, he took the hide and handed over his business card, saying, "Hello, Mr. Charles. Thank you very much. I''m a schr engaged in the research of Beast Mastery." "I can''t believe that at your age, you could identify such a rare wingless beast. Even I couldn''t recognize it. It''s truly astonishing, you''re quite brilliant!" "By the way, I got so excited that I forgot to introduce myself. My name is David Qi." As this middle-aged man finished introducing himself, someone gasped in disbelief and eximed: "David Qi? Isn''t he the greatest Beast Mastery schr from Genosha? The textbooks used in various academies were all written by him!" "I was wondering why that name sounded so familiar! I''ve even read some of his other books!" "Wait a minute, did Mr. David Qi just say that Charles could identify a ferocious beast that even he couldn''t recognize? Did I hear that right?" "Charles''s knowledge has already astonished David Qi!" Hearing that the person before him was David Qi, a renowned Beast Mastery schr, Charles was a bit taken aback. He ced David Qi''s business card into his jet ring. "Hello, David Qi. My name is Charles, and I''m from Cyber Academy." Charles said. David Qi smiled and replied, "I know. I''ve heard many things about you, and my daughter is one of your fans. You cane find meter. I have a lot of unknown ferocious beast materials that I''d like to consult you about." The crowd was shocked once again. No one could have imagined that the famous Beast Mastery schr would ask Charles for advice. After all, in their eyes, Charles was just an eighteen-year-old Level 3 Beast Master! "David Qi, you''re too kind. I don''t know much, I just happened to identify this piece of beast skin."Charles said, scratching his head in response. To his surprise, David Qi''s smile grew even wider. He pointed to the stone on the ground and said, "Charles, I assume you''ve recognized this as well." A crowd of people stared nkly at the stone on the ground. After hearing David Qi''s words, someone spoke up in confusion: "What is this? Isn''t it just a broken stone?" "It can''t be. Since David Qi said that, this stone must be something special!" "No, what David Qi just asked Charles implies that Charles identified this stone, which is why he bought everything?" The stall owner, who was stiff with regret on his face, could no longer hold back. He asked, his voice trembling, "Is there something special about this stone? It''s just a forging material for Tone Reproduction!" David Qi didn''t answer. He stared at Charles, trying to see if Charles had recognized the stone''s special attributes. Charles sighed, he wanted to keep a low profile. David Qi wasn''t wrong. The items at this stall were special, not just the piece of beast skin, but also the stone in front of him. Charles received an information prompt: [Stone Ape Heart [Orange Quality]: The heart of an eighth-tier ferocious beast, the Stone Ape. A high-quality forging material, usable for weapon crafting and alchemy, highly valuable and extremely rare.] This stone was not an ordinary stone, it was the heart of a high-tier ferocious beast, the Stone Ape. For Charles, he nned to keep it for himself. Once Colton returned, he could show it to his teacher. High-tier alchemy materials are not easy to find. Charles wanted to see if he could use this to trade for a Map Fragment with Colton. He wanted to be prepared and, after confirming the specific location of the divine beast, strengthen his abilities further before trying to acquire a divine beast early on! "That''s right, this stone is also quite special and can be used for alchemy."Charles said, no longer hiding the truth. "This stone is more valuable than that piece of beast skin?" the stall owner asked, trembling. Charles nodded. To his surprise, the stall owner couldn''t take it and fainted, copsing to the ground. "You really identified it? Even I didn''t recognize it right away. Charles, I''m really looking forward to it. Come find me when you have time, I have many unknown things as well."David Qi said, intrigued, extending his invitation once again. Charles replied, "I wille by when I have time, I have some questions I''d like to ask." He wasn''t being polite, Charles had always been curious about those tentacles he had seen before and other strange creatures. Since David Qi was the most renowned Beast Mastery schr in Genosha, he surely knew things that ordinary people didn''t. Perhaps he had knowledge about those bizarre creatures. Charles didn''t n to wait untilter to make contact. His habit was to gather all information and intelligence in advance, making it easier for him to n for the future. Soon, amidst the crowd''s astonishment, Charles bid farewell to David Qi and walked towards the entrance. Beside him, Celestine''s eyes had not left Charles. She was so shocked that she couldn''t find the words. Before today, Celestine thought she understood Charles well enough. But Charles''s performance today shattered her perceptions once again! It was David Qi, after all, the author of various Beast Mastery textbooks! For someone like him to hold Charles in such high regard and respect left her feeling anything but calm. At that moment, Daniel Long stood at the elevator entrance with Zane, clearly preparing to attend the uing small auction. Daniel Long saw that Charles was approaching and asked, "Mr. Charles, how are you? Did you find anything interesting?" Charles nodded and replied, "I found quite a few valuable things." "Oh? I wonder if you could share what kind of things they are. I''m quite curious about your discerning eye, Mr. Charles."Daniel Long quickly inquired. Beside Daniel Long, Zane appeared rtively calm. He had already epted what had happened earlier and didn''t intend to stir the pot any further. As Daniel Long posed his question, Zane quietly perked up his ears. Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Colton Returns Zane came to the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association today and suffered quite a bit. He lost more than half of the gold coins he had painstakingly saved up, and when he returned home, he would have to face his father''s punishment. Because of this, Zane was very concerned about Charles''s gains. He hoped that Charles had misjudged the situation. After all, the hardest thing for him to ept was that while he was losing money, his enemy not only didn''t lose anything but also made a substantial profit. Charles noticed Daniel Long''s curious gaze and slowly began to speak, "I didn''t buy much, just happened toe across the hide of an eighth-tier ferocious beast and bought it." "What? Eighth-tier ferocious beast hide? Mr. Charles, how much did you spend on it? Don''t try to deceive me." Daniel Long said with some concern. He knew that Charles had managed to make Zane suffer a significant loss, so he must have some tricks up his sleeve. However, the item exchange market was filled with cunning stall owners. These people''s tactics are so crafty that even the professional appraisers at the Genosha branch of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association can''t be 100% sure they can see through them. Charles raised his hand and gestured simply, replying, "I only spent five gold coins. It''s not much." "That''s not too bad, five gold coins for a lesson learned is quite reasonable."Daniel Long sighed with relief. When he heard Charles mention spending five gold coins, he had already concluded in his mind. The so-called beast hide must be fake, after all, the hide of an eighth-tier ferocious beast would cost at least twenty gold coins! "The small auction will start shortly, Mr. Charles. Rest assured, all the items being auctioned have been uniformly appraised. For any unknown items, the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association will provide prior notice."Daniel Long kindly reminded him. Charles scratched his head and thought about it, he felt that Daniel Long might have misunderstood, but he didn''t bother to exin further. Celestine, who was linked arm-in-arm with Charles, seemed displeased. She noticed Zane''s expression at the elevator entrance, which bore a look of schadenfreude. "Charles didn''t suffer a loss at all. That eighth-tier ferocious beast hide has already been sold for a total of thirty gold coins."Celestine exined briefly. She didn''t want others to think that Charles had misjudged the item and incurred a loss. An outstanding person should be even more exceptional amid the shock and admiration of the crowd! "Sold for thirty gold coins? Was that really an eighth-tier ferocious beast hide?" Daniel Long eximed, his mouth agape as he turned to look at Charles, clearly astonished. Countless people came to the item exchange market, hoping to buy high-value items at low prices and get rich overnight. But here was eighteen-year-old Charles, who had directly turned five gold coins into thirty! At this moment, Zane was starting to lose hisposure, his expression went nk. Initially reluctant to speak, he couldn''t help but say, "You didn''t sell that hide to an idiot, did you? There must be something wrong with it." "What do you mean, sold it to an idiot?" Celestine immediately asked loudly. Still not able to tolerate anyone trying to belittle Charles. Charles might not care, but Celestine was very sensitive about these matters. "What''s wrong? Did I hit the nail on the head? What kind of normal person would spend thirty gold coins on something Charles bought for five? They must have a screw loose."Zane insisted firmly. At that moment, footsteps echoed from the corridor behind them, apanied by a familiar voice. "Excuse me, but my brain is perfectly fine."said none other than the person who bought the beast hide, David Qi! When Zane saw someone rebutting him, especially someone he had never seen before, he instantly felt irked and responded harshly, "Who are you?" As the president of the Genosha branch of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, Daniel Long knew many people, and he immediately recognized David Qi. "David Qi, I didn''t expect you to be here."Daniel Long said, his tone markedly different from Zane''s, full of respect. Although David Qi was not a high-tier Beast Master, his status in the field of Beast Mastery knowledge was unmatched in all of Genosha. Moreover, a schr of Beast Mastery like him knows many high-tier Beast Masters. Seeing Daniel Long''s attitude, Zane, no matter how dim-witted, sensed something was off. He wanted to say something, but David Qi interjected, "I''m just an ordinary Beast Mastery schr. A person who studies Beast Mastery knowledge should have a functioning brain." Upon hearing this, sweat formed on Zane''s forehead. Images of people who matched his status shed through his mind, and he ultimately confirmed that the person before him was David Qi, someone even the head of the Taylor family would treat with respect. "David Qi, I wasn''t talking about you just now, please don''t take it personally."Zane quickly backpedaled, filled with regret for having spoken up. He realized that every time Charles was present, his words would lead to trouble. "Actually, I did buy that hide from Charles. It''s just that my brain is just fine, it truly is a rare high-tier ferocious beast hide with significant research value."David Qi replied, his tone unfriendly. He despised people like Zaneignorant yet arrogant, foolish and unaware of their own stupidity. Not giving Zane the chance to continue his defense. David Qi turned to Charles with a smile and said, "Don''t forget our agreement, Mr. Charles. If you have time, make sure to look me up." Daniel Long''s expression was neutral, but his eyes had discreetly scanned Charles, and his shock intensified. David Qi, a schr of Beast Mastery, treated Charles with such kindness. He even addressed Charles as "sir."clearly indicating that he regarded Charles as someone worthy of respect in the field of Beast Mastery knowledge! An eighteen-year-old genius Beast Mastermanded the respect of a renowned schr? Daniel Long began to wonder if he had misheard earlier. "David Qi, I will definitely visit you when I have the time. Aren''t you attending the small auctionter?" Charles replied. David Qi waved his hand and exined, "No need, I''ve already made quite a haul today. I can''t wait to get back and study this beast hide." At this point, a glimmer of desire suddenly appeared in David Qi''s eyes. He cautiously inquired, "Mr. Charles, if you decide to sell that Stone Ape Heart, please let me know first. I assure you, I will give you a satisfactory price." Charles nodded. The Stone Ape Heart was a very rare alchemy material. If Professor Colton didn''t need it, selling it to David Qi would be a good option. Seeing Charles agree, David Qi''s smile became even more pronounced as he happily said, "I have other matters to attend to, so I won''t disturb you any longer. Farewell." Once David Qi left, Daniel Long could no longer suppress his curiosity and asked, "Stone Ape Heart? Mr. Charles, if you''re considering selling it, you might also think about our Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association." It was clear that the well-informed Daniel Long had heard of the Stone Ape Heart and knew its value. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have mentioned it right after David Qi left. "May I ask, is this Stone Ape Heart also one of Mr. Charles''s recent finds at the item exchange market?" Daniel Long inquired further. Charles nodded and replied, "Yes, I bought it along with that beast hide." Upon hearing this, even Daniel Long, the president of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, felt a pang of envy. Who would have thought that Charles, just browsing the item exchange market for a while, managed to acquire two rare items and bought them together for only five gold coins! Zane, not far away, naturally overheard the conversation between Charles and Daniel Long. His trembling hands subtly revealed his current emotional state. Without waiting for Daniel Long to lead the way, Zane took the nearby elevator and left. He didn''t want to be around Charles at all, it would be unbearable for him! Soon, Daniel Long, Charles, and Celestine arrived at the venue for the small auction. Inside, there were quite a few items up for bid, mostly pieces of information and some special weapons and equipment that didn''t pique Charles''s interest. However, Celestine spent quite a bit of money on some beauty supplies. After Charles and Celestine parted ways and returned to Cyber Academy, Charles went straight to the training room as usual. He summoned Max, Mousie, and Mia to engage in battle training while using the Overlord Heavy Armor to continuously enhance his physical fitness. He hadn''t visited the trial tower toprehend hisbat skills for several days, and he thought he could find some time to go in the next few days. Having just advanced to a Level 4 Beast Master, he wouldn''t be able to level up again in the short term. His next tasks were to find suitable mystical beasts to raise the levels of Max, Mousie, and Mia, And to elerate his understanding ofbat skills while speeding up the fusion of multi-attribute energy to improve his strength as much as possible. At that moment, Charles''s phone vibrated, it was a message from Colton. [I''ve returned to Cyber Academy. Come to the cabin when you have time, I have something for you.] Upon receiving the message, Charles immediately stopped training, wiped the sweat from his body, and headed straight for Colton''s cabin. A few minutester. Inside the bamboo cabin at Cyber Academy, Colton had just finished crafting a miracle drug. He handed the miracle drug to Charles and said: "Ezra has shown some responsibility as a teacher. This is for you, so take good care of it. I have some more miracle drugs here for you as well, they might help in a crisis." Charles looked at the information prompt before him: [Purification Miracle Drug] [Grade]: Orange Quality [Description]: Taking this miracle drug can resist contamination, purify most negative states, and maintain the user''s rationality and mental calmness. The description of the Purification Miracle Drug was very straightforward, but its effects were undeniably powerful. It was clearly prepared specifically for Charles by Colton. Chapter 209: Chapter 209: I Can Give You the Mystical Beast Egg in Advance "Teacher, today I bought a rare alchemy material at the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. I''m not sure if you need it."Charles said, pulling the Stone Ape Heart from his jet ring. Colton examined it carefully and said with some regret, "What a pity, this isn''t what I was looking for. For such a rare alchemy material, you must have spent quite a bit of money, right?" Charles shook his head, indicating that he didn''t spend much. Colton didn''t believe him at all. He said, "As your teacher, it''s my duty to help you. Charles, don''t feel too pressured. I do need some materials at the moment, so let''s talk about it again once you reach the fourth level of Beast Master." Charles''s eyes lit up at those words. He truly felt grateful towards Colton, who not only taught him advanced alchemy knowledge but also helped him without hesitation whenever he was in need. Charles hadn''t expressed his gratitude much, but he always kept Colton in mind. Otherwise, he would have sold the Stone Ape Heart long ago. "Teacher, I am now a fourth-level Beast Master. If there''s anything I can help you with, just let me know."Charles said directly. Colton''s eyes widened as he stared at Charles, unable to believe it. He asked, "I thought you just contracted that emerald-quality mystical beast? How did you reach fourth-level Beast Master so quickly?" Charles scratched his head and replied, "The high-level auxiliary training miracle drug you gave me has really helped, which is why I was able to advance so fast." "That still doesn''t make sense. Even with the miracle drug, your speed is astonishing."Colton said, his shock undiminished. He was very familiar with the effects of the high-level auxiliary training miracle drug. It was precisely because he understood that he was so amazed by Charles''s progress in Beast Mastery! "It''s not that impressive. I''ve been stuck at the third-level Beast Master for quite a while."Charles said truthfully. He hadn''t been training in Beast Mastery for long, so his time spent at the third-level was indeed considered quite lengthy. Colton didn''t say anything further. He felt that Charles''s speed had surpassed what talent alone could achieve, and he now fully agreed with the title of "monster" that Cyber Academy had given Charles. "If you''re a fourth-level Beast Master, there is indeed something I need your help with, but it carries a significant risk."Colton said after a moment of contemtion. He hesitated because what he needed Charles to do was incredibly difficult, with only a slim chance of sess. "Teacher, please just tell me directly."Charles urged. Colton sighed and exined, "I need a specific alchemy material that''s nearly impossible to find anywhere else in the Abyssal Depths. It''s only avable in Genosha Calivia." "There''s only one in the entire Abyssal Depths?" Charles was curious, that seemed exceedingly rare. The Abyssal Depths contained seven nations, each roughly the size of Genosha. In such a vast area, there was only one alchemy material to be found? Colton nodded and continued, "Exactly. I originally intended to trade for it, but that person refused. We have some bad blood between us from our youth, and it hasn''t improved over the years." At this point, Colton sighed again, as if remembering something, His demeanor became somewhat mncholic, his face reflecting a hint of nostalgia. Charles listened quietly, expecting Colton to share some stories from his youth. Instead, Colton bluntly stated: "I need you to participate in the underground octagonal cage fights in Genosha. You must defeat seven opponents in seven days to earn the reward, which includes what I need." "Underground octagonal cage fights in Genosha?" Charles repeated, never having heard of such a thing. Through Colton''s exnation, Charles learned a lot about the underground octagonal cage fights in Genosha. In simple terms, they were unofficial, blood-soaked, and violent battles, where summoning any mystical beasts, wearing any equipment, or using any skills was strictly prohibited. Fighters had to rely entirely on their physical attributes,bat experience, and skillsusing only their martial prowess! What Colton needed Charles to participate in was even more daunting, being known as the "Reaper''s Scythe."a challenge that hadn''t beenpleted by anyone in twenty years! Defeating seven top-tier fighters from the underground octagonal cage in just seven days is no small feat. Those who are considered top fighters are seasoned veterans. Any one of them could easily take down a Beast Master of the same level or even engage in battles beyond their ss! To win against seven such opponents in a row is incredibly difficult, especially since no failures are allowed. With only a day between each battle, it means that any serious injury would put you at a severe disadvantage in the next fight! "Ugh, the difficulty is just too high. Even Hale, over a decade ago, only managed to defeat the fourth-ranked fighter before having to stop due to severe injuries."Colton sighed again. He desperately needed that alchemy material, without it, his ns would lose a ten percent chance of sess. Don''t underestimate that ten percent, if luck goes slightly awry, all efforts could go to waste, including the training of Charles, the emerald-quality mystical beast, and the diamond-quality mystical beast egg. Most importantly, after all these years of preparation, if he failed, Colton would never get a second chance and would have to live with that regret, waiting for death toe. "Teacher Hale actually participated in such fights?" Charles raised his head slightly, surprised. Hale had always seemed gentle and kind to Charles, with a very stable demeanor, not at all like someone who had engaged in such bloody and violent battles. "There''s a lot you don''t know. Hale was once celebrated as the Son of the Wind. It''s just... what a pity."Colton paused, not revealing Hale''s story. This piqued Charles''s curiosity, Hale had always cared for him like a guardian and conversed with him like a friend. Charles knew that Hale possessed a legendary-quality mystical beast, originally a legendary-quality eight-winged cracked beast, but it had been cursed, reducing it to a tinum-quality six-winged cracked beast. Clearly, there were untold stories behind this, and Charles wanted to understand more, hoping he could help Hale lift the curse in the future. "Teacher, can you tell me exactly what happened?" Charles asked. To his surprise, Colton replied, "Some things are better asked of the person involved. After all this time, Hale shoulde out and see the world outside." Charles understood Colton''s intention, he wanted him to personally inquire about Hale and see if he could help Hale change his mindset and escape his predicament. "Charles, I can give you the diamond-quality mystical beast egg in advance, allowing you to contract your fourth mystical beast, but..." Colton hesitated once again. He was worried about Charles''s safety and knew that the chances ofpleting the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge were very slim. However, Charles didn''t care, upon hearing Colton''s words, he felt a surge of excitement, his eyes shining brightly. Before Colton could make a decision, Charles quickly spoke up, "It''s okay, teacher. It''s just about defeating seven enemies, right? I can handle it!" "It''s not as simple as you think, Charles. Let me think it over a bit more."Colton replied, still grappling with his decision. Seeing Colton''s indecision, Charles felt an urgency within him. Even at the seven-nation auction, it would be impossible to purchase a diamond-quality mystical beast egg! If he could contract a diamond-quality mystical beast as a fourth-level Beast Master, his strength would increase significantly! Whether it was the exchangepetition among the three major academies, the battles between Genosha and Kingston, or the assessments at the Cyber Academy headquarters, Charles would have a great deal of confidence. With this in mind, Charles decided to give Colton a bit more of a shock. He said, "Teacher, if I can create my own martial skill, relying on my physical attributes, I could have a great chance ofpleting the underground octagonal cage challenge!" Colton was suddenly interrupted by Charles''s words. He turned to stare at Charles, confusion written all over his face, and asked: "What did you just say? Create your own martial skill? Really? That''s something even yourbat teacher Ethan and Dean Jamie can''t achieve." Charles knew that in the face of Colton''s hesitation, he had to appear extremely confident. "I''ve already done things they couldn''t. In the Trial Tower, I..." Charles proceeded to tell Colton everything that had happened in the Trial Tower. Colton''s eyes began to brighten, if what Charles said was true, there might actually be a chance toplete the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge! "Teacher, I feel like I can give it a try. Maybe I really can!" Charles said again. Colton was evidently moved. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "If you''re going to participate, I have one request." Charles quickly asked, "What''s the request, teacher? Please tell me." "After each battle, you must let me personally check you. If your injuries affect the next challenge, I will call it off."Colton said with a serious expression. Charles felt a warm sensation in his heart, he could sense Colton''s concern for him. At the same time, he could also perceive Colton''s desire for that alchemy material, which must be something very important. "Absolutely no problem, teacher!" Charles nodded firmly. Colton fell silent, turning to enter the secret chamber. Soon, he emerged, holding a mystical beast egg in his hands, and it was the diamond-quality mystical beast egg that Charles had been longing for! Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Charles Is Not an Ordinary Genius Charles carefully took the diamond-quality mystical beast egg into his hands, and a notification appeared before his eyes: [mystical beast egg] [Name]: None [Attributes]: ??? [Level]: ??? [Quality]: [Skills]: ??? [Loyalty]: ??? [Evolution]: ??? [Description]: This is a diamond-quality mystical beast egg, currently in a dormant state. If you carry it with you for 64 hours, a contract can be formed (100% sess rate). It is truly a diamond-quality mystical beast egg. When Charles hatched mousie, he remembers it only took 24 hours. He didn''t expect that hatching a diamond-quality mystical beast egg would require 64 hours of carrying it around. "Charles, you can''t rush into the underground octagonal cage challenge. During this time, you can set aside learning alchemy and focus on strengthening your abilities and understanding [Combat Skills]."Colton suggested. Charles naturally knew that with the need to keep the mystical beast egg with him at all times over the next few days, he wouldn''t be able to challenge the Trial Tower. However, he could still focus on training Mia, mousie, and Max to level up theirbat skills, as well as use the [Overlord Heavy Armor] to improve his physical condition. As for the uing auction hosted by the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, there are still three days left. Charles didn''t n to attend every session, as that would waste too much time. Tomorrow, he would ask President Daniel Long if there was a specific auction list. Then he would only need to attend the auctions that interested him, which would save time. Charles was filled with joy. A diamond-quality mystical beast egg is not something just anyone can possess, most Beast Masters have never even seen one! But there was a problem: this mystical beast egg was muchrger than the one mousie had, about the size of a basketball. Now Charles could only hold it with both hands, which was quite cumbersome. It seemed he would need to find a backpack to put the mystical beast egg in, freeing his hands to do more things. "By the way, Charles, I will talk to Ethan and have him give you some special training when he has time. This way, your chances ofpleting the challenge will increase."Colton said before waving his hand, indicating he had other matters to attend to. After Charles left, Colton entered the bamboo forest, where the surrounding bamboo slowly parted, revealing a scene deep within the grove. It was a grave, with a tombstone inscribed with the words: [Grave of Beloved Wife Wanda] Colton slowly walked up to the tombstone and sat down beside it. He looked up at the sky above the bamboo forest and slowly began to speak: "I don''t know if what I''m doing is right or wrong, Wanda. I wish you were still by my side to give me some advice." "I am really pleased with Charles, he is truly a genius. No, he''s even more than a genius!" "To make up for the mistakes I made back then, I can only rely on Charles. I don''t want anything to happen to him. Wanda, do you think he will seed?" "That guy, Jason Yang, still holds a grudge. He refuses to agree to my request to exchange alchemy materials. Well, who can me him? I didn''t take good care of you, so he will never forgive me." A gentle breeze swept through, dissipating the sighs within the bamboo forest. Charles returned to the dormitory with the diamond-quality mystical beast egg. Many people noticed him along the way, as carrying a mystical beast egg the size of a basketball certainly attracted attention. Soon, photos of Charles holding the mystical beast egg spread online, sparking a lot of discussion: "What is Charles doing? Is he engaging in performance art?" "Are you stupid? It''s not performance art, that''s definitely a mystical beast egg he''s holding!" "What kind of mystical beast egg? I''ve never seen one like that. If it is a mystical beast egg, what quality is it?" "I don''t know, I''ve never seen one either. It looks really strange, nothing like a Gold or tinum quality mystical beast egg." "You''ve seen a tinum quality mystical beast egg? I''ve only seen a Gold quality one!" The topic of what Charles was holding became a hot discussion among the people of Genosha Calivia. Most Beast Masters never had the opportunity toe into contact with a diamond-quality mystical beast egg, so they couldn''t determine its nature. Until renowned Beast Mastery schr David Qi from Genosha joined the discussion, David Qi simply replied: "There''s no doubt that this is a diamond-quality mystical beast egg. It seems Charles is in the process of hatching it and needs to carry it with him for a long time." Once this response came out, the entire inte erupted into excitement, with countless people left in shock. The shocking news mainly had two aspects. One was that Charles was actually hatching a mystical beast egg. Which meant that Charles had reached the level of a Level Four Beast Master and was nning to contract his fourth mystical beast. This pace of cultivation made people question whether he was still awake. The other shocking revtion was that Charles''s mystical beast egg was actually of diamond quality! For most Beast Masters, having a Silver or Gold quality mystical beast was already quite impressive. They never expected that Charles, who had just be a Level Four Beast Master, would possess a diamond-quality mystical beast egg. This was something that many people couldn''t ept, and they continuously postedments online expressing their jealousy towards Charles. In fact, it wasn''t just ordinary Beast Masters who were shocked. At that moment, in the Taylor family of Genosha Calivia, Benson was in his study, looking at the news on his phone, his expression growing darker. He nced up at Zane, who was kneeling on the ground, and coldly said: "Zane, even though you are my son and the next head of the Taylor family, I must warn you again to stay away from Charles!" Zane clenched his fists tightly, his head lowered, filled with unwillingness. He gritted his teeth and replied, "Father, I don''t understand why Charles is just amoner" Before he could finish, Benson threw his phone at him, the hard device struck Zane''s forehead, instantly leaving a wound as blood began to drip onto the still-lit screen, which disyed information about Charles. Zane looked on in disbelief, he had considered the possibility that Charles might have reached the level of a Level Four Beast Master, but he never imagined that the other party could possess a diamond-quality mystical beast egg! As the son of the head of the Taylor family, finding an emerald-quality mystical beast egg was already extremely difficult for him, let alone a diamond-quality one. Moreover, given Charles''s cultivation speed, if there were no idents, it wouldn''t be long before he surpassed Zane, bing an enemy that he could never defeat! "Take a good look,pared to him, you can only be considered amoner!" Benson felt his own anger rising, but for the sake of the Taylor family, he had to force himself to calm down. Seeing Zane''s dazed expression, Benson''s heart softened, and he offered a few words offort: "Don''t think too much about it. For now, we can''t deal with Charles, but in the future, when the time is right, even Ezra will have to pay for underestimating the Taylor family!" Benson recalled that night when Ezra had looked down on him, as if he couldpletely annihte the Taylor family whenever he wanted. For Benson, this was an indelible shame and a deeply rooted fear, as long as Ezra existed, the Taylor family had to treat Charles with utmost courtesy and could not retaliate in any way. "It''s only for now. The world will soon fall into chaos, and that will be our opportunity for the Taylor family to rise!" Benson''s eyes were filled with anticipation. ... On the other side, in the office of the president of Cyber Academy, Jamie, Ethan, and Hale were discussing something. Specifically about Charles participating in the underground octagonal cage challenge, "Reaper''s Scythe." This was something Colton had informed them about, along with the news of Charles bing a Level Four Beast Master. Jamie was the first to speak: "I didn''t expect Charles to be a Level Four Beast Master in such a short time. It seems his talent is even higher than we imagined." "A genius cksmith, a genius alchemist, a genius Beast Master, and terrifyingbat abilities, he even has the potential to create his ownbat techniques. Charles is truly a monster!" Ethan remarked. "Not only that, but I also heard about what happened with Charles in the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. He seems to be very skilled at appraising items and has never made a mistake. Even David Qi admires him greatly."Jamie added with thetest news. Hale wore a smile, it was a joyous thing for him that Charles was so powerful and talented. However, when Hale thought about Charles participating in the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge, his smile turned into concern, and he asked: "The one thing Charlescks right now is time. If only he had enough time, he would undoubtedly be the top Beast Master!" "Yeah, but there isn''t much time left. We''ve received news from the headquarters that the entire Ethereal Grove is about to face an unprecedented crisis." Jamie walked over to the window as he shared this information. Ethan and Hale frowned, they were aware of this situation as well. Ezra had been away, not only to find a way to regain his original strength but also to deal with various hidden crises. "What if we convince Charles to give up the challenge? Hale almost died in the underground octagonal cage, even though he won against the fourth ace, he was severely injured."Ethan suggested. Hale recalled the past, those who were called the aces of the underground octagonal cage were no pushovers. While their mystical beasts might not be of high quality, their physical abilities andbat skills were top-notch. What was even more terrifying was that each ace was not afraid of death, willing to risk their lives in battle! It had been nearly ten years since anyone dared to take on the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge, and Hale had also heard that recently a neer had appeared in the underground octagonal cage. In just ten short days, this neer had be an ace! Such a person was undoubtedly stronger and more fearsome than an ordinary ace! "I actually think Charles can do it. He''s not just an ordinary genius, he''s a true monster!" Jamie disagreed with the others. It seemed he had made up his mind as he said, "I will secretly watch the match. If Charles is in life-threatening danger, I will intervene directly!" Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Can You Come to My House Tonight? Jamie''s perspective differed from Hale and Ethan''s, ordinary geniuses needed time to grow slowly. But for a monster like Charles, facing more difficult challenges and dangerous situations would allow him to grow rapidly in a short period! "By the way, didn''t Colton ask you to train Charles? You can''t ck off these days." Jamie said to Ethan. Ethan nodded and replied, "Don''t worry, I''ll do my best to help Charles improve his strength. Besides training in the Trial Tower,bat training in the outside world can also enhance his understanding ofbat techniques." Hale listened to their conversation and fell into deep thought. After a while, he slowly spoke up, saying, "If Charles can''t create his ownbat techniques, I still feel he shouldn''t participate in the underground octagonal cage challenge." "Even if he can''t grasp abat technique, participating in the challenge isn''t too risky, right? After all, the president is watching over Charles from the shadows, so he won''t be in life-threatening danger." Ethan asked, somewhat puzzled. Unexpectedly, Hale responded, "No, it''s not that simple. Since Charles arrived in Genosha Calivia, he hasn''t lost a single challenge or battle. He has already built up a certain momentum." "With this kind of momentum, his strong heart will support him on his journey as a Beast Master, allowing him to go further and further." "What if he participates in the underground octagonal cage challenge and, unfortunately, suffers a defeat? I''m afraid it will affect his future training and make him doubt himself."Hale said, and the whole office fell silent. Jamie and Ethan fell into deep thought. As high-level Beast Masters, they understood how rare this kind of momentum was. Especially for Ethan, who had once roamed Genosha, challenging seventh-level Beast Masters without a single defeat. That was how he earned the title of the Tiger of Cyber Academy. Moreover, he had forged a strong mindset, even when facing Ezra, he dared to take on the challenge! Now, Charles''s situation was somewhat simr to what Ethan had experienced, he had never faced defeat before, and if he were to lose, it was uncertain how it would affect his mindset. After a moment of contemtion, Jamie spoke up, "Charles''s inner strength is far more powerful than we imagine. There''s no need to worry about his mindset, that guy has left me in awe!" He remembered the time in the abandoned factory basement when Charles entered the room filled with the bodies of innocent children. At that moment, Charles''s performance had left him astonished. A person with that mindset would not be easily defeated, even in failure! However, Ethan and Hale had not witnessed the scene at that time, and confusion appeared on their faces. Jamie provided a brief exnation of the situation, especially about Charles''s demeanor when he entered the pristine white room. After hearing this, Ethan and Hale fell silent. They believed that at eighteen, they couldn''t match Charles''s actions or his mindset. "Then it''s settled. Now we just have to see when Charles can create his ownbat technique. I''m looking forward to the expressions of the people in Genosha when they hear about Charlespleting the challenge."Jamie said. The discussion about Charles wasn''t limited to just the people at Cyber Academy. In the Allen family of Genosha, Mason looked at the messages on his phone and then raised his gaze to Zachary, who was standing beside him. He said, "This Charles is truly impressive, he''s already a fourth-level Beast Master. I''m curious about how he achieved that." Zachary''s expression was calm, but his muscles were tense. He recalled Charles''s performance in the entrance exam and the scene when he challenged the Trial Tower. Images shed in his mind, and a strong sense of unwillingness surged within him. As the son of the General of Genosha and a neen-year-old fourth-level Beast Master, Zachary had always been very confident until he encountered Charles. He knew there were many geniuses in the world but never expected toe across a monster like Charles! It made him feel despair, Charles was now effortlessly catching up to him, and the gap between them would only continue to widen, bing insurmountable! "Father, I''m heading to the training room."Zachary said, not borating further on Mason''s words as he turned to go to the Allen family''s training room. He wanted to seize the time and break through to be a fifth-level Beast Master as quickly as possible. Although the process would be tough, thinking of Charles filled Zachary with fighting spirit! Mason watched his son''s retreating figure with a satisfied smile on his face. A person only truly grows when they have seen how high the sky is and how thick the earth is, yet they do not lose their fighting spirit and continue to strive. Mason had a feeling that Zachary''s future achievements would surely not be inferior to his as a general! "Zachary, some people are destined to be unattainable, existing only to be looked up to. Charles is one of those people."Mason murmured to himself. This scene wasn''t limited to the Allen family, the prominent families in Genosha were all discussing Charles, especially among the young geniuses. The speed at which Charles was bing stronger shocked them. In just one night, the entire Cyber Academy had changed. Charles noticed this when he got up the next day to go to the cafeteria for breakfast. He specifically found a backpack to ce the basketball-sized diamond-quality mystical beast egg inside, so he could carry it with him at all times. In the past, when discussions about him filled the inte, many people would have already surrounded him, moring for his signature and attention. But today, everyone seemed extremely busy. Even when they saw Charles, they wouldn''t approach him, instead, they would think of something and turn away. "Charles, you''re amazing! Now all the young people in the academy are thinking about how to get stronger, your motivational effect is incredible!" Jace''s voice came from the side. Charles hadn''t seen him in a long time, and the Jace now was different from the one he remembered. It was mainly in his demeanor, his eyes were bright and sharp, no longer disying that weak and timid look. "I heard you''ve been training hardtely. How''s it going?" Charles asked. Jace immediately perked up and patted his chest as he replied, "Don''t worry, Charles, in a couple of days on Challenge Day, I''ll definitely be able to move from ss B to ss A!" "Such confidence? It seems you''ve made significant progress."Charles remarked, recalling that nearly half a month had passed. Every half month, the students in ss B would have the opportunity to challenge the students in ss A, and if they seeded in defeating their opponent, they could move up to ss A. "Charles, I dare say that no one would challenge you. You were already the strongest new student when you were a third-level Beast Master, let alone now that you''re a fourth-level Beast Master."Jace said. Charles nodded, he hoped no one would challenge him. Otherwise, he would have to spend time fighting with ss B students, which seemed like a waste. After a simple breakfast, Charles headed to the ssroom to prepare for his morning sses. Just as he sat down, a message from Celestine popped up on his phone: [Charles, I heard this morning that Grace has taken a month off. It seems she left Calivia with her teacher.] Looking at the message, Charles felt a bit confused. He was curious how Celestine, a student from Nova Academy, knew about Grace, Especially since Grace was the direct disciple of the vice president of Aredale Academy, and they were from different schools. Charles replied: [Got it.] Less than ten secondster, Celestine sent another message: [Aren''t you worried at all? She must have heard about you and chosen to go out and train to elerate her strength.] Charles didn''t care much about this, his goal was to keep getting stronger and be the top Beast Master, a Master of all attributes! Celestine: [By the way, Charles, are you still going to the auction tonight? I don''t have anything else going on, so if you go, let me know, and I''ll apany you.] Charles: [Let''s talk about itter, President Duan hasn''t sent me the auction list yet.] Celestine: [Okay, then I''ll go to ss now.] Charles looked at his phone for a while, and until ss started, there was still no message from Daniel Long, the chairman of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. It seemed he would have to wait a bit longer. Behind him sat Zachary, with Cami asionally stealing nces at him. Zachary gazed at Charles''s back, somewhat lost in thought. Charles was about to contract his fourth mystical beast, and it was of diamond quality, he didn''t even dare to think about how vast the gap between him and Charles was. Time passed quickly, and by noon, Daniel Long finally sent a message. A file arrived on Charles''s phone, detailing the items to be auctioned off that evening. Charles opened it and nced through it, there were plenty of good items, but one caught his attention. It read: [120-year-old top red wine from Tatus Manor, starting bid 3 gold coins] There was a detailed introduction, which Charles ignored, thinking about how he needed to increase Mia''s loyalty a bit more. A 120-year-old top red wine should be able to let Mia enjoy herself and boost her loyalty significantly! Moreover,pared to weapons, equipment, and miracle drugs, regr drinks had lesspetitive bidding, as this was a world centered around Beast Mastery, where strength was the most important factor. With that in mind, Charles sent a message to Celestine, along with the file, asking if there was anything she wanted to bid on. Soon, Celestine replied, She wanted some miracle drugs to elerate her training speed and had arranged some funds from the Stokes family in Lsengard to participate in the auction tonight. However, Celestine didn''t have the qualification to bid, as she wasn''t a member of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association and needed Charles to facilitate it for her. Thinking of this, Charles replied directly: [Why not arrive early tonight? I''m a member of the supreme-level members and should be able to help you get a membership card to make future purchases easier.] Celestine immediately messaged back: [No problem, thank you, Charles! After the auction tonight, can youe to my house? I have something to show you.] Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Attending the First Auction Charles didn''t understand what Celestine meant, he wasn''t sure if she really had something to show him. After thinking for a moment, Charles replied: [Let''s talk about it tonight. I''ll wait for you at the entrance of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association before dark.] After having lunch, with some time left in the afternoon, Charles went straight to the training room to make the most of every moment. He trained Mia, Max, and Mousie while adjusting the weight of the Overlord Heavy Armor to enhance his physical fitness as a Beast Master. After this period of effort, Mia''s level had already risen to 22, while Max and Mousie had reached level 26. At this rate, it would still take quite a bit of time before Max and Mousie could advance. Time flew by, and after finishing the noon training and the afternoon sses, Charles had a quick dinner and went directly to the entrance of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association building. When he arrived, he found that Celestine had already been waiting there. Recently, the weather in Genosha had turned a bit cold, as autumn was approaching. Celestine was wearing a beige long dress that wrapped around her entire body, with a shawl covering her white shoulders. Her long hair was styled up, revealing her elegant and alluring neck. The dress was tailored to fit Celestine''s curvy figure perfectly, making her prominent chest and perky hips even more eye-catching. Charles took several careful nces at her. A smile involuntarily appeared on Celestine''s face, a schr would die for his confidant, and a woman would beautify herself for the one she admires. Today, her outfit was specifically chosen for Charles, hoping to attract his attention and enhance his feelings for her. "Why did you arrive earlier than me? You didn''t skip a meal, did you?" Charles asked, somewhat puzzled. He hade quickly to avoid making Celestine wait alone. He hadn''t expected Celestine to be even faster, after all, Nova Academy was much farther from the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association than Cyber Academy was. "Let''s head inside first."Celestine said without directly answering. She had indeede over without having dinner. The reason she arrived so early was that she wanted to spend more time with Charles. Charles frowned as he took out his phone to check for nearby restaurants. "There''s a restaurant nearby. Let''s eat first, there''s no rush. After dinner, we can get the premium membership card and then attend the auction. We''ll have plenty of time."Charles suggested. Celestine felt a smile spread across her face as she saw Charles considering her feelings. As long as Charles thought of her, everything she did was worth it. Celestine naturally linked her arm with Charles''s as they walked to the nearby restaurant. Their arrival instantly drew the attention of everyone in the restaurant. Today, Celestine looked particrly stunning, her every movement exuding charm. Beside her, Charles, though not dressed up, radiated a sense of confidence and strength that caught many women''s eyes. Before long, someone recognized Charles and got up to approach them. Charles frowned and directly asked the staff for a private room, allowing him and Celestine to avoid being disturbed by others. "I didn''t expect you to be so popr, Charles. Thosedies were definitely here for you."Celestine said, looking straight at him with a somewhat jealous tone. Charles helplessly rubbed his nose and replied, "I don''t want it this way either. It''s not pleasant to be the center of attention every time I go out." Celestine couldn''t help but chuckle at Charles''s expression, saying, "I never knew that being too famous could be a bad thing." Soon, the food Celestine had ordered was served. She looked at the empty space in front of Charles and asked. "Aren''t you going to eat?" Charles replied, "I''ve already eaten. Don''t worry about me, you take your time." Celestine felt warmth in her heart. She had thought Charles hadn''t had dinner either, but it turned out he had already eaten and still brought her along for dinner. After the two finished their dinner, they arrived at the building of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. Just as Charles was about to enter, a staff member came out to greet them. "Good evening, Mr. Charles. Is there anything I can assist you with?" the staff member said. Charles nced around and noticed it wasn''t Yana, who had helped him with his membership application before, so he replied, "Hello, could you please tell me where Yana is? I''d like to find her for my membership." "Mr. Charles, I can assist you with your membership application as well, so there''s no need to bother Manager Qian. She has been promoted."the staff member responded. At that moment, a familiar figure stepped out from the lobby, and it was Yana''s voice that called out to him. "It''s an honor to serve you, Mr. Charles. I''m d to see you again."Yana said, swinging her curvy hips as she walked over. Charles, feeling a bit curious, asked, "You''ve been promoted? Can you still help me with my membership?" Yana shed a bright smile and replied gently, "Of course! As long as it''s Mr. Charlesing to see me, I always have time." After saying this, Yana stared intently at Charles, slightly parted her rosy lips, and licked them with her pink tongue, which was quite tempting! At that moment, Celestine stepped forward, positioning herself between Yana and Charles, and said, "I need to handle the membership today, so please hurry. We don''t want to miss the auctionter." "Alright, thisdy and Mr. Charles, please follow me."Yana said as she led the way, with Celestine and Charles following her out of the lobby. Once they had left, the staff member who had initially spoken to Charles rolled her eyes and said in a displeased tone: "What''s so great about it? She only got promoted because of Charles! If I had been the first to attend to him, I would have been the one promoted!" Her colleague, intrigued, joked, "Didn''t you just have your chance? Charles barely nced at you!" "Don''t remind me! I regret it so much. I was closer to Charles that day than Yana was! Damn it, why didn''t I realize it back then?" In the private room of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, Yana was processing Celestine''s membership application. With Charles, who was a supreme-level member, assisting her, the entire process went incredibly smoothly. Soon, Celestine''s premium membership was sessfully processed. Yana personally escorted Charles and Celestine to the entrance of the auction and then said, "Mr. Charles, how about we exchange contact information? If you need anything in the future, just give me a call." Under Celestine''s watchful gaze, Yana seemed oblivious as she slipped her business card into Charles''s chest and turned to leave. Charles looked at Celestine awkwardly, while she fixed her eyes on the card in his hand, snatched it away, and tossed it into the trash can. "Mr. Charles, if you need anything, feel free to call me."Celestine said, suppressing her annoyance, her voice soft and full of seduction. "Ha ha, the auction is about to start. Let''s head inside."Charles said, changing the subject as he led Celestine into the venue, following the directions of the staff. They arrived at a private box on the second floor. It was an incredibly luxurious room, equipped with everything one could need. The outermost feature was a panoramic floor-to-ceiling window that offered a clear view of the entire auction. "Dear esteemed member, if you have any needs, you can press the button on the table, and someone will be at your service."the staff member said as they bowed and left. In therge box, only Celestine and Charles remained, waiting for the auction to begin. Celestine seemed a bit bored, her eyes wandered as she quietly slipped off her high heels and then yfully touched Charles''s calf with her bare foot. Charles nced down but showed no reaction. Celestine pouted, feeling intrigued, and slowly inched closer to Charles, cing her left leg on his thigh. Her long, white leg appeared especially enticing under the dim lights, filled with an impulse-inducing allure. As Celestine leaned her face closer to Charles''s ear, she extended her tongue and lightly licked his ear, whispering softly: "Don''t you really want toe to my ce tonight? I have something special to show you." Charles took a deep breath, suppressing the desires within him, as the auction was about to start. Noticing that Charles still hadn''t responded, Celestine gritted her teeth and turned to sit on Charles''sp, facing him while wrapping her arms around his neck. As she slowly slid her legs, she softly said, "Are you really noting?" Charles felt the contact between them and the warmthing from Celestine''s body. He thought about it, after the auction, he would likely head to the training room to prepare for the uing underground octagonal cage fight. Clearly, there wasn''t much time to visit Celestine''s ce, so he didn''t answer directly but said, "I''ve been quite busy these past few days and haven''t had much time." Celestine sighed, looking as if she was about to give up. She got off Charles and walked into the nearby restroom. Charles breathed a sigh of relief, trying to adjust his body. He was not the type to be controlled by desire, he knew when to do what needed to be done. Soon, the annual auction of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association''s Genosha branch officially began! After a brief introduction, the auctioneer took to the center of the auction hall to start the bidding for the first item. This was a purple-quality supreme spear, seemingly used by the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association to hype up the crowd and excite the auction participants. Charles nced at the table in front of him, where a bidding device was ced. All he needed to do was input his bid, and it would be submitted without disying specific names, only the box number or seat number. This way, the risk of being targeted maliciously was reduced. However, this was essentially useless for the second floor, as each box was special and corresponding to Genosha''s supreme-level members. Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Zanes Vulnerability After a while, Celestine emerged from the restroom in the private box, looking much calmer. She sat down beside Charles, watching the ongoing auction outside. Clearly, the first item, the purple-quality supreme spear, was not Celestine''s target, so she didn''t pay it much attention, instead, she kept gazing at Charles with a look full of mncholy. Sensing Celestine''s gaze, Charles felt a bit stiff, he didn''t know how to face her in this moment. So, Charles chose to look at the crowd below. There were many familiar faces, including Cami, Zachary, and Zane, who were all seated in a row in the main hall. It was obvious that the items being auctioned today didn''t pique the interest of General Mason or the Emperor of Genosha, which was why they weren''t present. It seemed that only supreme-level members could ess the private boxes on the second floor, otherwise, Zachary and Cami wouldn''t be in the main hall on the first floor. Thinking of this, Charles looked around the second floor. There were nearly twenty private boxes surrounding the entire second floor, and only his was lit, indicating that someone was inside. Meanwhile, many people in the main hall on the first floor had noticed the situation on the second floor. Seeing the light on in one of the boxes, they began to specte among themselves. "Surprisingly, there''s a supreme-level member participating today. I wonder who it could be." "I noticed the box number is new, it must belong to someone who recently became a supreme-level member. But I wonder who it is." "I''m curious as well. There hasn''t been any news about ittely. Anyone who bes a supreme-level member should be quite prominent." "I heard that Charles became a supreme-level member of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. Could it be him?" "No way! Charles is just a genius, how could he possibly have that much money? He shouldn''t qualify." "Bing a supreme-level member isn''t just about money, potential and status are also important criteria!" Zane sat in the front row, listening to the chatter from behind him, feeling curious about whether Charles was in the box on the second floor. Recalling Daniel Long''s attitude towards Charles yesterday, Zane felt that the supreme-level member upstairs was likely associated with Charles! However, he had other matters to attend to, namely securing the purple-quality supreme spear. The mere thought of it ignited a me of anger within Zane, if it weren''t for Charles''s actions that allowed Bailey Zhao to pick a white-quality supreme spear from the royal treasury, and if he hadn''t spent over ten gold coins on a mystical beast egg yesterday, Zane wouldn''t have to borrow money from others to bid on this purple-quality supreme spear! "Damn Charles, when it''s your turn to bid on something, I''ll raise the price to the moonit''spletely within the rules and perfectly normal."Zane thought to himself. At that moment, the auction for the purple-quality supreme spear was heating up, with someone already calling out eight gold coins. Grinding his teeth, Zane shouted, "I bid ten gold coins! Who dares topete with me!" As soon as he said this, Daniel Long, standing in the center of the auction hall, immediately turned pale. Zane''s move was nothing less than a deration to the other bidders that if anyone raised the bid again, they would be opposing himand the Taylor family! The strength of the Taylor family is well known to everyone in Genosha Calivia, they are one of the top families that ordinary people simply cannot provoke. Therefore, after Zane called out his bid, the entire auction hall fell silent, and no one dared to raise the price further. Seeing this scene, Zane wore a smug expression, just as he had said earlier, very few people in Genosha would dare to mess with the Taylor family! "What are you waiting for? No one is continuing the bid."Zane said to the host on stage, believing that the purple-quality supreme spear was already his. The host nced at Daniel Long, who nodded with a grim expression, clearly not wanting to create an awkward atmosphere at the start of the auction. Just when he thought it was all settled, someone raised the bid again, bringing the auction price for the purple-quality supreme spear to ten gold coins and ten silver coins. This new bid was clearly aimed directly at Zane. Experience more at m_vl-em,pyr Watching the updated price on the big screen and the disyed box number, Zane stood up and turned to look at the second floor, where the only lit box was participating in the bidding! At this point, Zane was certain that the supreme-level member on the second floor had to be Charles! Only Charles would maliciously target him like this! "Damn Charles, deliberately sabotaging my bidthis is infuriating! I haven''t evene after you, and yet you dare to provoke me!" Zane thought angrily. He immediately raised his bid again: "Eleven gold coins!" To his surprise, Charles also raised the bid, adding exactly the minimum of ten silver coins, bringing the price of the purple supreme spear to eleven gold coins and ten silver coins. At this point, Zane could no longer contain himself, he didn''t have many gold coins to begin with, and he had no idea how many more he would need to buy it. "Charles, don''t you have a suitable weapon already? Why are you making this personal?" Zane shouted loudly. Silence. No one answered Zane''s question. The big screen at the auction venue refreshed once more, and Charles added another ten silver coins. This action made Zane''s rationality gradually give way to anger, he wanted to see just how much money Charles had to keep bidding! The purple-quality supreme spear was indeed quite rare, and the price should be between seventeen to eighteen gold coins. Considering Zane''s current state, Charles had already made a rough assessment in his mind. He figured that around twenty gold coins would make Zane back off. With this thought, Charles began to toy with Zane, every time Zane called out a bid, Charles would add ten silver coins. The entire auction hall fell silent, filled only with Zane''s furious roars and the continuous bids from Charles on the big screen. When Zane finally shouted neen gold coins, his voice was a bit quieter, as if he had regained a little of his rationality. Charles immediately assessed that this must be nearing Zane''s limit, which is why Zane had lowered his voice. "It seems I overestimated the amount of money Zane has, as the son of the head of the Taylor family, he doesn''t have that much after all."Charles thought to himself. He stopped bidding, as if he had given up. Seeing this, Zane finally let out a sigh of relief and slumped back into his seat. Neen gold coins! Originally, he could have secured the purple-quality weapon for just ten gold coins, but because of Charles''s interference, he ended up spending an extra nine gold coins! Adding the fifteen gold coins he lost in the item exchange market, he was down a total of twenty-four gold coins! This amount was all his wealth, meaning that just because of Charles, Zane had lost everyst gold coin! As the auction hammer fell, Zane''s mind was in turmoil, screaming, "Damn it, damn it, damn it!" He had no money left, even if someone below wanted to raise the bid against Charles, he couldn''t do a thing! If Charles decided to drop out and no one else raised the bid, it would be Zane''s turn to pay, but he was already broke. Having spent an extra nine gold coins to get what he wanted, Zane felt no joy at all, he just slouched in his chair, looking utterly defeated. Behind him, whispers floated through the air: "Charles is impressive, there are hardly anyone in all of Genosha who would dare to bid against Zane like that." "You look surprised, didn''t you know how formidable Charles is?" "I know, I know, Charles is indeed powerful, but Zane isn''t just anyone, he''s the son of the head of the Taylor family." "It seems you really don''t know, let me tell you, back at the Robinson family banquet..." Zane suddenly turned around. There were quite a few people sitting behind him, and he couldn''t tell who was discussing the humiliating events that had happened at the Robinson family banquetevents that marked one of the most shameful moments of his life! "The auction for the second item will now begin" The auction continued. Charles caressed Celestine''s thigh, which was stretched out over him, quietly waiting for the next item to be auctioned. Beside him, Celestine had witnessed everything that had just happened, just a few simple bids had caused Zane to spend so many gold coins! "Charles, how did you manage that? Aren''t you afraid Zane might suddenly decide he doesn''t want that purple supreme spear anymore?" Celestine asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. Charles thought for a moment and exined, "It''s all about careful observation. Just now, Zane''s voice dropped a bit, and he didn''t seem as angry anymore, which clearly indicated something had made him a little more level-headed." "I didn''t notice his voice changing at all, he seemed just as furious the whole time!" Celestine couldn''t understand. Was the scene she witnessed so different from what Charles had seen? "Well, you have to observe closely, just think about it a bit more."Charles said. His insight and ability to specte were beyond what ordinary people couldpare to. Celestine nodded, somewhat understanding, and her admiration for Charles only grew stronger. "By the way, what items do you want to bid on? If I help you bidter, the price might be a bit lower."Charles said. Celestine''s eyes lit up, and she quickly listed the items she wanted. Charlespared the list to the one Daniel Long had sent him, they were all items ranked lower in the auction, so they would have to wait a while. At that moment, Charles''s phone vibrated with a new message. He opened it to find a photo sent by Cami. The person in the picture was Zane. Looking utterly lost, his eyes vacant and his expression bitter. Cami: [Charles, you''re amazing! Just look at Zane''s face, it feels so satisfying! He deserves it for being so arrogant.] Charles instinctively smiled, he hadn''t expected Zane to be so fragile, to end up looking like this. Celestine had been watching Charles closely. When she saw him smile at a message, she curiously asked, "What''s going on?" Charles showed her the photo. To his surprise, Celestine asked softly, "Are you and Cami, the second princess of Genosha, quite close?" Chapter 214: Chapter 214: The First Auction Comes to an End Upon hearing Celestine''s question, Charles didn''t think much and replied directly, "Close? We''re just ssmates." Celestine seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. She was worried that someone as outstanding as Charles would attract a lot of admirers, and perhaps even the second princess of Genosha might have feelings for him. People are often selfish, especially when ites to love, and Celestine was no exception, she wanted to be Charles''s one and only. "Charles." Celestine called out to him. Charles turned to look, asking, "What''s up?" Celestine shook her head, indicating that there was nothing wrong, but her gaze remained fixed on Charles''s face, lost in thought. The auction was progressing quickly. Zachary and Cami each made several bids and managed to buy the items they wanted. Zane, sitting in the front row, pulled out his phone, seemingly busy with something, and looked somewhat anxious. Finally, the item Charles had set his sights on todaythe top-tier red wine from Tatus Manor, aged one hundred twenty yearswas announced. He carefully observed the reactions of the crowd below, and as he expected, very few people seemed excited, most showed little interest. When the official auction began, the host announced the starting price of three gold coins. There were only a few bidders in the entire venue, with three or four showing slight interest, raising the price to four gold coins and five hundred silver coins. After waiting for a while, no one else continued to bid. Charles knew it was time to make his move. He calmly entered a bid of five gold coins, which was about the true value of that bottle of wine. After all, for a Beast Master, no matter how good the red wine was, it wouldn''t enhance their strength, spending that money would be better spent on equipment and miracle drugs. Just as the host was about to drop the hammer, Zane suddenly began to raise the bid, shouting, "I bid five gold coins and ten silver coins!" Upon hearing this, the entire auction hall fell silent. Some people looked at Zane, then nced up at the box on the second floor, discussing among themselves: "It seems Zane is still not willing to back down, he wants to drive the price of the wine up." "It''s just a bottle of wine, it''s not important for a Beast Master. Charles shouldn''t continue to bid." "What do you understand? The wine might not matter, but face does! If Charles gives up right away, it would mean he''s afraid of Zane." "That''s true, I feel like those two will keep bidding. The Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association is going to make a profit." The big screen at the auction refreshed again, showing Charles had raised his bid to six gold coins. Seeing this, a look of joy appeared on Zane''s face. As the price for the one hundred twenty-year-old Tatus Manor top-tier red wine reached six gold coins, he felt he could still raise his bid. He had just pulled out his phone to borrow money, wanting to make Charles spend a bit more, otherwise, he would feel like he had lost out! "Six gold coins and ten silver coins!" Zane added ten silver coins each time, clearly trying to mimic Charles''s previous bid. Charles understood Zane''s intentions, but he didn''t care, it was just a bottle of red wine. There were plenty of other wines that could increase Mia''s loyalty. So there was no need to spend too much, that would be just as foolish as Zane. With a joyful expression still on his face, Zane waited for a while but saw that the auction screen did not refresh. His expression gradually became dazed. At that moment, Zane began to have a bad thought: "What if Charles decides to drop out? Wouldn''t I end up paying six gold coins and ten silver coins for something useless?" Fortunately, that thought was quickly dismissed, As the auction screen refreshed to show that Charles had raised the bid again to seven gold coins! In the box on the second floor. Charles looked at Celestine with a helpless expression, the previous bid hadn''t been his but had been made by Celestine. "Seven gold coins for a bottle of red wine? That seems a bit excessive. Let it go."Charles said. Celestine replied, "I''ll buy it. I can see you really want it, so I want to get it for you." Hearing Celestine''s words, Charles was taken aback. He hadn''t expected that Celestine wanted to win the auction and then give the wine to him! Looking at Celestine''s serious expression, Charles thought for a moment and said, "I appreciate your kindness. Honestly, any wine that''s just a bit better than Monkey Wine would be fine." "Oh, is that so? What should I do since I''ve already ced a bid?" Celestine had assumed that Charles only wanted this particr bottle of red wine and didn''t realize other options were eptable. Charles waved his hand, signaling that he had a n. Under Celestine''s puzzled gaze, Charles picked up the wine ss from the table and walked over to the ss front of the box, his figure bing visible to the crowd on the first floor. Especially Zane, who was still hesitating about whether to raise his bid by ten silver coins, looked up at Charles'' silhouette. He saw Charles elegantly raise his right hand with the wine ss, making a toast gesture towards the crowd outside the ss. This action was filled with confidence and grace, but to Zane, it felt like a direct provocation and mockery, as if Charles was saying, "No matter how many gold coins you bid, this bottle of red wine is mine!" "Damn it, I''ll bid eight gold coins!" Zane shouted before the auctioneer could drop the hammer. This time, everyone else became unsettled and began to talk among themselves: "Eight gold coins for a bottle of red wine? That''s insane! It''s only worth at most five gold coins!" "Rich people think differently than we do, especially young ones who love topete. I bet Charles will raise the price again!" "It seems like Charles isn''t responding. He looks like he''s saying something, but I can''t hear him from this distance." "I can read lips. It looks like he said, ''What a fool. That bottle of wine is yours!''" "Fool, who is Charles talking about? Who else could it be, of course, it''s..." Zane''s hearing was perfectly fine, he could hear the discussions around him. Now, he was trembling all over, unable to believe that Charles had just given up so easily and had no intention of continuing the bidding. And in front of so many people, he had called him a fool? "Three, two, one, sold!" The auctioneer''s hammer came down. The bottle of one hundred twenty-year-old Tatus Manor top-tier red wine was sold to Zane for eight gold coins. Daniel Long watched Zane''s furious expression and couldn''t help but smile slightly. At the beginning of the auction for that purple-quality supreme spear, he really thought Zane would snag it at a low price, but Charles'' appearance had driven the price up. And as for this bottle of red wine, he would never have guessed it would sell for eight gold coins. In Daniel Long''s mind, selling it for over four gold coins would have been great, but it had doubled! Charles was truly a distinguished guest of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, he wished Charles would participate in every auction. However, Daniel Long quickly regretted his earlier thought. During the subsequent auctions, he seemed to feel Charles'' influence, causing Zane to suffer continuously. Whenever Charles was bidding on an item, not many dared to continue raising their bids. This led to several items being sold to Charles at a low price! In the box, Celestine looked at Charles with admiration. Those were all things she wanted, and she hadn''t expected to get them all, especially at prices even lower than she imagined! Discover worlds on m-v le-mpyr "Charles, you''re amazing! I was worried I wouldn''t have enough gold coins to spend, but now I won''t even use all of it!" Celestine eximed excitedly as she hugged Charles'' arm. Charles felt the sensation from her touch and replied casually, "It''s nothing. After seeing Zane''s oue, they all dare not bid against me anymore. Besides, the items up for auction today are just somemon ones, the boxes on the second floor are mostly empty." "That''s because it''s you, that''s why others won''t continue bidding. Charles, with just one simple gesture, you made Zane raise his bid again. How did you do that?" Celestine recalled what had happened earlier, feeling very curious. Charles replied calmly, "It''s simple. Understand your opponent. Zane is foolish and arrogant, he cares most about his face." Even without spending a lot of time with Zane, Charles could roughly gauge what kind of person he was. "Oh, I almost thought I''d have to spend seven gold coins to buy that bottle of wine!" Celestine said, patting her chest, a bit shaken. Charles watched her chest rise and fall and said, "It''s fine, trust me." At that moment, the auction was nearing its end, and the items Charles had bid for Celestine were being delivered. The person delivering them was none other than Yana. "Respected Mr. Charles, here are the items you bid on. Please check if anything is missing."Yana said as she bent down to ce the items on the tray in front of Charles. Sneaking nces at him with flirtatious eyes. She had been present at the entire auction, witnessing the interaction between Charles and Zane firsthand. The reason she recognized Charles so quickly was that her sister was a fan of his and sent her Charles'' videos every day. Over time, Yana had formed an impression of Charles. Now it seemed that Charles not only had exceptional talent but also far surpassed his peers in strength, intelligence,posure, and steadiness, effortlessly outmaneuvering Zane! Before meeting Charles, Zane had been one of the most feared elites in Genosha Calivia! Who would have thought that Zane, the son of the Taylor family head, would continuously suffer losses in front of Charles and embarrass himself? Thinking of this, Yana, who had been bending slightly, leaned even lower, trying to draw Charles'' attention to the exposed skin on her chest. "The money has been transferred, and the items are all here, nothing missing. You have no further business here."Celestine said rapidly. She had noticed long ago that this girl named Yana had not shown so much skin when they first met! Yana nced at Charles and, seeing he didn''t move, replied somewhat regretfully, "Alright,dies, I will take my leave now." As Celestine watched Yana leave, deliberately swaying her hips and unting her ample backside, she pressed her chest firmly against Charles and asked, "Is she more attractive than me? Does she have a better figure than I do?" Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Encountering the Serpent People Charles did not answer Celestine''s question. Time passed quickly, and by the time the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association auction concluded, it was around eight o''clock in the evening. Charles ignored Celestine''s hints and headed straight back to Cyber Academy. Now he needed to train diligently and make the most of his time to enhance his strength for the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge in the Genosha underground octagonal cage! It had been 28 hours since he obtained the diamond-quality mystical beast egg, and there were still 36 hours left until it could bepletely hatched. To be honest, Charles was quite curious, this was his first time hatching a diamond-quality mystical beast egg. He had no idea what kind of mystical beast would emerge once it sessfully hatched or what its initial level would be. Since it was a diamond-quality mystical beast egg, it should have a higher level than the one that Mousie had when it first hatched, right? That would save a lot of time in leveling up, and time was something very important to Charles. Back in the training room, Charles adjusted the weight of the Overlord Heavy Armor once again. He was now adapting at an impressive speed, basically needing only a day to fully limate to the new weight. Perhaps it wouldn''t be long before the weight of the Overlord Heavy Armor could no longer enhance his physical abilities. At that point, if he wanted to continue improving his physique and increase his strength, he would need to find other methods. "Sometimes, going too fast isn''t a good thing. It feels like I won''t be able to use this newly acquired orange-quality equipment for long."Charles thought to himself. Thankfully, the Overlord Heavy Armor had decent defensive capabilities, so even if it could no longer help improve his physical attributes, it wouldn''t bepletely useless. After finishing his training, an exhausted Charles stepped out of the training room and encountered Hale, who was waiting nearby. "Mr. Hale, is there something you need?" Charles asked first. Hale had specificallye here to wait for him, so there must be something important going on. Charles could also guess that Hale had been standing at the training room door to avoid disrupting his training. "Charles, the Robinson family contacted me again tonight. They want to apologize to you tomorrow afternoon at the most luxurious restaurant in Genosha Calivia."Hale said. He didn''t want to deal with the Robinson family, when he severed ties with them, he had nearly lost all interest in the family. Unexpectedly, the Robinson family had sought the help of an elder who had always treated Hale well, asking that person to request Hale''s assistance, which he couldn''t refuse. That''s why he hade to find Charles. Charles recalled what Colton had told him that night regarding Hale''s past experiences. "That''s fine, Mr. Hale. I can make time tomorrow afternoon."Charles initially agreed, then asked: "Mr. Colton once mentioned some things about your past. Can you tell me about it, Mr. Hale?" Upon hearing Charles'' words, Hale froze in ce. His eyes fell to the ground, lost in thought about something. After a long moment, Hale finally spoke, "I once had a serious conflict with my family over a person, and afterward, I lost everything and became what I am now." Hale''s words were vague, clearly indicating that he did not wish for anyone to know what had happened in the past, nor did he seem eager to reflect on it. Charles could sense the disappointment and despair in the person standing before him. When people recall their past pains, it is usually apanied by feelings of resentment, regret, and sorrow, but Hale was different. Charles sighed. He chose not to ask any more questions. The current Mr. Hale showed no fighting spirit, he hadpletely given up on everything. "Mr. Hale, just tell me when you''re ready to share. Maybe I can help you."Charles offered as a form offort. Hale looked up, somewhat grateful for Charles'' words, and replied, "Thank you, but even Uncle Ezra couldn''t aplish that, so I''ve stopped thinking about it." "Even things that Mr. Ezra can''t do?" Was it rted to the curse on Hale? A curse that could cause a legendary-quality mystical beast to fall to tinum quality must be incredibly difficult to lift. However, if there''s a way, the information prompts in front of Charles could provide corresponding methods. It was likely that he couldn''t see it now due to his current strength, just as when he first met Ezra, most of the information he could see was marked with question marks. "Not being able to do it now doesn''t mean there''s no hope for the future."Charles thought. He hesitated to discuss the curse. Otherwise, Hale would surely wonder how he knew about it, especially since no one had mentioned this matter to Charles. This was also one of the reasons Charles had asked Hale about his past. After bidding farewell to Hale, Charles returned to his dormitory. It was already quitete. During this period, Charles had been getting very little sleep each day, but thanks to the good physical condition of a Beast Master, he was managing. "It seems I need to find some time to rx, otherwise, it might affect my overall state."Charles contemted. He nned to take a good rest afterpleting his self-createdbat techniques. The next day at noon, The members of the Robinson family had arrived early at the most luxurious restaurant in Genosha Calivia. To show their sincerity, they had even booked an entire floor to ensure no one would disrupt the midday meeting. Even with the financial power of the Robinson family, they wouldn''t be willing to book the entire restaurant, the amount of gold required would make them feel the strain! Soon, Charles'' figure appeared at the entrance of the restaurant, where Lance Lin, the head of the Robinson family, was personally waiting to greet him. At first, Lance Lin''s brother, Shane Lin, felt it was unnecessary for the head of the Robinson family to wee Charles, it seemed a bit embarrassing. To his surprise, Lance Lin directly stated, "Have you forgotten the day Ezra appeared over the Robinson family? The scene from that day is something I''ll never forget. What''s embarrassing about it? As long as the Robinson family is safe, everything else is trivial." "Mr. Charles, thank you very much for epting the Robinson family''s invitation. I''ve booked the entire third floor of the restaurant, and the lunch banquet will begin shortly."Lance Lin said first. Charles nodded calmly. He wasn''t here today just to eat, he hade to ept the Robinson family''s apology, after all, it was the Robinson family that had made the initial mistake. Just then, amotion suddenly erupted inside the hall of the restaurant. "ckrock! As a member of the chaotic army, how dare youe to Genosha Calivia seeking help?" A raspy voice rang out. "Bullshit! You are the chaotic army! We are fighting for the peace of all of Atacama! It''s people like you who have kept Atacama in a state of constant turmoil!" someone retorted. Charles looked toward the hall and saw two cloaked figures arguing with each other, about toe to blows. He originally didn''t care much about these matters, but upon hearing the word "Atacama."he took a closer look and noticed an information prompt appear before him: [Name]: ckrock [Race]: Serpent [Age]: 32 [Level]: Lv44 [Attributes]: Wind/Poison ... [Name]: Uda [Race]: Serpent [Age]: 28 [Level]: Lv47 [Attributes]: Wind/Poison ... Serpent People? No wonder Atacama was mentioned, that is Aria''s hometown! Thinking of this, Charles recalled the image of the young girl, dressed in a purple silk gown, her face veiled with sheer fabric, her eyes shimmering with an enchanting hue, like a fairy stepping out of an ancient painting, radiating an exotic charm. There was also Joshua, who taught him the "Eighty-One Hammer."gifted him with "Joshua''s Remnant."and helped him through a crisis. These two Serpent People had been quite helpful to Charles! So, Charles stepped forward, wanting to ask the arguing Serpents in the hall if they knew anything about Aria and Joshua. To his surprise, Lance Lin beat Charles to it and entered the hall, exuding the authority of a superior. He shouted, "Enough! Everyone quiet down! If you want to make a scene, take it outside!" The two Serpents immediately calmed down. One of the Serpents quickly walked up to Lance Lin, visibly pleased, and said, "Honorable head of the Robinson family, I bring greetings from Atacama and the Li Tribe. I wonder if you''ve made a decision regarding our earlier discussions?" Lance Lin recognized the Serpent before him, and with a somewhat more normal attitude, replied, "Uda, rest assured, the Robinson family will notify you as soon as there''s a result." Upon hearing Lance Lin''s words, the Serpent named ckrock quickly approached as well, speaking respectfully, "I represent the legitimate Serpent power, the New Nation, and send you our regards. Please do consider a partnership with the New Nation!" Hale frowned. He knew that two Serpents hade to Genosha Calivia, each belonging to two opposing factions. Both were looking to coborate with the major families of Genosha to purchase weapons and equipment at a low price, along with miracle drugs. In exchange, these Serpents would provide unique materials from the Atacama Desert, as well as gold coins. The Robinson family was not interested in the New Nation. This was a newly emerged faction that was not well regarded. "Sorry, the Robinson family will only coborate with powerful tribes, even if we were to work with Serpents."Lance Lin stated bluntly. Uda, from the Li Tribe, immediately disyed an excited expression. He turned to the opposing faction''s ckrock and said, "Did you see that? No one believes in you chaotic forces! What is this New Nation? What of the Serpent Queen''s bloodline? You will always be cursed!" ckrock instantly became furious. Insulting him was one thing, but insulting Her Majesty, the queen who led the New Nation into battle, was absolutely uneptable! "I challenge you to a duel! Her Majesty will bring peace to Atacama, and that is a certainty!" ckrock roared in anger. Uda''s eyes brightened. He knew ckrock''s strength, and agreeing to the duel at this moment was a great opportunity to eliminate him! Before he could respond, the previously quiet Charles suddenly spoke up, "Wait a moment, I have some questions I''d like to ask." Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Atacama Does Not Need Peace Serpent Uda felt annoyed when someone interrupted the request for a duel. He nced at the speaker, who looked to be only eighteen or neen years old. The young man was carrying a backpack and dressed very ordinarily, clearlycking any status or background. Uda directly expressed his impatience, saying, "Who is this little brat? Do you think you have any right to involve yourself in the matters of the Serpent People?" Charles was taken aback by this remark. He never expected that simply speaking up would lead to such mockery from the Serpent of the Li Tribe. Charles ignored the Serpent named Uda. He took two steps forward and stood in front of ckrock, asking, "You said your faction is called the New Nation, led by the bloodline of the Serpent Queen?" ckrock looked at Charles with some wariness. He didn''t say a word, clearly unwilling to divulge more information. "That''s right, they''re a chaotic army! What bloodline of the Serpent Queen? It''s clearly a cursed bloodline!" Uda eagerly interjected, seizing every opportunity to belittle the New Nation. Charles frowned, still looking at ckrock, and continued, "Don''t worry, I''m not your enemy. Do you happen to know Joshua?" Upon hearing the name Joshua, both ckrock and Uda froze for a moment. Especially ckrock, who had an expression of surprise and confusion as he cautiously asked, "May I ask what your rtionship is with Lord Joshua?" Charles directly took out the Remnant of Joshua, which could no longer be used, but still retained Joshua''s aura. ckrock carefully sensed it and confirmed it was indeed Lord Joshua''s aura. His gaze toward Charles was filled with curiosity. "This was given to me by Joshua, it is enough to prove I am not your enemy."Charles said. ckrock nodded and replied, "The New Nation is indeed led by Her Majesty, and Lord Joshua is her capable assistant." With this urate answer, Charles understood that this Serpent faction called the New Nation was the one led by Aria. Charles recalled that he had once asked Joshua where he might go in the future, and Joshua had replied he would either go to Atacama or the Ster Empire. It seemed the other party had indeed returned to their homnd, Atacama, and formed a faction aimed atpletely reiming Atacama to bring peace! "Kid, who exactly are you? How do you know people from the chaotic army?" Uda, being close enough, overheard the conversation between Charles and ckrock. As an opposing faction of the New Nation, Uda instinctively regarded Charles as an enemy, since he understood that an enemy''s friend is also an enemy. Charles turned around, frowned, and said, "Who I am has nothing to do with you. This is Genosha, not a ce where you can act recklessly!" "Damn it! A mere teenager dares to be so arrogant! If this were Atacama, I would have killed you with my own hands already!" Uda licked his lips, clearly harboring murderous intent. Lance stood nearby, and his expression grew increasingly grim. The purpose of his visit today was to manage his rtionship with Charles. He hadn''t expected a member of the Serpent tribe to provoke and ridicule Charles like this. It should be noted that Charles had heard the conversation between him and Uda, where the Robinson family showed interest in cooperating with the Li Tribe. Who knows how Charles feels now? If this makes him more averse to the Robinson family, it could lead to trouble in the future. With a Serpent tribe far away and the killing god Ezra nearby, Lance quickly made his choice. "Shut up! Mr. Charles is not someone you can provoke!" Lance reprimanded Uda, then turned to Charles and said, "Mr. Charles, this Serpent has nothing to do with the Robinson family and does not represent our stance." Uda looked bewildered, doubting his own ears. Lance was the head of the Genosha Robinson family, and yet he showed such respect to this eighteen or neen-year-old boy? Who exactly is this kid? Charles waved his hand and stared at Uda, asking, "I heard what you said earlier. Although this isn''t the Atacama Desert, there are still duels here, even life-and-death duels. I''m curious how exactly you n to kill me?" Once those words were spoken, Lance tensed up immediately and hurriedly said, "Mr. Charles, there''s no need to act impulsively over a Serpent. The luncheon is about to start, why don''t we go eat first?" After saying that, he turned to Uda and added, "You should apologize right away. You''re being extremely rude, this is not the Atacama Desert!" Uda sensed that Charles''s identity was not simple. He didn''t want to stir up more trouble and wanted to defuse the situation as much as possible. But unexpectedly, Charles said, "You not only need to apologize to me, but you also need to apologize for your earlier nder against the Serpent Queen!" "Why should I! A curse is a curse! The Serpent People don''t need any queen!" Uda immediately became enraged. Before the New Nation arrived, their Li Tribe was thergest tribe in the area. All Serpents had to obey theirmands, contributing all their wealth in exchange for the chance to avoid being killed. They also had to perform various forms ofbor to obtain food and avoid starving to death. After the emergence of the New Nation, those despicable civilian Serpents flocked to the New Nation, resulting in the Li Tribe losing its sources of wealth andbor. The Serpents of the Li Tribe saw their living standards plummet and even had to work for themselves! This was something they could not tolerate at all, and they med all their misfortunes on the New Nation and the Serpent Queen. Atacama did not need peace, all Serpents were ustomed to oppression and turmoil. "So, are you willing to ept my life-and-death duel?" Charles asked expressionlessly, but his words carried an endless chill and killing intent! Before Uda could respond, Lance urged again, "Hold on, don''t be impulsive." The reason for his admonition was the concern that if Charles were to get hurt, the Robinson family would surely be in danger once Ezra found out! If the Robinson family weren''t present today, then Charles could challenge an eighth-level Beast Master or an eightieth-level Serpent, and it wouldn''t have anything to do with Lance! "Uda, if you keep this attitude up, the Robinson family will not cooperate with the Li Tribe!" Lance shouted at Uda. Hearing Lance''s firm words, Uda was momentarily taken aback. Just because of his bad attitude towards Charles, the Robinson family would cancel their cooperation with the Li Tribe? Because of an eighteen or neen-year-old boy? It should be noted that coborating with the Li Tribe could bring the Robinson family hundreds of gold coins in profit each year! The Robinson family was willing to give up such a substantial profit simply because of his attitude towards this boy? At this moment, ckrock, standing behind Charles, had his eyes light up. The cancetion of the cooperation between the opposing faction and the Robinson family was a tremendous victory for the New Nation! If the New Nation could establish a partnership with the Robinson family, that would be even better. But was it even possible? ckrock instinctively turned his gaze toward Charles, thinking to himself, "Perhaps this human who knows Lord Joshua might have a chance to facilitate cooperation between the New Nation and the Robinson family." In the next moment, ckrock felt that the thought was almost impossible. How could a mere boy make the Robinson family cooperate with the New Nation? "I''m sorry, I apologize for my inappropriate words just now."Uda gritted his teeth and lowered his head. The cooperation between the Li Tribe and the Robinson family was crucial. With the support of the Robinson family''s weapons, equipment, and miracle drugs, the strength of the Li Tribe''s Serpents would improve, potentially allowing them to stall the New Nation. As long as they could hold back the New Nation, other Serpent factions would naturally seize the opportunity to attack the New Nation! Any faction that surpassed ordinary Serpents and civilian Serpents did not want to see Serpents from their territory siding with the New Nation. Moreover, the New Nation''s slogan was to bring peace to Atacama. What is peace? It naturally means theplete disappearance of these Serpent factions, only the New Nation''s existence would be true peace! "It''s toote. I don''t want to ept your apology, nor do I wish to forgive your offense."Charles said. He turned to Lance and firmly stated, "Mr. Lin, there''s no need for today''s luncheon. I am a friend of the Serpent People, and I stand with the New Nation." Lance understood Charles''s intention. Charles was telling the Robinson family that in order to manage their rtionship with him. They must choose the New Nation over the Li Tribe! Without any hesitation, Lance, with a serious and solemn expression, said to Uda, "On behalf of the Robinson family, I am canceling our cooperation with the Li Tribe!" After saying that, Lance did not look at Uda''s shocked expression. He turned to ckrock and said, "On behalf of the Robinson family, I wish to establish cooperation with the New Nation. I wonder if the New Nation agrees?" ckrock was a bit slow to react, he was simply stunned by Charles''s maneuver. Just by saying a few simple words to express his stance and choosing to side with the New Nation, the Robinson family canceled their cooperation with the Li Tribe and opted to work with the New Nation instead? This was truly shocking for the Serpents, it felt like a dream. ckrock had previously approached the Robinson family, but their terms were far less favorable than those with the Li Tribe, so the Robinson family showed no interest in cooperating with the New Nation. He originally thought everything was set in stone, but unexpectedly encountering Charles gave all matters a glimmer of hope. "I represent the New Nation, and I am willing to establish cooperation with the Robinson family!" ckrock responded, somewhat excitedly. He became even more curious about Charles''s identity. To know Lord Joshua and to change the Robinson family''s decision with just a few wordswhat kind of person could achieve that? "No, I cannot ept this! Why should I? The New Nation is a chaotic army, and the Serpent Queen is cursed. Atacama needs no peace!" Uda suddenly roared. Chapter 217: Chapter 217: I Wont Regret Killing You Hearing Uda''s words, ckrock could no longer hold back. He retorted, "The New Nation is not a chaotic army, they are a group of warriors fighting for peace! The Queen is not cursed, she is the only Serpent who can bring peace to Atacama!" "You so-called elite, who ruthlessly exploit and oppress ordinary Serpents, don''t need peace, those Serpents do! Atacama needs peace!" Uda''s eyes turned blood-red. He trembled all over, not out of fear, but out of anger. He could no longer maintain his human form. In the hall of the tavern, Uda revealed his true Serpent form. The three-meter-tall Serpent opened its blood-red maw, constantly flicking out its forked tongue. With a pair of pale yellow vertical pupils, it coldly stared at Charles, filled with brutality and murderous intent. Uda hissed, his voice hoarse as he said, "Human, I challenge you to a duel!" The person he hated the most right now was Charles. The cooperation he had managed to establish with the Robinson family had been canceled just because of a few words from Charles. If he returned to the Li Tribe like this, he would definitely face severe punishment! He had to do something! This eighteen or neen-year-old boy was the best choice. Not only was he aligned with the New Nation, but he also knew Joshua. If he could kill this boy, perhaps the tribe would spare him from punishment! "Damn it! The conflict among the Serpent People should not involve humans. Uda, if you have the courage, then duel with me!" ckrock said. He had also transformed into his Serpent form. Unlike Uda, ckrock, in his Serpent state, was clearly more rational. "I''ll say it again, this is Genosha, not the Atacama Desert!" Lance''s aura exploded. After all, he was a Level Seven Beast Master and could not allow Serpents to act arrogantly here! Seeing Lance''s attitude and movements, Uda sighed inwardly. It seemed there was no way to remedy the situation. As long as Charles refused his challenge, he could do nothing to Charles. He couldn''t just attack outright, could he? The only possible oue of that would be being killed on the spot by Lance! Just when Uda was prepared to give up, Charles spoke, saying, "I ept your challenge." "What!" "Calm down, don''t be impulsive!" Experience the best from m|v|l|e|mp|y|r ckrock and Lance''s eyes widened in shock. They never expected Charles would agree. Unlike ckrock, Lance knew that Charles had already be a Level Four Beast Master. However, being a Level Four Beast Master without a contract for a fourth mystical beast faced with a forty-something level Serpent was still a huge risk. Even if Charles is a genius, that doesn''t guarantee he can defeat Uda. After all, Serpents are not the same as ferocious beasts, they have their own culture, knowledge, andbat heritage. Their overallbat power is much higher than that of ferocious beasts! Moreover, most Serpents possess wind and poison attributes, making them fast and capable of unleashing deadly toxins. If one is identally exposed to the opponent''s poison, the likely oue is death by poisoning! ckrock was equally puzzled. He could infer that Charles''s identity must be extraordinary, but looking at Charles, who appeared to be only eighteen or neen, he couldn''t see how he could possibly be Uda''s match! Although ckrock strongly opposed Uda''s remarks, as a member of a rival faction, he had heard of Uda''s name. Uda is a powerful Level Four Serpent in the Li Tribe, with a wealth ofbat experience. Furthermore, the toxins he possesses are more potent than those of ordinary Serpents. Once bitten, there is basically no cure unless Uda is killed and his serpent galldder is extracted, that is the only thing that can neutralize the poison. "Kid, you said it yourself. If you die in this duel, you can''t me me, it only shows how arrogant you are!" Uda''s eyes lit up. He had already made up his mind, once he killed Charles, he would immediately leave Genosha Calivia and return to the Atacama Desert, back to the Li Tribe. "Don''t worry, I won''t me a dead man."Charles said expressionlessly. Just a Level Forty-something Serpent, after all. If all went well, the ck gold long knife would take him down in one strike. If things didn''t go smoothly, a single ck gold knife glow would do the trick. If one attack wouldn''t suffice, then he would use two! Charles was well aware of the Serpent People''s poison attributes, but he wasn''t worried. When it came to speed, there weren''t many who could match him! He could see that a strong wind was blowing outside the tavern on the street! Moon Riding Wind: Increases speed and evasion, allowing for rapid movement or charging toward a target, making it elusive like the wind. In battle, it enables quick position changes to dodge enemy attacks. With the enhancement of moonlight and natural wind, the effects on speed and evasion are amplified. The stronger the moonlight and the greater the wind, the higher the boost! Just a Level 47 Serpent, how fast could he really be? "This space is too small, let''s move out to the street."Charles said, turning to walk outside. Lance wore a worried expression, he had only one thought in his mind: Charles must not get into trouble. Otherwise, the Robinson family would surely be implicated and targeted by Ezra. "You guys, clear the area!" Lance instructed the members of the Robinson family. At the same time, he summoned a mystical beast and activated Beast Mastery. If Charles was in any danger, he would not hesitate to intervene! Everything was for the Robinson family, no one could withstand Ezra''s wrath. With the Robinson family members in action, the wide street in front of the tavern was instantly cleared. Arge crowd lingered on the street, curiously watching the scene unfold. "What''s going on? Why is the area suddenly being cleared?" "It seems to be because of Charles?" "What happened to Charles? Is he going to duel someone?" "It''s not a person, it''s a Serpent. It''s so tall, it looks like it''s almost four meters!" "Who do you think will win?" "That''s obvious, it''s got to be Charles! He''s my idol!" "This Serpent looks like it''s over Level Forty, and Serpent People are no slouches. Charles might have met his match, this could be an evenly matched fight!" "Shh! I''m going live, I want to stream this duel so more people can see it." It was Uda''s first time dueling in front of such arge crowd. Seeing the throngs of people surrounding the road, his heart began to race with excitement! "Kid, are you ready? You will be greeted by death soon!" Uda said quietly, his tone filled with murderous intent! Unlike Uda, Charles was already used to being watched. He felt no inner turmoil and remained calm. Three hexagram arrays lit up as Charles summoned Mousie, Max, and Mia. Without any hesitation, he activated Beast Mastery. At the same time, he took out the ck gold long knife from the jet ring and reduced the weight of his Overlord Heavy Armor by a third. Charles thought to himself, "This state should be enough to deal with a Level Forty-something Serpent." Since leveling up to a Level Four Beast Master, no, it should be said that after the battle against Darren at the Robinson family banquet, Charles seemed to have not taken any action since. He wasn''t even sure how strong he had be. It was just right that he encountered a reckless Serpent today, one that insulted Aria, to test his actualbat power. "In this world, there''s no such thing as a pill for regret. Agreeing to duel me will be the biggest mistake of your life!" Uda said. Charles shook his head and replied, "I won''t regret killing you." Upon hearing Charles''s words, Uda kept flicking his forked tongue, as the wind and poison energy continuously gathered around him. A shocked voice came from the crowd, "It''s a Serpent with wind and poison attributes, and it looks like it''s above Level 45!" "Looks like Charles has met his match, a Serpent at this level is even stronger than a Level Fifty ferocious beast!" "Charles hasn''t contracted a fourth mystical beast yet. Will he be able to handle this Serpent?" Only a few people believed in Charles. They were unaware of his true power, they just felt that Charles had always been incredibly strong, able to astonish others every time. Surely, this time would be no different. Online, the livestream of Charles''s duel with the Serpent quickly went viral. At the Cyber Academy, Hale had juste out of the principal''s office. After ncing at his phone, he darted back into the office. "Principal! Principal! You have to see this, Charles is dueling a Serpent! I need to go watch!" Hale said anxiously. Principal Jamie was initially tense, but he rxed after spotting Lance on the livestream. He waved his hand and said, "Don''t worry. Lance is there, after all. He''s a Level Seven Wind Attribute Beast Master. With him around, Charles will be fine." "That''s true. If anything happens to Charles, Uncle Ezra won''t let it slide!" Hale thought it through and set aside his worries. He then settled into a chair nearby, eagerly watching the livestream. As one of the few people in Genosha Calivia most concerned about Charles, Hale was also very curious about Charles''s current strength. After bing a Level Four Beast Master, a Beast Master''s physical abilities would further enhance. Charles''s physical condition had already surpassed that of other Beast Masters at the same level. Not to mention he had also selected an orange-quality armor from the royal treasury. Now, it was estimated that within the ranks of Level Four Beast Masters, no one could surpass Charles in terms of physical prowess. Even some ordinary Level Five Beast Masters might not measure up to him! It wasn''t just Hale and Jamie watching, nearly everyone in Genosha Calivia who followed Charles flocked to the relevant livestream. They were all eager to find out just how powerful Charles had be after reaching Level Four Beast Master. In the livestream footage, Charles and Uda stood facing each other, the wind whipping at their clothing, and a solemn atmosphere enveloped the entire area. Chapter 218 Toxic Fangs Erupt Charles felt the howling wind rushing past him, and he instinctively activated Moon Riding Wind. The once roaring winds suddenly became docile in Charles''s perception, as if with just a thought, they would carry him to wherever he wished to go. The entire arena of the duel felt like Charles''s domain, he had the illusion that in an instant, he could appear right behind Uda and plunge the ck gold long knife into his heart. "Kid, don''t worry, I''ll make sure you experience unspeakable pain before you die!" Uda continued to taunt. However, Charles had quietly adjusted the weight of the Overlord Heavy Armor, increasing it slightly because he was worried that if he moved too quickly, the battle would end too soon. That way, he wouldn''t be able to gauge his true strength. Before Uda could continue speaking, Charles slowly drew the ck gold long knife in an arc, the sharp tip aimed at Uda''s neck, and a strong battle intent surged within Charles! "Damn, this kid seems a bit extraordinary, but it shouldn''t be a big problem, he only has three mystical beasts and is just a Level Three Beast Master!" Uda reassured himself. He felt somewhat intimidated by Charles''s aura, but as a warrior of the tribe, he quickly adjusted his mindset. In the next moment, the floor beneath Uda cracked, and his figure shot toward Charles like a bullet. "Wow, he''s so fast!" someone in the crowd eximed, surprised by Uda''s incredible speed. In just one movement, he had shattered the ground like a spider''s web. Many began to worry for Charles, as they thought that if they faced Uda, they would definitely not have time to react! However, Charles was not like these onlookers. His face remained calm as Uda closed in, swinging his ws. In an instant, Charles moved one meter to the left, effortlessly dodging Uda''s attack. "What! He actually reacted to that." Uda was astonished, his current speed was beyond what an ordinary Level Four Beast Master could respond to. Let alone Charles, whom he viewed as merely a Level Three Beast Master with only three mystical beasts. Uda wasn''t the only one shocked, due to equipment limitations, the audience in the livestream couldn''t clearly see Charles''s movements! "Damn, how did he do that? Charles''s speed is no less than this Serpent''s!" "Exactly, he just reached Level Four Beast Master, and he''s already this impressive!" "This is just the beginning, let''s keep watching." The crowd shook off their astonishment and focused intently on the duel, afraid of missing even a single moment. Uda, undeterred by his failed strike, knew that he hadn''t yet unleashed his full power, he still had skills left to use! Wind-Slicing Serpent: A special skill of the Serpent People that reduces external resistance in a wind-blown desert, allowing them to increase their speed. Although it wasn''t in the desert, the streets were currently howling with strong winds. With the enhancement of the Wind-Slicing Serpent skill, Uda''s speed wouldn''t be affected even in such conditions, in fact, he would be even faster than in normal circumstances! In his eyes, Charles, being human, would be somewhat affected by the strong wind, thus reducing his speed. Victory still belonged to him! After using Wind-Slicing Serpent, Uda''s speed increased once more as heunched another attack. This time, he was full of confidence, believing that Charles wouldn''t be able to dodge this strike given his previous speed! Lance watched the scene in the duel arena, his heart tightening. As a Level Seven Beast Master, his battle experience and keen eyesight were far superior to those of the onlookers. The instant Uda made his move, he noticed that Uda''s speed had increased again. Concerned for Charles''s safety, Lance was about to intervene and stop the duel when he saw a smile tugging at Charles''s lips, a look of disdain in his eyes, as if he were saying, "Is that all you''ve got?" Sure enough, against Uda''s faster attack, Charles effortlessly dodged once more! "Boom!" The street floor shattered under Uda''s strike, countless fragments flying into the air. Charles maintained his smile and softly said, "Now it''s my turn. Let me show you what true speed looks like!" Seeing the smile on Charles''s face, a sense of foreboding crept into Uda''s heart. In the next moment, Charles twisted his body, and the ck gold long knife in his hand traced a graceful arc, sweeping aside the falling floor fragments. Then, his entire body suddenly elerated, moving faster than Uda''s previous attack! The difference was that the ground beneath Charles''s feet showed no change at all, it was as if he were a gust of wind, with only speed and no weight! "What!" Uda couldn''t react at all in that moment. He wanted to dodge the long knife in Charles''s hand as much as possible, but he couldn''t do anything, only feeling the sharp tip slice through his scales. A chill pierced through him, followed by a warm sensation at the wound, and finally, a scorching pain! Blood gushed from the wound on his arm, barely having time to hit the ground, when Charles''s next attack came again! Uda gritted his teeth, feeling that if this continued, only death awaited him! He still had a trump card left to use: poison! Most people think that the Serpent People''s toxins are delivered through their fangs, but Uda was different. He possessed a unique skill that allowed him to spread deadly poison without direct contact! Toxic Fangs Ejection: Bypressing and exploding his venomous fangs, he could spray all the venom from his nds forward, creating a toxic area. This skill could only be used in life-and-death crises, each use would shatter the fangs, expelling all the venom, and recovery would take two to three months. In the current situation, only Toxic Fangs Ejection could give him a chance to turn the tide. Once Charles was infected with the toxin, he would just have to wait for it to take effect to win the duel! As Charles drew closer, the light in Uda''s eyes grew brighter. When he felt the distance was just right, Uda did not hesitate to unleash Toxic Fangs Ejection! In an instant, countless streams of green venom erupted from his massive serpent mouth, covering the area in front of him. "You''re dead! Damn human brat, how dare you injure me!" Uda''s vision was obscured by the venom, making it hard to see, but listening to the gasps around him, Uda could tell that his toxin had likely hit Charles! However, that thought was quickly shattered by reality when he heard the crowd murmuring: Explore the unknown at m.v.l.e.mpyr "Damn it!" "Unbelievable, he dodged that? Didn''t Charles just hold back his full speed?" "Don''t ask me! I blinked, and Charles just vanished!" "I swear, I didn''t blink, and I still couldn''t see how he dodged that attack. If it were me, I''d be dead by now!" "If it were me, I''d have died ten times already!" "I''ve died 911 times!" He dodged? He disappeared? Uda''s first reaction was disbelief. He couldn''t believe that Charles could evade such a sudden attack. When he used Toxic Fangs Ejection, he had already calcted the distance between them, there was no way to dodge! While Uda was still contemting, a voice came from behind him, "I won''t regret killing you!" Uda''s scales trembled. He wanted to run, to get away from Charles, but he couldn''t move at all! The sharp tip of the knife pierced through his heart from behind, prating his entire chest, appearing right before his eyes. Watching the blood slide down the de, Uda''s eyes filled with unwillingness and regret. At the moment of death, he finally began to regret challenging Charles, but it was toote! Charles expressionlessly withdrew the long knife, stepping back at the same time. From Uda''s wound, blood gushed out in torrents like a fountain, quickly staining the ground red. Apanied by a thunderous crash as he fell, only Charles remained standing calmly in the arena, wiping the blood from the ck gold long knife before sheathing it back into the jet ring. The entire street was silent, not a sound to be heard. Even Lance had his mouth agape, staring at Charles in disbelief. Charles''s speed had genuinely shocked him, having just be a Level Four Beast Master, he disyed such incredible speed. Once Charles sessfully contracted his fourth mystical beast, defeating a Level Five Beast Master would be no challenge at all! In the crowd on the street, many were rubbing their eyes, as if they couldn''t believe what had just happened. Among them were several Beast Masters whocked sufficient rank, unable to see how Charles evaded the Serpent''s toxic attack and maneuvered behind it! There were also higher-ranked Beast Masters who offered some exnations: "I really admire Charles''s courage. That Serpent''s toxic attack covered the area in front of him, but there was no poison within about half a meter in front of Charles!" "Charles utilized his speed to close in on the Serpent before the toxin could settle. At that moment, he could strike down the Serpent!" "So he intentionally let the opponent feel hopeful before shattering their illusions and delivering the final blow!" After some exnations and watching the live rey, many people finally understood. They marveled: "Simply killing the enemy isn''t enough, you have to break all their illusions before they die. Charles is incredible!" "Exactly, that move is called killing the heart!" "That Serpent had iting. He talked about making Charles regret it and suffer, it''s trulyughable!" "A mere Serpent, a former underling of Genosha, dares to act so arrogantly?" ckrock heard the discussions about the Serpent People but didn''t react. He simply focused his gaze on Charles. Chapter 219 I’m Just a Commoner Under the gaze of the crowd, Charles slowly walked over to ckrock and said, "Have you eaten?" ckrock was momentarily taken aback by Charles''s words. What did that mean? Read exclusive content at m v l em pyr Just moments ago, Charles had in a Level Forty Serpent without showing any reaction, his face devoid of any expression, as if he had merely squashed an ant. And now he was asking if ckrock had eaten? "No, not at all."ckrock replied. For some reason, as he looked into Charles''s calm eyes. He felt a surge of fear in his heart. No, it should be described as a fear of the strong! This feeling only arose when he faced Lord Joshua. Even now, with only three mystical beasts, Charles emanated an aura that belonged to the strong! "Perfect, I haven''t eaten either. Why don''t we go inside and grab a bite? I have quite a few questions I''d like to ask you."Charles said. ckrock nodded stiffly. He was now certain that Charles was not an enemy, but rather an ally. In his heart, he felt not only curiosity about Charles''s identity but also confusion about the questions Charles wanted to ask. Standing at the entrance of the tavern, Lance gradually collected his surprise and stepped forward, saying, "The Robinson family has booked the third floor, and the payment has been made. Why don''t we go upstairs for lunch?" Charles pointed to ckrock beside him and replied, "I have some things I want to ask him. It''s not really appropriate with too many people around." Lance responded, "It''s just the two of you. I need to head back to the Robinson family to prepare for our coboration, so I can''t stay here." Charles nodded and took ckrock to the third floor of the tavern, where they found thergest private room and sat down. Once all the dishes were served, Charles looked at the table piled high with delicious food. He immediately summoned Mia, Mousie, and Max. One person, three mystical beasts, and a Serpent indulged in a hearty meal. After a hearty meal, Charles looked at ckrock and asked, "How is Aria doingtely?" ckrock suddenly looked up at Charles. The name of the Serpent Queen was not something ordinary people could know. "Mr. Charles, could you tell me about your rtionship with Her Majesty the Queen?" ckrock did not answer, he needed to understand the rtionship between the two. Charles scratched his head and pondered for a moment before replying, "Friends, I suppose you could say we''re fairly close friends. Joshua is also aware of my rtionship with Aria." Friends, close friends? Upon hearing Charles''s response, ckrock recalled his encounters with Her Majesty the Queen. Each time, she was alonestrong yet exuding a sense of loneliness. After a moment, ckrock sighed and replied, "Her Majesty is very tired. There''s a lot to deal with regarding the New Kingdom, and she''s handling it all by herself. Lord Joshua is skilled in battle, but he can''t help the Queen much." "I see. I didn''t realize she truly began gathering people from the Atacama Desert, hoping to restore peace and reim its former glory."Charles remarked. He remembered the time spent with Aria, during which he felt she was just an ordinary girl. The notions of a fallen nation and the bloodline of the Serpent Queen didn''t seem to fit her at all. Looking back now, perhaps during those days, she could be carefree, not having to think too much or bear too much responsibility. "How is the situation in Atacama?" Charles asked his second question. ckrock sighed again and replied slowly, "The situation is veryplex. Atacama is no longer the Atacama it used to be. There are many different factions, some are simply Serpent People, while others have backing from foreign powers." "And there''s the ever-watchful Ster Empire. If it weren''t for the fact that the Ster Empire is currently embroiled in a struggle among the princes for the throne, the situation would likely be even more chaotic." Listening to ckrock''s exnation, Charles could roughly imagine how difficult it must be for Aria to establish a new kingdom in such aplicated scenario. Unfortunately, he was only a Level 4 Beast Master now and couldn''t be of much help. "Is there anything I can do to help?" Charles asked. ckrock voiced his curiosity, "Mr. Charles, can you tell me about your background? As far as I know, there isn''t a Bryant family in Genosha." "I''m just an ordinary citizen."Charles replied. ckrock''s eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn''t fathom how an ordinary person could earn the respect of the head of the Robinson family and effortlessly kill Uda. "Really, it''s just that I''ve been lucky. I have a Level 8 Beast Master as my mentor and a master-level alchemy teacher."Charles continued. "E-eight Level Beast Master? A master-level alchemist?" ckrock stammered, struggling to find his words. "Yes, I''m also a senior cksmith, a senior alchemist, and a Level 4 Beast Master. I just became a Level 4 Beast Master a couple of days ago."Charles tried to exin in detail. He genuinely wanted to help Aria and Joshua. "..." ckrock fell silent. He didn''t know what to say to express his astonishment. Could an ordinary person really train in cksmithing, alchemy, and be a Beast Master all at once? "For now, there''s nothing you can help with. The fact that we were able to reach an agreement with the Robinson family has exceeded my expectations. The new kingdom can take a bit of a breather now."ckrock''s attitude became more respectful. Charles nodded, and the two chatted for a while longer until it was almost time for afternoon sses, and then Charles left. Inside Cyber Academy. In ss A''s ssroom. Zachary was still sitting behind Charles, with Cami beside him. They had both watched the video from noon, and Zachary had studied it carefully. He ced himself in the perspective of the Serpent and realized that no matter how he struggled, he would end up just like that Serpent, being killed by Charles! The discussions online about Charles were extremely heated, with countless peoplebeling him a monster of Cyber Academy! Being a step ahead of ordinary people made him a genius. Being two steps ahead of ordinary people makes one a genius among geniuses. Charles, however, was far ahead of others and had undoubtedly be a monster! This was still without him contracting a fourth diamond-quality mystical beast, if he did, his strength would surely increase. Within the entire ss A, only Zachary and Cami could get somewhat close to Charles. The others were too afraid to approach Charles, let alone anything else. "By the way, we''re facing ss B''s challenge in the next couple of days. I heard only the top five from ss B qualify to challenge ss A students. I wonder if anyone will challenge me."Zachary said quietly. He was genuinely looking forward to someone challenging him, as it would give him a chance to vent his frustrations. "Can you challenge anyone? I''ve been a bit busytely and don''t want to face any challenges."Charles asked softly. Zachary''s mouth twitched slightly. He paused before replying, "Don''t worry, no one would be foolish enough to challenge an unbeatable opponent." "That''s good, I don''t want to waste my time."Charles replied. Meanwhile, in a mountain range somewhere in Genosha, Grace watched the video on her phone as it slowly loaded topletion, her face filled with shock. "How about it? Do you have confidence in defeating Charles?" her teacher asked. Grace took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. She put her phone back in her pocket and looked at the dense forest before her, speaking with determination: "In two years, I will definitely defeat Charles!" Her teacher nodded and said, "That''s the mindset of a strong person. Keep up the special training, and if you can persevere, bing a Level 5 Beast Master will be within your reach!" "With your talent, there''s also a great chance you could be a Level 8 Beast Master!" As if recalling something, Grace gritted her teeth and asked, "Teacher, do you think it''s likely for Charles to be a Level 8 Beast Master in the future?" The forest was silent, With only the sounds of nearby insects and the rustling of leaves stirred by the wind. After a long while, Grace''s teacher finally replied, "He should be able to be a Level 9 Beast Master." Grace''s body froze in an instant. She stopped speaking and just walked deeper into the forest. She wasn''t the only one rapidly improving her strength. In an unknown small town, inside a tavern, Lily looked at the information on her phone. Her face first showed a happy expression, then shifted to disappointment. After a period of training, she had progressed from a Level 1 Beast Master to a Level 2 Beast Master. However, Charles had gone from a Level 3 Beast Master to a Level 4 Beast Master. The gap between them seemed not to have narrowed, but rather widened. This was because the higher the level of a Beast Master, the greater the disparity between them. "Come on, Lily, do you remember your goal?" Lily quietly asked herself. Everything she did was to get closer to Charles. She knew that Charles''s future was bound to be very bright and that he could be an incredibly powerful Beast Master. Chasing after Charles was destined to be a difficult task, But so what? She just wanted to get as close to Charles as possible and be able to watch him! ... "Good kid, I knew I didn''t misjudge you. From this video, it seems you haven''t even used your full strength yet."Ezra said after watching Charles''s video. He was very pleased with Charles''s speed. After all, it hadn''t been long since he met Charles for the first time. Moreover, Charles''s fourth mystical beast was a diamond-quality mystical beast, which was already quite impressive. In a good mood, Ezra intended to rest a bit longer, but unexpectedly, strange sounds came from the cave behind him. The sound resembled a baby crying, yet also echoed the wailing of an old man nearing death, filled with sadness, despair, and various negative emotions. A long tentacle covered in eyes slithered through the cave filled with broken flesh and blood, waving in the air, looking extremely eerie. Ezra sighed, these creatures were bing increasingly active. It seemed that the chaos in the world was not far off. Chapter 220 Ethans Training The diamond-quality mystical beast egg still needed some time to hatch, and it should be fully hatched by tomorrow morning. At that point, they would finally know what this diamond-quality mystical beast was like. Charles had just finished his afternoon sses and, as he walked out of the ssroom, he saw Ethan waiting outside for a while. "Teacher Ethan?" Charles spoke up. "Colton asked me to take charge of your special training. Are you free tonight?" Ethan inquired. He now had a general understanding of Charles''s strength. Ethan had watched the battle video between Charles and Serpent several times, and he could vaguely sense that Charles''s abilities were not that simple! "Sure, I don''t have anything nned for tonight." Charles replied. The Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association was holding its second auction tonight, but Charles didn''t intend to participate since there was nothing he wanted on offer. Ethan''sbat abilities were something Charles was aware of, and he knew that carrying the diamond-quality mystical beast egg would affect his entry into the Trial Tower. His original n was to wait until the mystical beast hatched before going to the Trial Tower to elerate his understanding of self-createdbat techniques. "Go ahead and grab a bite to eat. After you''re done, meet me at the training room door."Ethan said before turning to leave. After a quick dinner, Charles used Darkness Cloak to arrive at the training room entrance. Ethan stood at the door, watching as Charles emerged from the shadows. He was a bit surprised and remarked, "Nice job! With that skill, an average Level 6 Beast Master wouldn''t even notice you!" Charles scratched his head, and before he could respond, Ethan led him into the training room. "I''ve watched the battle video between you and Serpent. That shouldn''t reflect your true abilities."Ethan said confidently. Charles nodded, the Overlord Heavy Armor he was wearing was quite heavy and limited his speed. Otherwise, he could have dealt with Serpent much faster. "Later, I want to see you give it your all. We''ll have a match, and then I can identify areas for you to improve."Ethan said. In his view, only through sufficientbat could he elerate Charles''s growth, especially in life-and-death situations. He was familiar with the Genosha underground octagonal cage, anyone who could be a top-tier yer was no simple character. They were all seasoned fighters who could kill without blinking. While the quality of mystical beasts might notpare to the academy''s geniuses, when it came to the practicalbat abilities of Beast Masters, Ethan found them to be quite formidable! Under the conditions of not using equipment, skills, or summoning mystical beasts. Very few students in the entire Cyber Academy couldpete with the top-tier champions. The reason Ethan hadn''t taken on the Reaper''s Scythe challenge was that he had be a Level 5 Beast Master long ago, already surpassing the challenge''s requirements. Moreover, in his opinion, the overall strength of a Beast Master should include equipment, mystical beasts, and skills. Simplypeting in physical fitness,bat experience, andbat techniques was a form of self-limitation. However, it must be said that passing the Reaper''s Scythe challenge would greatly benefit Charles''s growth! "Alright, I won''t be going easy on you. So be careful."Ethan said as he prepared himself. Read thetest fiction on M-VL-em|p,yr Charles showed no hesitation and immediately took off his Overlord Heavy Armor. The heavy armor hit the ground with a thud. Ethan''s eyelid twitched slightly as he stared incredulously at the Overlord Heavy Armor on the floor and asked: "You were wearing that armor when you dueled that Serpent?" Charles replied, "Teacher Ethan, yes, but the environment back then enhanced my speed. In the training room, I might not be as fast." Upon hearing this, Ethan could guess a bit about Charles''s abilities. Charles had a skill that could enhance his speed in special environments, and the enhancement was quite significant. However, it was a pity that skills couldn''t be used in the Reaper''s Scythe challenge, otherwise, Ethan would feel much more at ease, and Charles''s chances of sess would increase. "We''ll find out after the fight. I want to see just how strong you really are!" Ethan said as he noticed Charles had finished preparing. Without hesitation, he pushed off the ground, and his body surged forward like a falcon, radiating powerful momentum. Charles remained calm, losingposure was the worst mistake one could make in battle. He quickly scanned Ethan''s form and movements, which were now etched in his mind. Charles''s brain worked rapidly as he dodged and analyzed, constantly predicting Ethan''s next move. To his surprise, it seemed like Ethan had seen through his thoughts. Ethan''s already impressive speed suddenly increased, clearly aimed at disrupting Charles''s actions. His timing was impable, he intended to test Charles''s reaction ability. At this point, Ethan''s speed was faster than that of an average Level 5 Beast Master, and he was very curious about how Charles would respond! However, in the next instant, Charles surprisingly abandoned his attempt to dodge, flexing his muscles and shifting his body from a defensive stance to an offensive one. Ethan''s eyes lit up, this was a choice he hadn''t anticipated! It''s important to note that human thought doesn''t transition that quickly. Especially after initially deciding to dodge, most people wouldn''t have the ability or the courage to switch to an offensive stance! "Let''s see how you handle this attack!" Ethan''s gaze was resolute as he targeted the vital points on Charles''s body. Just as mentioned earlier, only in realbat, faced with life-and-death crises, can one discover their practical ws. At the same time, an unprecedented sense of danger surged within Charles. Even when facing the Level 8 Beast Master from Constetion, Charles had never felt like this, clearly, Teacher Ethan was very serious! But he still had a way! Just as the two were about to collide, Charles unleashed his full speed, pivoting his feet. Ethan''s attack grazed his chest as it passed. Seizing the moment, Charles took advantage of his position, clenched his fist tightly, and aimed a punch at Ethan''s temple. "Boom!" A dull thud echoed through the room. If it had been an ordinary Level 5 Beast Master, they would have fallen to the ground,pletely incapacitated by Charles''s full-force strike. To his surprise, Ethan merely swayed slightly, turning his head to look at Charles. His eyes were filled with astonishment as he said, "Nice job, kid! You were intentionally feigning weakness from the start. When you dodged, you weren''t using your full power at all!" Charles replied, "You said to give it my all, but you didn''t specify when to do that." "You''re absolutely right. Winning a battle isn''t just about raw strength, it''s about wisdom and maintaining a calm mindset!" Ethan said, his tone somewhatplex. At Charles''s age, he hadn''t been this exceptional. "Let''s go again! You need morebat experience. I now see that continuous fighting is the best training method for you!" Without waiting for Charles to prepare again, Ethanunched another attack. "Ambushes are also a form ofbat intelligence."Ethan said with a smirk. For the entire night, Charles and Ethan engaged in practicalbat within the training room. Especially Ethan, he simted variousbat scenarios, providing Charles with invaluable experience. As they progressed, Charles even managed to attempt using thebat techniques he had grasped in the Trial Tower while fighting Ethan. However, the results were somewhatcking, not matching the speed of progress made in the Trial Tower. It seemed he would have to wait until tomorrow when the diamond-quality mystical beast hatched before he could truly focus on improving hisbat techniques in the Trial Tower. "Alright, let''s wrap up today''s training. You''ve sustained some injuries, so make sure to rest well when you head back tonight."Ethan said. Charles rubbed his aching shoulder. Ethan had deliberately caused this pain to test Charles''s pain tolerance. It''s important to know that getting injured in realbat ispletely normal. Some Beast Masters are affected by pain, which diminishes their overall strength. Others, however, can endure the pain and continue fighting. As for Charles, in Ethan''s perception, he seemed as if he had not been injured at all! Whether it was offense or defense, everything was executed wlessly! "Once you be a bit stronger, the title of ''Tiger of Cyber Academy'' should rightfully belong to you."Ethan said with a smile. He was very optimistic about Charles''s future. If only Charles was given a little more time, sessfully passing the Reaper''s Scythe challenge would be a sure thing! "Uh, I''ll head back to rest now, Teacher."Charles replied, without borating further. Ethan seemed to remember something and quickly added, "By the way, you can skip sses for the next few days. The headmaster has approved it. Spend more time in the Trial Tower and try toplete your self-createdbat techniques as soon as possible." Charles''s eyes lit up, not having to attend sses and being able to focus on improving his strength was a good thing for him. "It''s not as simple as you think. You still need to set aside time every day. A dedicated teacher will create a tailored curriculum for you."Ethan said with a smile. Attending sses at the academy was non-negotiable! However, Charles''s situation was somewhat special, he learned quickly, so a specialized teacher would be assigned to him. Before him, only a few students had been fortunate enough to receive such treatment. In the world of Beast Masters, strength is revered, and talented individuals with great potential naturally receive special treatment. "Alright, Teacher, I''ll take my leave now."Charles said, turning to leave and heading back to his dormitory. After a quick wash-up, he picked up the diamond-quality mystical beast egg and examined it closely. There were still eight hours left until it sessfully hatched. At eight o''clock tomorrow morning, he would finally get to see this diamond-quality mystical beast! Chapter 221 Returning to the Trial Tower "So, how is Charles''s actualbat power?" Jamie asked Ethan, who was sitting in the dean''s office. Ethan reflected on Charles''s performance in the training room and replied, "He''s strong, but not strong enough. If he canplete his ownbat techniques, he should have no major issues." "It seems we have to wait a bit longer. Time is running out, the exchangepetition among the three major academies starts in just a month."Jamie sighed. Time is the most preciousmodity. This year''s exchangepetition is different from the past, it represents much more. Although Cyber Academy has branches in every country and is considered a neutral institution, the students themselves are not neutral. In the face ofpetition between two nations, many students naturally hope to help their country win glory! Moreover, this year, it''s rumored that Kingston has produced several powerful geniuses whose strength cannot be underestimated. "Indeed, after the exchangepetition, we will enter the Genosha secret realm. The timeline is tight, and I just wonder if Charles canplete his ownbat techniques in a month."Ethan said. After he finished speaking, he immediately shook his head, instinctively adding, "A month is just too short." After Ethan left. Jamie walked over to the bookshelf in the office and carefully pulled out a book. The bookshelf slowly moved, revealing a safe in front of him. After entering the password, the safe opened, revealing numerous documents filled with specific intelligence information concerning the entire Ethereal Grove! Jamie picked up the documents and flipped through them, eximing, "Some remote areas have already started to fall into chaos. I just wonder when it will be the turn of the Abyssal Depths. Sigh, I hope it takes a little longer." If Charles were here, he would instantly recognize the photo on the documents in Jamie''s hands. It was a horrifying image of countless bizarre tentacles covering an entire small town! ... The next morning, since Charles didn''t have any sses, he went straight to the training room after breakfast. He continued using the Overlord Heavy Armor to enhance his physical abilities, while also watching the diamond-quality mystical beast egg. Finally, at eight in the morning, the basketball-sized mystical beast egg began to tremble. A strong and powerful heartbeat slowly resonated throughout the training room. With a "crack."a fissure appeared in the eggshell. A small head popped out. Charles felt a surge of joy as he looked at the information prompt that appeared before him: [Savage Gold-Eater Beast] [Attributes]: Gold [Level]: Lv18 [Quality]: Diamond [Skills]: [Metal Devour] , [Body Enhancement] , [Rapid Recovery] [Weakness]: Abdomen / Wood Attribute [Hobby]: High-quality rare metals [Mood]: Afraid [Health]: Very Hungry [Loyalty]: 65 [Evolution]: 5 paths [Description]: This is an extremely rare Gold-Eater Beast that has awakened its primal bloodline. It can continually enhance its defensive capabilities, physical strength, and recovery ability through Metal Devour. However, this little creature is still in its juvenile stage and seems a bit afraid. Only on m v|le|mp|yr Charles looked at the information prompt in front of him with great curiosity. It was his first time seeing that a mystical beast''s preference was actually Metal Devour. Without much time to think, the freshly hatched Savage Gold-Eater Beast quickly began to chew on its eggshell, its body visibly growing at an astonishing rate. At first, the Savage Gold-Eater Beast was about the size of a volleyball, but after finishing the eggshell, it had grown to the size of a basketball. It lifted its head and scanned the surroundings, directly crawling toward Charles. Charles carefully picked it up and observed it closely. The appearance of the Savage Gold-Eater Beast resembled that of a snake, but it had four limbs and tall, erect scales on its back. A pair of golden eyes was fixed on Charles. Charles nced at the information prompt and discovered this was a female Savage Gold-Eater Beast. By convention, he needed to give this mystical beast a suitable name. "How about calling you Little Gold?" Charles tentatively suggested. The Savage Gold-Eater Beast seemed to understand something and shook its head in mild frustration, apparently disliking the name. "Let me think... Little Gold doesn''t sound good. What should I call you? Your eyes are golden... Well, I guess I''ll stick with Little Gold." Charles really couldn''te up with a better name. Mia, Max, Mousiethese three names for mystical beasts revealed that he was not very good at naming. The Savage Gold-Eater Beast nodded helplessly, epting the name. [Ding! You have named the Savage Gold-Eater Beast, and it likes it. Loyalty +5.] The information prompt in front of Charles changed. [Savage Gold-Eater Beast] [Name]: Little Gold [Attributes]: Gold [Level]: Lv18 [Quality]: Diamond [Skills]: [Metal Devour], [Body Enhancement], [Rapid Recovery] [Weakness]: Abdomen / Wood Attribute [Hobby]: High-quality rare metals [Mood]: Good [Health]: Hungry [Loyalty]: 70 [Evolution]: 5 paths ... Charles didn''t have time to examine Little Gold''s specific skills, he was focused on Little Gold''s health. Just a moment ago, before devouring the eggshell, he remembered that Little Gold''s health status indicated it was very hungry. After finishing the eggshell, it changed to just hungry, so it seemed Little Gold needed to continue eating. "Little Gold, you''re not thinking about eating metal right now, are you?" Charles said while holding Little Gold. He took out some food, but Little Gold just sniffed it and didn''t open its mouth. With a mindset of giving it a try, Charles took out some metal materials for forging from his storage space and ced them in front of Little Gold. Little Gold eagerly opened its mouth and bit down on the metal. Those hard metals crumbled like foam under Little Gold''s teeth, easily crushed to pieces. The training room was filled with the sound of Little Gold chewing on the metal as it ate. Taking advantage of this moment, Charles quickly checked Little Gold''s skills: [Metal Devour]: This is the most important skill of the Savage Gold-Eater Beast. It can rapidly grow and enhance its power through Metal Devour, and when it devours special metals inrge quantities, there is a chance to obtain unique skills. [Body Enhancement]: By harnessing the energy of the gold attribute, it can strengthen the body, temporarily boosting its defensive capabilities, strength, and recovery ability. [Rapid Recovery]: The Savage Gold-Eater Beast possesses formidable recovery abilities, allowing it to rapidly recover from injuries. Each recovery requires the consumption of a portion of its metal energy. Charles''s eyes lit up. The skill Metal Devour didn''t seem particrly powerful and didn''t match the diamond quality of Little Gold. However, upon further reflection, the ability to elerate growth through Metal Devour is an incredibly terrifying capability for a mystical beast. This means that, apart frombat training, Little Gold has more ways to improve than other mystical beasts! It can grow faster! Moreover, by devouring rare metals, it can also obtain unique skills! "No wonder it''s a diamond-quality mystical beast. Its current strength may not be impressive, but its potential for growth is immense. If it has enough time and enough metal, it will definitely be incredibly powerful!" Charles thought to himself, understanding that to elerate Little Gold''s growth, various rare metal materials are essential! This also means he would need a lot of money! "To be a top-tier Beast Master, I can''t overlook the importance of money!" Charles sighed. He noticed that after finishing its meal, Little Gold seemed a bit tired, as if it was digesting the metal it had just eaten. So, he canceled the summoning, allowing Little Gold to return and rest properly. Now, Charles was truly a Level 4 Beast Master, possessing his fourth mystical beast! He stretched his shoulders and moved his muscles, carefully sensing his body. When he contracted with Little Gold, his physical fitness had improved significantly. Now, he had grown a little stronger. "By the way, Joshua also taught me the Eighty-One Hammer. I can use that to enhance the quality of metals and speed up Little Gold''s growth!" Charles recalled the Eighty-One Hammer. He also reminisced about the time spent with Aria and the memories Joshua had left him. If it weren''t for that piece of equipment, he might have died during the ambush by Sly and Kevin. Now, Charles''s strength was still not enough, he was far from being able to help Aria. He needed to be stronger! With that thought in mind, Charles left the training room without hesitation and headed to the Trial Tower. He wanted to elerate hisprehension ofbat techniques as much as possible. "Hello."the staff member at the Trial Tower greeted him, going about his usual duties. When he looked up and recognized who had entered, his face lit up with surprise and excitement. "Charles, you''re back again!" the staff member eximed eagerly. Charles nodded and asked, "Let''s start with a test like before." The staff member took out a testing crystal and ced it on the table, then immediately pulled out his phone to send a message in the academy group chat. [Everyone, here''s some absolutely explosive news: Charles is back at the Trial Tower!] The previously quiet academy chat exploded with activity, bing noisy: [Is this for real? My idol is going to challenge the Trial Tower again?] [This is Charles''s first visit to the Trial Tower since bing a Level 4 Beast Master. Has he contracted a diamond-quality mystical beast?] [I want to see what a diamond-quality mystical beast looks like. I really want to own one!] [Just go wash up and sleep. You can dream about anything, even legendary-quality mystical beasts!] As Charles went through the testing, students kept arriving. They didn''t get too close, instead, they watched from a distance, observing intently. "Is it ready? Can I go in now?" Charles asked. The staff member quickly nodded and opened the doors to the Trial Tower, allowing Charles to step inside. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 222 Im Impressed, I’m Really Impressed A crowd of students had gathered outside the Trial Tower, discussing amongst themselves: "Do you think Charles can sessfully challenge the fifth level of the Trial Tower now that he''s be a Level 4 Beast Master?" "That''s unlikely. Bing a Level 4 Beast Master doesn''t give him an advantage. He just contracted his fourth mystical beast, and the enemies he will face are at a higher level than him." "That''s true. A Level 3 Beast Master still has advantages when challenging the Trial Tower. The higher the Beast Master level, the greater the power gap between them." "If Charles challenges it again, I bet his score will be worse than the first time. He probably won''t make it onto the Level 4 Beast Master leaderboard." "Definitely. It''s only been a few days. Charles''s strength isn''t going to improve that quickly." Inside the Trial Tower, Charles didn''t rush into the challenge. Instead, he chose to stay in front of the stone wall in the center of the tower for a while longer. He wanted toprehend as many images as possible so that he could speed up his understanding ofbat techniques during the challenge. However, this approach had its pros and cons, managing the progress of all thebat techniques would increase the difficulty. Afterprehending the three images again, Charles entered the first level of the Trial Tower and began his challenge. The familiar scene unfolded as the dense white fog appeared, only to dissipate quickly. This first level was no longer a dense forest but the ruins of Calivia. Everywhere he looked, there were broken cars and high-rise buildings, clearly a battleground suited for a metal-type Beast Master. Sure enough, in the next moment, a steel supreme spear, as thick as a fist, shot toward Charles. Charles quickly retreated, creating some distance. The distant scenery began toe into focus, revealing two Beast Masters at the street corner, each apanied by four mystical beasts. "It seems that after my level increase, the enemies'' levels also went up. No wonder they say the Trial Tower is so difficult."Charles remarked, not surprised. He had known it would be like this all along, he was just slightlymenting the difficulty the Trial Tower posed to ordinary Beast Masters. After all, being able to defeat enemies of the same level is already impressive for an ordinary Beast Master. Not to mention defeating two enemies of the same level at once, aside from the talented students from a few major academies, the rest are mostly from prestigious families or experienced Beast Masters. "Come on, let me see just how strong I am now!" Charles didn''t summon his long knife. He thought about how he would have toplete the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge in the underground octagonal cage in Genosha, where he couldn''t use any equipment. Why not take this opportunity to train his unarmedbat skills? Charles nned to control himself during the actual fight and avoid using any skills. Not only would this help him better understandbat techniques, but it would also prepare him for the futurekilling two birds with one stone! As for the time ranking forpleting the challenge, Charles didn''t care, those were trivial matters. What mattered was strength! With that thought, Charles no longer hesitated. His figure surged forward like a bolt of lightning, rushing toward the enemy! Five minutester, Charles looked at his battered hands, deep in thought. There were still many areas he could improve if he relied solely on physicalbat. Around him, the golden mystical beasts, their broken bodies slowly emitted white mist, and soon the fog enveloped him, bringing Charles back into the Trial Tower. The wounds on his hands vanished, reced by a slight disorientation. Clearly, the first level''s trial hadn''t inflicted much damage on Charles''s spirit. "No need to go back to the stone wall toprehend the images. I already have ninebat techniques, and they''re bing a bit difficult to control. I can''t be too greedy."Charles thought to himself. The information prompt in front of him disyed: [Unknown Technique (1) in progress, 65% mastered] [Unknown Technique (2) in progress, 55% mastered] [Unknown Technique (3) in progress, 45% mastered] ... [Unknown Technique (9) in progress, 15% mastered] The initialbat techniques he''dprehended had slowed down in progress due to Charles''s intentional control, while the techniques he had just grasped were progressing rapidly. But now, having only ninebat techniques felt a bitcking. Charles decided to continue challenging the second level of the Trial Tower to see if he could enhance his control skills. If he could manage it, after passing the second level, he would return to the stone wall and try toprehend a few more images. Meanwhile, outside the Trial Tower, the onlookers, curious about Charles, were fixated on the data disyed on therge screen outside the tower. It showed that Charles took 15 minutes to clear the first level, prompting someone to speak up: "15 minutes? That''s so long, it seems Charles overestimated his own strength!" "15 minutes isn''t that long. If he cut off another three minutes, he''d make it onto the leaderboard. The 30th spot took 12 minutes and 12 seconds." "Exactly, that''s a pretty good time. It''s great for an ordinary Level 4 Beast Master." The person who initially spoke listened to the rebuttals from others and after a moment replied, "But he''s Charles." The crowd fell silent instantly. "Yes, he is Charles. There are too many expectations for him." People started to realize. For an ordinary student, 15 minutes was already impressive. But for Charles, who was known as a monster at Cyber Academy, that time was just too long! "Do you think Charles is like the first time? As Teacher Ethan said, he didn''t summon his mystical beasts and relied only on himself and his weapons."someone suddenly shouted. "Are you kidding me? Charles''s opponents are two Level 4 Beast Masters! Even if he defeated a Level 40 Serpent, that would be impossible." "Two Level 4 Beast Masters and eight mystical beaststhat kind of siege is even more dangerous and difficult." "Exactly! Facing such an onught, if he doesn''t summon his mystical beasts, one mistake could lead to failure in the challenge!" Just as they were arguing, the data on therge screen outside the Trial Tower refreshed again, showing that Charles cleared the second level in 35 minutes! "See? If he doesn''t summon his mystical beasts, even Charles can''t clear the second level of the Trial Tower!" "Exactly, he took 35 minutes for the second level. That''s slow! It must be the same as the first level, where he summoned all his mystical beasts." "What do you mean by ''so slow''? Do you believe Charles can defeat three Level 4 Beast Masters?" It seemed that some people, seeing Charles''s long clearing time, began to think his talent was waning. In the world of Beast Masters, there are indeed those who, at the start, show extraordinary talent, leaving other geniuses far behind. They can be Level 4 or even Level 5 Beast Masters in a very short time. But eventually, their progress slows down, and in the end, they are not only surpassed by the pursuing geniuses but may even fall behind ordinary Beast Masters. "Hmph, just because I''m not doing well now doesn''t mean I won''t in the future."the person continued to mock. Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent. He turned to see Ethan appearing outside the Trial Tower. The crowd parted, and Ethan walked to the front, looking up at the screen of the Trial Tower, deep in thought. Someone cautiously asked, "Teacher Ethan, is Charles''s time for the Trial Tower challenge normal? It feels like it''s taking a bit long." Ethan nced at the person and replied, "It''s quite normal. In this world, very few can achieve that." "What do you mean, Teacher? Are you saying Charles really didn''t summon his mystical beasts?" The person couldn''t help but voice his thoughts. "He didn''t summon his mystical beasts."Ethan said, gazing at the time on the screen. As soon as those words were spoken, the surrounding students fell into shock. Someone instinctively eximed: "No, he didn''t summon his mystical beasts? So, Charles single-handedly defeated two Level 4 Beast Masters along with eight mystical beasts?" "That''s terrifying! I mean, can a human really do something like that?" "Yeah, Charles just became a Level 4 Beast Master!" "He''s not human! He''s a monster!" Listening to the discussions around him, Ethan scanned the crowd. These students really had never seen the world. Although they were all geniuses at Cyber Academy, they were still far from Charles. "There''s something even more shocking for you. Inside the first level of the Trial Tower, Charles probably didn''t even use any skills."Ethan said lightly. From his understanding of Charles''s information, even without summoning mystical beasts, he shouldn''t have taken fifteen minutes in the first level of the Trial Tower. No matter how he simted it, the time spent would be far less than fifteen minutes. Thinking about Charles''s challenge against the Reaper''s Scythe, a thought crossed Ethan''s mind. There was only one possibility left: Charles didn''t use any skills at all on the first level! Only in that case could it align with his simtions. Moreover, without using skills, Ethan''s simtion time was twenty minutes, meaning Charles not only didn''t use skills but also improved his physical attributes. "It seems that contracting the fourth mystical beast has given him quite a boost."Ethan thought to himself. The surrounding students hadn''t yet processed Ethan''s words, which felt like a bomb exploding in their minds. After a moment, someone stammered, "N-no skills? Relying solely on the physical attributes of a Beast Master andbat experience to defeat two Level 4 Beast Masters?" "I must not have slept well, or maybe Teacher Ethan hasn''t slept well!" "Is he really that strong? I don''t believe it at all." "If I fought Charles, would he be able to take me down all by himself?" "Dude, you''re a Level 4 Beast Master, and so am I. He could take both of us down in fifteen minutes without summoning mystical beasts and without using any skills." "Not to mention, outside the Trial Tower, Charles could use high-quality equipment, so the time would be even faster!" "I''m convinced. I''m really convinced. I dere that from now on, Charles is my god!" Chapter 223 [Dawn] Ethan was increasingly regretting his decisions. If he had known that when Cyber Academy assigned teachers to recruit students, he could have applied to go to Lsengard. He certainly could have taken Charles as his apprentice before Ezra! Unfortunately, there''s no such thing as a magic pill for regret in this world. The only thing Ethan could do now was work hard to be stronger than Ezra! Only true power would qualify him to teach Charles. With that thought in mind, Ethan''s gaze grew resolute. He nned to go out and train after Charles finished his challenge with the "Reaper''s Scythe," seeking opportunities to be an Eighth Level Beast Master! Time ticked by, and it was almost time for the morning sses to end. More and more people gathered outside the Trial Tower, most of them senior students who had plenty of free time. For the vast majority of the senior students, watching Charles''s performance filled them with shock and admiration, while only a few powerful seniors felt a sense of crisis rising within them. They certainly did not want to be surpassed by a new student who had only recently entered Cyber Academy; it felt somewhat embarrassing. Until the morning sses ended, Charles did not choose to challenge the third level of the Trial Tower. He continued to train on the second level, honing his Beast Master hand-to-handbat skills while grasping the progress of hisbat techniques. Charles really enjoyed seeing the rewards for his efforts; he carefully felt the increase in his strength and the improvement in hisbat techniques, making him feel exhrated. Although constantly challenging the Trial Tower would lead to mental fatigue, his strong mental power kept him far above that of ordinary students. Additionally, as his strength improved, the wounds on his body became smaller and fewer. He skipped lunch and continued to challenge the second level of the Trial Tower, not emerging until the afternoon sses ended. Outside the Trial Tower, the onlookers stared at the numbers on the big screen, their expressions already frozen. Charles''s time to clear the second level of the Trial Tower had dropped from an initial 35 minutes to just 5 minutes. In less than an afternoon, he had made such tremendous progress. Zachary and Cami arrived outside the Trial Tower after sses ended. "Is this even human? He''s been inside the Trial Tower for so long and still hasn''te out, and his clear time for the second level keeps decreasing!" Zachary eximed, his mouth agape and his eyes zed over. "It''s only taken him five minutes to clear the second level! Charles is now ranked seventh on the Fourth Level Beast Master leaderboard!" Cami''s eyes sparkled with admiration, and she was filled with joy. "Only about half a month since we started school, and we haven''t even begun entering the Trial Tower, yet Charles is already on the leaderboard. This gap is just too much," Zachary said, feeling disheartened. His mental fortitude was rtively strong; he just found it hard to ept someone like Charles. Compared to Charles, they, these so-called geniuses, seemed rather ordinary. At that moment, Charles emerged from the Trial Tower. Having spent an entire day inside, even Charles felt somewhat fatigued, but the gains were substantial; he hadprehended a total of 11bat techniques. Given the constraints of not affecting his progress in understanding thebat techniques, this number was already Charles''s limit. Moreover, his hand-to-handbat skills had improved significantly; he felt he could perform even better in a fight against Ethan now. "Charles, when you challenged the first level of the Trial Tower, did you really not summon a mystical beast or use any skills?" Zachary couldn''t contain his curiosity and asked. His first reaction upon learning this news was disbelief; after all, he had some understanding of the Trial Tower. Zachary even tried to put himself in that situation; not summoning a mystical beast would make it impossible for him to defeat two Fourth Level Beast Masters! Charles looked at Zachary with some surprise; the people outside shouldn''t know about his battles in the Trial Tower. "Did Ethane by?" Charles asked directly. In his impression, only Ethan truly understood him. Given Ethan''s excessively powerfulbat abilities, simtingbat scenarios wasn''t particrly difficult. "That''s right. Ethan said you neither summoned a mystical beast nor used any skills in the first level of the Trial Tower," Zachary exined. Charles nodded and replied, "As expected of Ethan; what he said is true." As soon as those words left his mouth, the surrounding students gasped in surprise. While they had mostly believed Ethan''s ims by now, hearing Charles admit it directly was still hard to ept. Zachary wore aplex expression, a mix of reluctance and eptance. He said, "As expected from you, Charles. By the way, are you still going to the auction tonight? We can go together." Charles thought for a moment. He hadn''t nned on attending originally because there wasn''t anything special he wanted. However, due to hatching Little Gold that morning, Charles now needed arge amount of rare metal materials. At tonight''s final auction by the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, there was a significant amount of rare metal materials avable, called Feather Gold. The quality of Feather Gold is only purple, which isn''t very high, but it should be enough to elerate Little Gold''s growth in the early stages. "You guys go ahead. I''ll grab a bite to eat and then head back to my dorm to freshen up. There''s still plenty of time before the auction starts," Charles replied. Zachary and Cami nodded and turned to leave; they also needed to prepare. Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, Charles exited the Trial Tower. He quickly finished dinner, washed up, and sent a message to Celestine. Then he made his way to Dean Jamie''s office. "Come in!" Jamie''s voice called out. Charles pushed the door open. Inside the office, it wasn''t just Jamie; Ethan happened to be there as well. Upon seeing Charles, Ethan quickly approached and asked: "How are you feeling? You spent a long time in the Trial Tower today." Charles shook his head and replied, "No major injuries. A night''s rest will do the trick." "That''s good to hear. Don''t let a moment of impulse affect your future progress. By the way, Charles, how manybat techniques are you currentlyprehending? Should be around six or seven by now, right?" Ethan said. Charles held out his hands, raising one finger on each. Ethan nced at him and said, a bitforted, "That''s two more thanst time. It''s normal for progress to be faster at first and then slow down." "No, it''s actually 11," Charles said calmly. "What! 11?" Ethan was caught off guard, and Jamie mmed his hand on the desk, standing up in disbelief. Charles nodded and continued, "That''s my current limit. I need to control theprehension progress of eachbat technique as much as possible; any more would be hard to manage." "What? You can do even more?" Ethan''s expression looked as if he had received a shock. Stay connected with m v l e mpyr Charles scratched his head, simply stating the truth, not expecting such a strong reaction from Jamie and Ethan, much like the students outside the Trial Tower. Jamie took a moment to digest this shocking news, trying to calm himself as he slowly sat back down. He didn''t want to continue on this topic; even he found Charles''s talent to be extraordinary! "Charles, did youe by today for something specific?" Jamie asked, well aware that Charles wouldn''te to see him without a reason. "It''s about the previous matter," Charles said, his face emotionless. But both Jamie and Ethan sensed that Charles''s emotions were a bit off at that moment. In their impressions, Charles was a very calm person who could keep his cool and handle situations withposure, no matter what challenges arose. After thinking for a moment, Jamie figured out what Charles wanted to ask. "Ethan, don''t you have other matters to attend to?" Jamie said to Ethan. Ethan nced at Dean Jamie and then at the silent Charles before leaving the dean''s office. "Sigh, I know what you want to ask, Charles. Right now, you need to focus on improving your strength and not get involved in other matters," Jamie said. Charles calmly responded, "Dean, is there any new information from the security office? The missing children''s cases were definitely tampered with." Jamie sighed and shook his head, saying, "The leads have all dried up. Many people in the security office died that night, and they are slowly trying to trace things back." "Slowly trace things back?" Charles repeated. Jamie exined, somewhat helplessly, "You know that there are definitely aplices of Constetion within Genosha, and there are traitors as well. So this matter isn''t easy to investigate thoroughly; they are very well hidden." "Is there any other way?" Charles didn''t want to just wait around. During these days, he hadn''t forgotten what he saw beneath the abandoned factory. However, due to the numerous things demanding his attention, Charles hadn''t asked Jamie for more information. "Charles, do you know why I didn''t stop you from going to the underground octagonal cage?" Jamie said slowly. He looked into Charles''s calm yet determined eyes, fully aware that trying to prevent Charles from getting involved in this matter was impossible. "That''s because behind the underground octagonal cage lies an organization that might have information about Constetion," Jamie continued, then turned and walked to the window, gazing at the brilliant lights outside. He remarked, "If you want to know more, then you should get as close as possible to that organization." "Another organization? Dean, which organization is it?" Charles asked. Jamie replied, "Dawn." Chapter 224 : 224: Shannon and Finn After leaving the dean''s office, Charles couldn''t stop thinking about what Dean Jamie had just said. The so-called "Dawn" organization had quite a reputation in the world of Beast Master; many people had heard of it. However, Jamie didn''t know much more information about the "Dawn" organization. He only knew that if someone could sessfullyplete the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge. The "Dawn" organization would actively reach out to those who seeded, and at that point, Charles could try to seek information about the "Constetion." Especially who is betraying Genosha and coborating with the "Constetion"! In fact, Charles didn''t care about that. What he wanted was simply to find out who was involved in the case of the missing children within Genosha! As he thought about this, he made his way to the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. Celestine had replied to him, saying that she also had items she wanted to bid on, and they could go together. For the past few days, Celestine had been holding back from disturbing Charles. She understood that Charles had very important matters to attend to, so she had to suppress her longing. They had agreed to meet at the entrance of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association building. Soon, Charles spotted Celestine''s figure. It seemed that, worried about affecting Charles, Celestine had dressed very simply today, wearing a thin trench coat that tightly wrapped around her curvaceous body. "Why the change in style today?" Charles asked, somewhat puzzled. In his memory, every time he met Celestine, she would always dress up meticulously, wearing eye-catching clothes. He hadn''t expected her to change her style today to something so simple and casual. "Does it look bad?" Celestine asked, gazing into Charles''s eyes. Charles answered seriously, "No, it looks good. This style suits you well too." The two entered the lobby of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association''s Genosha branch together. The atmosphere inside was somewhat strange. A young man dressed in avish gold suit was speaking sarcastically in the lobby: "A little Genosha branch like this doesn''t even have private booths? Am I supposed to go to the first floor and sit with those lowly people?" Danel bent over, his face filled with apology, and began to exin, "Mr. Shannon, please be understanding. There are quite a few participants today, and all the private booths on the second floor are fully upied. We simply have no other booths avable." "No other booths? Then have the others leave and make room for me!" The young man referred to as Mr. Shannon spoke with a very arrogant tone. Hearing this, Danel''s eyes twitched. He knew that the booths on the second floor were reserved for supreme-level members only. Many people were interested in today''s auction, and almost all of Genosha''s supreme members hade. Originally, there were extra booths, but other important guests had been arranged on the second floor, leaving no booths avable now. "Mr. Shannon, the situation today is quite special. How about I clear out an area for you on the first floor so you can sit alone?" Danel desperately tried to think of a solution. The young man in front of him was named Shannon, and he was someone Danel couldn''t afford to provoke. Not only was he a genius Beast Master from the Stone Kingdom, but he also had a close rtionship with the biggest shareholder of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, the Gao family. If Danel had known that Shannon intended to attend this auction, he could have made arrangements ahead of time. But now that he had just received Shannon''s message, Danel truly had no other options left. Next to Shannon was an ordinary-looking young man, around eighteen or neen years old, who frowned and said, "Shannon, let''s just sit on the first floor, it''s fine." Shannon immediately replied, "No way! I finally found you, and sitting on the first floor would be too embarrassing. We have to go to the private booth on the second floor!" Charles nced over at the situation but didn''t want to get involved; this had nothing to do with him. He simply took Celestine and walked toward the entrance of the private booths on the second floor. "Wait, who are those two? They seem to be heading to the second floor as well?" Shannon noticed Charles and Celestine, his eyes lighting up as he quickly inquired. Danel turned around and immediately said, "Mr. Shannon, they are supreme-level members with exclusive booths on the second floor." "I see, then have them give their booth to me," Shannon said casually. He had noticed Charles and Celestine earlier and found their attire very ordinary, with no one else around them. They didn''t appear to be from prominent families, and at their age, they were unlikely to be high-level Beast Masters. In Genosha, there were only about three or four people he couldn''t provoke. Clearly, in Shannon''s mind, Celestine and Charles were people he could easily bully. "This... this won''t do, Mr. Shannon. They are also here to participate in the auction today," Danel said, cold sweat appearing on his forehead. If Danel couldn''t handle Shannon, he certainly couldn''t handle Charles! "Just have them go to the first floor. Why all this nonsense? They''re not royalty from Genosha, so why can''t they give up their booth?" Shannon said dismissively. Before Danel could respond, he took two steps forward and addressed Charles directly: "Hey, kid, pretending not to hear me? How about you give me your booth, and I''ll give you twenty gold coins?" Charles stopped, slowly turned around, and stared at Shannon''s arrogant face, asking curiously, "You''re not from Genosha, are you?" Shannon was momentarily taken aback and replied, "How do you know? What does it matter whether I''m from Genosha or not? Twenty gold coins is a good deal." "Here''s the deal: I''ll give you thirty gold coins if you shut your mouth and get lost," Charles said directly. He despised arrogant people who looked down on others. There always seemed to be someone high and mighty, acting incredibly proud. Charles just wanted to quietly attend the auction in the private booth on the second floor. He never expected that someone would target his booth and speak so disrespectfully, offering him twenty gold coins to leave. "You! Fine, are you from the Genosha royal family? Howe I didn''t know about you?" Shannon''s first reaction was anger, but he quickly calmed down. He looked at Charles''s demeanor and attitude, which didn''t resemble that of an ordinary person. At that moment, the young man beside Shannon tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Shannon, this guy is not simple. He is Charles, the apprentice of Ezra." Shannon''s pupils constricted suddenly; he had heard of the name Ezra. Beforeing to Genosha, his father had warned him not to provoke the royal family or people like Ezra and Jamie once he arrived. He never expected to encounter Ezra''s apprentice right after arriving in Genosha! Shannon''s expression stiffened slightly, and he forced a smile as he said, "Oh, so it''s Mr. Charles. I was just joking earlier. I was a bit curious about you; you didn''t take it to heart, did you?" Charles didn''t respond. He nced at the person beside Shannon. Celestine seemed to sense Charles''s gaze and leaned closer to his ear, whispering, "I know that guy. He''s Finn, the strongest level-four Beast Master from Aredale Academy!" The strongest level-four Beast Master? Finn? Charles hadn''t heard that name before. Ever since arriving in Genosha, he had been very busy and hadn''t had the chance to learn about any renowned geniuses in the area. Now it seemed that Finn was indeed someone formidable. Especially earlier, when Charles had nced at him, he noticed Finn first scanning the surroundings and then focusing on the vital points on Charles. "Is this an instinctive assessment of the environment to n the most effective route for an attack?" Charles thought to himself. With a neutral expression, he shifted his stance, cing his right foot back, his heel slightly lifted, while his gaze locked onto Finn''s throat. Finn maintained a straight face and adjusted his stance as well, moving closer to Shannon and hiding the left side of his body behind him. "Shannon, this Charles is not simple. He gives off a strong vibevery strong," Finn said heavily. In the beginning, he hadn''t thought much of Charles. No matter how highly praised Charles was on Genosha''swork, he would simplyugh it off after reading thements. But seeing him in person today, Finn was surprised that Charles had noticed his intentions and changed his stance. That stance not only facilitated an attack but also provided a defensive advantage. To achieve such a level in an instant, thebat experience and awareness were truly remarkable. As Shannon listened to Finn, his shock intensified. He knew his friend''s strength, and the only person who could elicit such ament from Finn was someone he had only seen once before! Now, Charles was the second. "Shannon, what are you doing here?" A surprised voice came from the entrance, breaking the silence. Zane stepped inside and immediately recognized Shannon in the hall. He rushed over and continued, "Why didn''t you let me know you wereing to Genosha? I could have prepared something to wee you!" Shannon furrowed his brow slightly, leaning back a bit as he replied, "Zane, are you here for the auction too?" "Yeah, my dad is interested in something, so he sent me to check it out," Zane exined. He sensed that the atmosphere was a bit off and nced around, quickly spotting someone who made him grit his teethCharles! Surprisingly, Zane seemed oblivious to Charles''s presence. After taking a deep breath, he said to Shannon, "What a coincidence! Just go to the Taylor family''s booth. It''s been a while since west met, so let''s catch up." Shannon felt reluctant; he wasn''t particrly fond of Zane. Besides, Finn wasn''t too keen on being around unfamiliar people either. To his surprise, Finn took the initiative and said, "Shannon, let''s go." Chapter 225 : 225: [Mid-Level Auxiliary Cultivation Miracle Drug] In the Genosha branch of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, inside the Taylor family''s booth on the second floor of the auction, Shannon had just settled onto the sofa when he eagerly turned to Finn and said, "Bro, is that Charles really that impressive? This is the second time I''ve heard you say that." Before Finn could respond, Zane, upon hearing the name "Charles," shuddered and quickly asked, "What just happened? Charles is no ordinary person. He''s incredibly arrogant and has a terrible attitude. Although his strength is decent, at the end of the day, he''s just a lowlymoner!" As he spoke, Zane''s expression was filled with anger as he recalled the scene from the Robinson family banquet, where he had knelt before Charles to apologize. Unexpectedly, Shannon didn''t even nce at Zane and kept his gaze fixed on Finn, waiting for him to exin. Finn pondered for a moment on how to phrase his thoughts before responding, "Charles is strong, but in terms of battle experience and awareness, I''d say he''s about on par with me." "About on par with you? No way, are you overestimating him?" Shannon eximed, disbelief written all over his face. He was shocked to hear Finn praise Charles to such an extent. "Only in terms of battle experience and awareness. In other aspects, he might not match up to me," Finn rified. He still had that confidence; among the many geniuses he had encountered, only one had been able topletely defeat him. The rest were hardly his match. "You surprised me there. But then again, you''re someone who has mastered tenbat techniques! There won''t be another monster like you in Genosha!" Shannon instinctively said, He forgot that there were others in the booth, and naturally, Zane overheard the conversation between the two. "How many? Ten, tenbat techniques? You can''t be serious, right?" Zane asked, stunned. Finn felt a bit helpless; he understood Shannon''s personality wellproud and arrogant. Other than that, things were fine, or else he wouldn''t be friends with him. As for being proud and arrogant, that was just part of who he was. The Stone Kingdom is the most powerful nation among the seven, boasting many high-level Beast Masters. Shannon holds a special status, maintaining close ties with the Gao family of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. People with such status are bound to be a bit proud and arrogant. "Of course it''s true! Finn is my brother, and you have no idea how strong he is," Shannon said proudly. Upon hearing this, Zane was incredibly shocked. He had heard of Finn''s name but had never seen him. This person was quite peculiar; he didn''t like socializing, was very aloof, and was solely focused on training, fighting, and getting stronger. Thinking about this, Zane''s eyes lit up. Finn, who had mastered tenbat techniques, could surely defeat Charles! If he wanted to regain his face and take revenge, Finn would be a perfect choice. ... In another booth, Charles and Celestine were sitting side by side on the sofa. "What exactly is this Finn like?" Charles asked. Celestine thought for a moment before exining, "I don''t know much either. Some say he''s not from Genosha, and others say his teacher is a mysterious Level 8 Beast Master. There are all sorts of rumors." "But one thing is certain: Finn is the strongest Level 4 Beast Master at Aredale Academy, and no one can match him." Charles listened to Celestine''s exnation and felt curious. "Strongest Level 4 Beast Master? Didn''t the principal of Nova Academy try to take him as a disciple?" he inquired. He remembered that Teacher Ethan and Principal Jamie were very eager to take him under their wing. They even mentioned teaming up against Ezra. Logically speaking, if Finn was truly as talented as the rumors suggested, the principal of Nova Academy wouldn''t let such a genius slip away. Celestine shook his head and replied, "I don''t know about that. Finn has a reclusive personality and no friends, so there''s very little information about him." Charles nodded; he was still quite curious about Finn. Among the new students at Cyber Academy, he had only met someone like him, aside from Catherine. When faced with a situation, Finn''s first instinct was to observe his surroundings and identify his opponent''s weaknesses. Even if Finn''s mystical beast quality isn''t high, his strength must be considerable. After all, possessing such battle awareness isn''t something an ordinary Beast Master can achieve! Just as Charles was deep in thought, the voice of the auction host came from outside. "Wee everyone to the auction of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. Today marks the final auction, and I''m sure you all look forward to the items for bidding. So without further ado, let the auction officially begin!" The first item up for bid was an orange-quality piece of armor that resembled Charles''s Overlord Heavy Armor. Charles nced at the information prompt in front of him but felt little interest. Although the armor was orange-quality, its attributes and effects were quite average and not very suitable for Charles. Next to him, Celestine was incredibly excited and said to Charles, "Charles, look! That''s orange-quality equipment! I''ve never seen one before." Charles looked at the expression on Celestine''s face and thought to himself, "There''s no need to be that excited. I have three pieces of orange-quality equipment myself, but you probably don''t know that." If he really said that, Charles suspected Celestine would try to strip him of his clothes just to admire the orange-quality equipment. The fact that the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association could procure orange-quality equipment showed their considerable strength. Moreover, this immediately stirred the emotions of the auction attendees, ensuring that the auction would proceed smoothly. Charles took out his phone to check; the Feather Gold he wanted to bid on was in the middle of the lineup. Clearly, it was used as a buffer item, and its price probably wouldn''t be particrly high. He wasn''t interested in the other items, but Celestine had something she wanted to bid on. "By the way, what do you n to bid onter? Let me see if I can help you analyze it," Charles asked. Celestine immediately shifted her attention from the orange-quality equipment and said to Charles, "Item number eighteen, the mid-level auxiliary cultivation miracle drug!" Charles recalled the information in his mind. The mid-level auxiliary cultivation miracle drug was of purple-quality and had decent effects, typically used by Beast Masters to speed up their training or break through bottlenecks. Its price usually hovered around a dozen gold coins, which wasn''t overly expensive. He remembered when Teacher Colton had given him a high-level auxiliary cultivation miracle drug of orange quality, which was extremely valuable and generally reserved for high-level Beast Masters! "Is that the only one? Any others?" Charles continued to ask. Celestine shook her head; she didn''t have much money, only fifteen gold coins. If the price exceeded that, she wouldn''t be able to afford it. "Well then, I''ll bid for you," Charles said. Celestine replied a bit shyly, "I only have fifteen gold coins. If the price gets too high, then don''t bother." "Don''t worry, I''ll make sure you get it," Charles reassured her. He had plenty of gold coins on him, so spending a little to help Celestine buy the mid-level auxiliary cultivation miracle drug was no problem at all. However, since Zane and that Shannon were around. Charles expected some trouble when he ced his bid. He pulled out his phone and sent a message to Cami. Once Cami replied, Charles waited quietly. Soon, one item after another was auctioned off, and when it came time for the mid-level auxiliary cultivation miracle drug, the host announced: "The next item up for bid is the mid-level auxiliary cultivation miracle drug. Everyone knows this miracle drug is a great help for Beast Masters to quickly enhance their strength. The starting bid is ten gold coins!" As soon as the words left the host''s mouth, someone immediately raised the bid to twelve gold coins. The attendees at the auction quickly turned their attention to the big screen, which disyed the bid increase from the second-floor booththe very booth Charles was in! Meanwhile, in the Taylor family''s booth, Zane saw the information on the screen and eximed excitedly, "I can''t believe Charles wants this item! I can''t let him buy it so easily!" Just as he was about to raise the price, the screen flickered again, and someone bid thirteen gold coins! It was from the booth of the Genosha royal family. "Little sister, do you still want this item?" Genosha''s Grand Princess Rose looked at her sister Cami, puzzled. Cami clutched her phone tightly and replied, "Uh, I''m bidding for a friend." "A friend? Which friend? Isn''t Zachary here too?" Rose continued to ask. Cami''s expression began to turn a bit awkward as she said, "Sister, please don''t ask!" She couldn''t very well say that Charles had asked her to do this and even promised to take her out for dinner afterward! This was something Cami had wanted for a long time! As she watched the information on the big screen, many people fell into confusion and uncertainty, especially Zane. "What''s going on? The royal family is participating too?" Zane was very puzzled. He knew that Second Princess Cami had a good rtionship with Charles and wouldn''tpete against him to drive up the price. Then it had to be Grand Princess Rose? Did she need the mid-level auxiliary cultivation miracle drug? The royal family should have plenty of such items. With that thought, an idea began to form in Zane''s mind: "Could it be that Rose has a conflict with Charles? That must be it. After all, at the Robinson family banquet, Grace was always by Rose''s side!" Having figured out the reasoning, Zane decided to back off from participating. Since someone was targeting Charles, he didn''t need to continue raising the price, lest Grand Princess Rose misunderstand him, which would lead to trouble. "Charles should raise the bid again; he definitely won''t give up so easily," Zane confidently assessed. Time ticked by second by second, until the auctioneer''s hammer finally fell, and there was no further increase from Charles''s side. Zane''s eyes widened in disbelief; he couldn''t understand what was happening! Chapter 226 Yarutania [Hidden Treasure] "What''s going on? Did Charles really give up?" Zane stared out the ss window, his mind racing with spection. He had no idea what the exact situation was. But that didn''t stop him from feeling pleased, as long as Charles didn''t win the item he wanted, it was good news for him! On the other side, in Charles''s booth, Celestine looked at Charles with confusion. She too was curious why he wasn''t continuing to raise the bid. The price for the mid-level auxiliary cultivation miracle drug was only thirteen gold coins, and she had enough money to bid again. Out of trust for Charles, Celestine didn''t ask any questions. Missing out on the mid-level auxiliary cultivation miracle drug wasn''t a big deal, there would be other opportunities in the future. "It''s okay, Charles. I''ll go to the alchemist guildter and ask around. They should have other miracle drugs that can help with cultivation."Celestine reassured him. Charles looked at Celestine''s concerned expression and couldn''t help but smile in amusement. He said, "What do you mean it''s okay? We''ve already won the bid for this miracle drug." "Ah? Didn''t someone from another booth win it?" Celestine quickly asked. Charles exined, "That was from the booth where Cami is. I asked her to help bid on it, otherwise, Zane and the others would have raised the priceter." "Oh, I see! That means we only spent thirteen gold coins!" Celestine''s expression lit up with surprise. Not only did they get the mid-level auxiliary cultivation miracle drug, but they also saved two gold coins! "Once the auction is over, we''ll find Cami and give her the gold coins."Charles said. Celestine nodded, but soon she realized something was off. By having Cami help out, didn''t that put them in a position of owing her a small favor? What if this led to Cami getting closer to Charles in the future because of it? What would happen then? Celestine kept imagining various scenarios, and her worries began to grow. Charles, however, didn''t notice Celestine''s unease. To make it easier for the uing bid on Feather Gold, Charles continuously called out prices during the auction of other items. He only raised the bids slightly, adding a few dozen silver coins each time. This left Zane feeling quite confused. He had no idea what Charles was aiming for and was concerned that if he raised the price, Charles might suddenly back out. What would he do then? Thus, Zane refrained from bidding against Charles. Soon, it was time for the auction of Feather Gold, and Charles secured it for just seventeen gold coins. Although it was merely a purple-quality metal, it was quite heavy, weighing a full ten kilograms! That should be enough for Little Gold tost a while. After the auction of Feather Gold, the atmosphere in the room noticeably lost its earlier excitement.The subsequent items for auction were mostly ordinary and not very expensive. As time passed, the auction approached its end. Charles thought for a moment, he knew the list of items that would be auctioned next, and there was nothing worth bidding on. Plus, he had already helped Celestine acquire what she needed. Charles decided it was time to leave the auction and return to the academy to focus on his training. Just as he opened the door to the booth, he saw several figuresing down the stairs. The person at the front was unfamiliar to him, but he recognized the figure beside that personit was Avery, who had previously taken him into the royal treasury. Avery, the prince of Genosha! At that moment, Avery stood beside the man, appearing exceptionally respectful and cautious. In all of Genosha, there was only one person who couldmand such deference from Prince Avery, and that was the Emperor of Genosha, Miles! Not only that, Behind Miles, there were quite a few people following him. Charles recognized a few, including the dean Jamie, General Mason, the head of the Taylor family, Benson, and the head of the Robinson family, Lance. These people were part of the upper echelon of Genosha. Why had they alle today? Charles quickly scanned the group and, taking advantage of their distraction, quietly closed the door of the private box again. "What''s going on? Aren''t we supposed to be leaving?" Celestine asked curiously. Charles replied, "Let''s wait a moment. I just saw a few peopleing over, so there must be something else happening." The auction was nearing its conclusion, and the emperor of Genosha, along with the heads of the prominent families, had alle. What could this be about? Was there something he didn''t know? Thinking this, Charles didn''t rush to leave. After opening the door of the box just a crack, he sat back down and patiently waited. Sure enough, until the auction ended and the people on the first floor left, there was no sound in the corridor outside the box. Just then, a sudden knock echoed on the door of the box. Charles stood up, opened the door, and saw an unexpected figure. "What''s this? Am I not wee?" Jamie asked with a smile. "Dean? Did you just notice me?" Charles responded quickly, realizing it must have been the door opening that alerted Jamie. Jamie nodded with a smile, stepping into the box and ncing at Celestine. Upon hearing Charles''s words, Celestine stood up to greet the dean, saying, "Hello, Dean Chen, I am..." "You must be Celestine. I know who you are, there''s no need to be so formal. Just rx."Jamie waved his hand. He turned to Charles and asked, "Didn''t you want to leave just now? Why did you stay?" Charles scratched his head, sat down next to Celestine, and gently patted her back to help her rx. He said, "I''m just a bit curious, Dean. Is there something special being auctioned offter?" Jamie''s smile deepened as he praised, "You''re quite clever, kid. There is indeed something very importanting up, but you don''t need to look, you''re not qualified yet." "What is it? Is it something I can know?" Charles asked. He understood well that there were many matters beyond the reach of a Level Four Beast Master. Not only that, but there were also many pieces of information and truths that were only essible to those at a certain level of power. He had initially thought Jamie would remain tight-lipped, but to his surprise, Jamie exined, "Do you know how many countries there are in the Abyssal Depths?" Charles thought for a moment. He was about to say seven but then remembered that there was another country, Yarutania, which had been destroyed. It was said to have been wiped out in a single night by a high-level Beast Master with a Divine Beast. "Is it rted to Yarutania?" Charles inquired. Jamie looked at Charles a moment longer before saying, "How did you guess so quickly? That''s right, what''s going on auction is the qualification to enter the hidden treasure of Yarutania." Hidden treasure? Qualification? Charles''s curiosity was piqued, and he awaited Jamie''s exnation. It turned out that things were not as the legends had suggested. Before its destruction, Yarutania had transferred all its treasured weapons, equipment, and miracle drugs to a dangerous and mysterious ce known as the hidden treasure. The royal family of Yarutania hadn''t all perished, a few bloodlines had survived. These individuals could rely on their heritage to gain ess to the hidden treasure. The entire wealth of a nation naturally attracted countless Beast Masters eager to im it for themselves. However, the ce where the hidden treasure was located was extremely perilous, and each time it was opened, it was for a limited period. Therefore, a certain selection process was necessary. Only powerful Beast Masters who qualified would be allowed to enter. "So that''s how it is. I can''t help but feel that the hidden treasure is something the descendants of Yarutania would use to restore their country."Charles voiced his thoughts. Jamie replied with a hint of exasperation, "That was indeed the case at first. However, no one expected that the descendants of Yarutania would grow weaker with each generation. In the end, they had no choice but to leak the existence of the hidden treasure." "A portion of the proceeds from the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association auction will go to the descendants of Yarutania. They no longer wish to restore their country, they just want to be wealthy." Read exclusive chapters at m v l e m p y r Charles understood now. No wonder Danel had said earlier, before entering the private box, that all the boxes on the second floor were upied. It seemed these people had alle for the hidden treasure. "Dean, will the qualifications be auctioned separately or together?" Charles continued to ask. Jamie replied, "There are three qualifications being auctioned separately, while the remaining fifteen qualifications will be sold as a package." In an instant, Charles envisioned the scene that would unfold. After the separate auction of the qualifications, those who didn''t obtain one would certainly band together to bid on the packaged ones. Even the person who secured all fifteen qualifications might raise the price on some of them to make a hefty profit! "Stop thinking about it. Each qualification will likely go for three to four hundred gold coins."Jamie said casually. Charles nodded. He currently had just over a hundred gold coins, and the starting price would probably be around two hundred! After all, this was about a nation''s treasure, and even the Emperor of Genosha, Miles, had personallye. The bidding would surely be intense beyond imagination. "Since that''s the case, Dean, I''ll take my leave now. I have some matters to attend to."Charles said, not intending to stay any longer. The hidden treasure of Yarutania was not something he could participate in. "Are you heading back to the academy? Coincidentally, the teacher responsible for your courses is at the academy. Later..." Jamie hadn''t finished speaking when Charles shook his head and said, "I don''t want to go back just yet. I''d like to go out for a bit." Jamie fell silent, recalling the question Charles had asked in his office. He had a good idea of what Charles intended to do. "Come back to the academy early. I''ll talk to that teacher, and we''ll start your makeup sses tomorrow."Jamie said. Charles replied softly, "Thank you, Dean." Then, he took Celestine and left the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, heading towards Cross Street. Chapter 227 Trust Me After receiving the auction items, Charles didn''t say a word on the way from the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association to Calivia Cross Street. Celestine walked beside him, sensing that Charles was different from his usual self. He seemed much heavier, burdened by something. Earlier, in the auction box, the Dean of Cyber Academy, Jamie, should have known why Charles was like this. Unfortunately, Celestine couldn''t ask him directly. However, she could make some guesses. It likely had something to do with the bounty mission from the Beast Master Guild. But since the mission had beenpleted, and Charles had even received a reward from the royal family, everything should have been over by now. Why was heing here again? Celestine had many questions in her mind. Looking at Charles''s expressionless face, she didn''t know how to make him feel better, so she could only cling tightly to his arm. Cross Street was a slum area within Calivia. Once the sun set, the people here usually didn''t venture out of their homes. It was too chaotic and not very safe. As they walked, Charles and Celestine encountered several wanderers. They were gathered around, struggling to survive, or lurking in the shadows of the corners. Like wolves watching their prey, they eyed Charles and Celestine. One person stirred, gripping a dagger, and began to approach them. Without a word, Charles pulled the ck gold long knife from his jet ring. Under the dim light, the de of the ck gold long knife reflected Charles''s cold, merciless eyes. As if sensing danger, the would-be attacker slowly retreated back into the shadows, waiting for the next opportunity. "Is this what Cross Street is like at night?" Celestine eximed, startled by the scene. While she was still pondering why Charles hade here, she hadn''t noticed themotion around them, and she was taken aback when Charles had drawn his long knife. "Don''t worry, I''m here. It''s going to be alright."Charles reassured her. He didn''t know why he wanted toe here. Earlier in Dean Jamie''s office, hearing those words and realizing that there was no progress at the security office stirred an indescribable feeling within him. He felt the urge to walk and see for himself. At that moment, a figure emerged from the bonfire at the street corner. "Outsiders, this is not a ce for you to linger. If you don''t want to encounter danger, you should leave quickly."a burly middle-aged man shouted. Charles nced at him, not lowering the ck gold long knife. Instead, he replied, "It seems you know this ce quite well?" The man stared at the ck gold long knife, then, using the dim light, scrutinized Charles closely. It seemed he realized something and quickly asked, "Are you Mr. Charles?" Charles was a bit surprised but nodded in response. "I am. Do you know me? I don''t think we''ve met." "The fact that Mr. Charles doesn''t recognize me surprises me. But I''ve always remembered you. My name is Mark, you saved my son before!" The man named Mark said, visibly excited. He raised his hand and took two steps forward, standing in front of Charles. "I never expected to see you here today. I wonder what brings you to this ce?" Charles locked eyes with Mark, observing him carefully before putting away the ck gold long knife. "There''s nothing special. I just wanted to take a walk and see things for myself." Charles was reluctant to borate. Mark didn''t press further, he simply said, "I see. The crossroad can get a bit chaotic at night. I know Mr. Charles isn''t worried about that, but being disturbed can still affect your mood. Let me apany you." Seemingly afraid that Charles would refuse, Mark quickly added, "I''m quite a well-known figure around here. With me leading the way, no one would dare to bother you." Charles nced at Celestine, nodded, and indicated his agreement. So, under Mark''s guidance, Charles and Celestine walked slowly along the street. When they reached an intersection, Charles stopped. This was a familiar ce, across the road was the family that had posted the bounty notice. In addition, there was a strange figure lingering at the intersection. It was an elderly woman, holding a tattered teddy bear in her arms, standing at the corner, asionally ncing into the distance. As if waiting for someone. Noticing Charles''s pause, Mark turned back and said, "Mr. Charles, that''s just a poor old woman waiting for her granddaughter." "Granddaughter? Out thiste? That seems a bit unsafe."Charles replied, puzzled. Mark sighed and exined, "The people in the crossroad won''t trouble her. She used to be a doctor and helped many." "What about her granddaughter?" Charles felt a vague unease and instinctively asked. Mark looked up at Charles, sighed again, and answered, "She''s missing, one of the first batch of children to disappear." Silence filled the air. A breeze swept through the night in Calivia, carrying a hint of chill. Charles watched the old woman, who kept looking up and squinting into the distance, clutching the teddy bear. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the words wouldn''te. The image of that pristine white room in the abandoned factory shed in his mind, filled with so many grotesque, unwilling, and desperate corpses. Which one of them was her granddaughter? "Has she been like this all this time?" Charles finally asked. Mark turned to look at the woman waiting for her granddaughter''s return and replied, "Ever since the little girl went missing, it''s been like this every night. A once happy family became utterly devastated after that day." "The girl''s mother couldn''t handle the blow, lost her mind while searching for her daughter, and fell into a sewer, injuring her spine. She''ll never stand again." "The girl''s father is a cripple. He works and takes care of the family, yet he hasn''t given up looking for any clues about his daughter." Charles fell silent once more. At that moment, a figure limped over from a distance. His ck coat was stained all over, unkempt hair and a face covered in a beard that hadn''t been groomed in a long time partially obscured his numb expression. "Mom, let''s go back."the crippled man said as he approached the old woman, his voice hoarse. His tone was as t as a machine, devoid of any inflection. "Kiki doesn''t know the way. I''m afraid if shees back, she won''t find home."the old woman replied. She lifted the dirty teddy bear in her hands, waving it as if her granddaughter was just a short distance away, about to run over and leap into her arms. But all she received in return was the night wind, stirring the trash on the street. "Let''s go back. It''s too cold. Let''s go back."the crippled man said, lowering his head as he supported the old woman''s arm, trying not to look at the teddy bear held high in the air a gift he had bought for his daughter, her favorite. The wind picked up, bing stronger and colder. The old woman began to tremble, she sighed, disappointment washing over her as she turned to head home. Charles nced at Mark and asked, "May I go see them at their house?" Mark nodded and hurried ahead. The sound of his footsteps echoed on the road. The old woman immediately stopped, hastily raising the teddy bear and turning back to look. The crippled man kept his head down, staring at his shadow on the ground. Mark reached them and said something, though it was unclear what. After a moment, he waved to Charles, indicating that themunication had been sessful. Charles walked over with Celestine. The old woman''s home was right next to the intersection, in a state of disrepair. Charles stepped onto the wooden floor, which creaked with every movement, making a "squeak squeak" sound. The air was thick with a musty odor, Quiet and damp, asionally, a moaning sound drifted from within the room, an unclear call for something unknown. It seemed to be the voice of the girl''s mother, who had lost her mind. The windows of the room were small, allowing only a sliver of light from the streemp to squeeze in. Through the window, one could see the houses across the intersection. Seeing that courtyard, the house that issued the reward task, the lights were bright, and faintly, one could hear the sound of singing, "Happy Birthday to You." Charles was a Level 4 Beast Master, and his hearing was much better than that of ordinary people. He could hear the conversations from the yard across the street: "Good girl, today is your birthday, it''s time to blow out the candles and make a wish!" "Daddy has prepared a gift for you." "Mommy has prepared one too, it''s what you''ve always wanted Just make a wish first, and I''ll tell youter." "Thank you, Daddy and Mommy! My wish is to always be happy with Daddy and Mommy!" The sweet voices drifted over, but Charles looked at the people in the room before him, and they hadn''t heard a thing. "Sir, I heard Mark say you are the hero who saved 26 children. I have a question." The cripple bent over, slowly continuing, "Have you seen my daughter? Is she still alive?" As soon as he said this, the entire room fell silent. The groans disappeared, and even the creaking of the floorboards ceased, all waiting for Charles''s answer. "Do you want to see the result?" After a moment, Charles finally spoke, The cripple suddenly looked up, staring intently at Charles, and asked, "What do you mean? Are you willing to help us? But we have no money, and no one is willing to help." "Trust me, live well, and I will let you see that day. All the damned will be dead!" Charles spoke slowly and firmly. "I, I" The cripple wanted to say something more, but Charles called Mark and turned to leave. He reached the corner and pulled out a gold coin, cing it in Mark''s hand, saying, "You should have some standing at the crossroads. Give this money to them, they won''t be able to keep it, so it''s better to leave it with you. Help me take care of this family." Mark nodded vigorously. He also wanted to help this family, but he didn''t have any extra money on him. Now that he had Charles''s assistance, it was naturally not a problem. "Mr. Charles, what you just said, is it true?" After hesitating for a moment, Mark finally voiced his doubt. Chapter 228 Reaper’s Scythe On the way back, Celestine kept thinking about what Charles had just said, "It''s true, believe me!" Although she didn''t understand what Charles was talking about, especially the part about "all the damned people, all dead!" she could vaguely sense that things were not that simple. Finally, as she was nearing her home, Celestine couldn''t hold back her curiosity and asked, "Charles, what exactly happened? Didn''t you rescue the missing children?" Charles looked at the puzzled expression on Celestine''s face and replied, "This is something you shouldn''t get involved in, it''s better if you don''t know." The familiar words left Charles feeling a bit dazed. He had heard such things many times before, Teacher Colton had said it, Teacher Ezra had said it, and so had Dean Jamie. When they said those things back then, they must have been filled with worry, not wanting those they cared about to face danger. Celestine nodded helplessly. She didn''t know what she could do, so she opened her arms and hugged Charles tightly, pressing her face against his chest as she said: "Don''t push yourself. If it''s too dangerous, don''t go on." "It''s fine. I know my limits and I''ll handle it."Charles reassured her. After he dropped Celestine off at home, he returned to the training room at Cyber Academy. First, he summoned Little Gold. This little creature had regained its energy and appeared slightlyrger, indicating that it had digested the metal it had devouredst time. Little Gold looked around, a bit confused, but when it saw Charles, its golden eyes lit up. It quickly climbed onto Charles''s shoulder and opened its mouth wide. "Are you hungry already? Your digestion ability is impressive!" Charles remarked as he took out the Feather Gold he had collected earlier from his storage space. Then, he retrieved the ck gold long knife, infused it with attribute energy, and sliced a piece of Feather Gold the size of a fist, tossing it to Little Gold. Little Gold clutched the Feather Gold tightly with both hands but didn''t start eating right away. Instead, it watched as Charles put the remaining Feather Gold back into the storage space. "Alright, this should be enough for you. It''s all yours, so don''t worry."Charles said with a hint of amusement. As if understanding Charles''s words, Little Gold began to eat, quickly consuming the fist-sized piece of Feather Gold. [Ding! Little Gold has devoured purple-quality metal. It is very happy. Loyalty +3.] As before, after eating its fill, Little Gold appeared drowsy, clearly needing time to digest the metal it had just swallowed. Charles dismissed Little Gold, sending it back to rest. He needed to focus on training! ... Meanwhile, Shannon and Finn arrived at thergest entertainment area in Genosha Calivia. This ce was filled with various nightclubs, bars, casinos, and more, making it the liveliest spot in Genosha Calivia at night. However, the two were not there to have fun, they had a very important task to aplish. Shannon and Finn made their way directly to thergest street, casually searching for an underground entrance before stepping into the elevator. Before long, the elevator doors opened, revealing a brightly lit space filled with numerous shouts and curses that filled their ears. This was the underground octagonal cage of Genosha Calivia! A ce without mystical beasts, where Beast Masters fought barehanded, overflowing with violence, blood, and desire! Shannon watched with great interest as she focused on a small octagonal cage next to them, where two female Beast Masters were fighting naked. A group of rowdy men shook the cage, shouting loudly: "Go on! Kill her!" "I bet five hundred silver coins on you, so get up and keep fighting!" "Damn it! Big tits are useful, they can weaken the force of the opponent''s punches. If I had known, I would have bet on her!" Crimson blood slowly trickled down their pale skin, and the swollen breasts continuously stirred the crowd. The piercing cries, curses, and cheers sent the atmosphere into a frenzy, making people instinctively want to unleash their inner desires. "Stop watching, let''s go."Finn said, frowning as he reminded Shannon. Shannon snapped back to reality and quickly turned to Finn, saying, "I was just admiring their fight. It''s impressive, those attacks are really something, and they''re so fair-skinned." Finn''s eyes twitched, clearly not epting her reasoning. He took a deep breath and walked toward thergest octagonal cage in the underground space. Someone noticed their actions, and their eyes instantly lit up as they shouted to those around them, "Look! Two young people are heading towards the Graveyard!" "Seriously? They must be first-timers, unaware of what the Graveyard means." "Boring. It''s been years since anyone dared to challenge the Graveyard, and not a single one has seeded." "No, wait! They really seem to be challenging the Graveyard! Someone has opened it!" "What? Is that for real? Damn, let''s go check it out!" Before long, the spectators around the outermost octagonal cage noticed Shannon and Finn''s actions. They abandoned the fight in front of them and rushed over. Even the fighters inside the octagonal cage paused their brawl to look toward thergest octagonal cage. Some people who were closer shouted, "Hey, you reckless kid! While the staff isn''t here, you still have a chance to get down. Otherwise, you won''t be able to escapeter!" "This is a ce only for level four Beast Masters. At your age, can you really be a level four Beast Master?" "Don''t just stand there! Once more people arrive, you won''t be able to run away!" "You probably don''t know the rules, do you? Once you step into this octagonal cage, you have to challenge two gold medalists!" Finn stood inside the octagonal cage, looking at the dark brown floor and the cage corroded by blood. He took a deep breath and shouted loudly, "Level four Beast Master, Finn, here to sign up for Reaper''s Scythe!" In the next moment, the entire underground world fell silent. Everyone seemed stunned, exchanging nces before realizing what had just happened. They jumped up in excitement, waving their arms and shouting, "Reaper''s Scythe!" "Reaper''s Scythe!" ... Some people, unsure of what was happening, turned to those around them and asked, "What''s going on? What just happened?" "Someone is challenging Reaper''s Scythe! Damn, it''s been years since we''ve seen something like this! Thest time was three years ago, and that person didn''t even manage to sign up!" In the underground octagonal cage, anyone wishing to challenge "Reaper''s Scythe" must first sign up. And signing up means entering the octagonal cage known as the "Graveyard" and challenging three gold medalists! Only on m v|le|mp|yr And within three minutes, defeating or killing all three gold medalists is the only way to sessfully sign up for "Reaper''s Scythe!" If Finn hadn''t shouted "Reaper''s Scythe."he could have entered the Graveyard and only needed to challenge two gold medalists to earn a handsome reward. At that moment, the crowd began to part. A burly bald man wearing sunsses stepped forward, holding a microphone. He shouted, "Everyone, pay attention! Someone actually dares to challenge Reaper''s Scythe! He looks barely eighteen or neen, I wonder if he''ll be knocked out cold!" "ording to tradition, the betting begins. Those who wish to ce bets should find the nearest staff member and make your choice!" "Young man, there''s no turning back now! In one minute, the three gold medalists will be here, and the fight is about to start!" The crowd erupted in cheers, with countless people rushing to the nearest staff members, pulling out gold or silver coins to ce their bets. Meanwhile, the news of someone challenging "Reaper''s Scythe" spread quickly. Charles had just finished training and returned to his dorm, not even having had the chance to wash up when his phone began to vibrate incessantly. Opening it up, he saw messages from Hale and Ethan: [Charles, hurry, get into this livestream! Someone is challenging Reaper''s Scythe! You have to check it out.] Looking at the messages on his phone, Charles felt quite surprised, he hadn''t expected someone to act before him. Who could it be? Among the level four Beast Masters in Genosha Calivia, there didn''t seem to be many with that kind of strength. Could it be a level four Beast Master from another country? Charles was filled with curiosity as he clicked on the link sent by Professor Hale and entered the livestream. To his surprise, there was no footage at all, it disyed a message stating that payment was required to watch, costing 168 silver coins. "That''s quite a money-making scheme."Charles grumbled as he paid the fee. Soon, the livestream showed footage. Charles nced at the screen and recognized the person standing inside the octagonal cagenone other than Finn, whom he had met at the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association! He couldn''t believe it was him, but it made sense. With someone like Finn, who was called the strongest level four Beast Master, challenging "Reaper''s Scythe" felt somewhat hopeful. Moreover, during their encounter at the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, Charles had sensed that Finn''s fighting awareness and experience were on par with his own! However, since Finn had the confidence to challenge "Reaper''s Scythe."he must have some hidden strengths, such as power, speed, andbat techniques. This piqued Charles''s interest even more, it felt as if he had found a worthy opponent. "I''ll be watching closely to see how you defeat those three gold medalists."Charles murmured to himself. In the underground octagonal cage matches, thepetitors are ranked as bronze, silver, gold, and the strongestking! Level four Beast Masters may have the same rank as level five Beast Masters, but there is still a gap in their strength. Finn, being a level four Beast Master, would be facing three gold medalists who are also level four Beast Masters. Without being able to summon mystical beasts or use skills and equipment, it wouldn''t be easy to take down three gold medalists in a short time! This battle was eagerly anticipated by countless spectators. Chapter 229 There Is Only One Thing in My Life Inside the underground octagonal cage in Genosha Calivia, Finn stood expressionless in thergest octagonal cage, surrounded by a crowd of excited and frenzied spectators. Shannon stood beside him without a hint of worry, he had great confidence in Finn''s abilities. He hade from the Stone Kingdom this time, partly to see his long-lost friend and partly to secure a spot for the Yarutania hidden treasure auction. Tonight''s auction went very smoothly, and he sessfully secured a spot. Half of the mission was already aplished, and now it was time to watch his friend sessfully challenge "Reaper''s Scythe." In Shannon''s mind, if Finn failed in this challenge, no one else in Genosha would be able to seed! At that moment, a few people pushed through the crowded audience and approached the octagonal cage. The bald man who had initially grabbed the microphone took a document from the hands of a bystander, then stepped into the octagonal cage and said to Finn: "You understand the rules, sign this death agreement, and the fight will begin shortly." Finn calmly epted the document, examined it carefully, and upon finding no issues, signed his name. Seeing this, the bald man wore a hint of excitement on his face as he turned around, raised the microphone again, and shouted: "This young man has signed his name! Ladies and gentlemen, the bloody and brutal fight is about tomence!" Amidst the cheers of the crowd, three gold medalists from the underground octagonal cage slowly entered the cage. Then the bald man closed the cage door and shouted fervently: "I dere the fight officially started!" In the next moment, Finn''s figure shot forward like a bullet, directlyunching an attack on the nearest level four Beast Master! His strategy was to eliminate one enemy as quickly as possible, if he could achieve that, the remaining two enemies would no longer pose a threat to him! However, the three gold medalists had extensivebat experience and immediately recognized Finn''s intentions. The gold medalist being attacked was well aware that as long as he could hold Finn off, the fight would soone to an end! So, he immediately took a defensive stance, hoping to withstand Finn''s attack. Meanwhile, the other two gold medalists chose not to aid theirpanion, their sole focus was on one thing! That was to seize the opportunity while Finn was attacking and unable to defend himself. If they could capitalize on this moment, thebined assault from the two level four Beast Masters would surely injure Finn severely, ending the fight! "It seems this young man''s n is about to fail. If he were up against an ordinary Beast Master, he would surely seed, but now he faces three gold medal level four Beast Masters!" the bald man said with a hint of regret. It was rare for someone to challenge "Reaper''s Scythe."and he genuinely hoped Finn would win this fight. If that happened, the news of a sessful challenger would spread throughout Calivia! Countless people would flock to the underground world to witness this rare challenge! At that time, the ticket sales alone would bring in a considerable amount of gold for the underground octagonal cage! Just when everyone thought Finn was about to fail, something unexpected happened. Finn''s body shifted direction in a remarkably peculiar manner, changing his attack trajectory! The audience erupted in bewildered shouts, with someone eximing to theirpanions, "How is this possible? This defies logic!" "Exactly! How could he do that? He changed his attack direction in an instant without any hesitation, and it looks like he didn''t lose any power!" "I get it! He must have some specialbat techniques!" "Right, that''s the only exnation!" Some quick thinkers realized Finn must have mastered some uniquebat technique, and they watched the octagonal cage intently, eager to see what would unfold next. Under the gaze of the crowd, the nearest level four gold medalist''s pupils suddenly contracted. He had never anticipated that Finn could redirect his attack! In a split second, Finn''s right hand moved at an odd angle, close to his jaw, and with a sudden burst of strength, he knocked the gold medalist to the ground! Bright red blood sprayed from the level four Beast Master''s mouth, sttering in the air. The audience erupted with cheers and shouts of anger. "Awesome! He took one down so quickly! This kid is really impressive, I''m d I bet on him to win!" Stay tuned to M|VL|EM|PY|R "Damn! What the hell? He got defeated so easily! What kind of gold medal level four Beast Master is this? Too weak!" "It''s fine, there are still two gold medal level four Beast Masters left. There''s still hope! I bet on this kid to lose!" The shouting was loud enough for the live broadcast to pick up every word. Charles fell into deep thought, Finn''s recent attack was indeed unexpected. He initially thought Finn would have some powerful means of attack, but he didn''t expect his opponent to bizarrely change the direction of his attack at such speed without losing any strength! "This is interesting. I don''t need to watch the rest of the fight, those two gold medal level four Beast Masters will probably be defeated soon."Charles thought to himself. Sure enough, the footage in the live broadcast aligned with his expectations. In just thirty seconds, the two ace level four Beast Masters were lying on the ground, unconscious and out cold. Exiting the live stream, Charles continuously simted in his mind how he would attack and defend if he faced Finn. Finn was definitely not that simple, merely signing up for the "Reaper''s Scythe" fight didn''t mean he had revealed all his strength. To truly understand Finn''s capabilities, he would have to wait for the subsequent battles. Charles felt a twinge of anxiety in his heart because the alchemy material Colton needed was one-of-a-kind, and it couldn''t be found anywhere else. Only by sessfully passing the "Reaper''s Scythe" could he obtain it. If Finn seeded in his challenge, even if Charles managed to seed afterward, he wouldn''t be able to get that alchemy material. At that point, he would have to negotiate with Finn to see if the other party would be willing to trade. But in that case, the initiative would be in Finn''s hands. Charles sighed, he hadn''t expected someone to challenge "Reaper''s Scythe" before him. However, since the good thing had already happened, there was no point in dwelling on it. Sessfully passing "Reaper''s Scythe" wasn''t just for Colton, Charles also wanted to see if he could gather intelligence about the child disappearance case from the Dawn organization. He was eager to investigate who was involved in that matter! Now, the task at hand was to quickly grasp his self-createdbat techniques and elerate his physical improvement. Everything else would have to wait untilter. With that in mind, Charles quickly washed up,y down in bed, cleared his mind, and fell asleep. Early the next morning, after breakfast, Charles entered the training tower once again without hesitation. What he didn''t know was that, on theworks of Genosha, what happenedst night had bemon knowledge, with everyone discussing one topic: Finn''s abilities and whether he could sessfully pass the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge. "This Finn looks really strong, but why haven''t I heard of him before?" "He''s from Aredale Academy, known as the strongest level four Beast Master, just not very famous, his strength is still impressive." "Strongest level four Beast Master? That''s quite a im. Charles is also a level four Beast Master, and he hasn''t imed to be the strongest!" "I actually think Finn is stronger than Charles. You all sawst night''s fight, right? He effortlessly took down three gold medal level four Beast Masters! Who else can do that?" "Charles can do it too! He''s been challenging three equally ranked Beast Masters in the Cyber Academy training tower these past few days, he can also pull it off!" "Please, that''s not realbat! I don''t believe Charles can do it!" Soon, the debate over who was stronger, Charles or Finn, quickly dominated headlines across various online media, sparking a lot of curiosity. Everyone wanted to know about Charles, a rising star hailed as a monster from Cyber Academy, and Finn, an unknown who suddenly made waves, recognized as the strongest level four Beast Master. If the two of them were to fight, who would emerge victorious? Shannon scoffed at the topic, lifting his phone to show Finn the information on the screen. He said, "What''s this Charles even worth? You can easily defeat him, right?" Finn didn''t respond, he was focused on his training. Tonight, the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge would officially begin, and the only opponent he would face was the ace level four Beast Master of the Genosha underground octagonal cage. He just didn''t know which one he would encounter. Seeing that Finn was ignoring him. Shannon boredly scrolled through the information on his phone, which was filled with details about the ace Beast Masters in the Genosha underground octagonal cage. "You think it''ll be the weakest ace that you''ll face today? If they started with the strongest, how would they make any money?" Shannon remarked. This seemed to pique Finn''s interest. He paused his training, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said firmly, "No matter who it is, nothing will stand in my way!" Seeing Finn''s serious demeanor, Shannon instinctively put down his phone and sighed, "I know you want revenge. Only by joining Dawn will you uncover more hidden information and have a chance to rapidly increase your strength." "But, Finn, you can''t live just for revenge. There will always be other things that give your life meaning." Finn fell silent. He raised his hands, looking at the scars on them, and slowly spoke, "The only thing in my life is revenge!" Chapter 230 Watching the Fight By the time Charles emerged from the training tower, it was already afternoon. He had spent an entire day inside the training tower. Although Charles''s mental strength was much greater than that of the average person, the consecutive trials from yesterday and today had left him feeling somewhat worn out. As he walked out of the training tower, Charles nced around. Unlike yesterday, there were far fewer people gathered outside the training tower today. It seemed that everyone''s attention had been drawn away by Finn. This was a good thing for him, after all, being the center of attention all the time could be quite ufortable. As usual, Charles headed to the private room on the second floor of the cafeteria. He summoned Little Gold, Mousie, Mia, and Max to join him for a meal. Little Gold''s food was still yesterday''s "Feather Gold."and today Little Gold seemed to have grown a bitrger than yesterday. The growth rate was truly astonishing. Thinking of this, Charles nced at Mia, who was focused on her meal, and sighed. Mia''s growth rate was indeed slow, even with the miracle drug, she couldn''t change in size like Little Gold did, at such a visible pace. Powered by m|v|l|e|mpyr While the four mystical beasts enjoyed their meal happily, Charles''s phone suddenly vibrated with a new message. It was from an unfamiliar contact. [After dinner,e to ssroom 306. You can''t skip today.] Charles quickly figured out that this must be a teacher assigned to him by Dean Jamie to ensure he wouldn''t fall behind in his regr sses. As of now, Charles had no idea who this person was, they were likely an unfamiliar teacher. To avoid any dys, Charles swiftly finished his dinner and used the "Darkness Cloak" to arrive in front of ssroom 306. Just as he was about to knock on the door. The ssroom door suddenly swung open, and a figure appeared in front of Charles. He said in surprise: "Ruby, is that you?" Indeed, the person in ssroom 306 was Ruby, the Level 7 Beast Master, the voluptuous woman he had met before! "Oh my, I didn''t expect that the student I would be teaching is you, this is wonderful!" Ruby said with a smile, deliberately teasing him. Charles scratched his head, Ruby was quite close to him, and he could distinctly smell her perfumea subtle yet alluring fragrance, full of temptation! "What are you standing there for? Come in quickly, the sooner we start, the sooner we finish. I have to check out the so-called Reaper''s Scythe challenge in the underground worldter."Ruby said as she turned and walked into the ssroom. Charles hurriedly followed and asked, "Teacher, are you interested in tonight''s battle too?" "Of course! I''m quite curious to see if Finn will seed."Ruby replied while opening theputer on the podium to prepare for the lesson. As soon as Charles reached the front of the ssroom, he heard Ruby say, "Why sit so far away? Come here to the podium and sit beside me." "Alright."Charles replied, moving a chair to sit next to her and looking at theputer screen. The ss quickly began. As a Level 7 Beast Master, Ruby was a good teacher, she was also able to pay attention to Charles''s learning progress, significantly enhancing his learning efficiency. Charles wasn''t taking the ss too seriously, as his attention was being diverted. Ruby''s body was exceptionally curvy, with a slender waist that created a striking visual impact, even Charles, with his usualposure, couldn''t help but feel a bit flustered. When Ruby bent over to exin some academic issues, Charles found his focus entirely on her chest. That tempting shade of white left him momentarily breathless! Somewhat regrettably, tonight''s ss came to an end all too quickly. As Ruby tidied up her things, she asked, "Charles, do you have any other ns for tonight?" Charles replied, "Teacher, I still need to go to the training room. I spent the whole day in the trial tower, and I''m feeling a bit drained, but my physical training is still on point." "I see. That''s a bit of a shame. I have two tickets for the underground world''s octagonal cage battle, and they''re in the front row. What should I do?" Ruby said with a smile. She seemed genuinely puzzled and continued, "Sigh, being older now, I''m not a young girl anymore. I can''t even find someone to go watch the fights with." Charles felt a twinge of temptation, he actually wanted to see Finn''s battle. Who knows what he might discover? Plus, being up close would allow him to observe the ace fighters in the underground octagonal cage, helping him prepare for future challenges. But just as Charles was about to agree, his phone vibrated again. Celestine had sent a message: [Charles, do you have ns tonight? I heard the octagonal cage battles in the underground world are really exciting, and I bought two tickets. Do you want to go?] Charles looked up at Ruby and then down at his phone, feeling a bit helpless. If he went with Ruby, Celestine might see them together, and that could lead to misunderstandings. Seemingly sensing something, Ruby asked with a straight face, "What''s wrong? Is someone else inviting you? You''re quite popr, aren''t you?" Charles scratched his head and replied, "Teacher, I think I''ll just stay in my dorm and watch the live stream instead. It would save some time." Ruby pouted her rosy lips and said, "That''s alright. I can get another ticket. You should invite your friend toe along." "Is that really okay?" Charles felt uncertain, he genuinely wanted to see the event live. He might uncover clues about the Dawn organization in the underground world, which would be even better. "It''s fine, you need to rest when it''s time to rest. Young people shouldn''t overexert themselves." After saying this, Ruby pulled out her phone and got another ticket. Charles also sent a message to Celestine, letting her know that there would be one more person, but they would be in the front row for a closer view. [Alright, let''s set a meeting ce. I''ll head over now.] Celestine replied. Before long, Ruby took Charles to an entrance of the underground world, and Celestine''s figure appeared as well. "Charles, who is this?" Celestine asked with a straight face, furrowing her brows. The moment she saw Ruby, she felt a bad vibe because. In Celestine''s eyes, the allure of a mature woman was no less than her own! "Hello, you must be Charles''s girlfriend. I''m his teacher, you can just call me Sister Ruby."Ruby said, adjusting her gold-rimmed sses and speaking first. Upon hearing "Charles''s girlfriend."Celestine instantly lost herposure, stammering, "Hello, Sister Ruby. I''m a student at Nova Academy, Celestine. My family..." "Hold on, let''s go inside first, the battle is about to start."Charles hurriedly interrupted. He observed from the side that Ruby''s simple remark had left Celestine flustered, almost revealing where she came from. Truly, a mature woman''s presence was something that a naive girl like Celestine couldn''tpete with. Ruby diffused Celestine''s hostility right from the start, and she willingly began to call her "sister." The three of them entered the underground world''s entrance. After briefly verifying their identities, the staff led them to the front row of the octagonal cage called "The Graveyard." Charles looked around at the environment and the crowd, unexpectedly spotting a few familiar faces. There were Zachary, Zane, and that guy Shannon whom he had met earlier at the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. It seemed they were all quite interested in tonight''s battle. Given that Zachary was a genius at Cyber Academy, it made sense that he would be curious about stronger opponents. As for Zane, he was probably just there to enjoy the spectacle, or perhaps to curry favor with Shannon. Charles spected in his mind as he slowly took a seat, shifting his attention to the octagonal cage where Finn was quietly waiting for the fight to begin. Seemingly sensing something, Finn slowly turned and looked over at Charles. Their gazes met in the air, carrying a hint of rivalry. On the other side of the octagonal cage, a shirtless young man was intently watching Finn. He was the ace Level Four Beast Master participating in today''s battle! "Be careful, this Finn is no joke. Watch out for hidden tricks."someone whispered in his ear. The ace Level Four Beast Master nodded, showing no sign of fear on his face. Anyone who could be an ace in the underground octagonal cage was no pushover, every one of them had emerged from countless battles, rising from a sea of blood! As an ace himself, he certainly wouldn''t underestimate any opponent! "What did the boss say? What''s the n for today''s battle?" the ace Level Four Beast Master quietly asked. Someone replied, "Go all out!" Hearing this, the ace Level Four Beast Master took a deep breath, realizing that, in the boss''s eyes, he might not be a match for Finn. "Got it, I''ll keep an eye on things."he said before decisively stepping into the octagonal cage. On the other side, Finn also slowly walked in. The staff locked the cage door, meaning that no one could intervene until the battle was over. The cage door of "The Graveyard" would only reopen when one side was defeated or dead! The bald man fromst night reappeared, holding a microphone and shouting: "Dear audience, I''m sure you''re all eagerly anticipating tonight''s battle, which is the true Reaper''s Scythe challenge!" "Alright, as per tradition, let me briefly introduce both contestants!" Chapter 231 This Battle Is Not Over The bald man holding the microphone introduced simply. He said: "The regr audience must be very familiar with this. Today''s star, the Level Four Beast Master, is Kira, who is only 20 years old and has set a record of 18 kills, known as the Butcher!" As soon as he finished speaking, the audience below began to cheer. Some shouted loudly: "Kira, I bet on you to win! Go out there and take him down!" "I also bet on you to win! Show that guy Finn what a real man''s battle looks like!" "Rip him in half!" After a while, the venue finally quieted down. Clearly, the so-called "Butcher."the ace Level Four Beast Master, had a certain level of fame in the underground octagonal cage. Many people believed he could directly kill Finn. "Charles, what do you think about this battle? Who will win?" Ruby asked, sitting to Charles''s right. She leaned in closer and spoke softly into his ear. The warm breath Ruby exhaled carried a unique fragrance, and without a second thought, Charles replied, "Finn will win." "Oh, you have that much faith in him?" Ruby said, clearly curious. Although she didn''t know Finn, she understood that in the underground world, those who could be ace Beast Masters had incredibly strongbat abilities. In her view, Finn had a high probability of winning, but she also acknowledged that his opponent could turn the tables. Charles nodded and continued, "He has hidden methods. This guy gives me a strong impression, in terms ofbat awareness and experience, he''s not weaker than I am." Ruby stared at Charles''s serious face and remarked, "Are you praising him or yourself?" At that moment, the bald man continued his introduction: "As for this one, there''s not much to say. He decisively defeated three gold-level Level Four Beast Masters yesterday. We''ll see if he can achieve victory against Kira today." "The match is about to begin! Please hold onto your tickets. We will soon see the results!" When Finn was introduced, there was hardly any noise in the venue. Not many people recognized him, and even though he had performed impressively yesterday, few dared to bet on his victory. Charles suddenly thought of something and pped his forehead in regret. This action piqued the curiosity of Celestine and Ruby. Celestine asked, "What''s wrong?" "If I had known, I would have spent some gold coins to bet on Finn winning beforeing here. Now that the fight is about to start, it''s toote."Charles replied. Seeing the reactions of the people around him, he realized that the odds for betting on Finn to win must be very high. If there were no limits on the amount, Charles nned to bet more on Finn''s victory in the next match! "Charles, maybe you shouldn''t bet at all. You never know what could happen. The underground world surely has ways to intervene."Celestine said. In her eyes, gambling was an unreliable endeavor, as the uncontroble factors were too high. "It''s fine. I''ll let it go for today. Let''s see how Finn performs and who his opponent is tomorrow before deciding."Charles answered. Time passed. The two fighters in the octagonal cage were fully prepared. With a sharp ringing sound, the battle officially began! Finn and Kira remained standing in ce, not making any moves, their gazes locked onto each other. In the next moment, as if they had agreed upon it, bothunched their attacks simultaneously! Finn powered off his legs, shooting towards Kira like a bolt of lightning. His muscles bulged, and his skin glowed with an extraordinary sheen, making him look formidable! His fist howled through the air as it struck towards Kira''s temple. Kira, not to be outdone, blocked with his left arm while extending his right hand, fingers together like a dagger aimed at Finn''s throat. Both fighters had clear targets, with no wasted movements, all directed towards each other''s vital points. This is what truebat is like, it''s a matter of life or death, brutally and bloodily so. Just as the two were about to make contact, Finn smoothly altered his attack. His body moved like a well-oiled machine, executing a perfect arc. Not only did he evade Kira''s strike, but his own offensive was also unaffected, maintaining both speed and force as he aimed for a new target! This time, Finn targeted the back of Kira''s head! That area is one of the most vulnerable spots on the human body, indicating Finn''s deep understanding of human anatomy. Both targets aimed for a lethal blow! Among the spectators, many experienced fighters watched in shock at the unfolding scene in the octagonal cage. Someone instinctively eximed: "It''s over! Kira is done for! He can''t dodge now and can only take the hit!" "This Finn''sbat techniques are bizarre, he can change his attack at will without losing momentum." "Exactly! This makes it incredibly difficult to defend against Finn''s assault, he can only passively endure the blows!" Even Celestine couldn''t help but say to Charles, "Is Kira really going to lose? It seems he can only defend against Finn''s attacks." Charles showed no surprise on his face as he replied, "It''s not over yet, the best is still toe." As he said this, Charles couldn''t help but think that if he were facing Finn, he certainly wouldn''t choose to defend. Finn''sbat techniques were too peculiar, passive defense meant taking hits, leaving no chance for victory! If Charles were in the octagonal cage, he would unhesitatingly choose to attack! The true wisdom ofbat is to leverage one''s advantages to strike at the opponent''s weaknesses! "I don''t think Kira can hold on much longer."Celestine expressed her opinion. Charles shook his head and confidently responded, "In this situation, offense is the best defense. Kira will definitely go all out in his next attack!" And sure enough. In the next moment, Kira''s expression turned fierce, as if he had made up his mind. He chose to abandon defensepletely and closed the distance while Finn was attacking. Then, Kira''s entire right hand became rigid and swollen, and an unusual redness crept across his face. Some spectators who understood the situation couldn''t help but shout, "Here ites! Kira is about to use his signaturebat technique!" "It''s the Decapitating de!" "He has already killed 18 opponents with the Decapitating de, this time will be no different!" Charles watched the battle in the octagonal cage intently. He realized that the so-called Decapitating de involved channeling metallic energy into the right arm, making it as sharp and sturdy as a long knife. Then, Kira transformed his arm into a massive de and attacked the enemy''s vulnerable points! Just when most people thought Finn was about to lose, an unexpected scene unfolded. Finn took two steps back and raised his right arm and left leg, blocking in front of his body. A surge of elemental energy erupted from his entire body, forming a faintly transparent shield! Watching the seemingly flimsy shield repeatedly block Kira''s attacks was astonishing! "What is this, a secondbat technique? It looks defensive!" "It''s over, Kira''s attacks are all being blocked! I''ve lost my sry for the month!" Standing next to the octagonal cage, Shannon turned to the spectators behind him and said proudly, "My brother is incredibly strong, just a mere ace can''t possiblypete with him!" Kira continued to attack repeatedly, exhausting his stamina. The Decapitating de put a heavy load on his right arm, and if this continued, his arm might be rendered useless before he could break through Finn''s defensivebat techniques. Kira stepped back a couple of paces to create some distance and hoarsely asked, "What is thisbat technique?" Finn fixed his gaze on Kira''s right arm and replied, "It''s called the Wall!" "What a Wall! I can''t break through your defense, but I''m not giving up."Kira said, taking a deep breath. He still had methods left to employ. In the next moment, under everyone''s watchful eyes, Kira''s entire body underwent a transformation. His skin emitted a metallic sheen under the lights. Not only that, but his once-bulging muscles suddenly contracted, tightly adhering to his bones. In the blink of an eye, Kira transformed into a metallic skeleton! This change left everyone present in shock, even those who frequently attended octagonal cage battles had never seen such a sight. "What the hell? How did he go from a muscle man to a skeleton?" "Kira looks like a solid block of metal now. Whatbat technique is this? Have you seen it before?" "I''ve never seen it! This is my first time seeing Kira like this!" Content from m-vl|em|p,yr "It seems he''s pulling out hisst trump card, I wonder if Finn can handle it." As the audience debated, the bald man with the microphone sighed and remarked softly, "Kira, you''re still so stubborn. This Metal Burn technique will cause significant harm to your body!" Charles, standing nearby, was also taken aback, he hadn''t expected Kira to have such a method. It seemed one couldn''t underestimate any ace-level Beast Master! Even so, Charles noticed that Finn''s gaze remained calm, showing no signs of disturbance. It was as if he could handle whatever Kira threw at him with ease! The match wasn''t over yet, the truly exciting battle was just beginning! Chapter 232 The Victor, Finn The metallic skeleton that was Kira had an increasingly bright gaze. His hands were rxed and positioned at his sides, fingers together, resembling a warrior wielding dual des, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure! Not only that, but the one known as the "Executioner" wore a confident smile at the corner of his mouth and slowly spoke: "I won''t hold back. Feel free to use any trump cards you have, otherwise, you might regret it." Finn''s face showed no other expression, it was as if he hadn''t heard a thing. His eyes were filled with calmness as he slowly canceled thebat technique, Wall. Then, he adjusted his position, gently opening his hands and cing them in front of his chest, while spreading his legs for stability. His body sank slightly, and his muscles rxed, showing no signs of stiffness or tension. Kira watched the other person''s movements, a hint of confusion in his eyes. He didn''t understand what Finn was trying to do. But it didn''t matter what he did! Metal Burn allowed him to be even stronger, enhancing not only his power and speed but also the hardness of his body! Every strike was more powerful than thebat technique he had just used, Decapitating de! This was his true strength! If he hadn''t recently mastered thebat technique Metal Burn, Kira would have already been defeated! In the next moment. Kira''s entire body shot forward like a cannonball, slicing through the air with a faint whoosh, appearing right in front of Finn. "Wow, that was fast! I couldn''t even see how he got there!" "That''s it, Kira! Just like that, take Finn down!" "Rip him in half!" The continuous shouts of the audience echoed beside the octagonal cage. Shannon watched Kira''s movements, his pupils suddenly constricting. He hadn''t expected that this ace Level 4 Beast Master had such a method. Involuntarily, Shannon began to worry for Finn. But soon, he saw Finn facing Kira''s fierce attack, slowly extending his hands. It appeared very slow, but in reality, he was swiftly blocking Kira''s attack! Visit m,v le,mpyr today The moment Kira made contact with Finn, he sensed something was off. The power of his strike seemed to be absorbed upon hitting Finn''s hands, causing no damage at all! It was like a high-speed train rushing toward its target, only to slow down due to track friction, ultimatelying to a gentle stop without causing any destruction! Kira showed no hesitation, gritting his teeth and continuing to engage Finn in closebat. His speed was swift, and his attacks were powerful, with his feet pounding the ground, even creating cracks in the solid octagonal cage floor! Yet, these attacks were repeatedly neutralized by Finn. The audience below noticed a peculiar sight. Aside from the area beneath Finn''s feet, everywhere else was filled with cracks. But that small patch remainedpletely undamaged! "Charles, how is this happening?" Celestine eximed, her mouth agape in disbelief. After witnessing Kira''s speed and power, she thought Finn was doomed, but now this was the situation. Charles observed the battle in the octagonal cage and replied slowly, "I''m not entirely sure, but Finn is likely using a type ofbat technique that dissipates force." "Dissipates force?" Celestine looked puzzled. Ruby turned to Charles, knowing exactly what was going on but wanting to see if Charles was correct. Charles pondered how to exin and said, "Think of it this way: when a person falls from a height, they can roll to minimize the impact. Finn is in that state right now!" "Facing Kira''s attacks, his hands and the muscles throughout his body can help him dissipate Kira''s power. This means that even though Kira''s attacks are incredibly strong, they can''t cause any significant damage!" After Charles exined, Ruby nodded in agreement. "Is it really that impressive? Does that mean Finn is invincible?" Celestine asked. Charles shook his head and replied, "Actually, it''s quite simple. Kira is being too stubborn and has lost hisposure. If he couldunch a second attack the moment Finn dissipates his force, he could turn the situation around." "Or he could simply keep his distance from Finn, using his body''s toughness to crush the octagonal cage floor and send flying debris as a ranged attack, that would also be a good choice." Charles continued to analyze, thinking of many strategies he would employ if he were in Kira''s position. Unfortunately, Kira had made a huge mistake by losing the rationality that one should maintain in battle! Now, the fight in the octagonal cage was at a stalemate, with Kira''s stamina being drained while Finn appearedpletely unscathed. "Damn it! How are you doing this?" Kira gasped, feeling extremely frustrated. After using his strongest technique, Metal Burn, was he still unable to defeat Finn? At that moment of hesitation, Finn seized the opportunity to strike. The ground beneath his feet, which had been intact just moments ago, shattered into countless pieces and flew in every direction. Simultaneously, Finn''s body exploded with a wave of energy, propelling him quickly towards Kira. Kira''s pupils constricted as he refused to give up, wanting to continue his assault. Passive defense would only lead to failure, only an offensive could provide the chance for aeback! With that thought in mind, Kira gritted his teeth and summoned all his muscles tounch his most powerful attack. But Finn wasn''t going to give him that opportunity! "ck!" The sound of bones shattering echoed, followed by a huge crash. At the moment of contact. Kira was kicked away by Finn''s whip-like leg. His metallic skeleton-like body mmed hard against the octagonal cage. Crashing heavily onto the broken floor. Kira''s face turned red, and he spewed a mouthful of blood, immediately falling into unconsciousness. Seeing this scene, the surrounding audience first fell into a brief silence, but quickly erupted into chaos! Most of them were cursing andining, shouting loudly while throwing their tickets at the octagonal cage, "Damn Kira, he just lost like that! Now I''m out of money!" "Shit, I''d rather he got killed by Finn, at least that would''ve been more entertaining!" "If I had known, I would have bet on Finn to win. Now my sry for the month is gone." "This is rigged, it''s definitely rigged! I don''t believe it, it must be..." Only a small number of gamblers, who weren''t really confident in Finn, had been lured by the odds on both sides and decided to take a chance betting on Finn to win. To their surprise, they actually won. These people clutched their tickets tightly and shouted excitedly, "Finn! Hahaha, I finally won some money!" "Great job, hurry up and finish off that Kira guy! He made me lose a lot!" "I''ll bet on you to win next time! You''re just too strong!" Countless discarded tickets fell like snowkes. While Finn stood inside the octagonal cage, expressionless and unmoved. He calmly surveyed his surroundings, pausing briefly when he spotted Charles, before finally fixing his gaze on the bald man. "I dere the battle over, with Finn as the victor!" the bald man shouted loudly, holding the microphone. The octagonal cage was slowly opened, and medical personnel rushed in, carrying the unconscious Kira out to begin treatment. "Are you alright? Did you get hurt?" Shannon hurried over and asked. Finn shook his head, indicating that he wasn''t injured. He just felt a bit fatigued from the exertion, otherwise, he had no difort. Tonight''s battle was over. Now he had to prepare for tomorrow night''s fight. "Reaper''s Scythe" would take ce for seven consecutive nights, challenging seven ace fighters without any breaks. The challenger not only needs to avoid injuries as much as possible, but they also have to constantly monitor their mindset and mental state. There are many factors that can influence the battle, and Finn needs to maintain a normal state as much as possible to make it to the end and sessfullyplete "Reaper''s Scythe." At that moment, some of the audience members who had won money began to crowd around, shouting Finn''s name. Charles stood up, the fight was over, and he had formed a rough judgment about the fourth-level Beast Master in the underground octagonal cage. Kira''s strength seemed fairly average, possessing twobat techniques and solidbat experience. He just had a slight issue with his mindset, but that was understandable, very few people could remain calm throughout the entire battle. Charles, along with Celestine and Ruby, returned to Cyber Academy. Once in his dorm, he took out his phone to check. The inte was buzzing with discussions about Finn, especially focused on today''s fight, with many already analyzing the battle frame by frame. They even providedmentary and shared videos online. People were discussing: "Finn is just too strong, he didn''t show a hint of tension at all, and his face remained expressionless!" "Just looking at today''s battle, he disyed threebat techniques, he likely has others he didn''t use." "No way, threebat techniques are already shocking enough!" "With a genius like Finn, only Charles canpete with him." "Come on, Charles just became a fourth-level Beast Master, he definitely isn''t Finn''s match. You''re giving him too much credit!" "I think so too. Although Charles has a high-quality mystical beast, without summoning it, he really isn''t Finn''s match!" Charles calmly watched the arguments online, he didn''t care about others'' opinions. What he needed to do now was to quickly develop his ownbat techniques and sign up to challenge "Reaper''s Scythe." Chapter 233 The Topic Online Tonight, many people in Genosha Calivia are unable to sleep peacefully. Including Zane, who is at home. He excitedly reys the video of Finn''s fight over and over again, muttering to himself,: "Indeed, my judgment was correct, Finn is definitely stronger than Charles! It would be great if they could fight each other." Zane''s current thought was singr: he wanted to regain his dignity in front of Charles. Although the Taylor family couldn''t directly take action against Charles due to Ezra''s influence, if Finn could challenge Charles, it would have nothing to do with the Taylor family at all! With this in mind, Zane ns to get closer to Finn and Shannon in the future, and whether Charles ends up embarrassed in public depends on whether Finn is willing to challenge him. "Charles, I wonder how long you can keep being so arrogant. Your presence in online discussions has dwindled significantly, and that just won''t do!" Zane''s eyes are darting around. He suddenly had a brilliant idea. Both Finn and Charles are young men, one hailed as a monster from Cyber Academy, and the other known as the strongest Level Four Beast Master. What if he could leverage public opinion to draw attention to a battle between the two of them? That would surely yield unexpected results! No, that''s not enough! "If only Charles would sign up for Reaper''s Scythe, he definitely wouldn''t seed in the challenge and might even die in the octagonal cage!" Thinking about that scenario made Zane uncontainably happy. Without hesitation, he quickly gathered a group of people to discuss how to use public opinion to encourage Charles to sign up for "Reaper''s Scythe"! Early the next morning, Charles had just gotten up and washed up a bit, and before he even had time for breakfast, a message from Celestine popped up. "[Charles, please don''t act impulsively.]" Looking at the message on his phone, Charles was perplexed. What impulsiveness? So he replied, "[What do you mean by impulsive? What''s going on?]" After a while, Celestine sent another message. "[You don''t know? That''s good. Just focus on training these next few days and try not to pay attention to what''s being said online.]" Charles stared at Celestine''s message in confusion, and before he could respond, messages from Jace, Cami, and Zachary came pouring in. All conveying the same message: to stay calm and not act impulsively. This piqued Charles''s curiosity about what was happening that had them all so concerned. Without a moment''s hesitation, Charles opened his phone and browsed through the online discussions. It didn''t take long for him to understand the reason behind it all. For some unknown reason, a flurry of derogatoryments about Charles had suddenly emerged overnight. For example, "[Charles doesn''t deserve to be called a genius, he can only hide within Cyber Academy!]" "[Finn and Charles locked eyes, revealing Finn''s disdain for Charles.]" "[What genius? If you''re so capable, why don''t you sign up for Reaper''s Scythe?]" "[The untold stories about Charles...]" ... All these discussions revolved around the fact that he was hailed as a monster from Cyber Academy, yetcked any impressive real-worldbat experience. ims about his battles with the Serpent People were dismissed as mere theatrics, suggesting he had used underhanded tactics to weaken that Serpent. Even previous fights werebeled as staged and fake by these critics. The initiators of these discussionsid out so-called "evidence."and any passerby unaware of the truth would surely be convinced by their seemingly solid ims. Charles felt not a single ripple of emotion, he truly didn''t care what others said about him. What he was thinking about now was who had the time to maliciously belittle him online, attempting to stir up conflict between him and Finn. "Is it Zane? Or that Shannon?" Charles couldn''t pinpoint exactly who it was. But he was certain that someone was targeting him with ill intent. That person clearly underestimated Charles''s mindset, such nder was not enough to rattle him. And before long, when Charles felt the time was right, he would return to the underground octagonal cage to sign up for "Reaper''s Scythe." At that point, all the negativements would be rendered irrelevant. "Perhaps getting me to sign up for Reaper''s Scythe is their goal, thinking I would die in the challenge?" Charles sighed, realizing he was being underestimated. When he arrived at the cafeteria for a meal. Many students had expressions of outrage on their faces. They nced at the calm Charles and couldn''t tolerate the false statements they had seen online. All these students pulled out their phones, constantly posting rifications online, listing evidence that Charles was indeed strong and a genius. However, before the things they posted could reach more viewers. Some inexplicable individuals began to insult, defame, and even threaten them in thements. In front of the trial tower. The staff at the front desk skillfully took out the testing crystal and said somewhat indignantly, "Charles, those who talk nonsense online should reallye and see for themselves!" "Or better yet, let them enter the trial tower and experience for themselves how powerful you truly are." Charles remained calm as he stared at the testing crystal and slowly replied, "There''s no need to worry, thesements won''tst long. Soon enough, they''ll realize how ignorant they are." "Most of these people are mindless, they believe whatever they hear and get used to it." The staff member was surprised that Charles was aware of the situation and, more surprisingly, had no anger about it. Instead, he seemed incrediblyposed. Nodding repeatedly in agreement with Charles''s perspective, he said, "You''re absolutely right. I wish I could see things as clearly as you do." Charles smiled and then walked into the trial tower to continue enhancing his strength. This time, there weren''t many onlookers, everyone had grown ustomed to Charles''s challenges. Only asionally did a student passing by stop to look at therge screen outside the trial tower, take a picture, and send it to the group chat, saying: "[Charles is back again, this is the third day in a row! How powerful is his mental strength? Doesn''t he ever get tired?]" Soon, the group chat became lively. "[It''s not about being afraid of others having more talent than you, it''s about being afraid they work harder than you!]" "[I can''t even envy him, it takes me a week to recover after one trip to the trial tower. Truly a monster.]" "[Did you all notice? Charles''s time on the second level of the trial tower has already made him second on the leaderboard!]" "[I''ve noticed for a while now, I''ve be numb to it. Now I''m just curious when Charles will be number one.]" At Cyber Academy, no one doubted that Charles could be the top of the leaderboard, what they were curious about was when he would break the record. Compared to the people online, the students at the academy understood Charles''s strength much better, after all, the trial tower was right there. Anyone who thought Charles was weak could enter the trial tower, suffer mental strain, and emerge in disarray, quickly realizing the truth. Just like yesterday, Charles spent the entire day inside the trial tower. By the time he came out, the sun was nearly setting. Today''s gains were significant, he hadprehended 16 figures on the stone wall, and his understanding ofbat techniques was progressing well. Charles felt that by tomorrow, he could grasp over 20 figures with perfect progress. This way, it wouldn''t be long before he met the requirements to create his ownbat techniques. "A bit of a headache."Charles sighed. He felt mentally fatigued, but it wasn''t enough to give him a headache. The real source of his distress was that after days of training in the trial tower. He increasingly felt that the trial towercked a sense of reality. It didn''t evoke the life-and-death tension that came with real battles, As if he hade to understand that even dying in the trial tower merely meant a short rest, the sense of pressure and crisis had diminished greatly. If that continued, he might struggle to meet the second requirement for creating his ownbat techniques, which was to achieveplete understanding through life-and-death battles. "I wonder if the ace-level Beast Master in the underground octagonal cage can push me to my limits."Charles thought to himself. He nned that if he couldn''t achieve the creation of his ownbat techniques in the trial tower, he would directly sign up for "Reaper''s Scythe." He wanted to see if he could aplish the creation of his ownbat techniques through realbat! There were risks involved, for Charles, there was no perfect solution in this world. Every decision came with both good and bad sides. If he could sessfully create his ownbat techniques, then everything would be worth it. Soon it would be time for his one-on-one session with Teacher Ruby. When he arrived at ssroom 306, Ruby was already waiting for him. The beige trench coat wrapped around Ruby''s voluptuous figure, and Charles took a nce, feeling a bit disappointed. "Charles, you''re here! Come, sit down, ss is about to start."Ruby said. Today, she was wearing a different pair of sses, yesterday, she had on gold-rimmed ones, but today she sported red half-rimmed sses. Paired with her mature and alluring face, it left Charles momentarily dazed. At that moment, Ruby extended her fair hands and slowly unbuttoned her trench coat, saying, "It''s getting a bit warm, don''t you mind if I undo a button, Charles?" Beneath the beige trench coat, the most eye-catching feature was a pair of ck suspender stockings, entuating the curves of Ruby''s slightly plump legs. Her red-soled high heels further highlighted her tall and graceful figure. Charles nodded slowly, replying, "It''s fine, teacher. I think I''m feeling a bit warm too, today''s weather is definitely quite hot." It was the evening of an autumn day, and the evening breeze brought a slight coolness through the ssroom window, yet it couldn''t dispel the heat radiating between Charles and Ruby. Chapter 234 Help the Teacher Today, Teacher Ruby seemed a bit differentpared to yesterday. During ss, she kept leaning toward Charles, whether intentionally or not. Charles was trying to focus on the knowledge points on theputer screen while being distracted by the pleasant fragranceing from her. His mind was a bit scattered, but thankfully, he was smart enough to learn new information quickly even in such a state. "Charles, I didn''t expect you to be so capable. Not only are you skilled inbat, but you''re also so intelligent. You''re truly a genius."Ruby said as she picked up a nearby cup and took a sip. It seemed she identally spilled some water from her bright red lips, causing it to drip down onto her chest. "Ah, it''s so cold. I''m feeling a bit ufortable. Charles, do you have any tissues?" Ruby asked as she looked at Charles. Charles nodded and took a pack of tissues directly from his jet ring, handing it to her. To his surprise, Ruby didn''t take it. Instead, she continued to look at Charles and said, "I got my hands dirty while teaching. How about you help the teacher clean up?" Charles didn''t expect Ruby to say that. Not only that, but she also squatted down. Bringing her full, perky chest right in front of Charles''s eyes. Her eyes, hidden behind her red half-frame sses, were filled with temptation as she slowly spoke, "The teacher is feeling a bit unwell. Come help the teacher, Charles." In the ssroom. Charles swallowed hard. He noticed something incredible when Ruby squatted downshe was actually goingmando! The ck suspender stockings extended to the tops of her thighs, glistening under the light! It was the reflection of liquid! Charles slowly opened the tissue pack and pulled out a sheet. Then, under Ruby''s watchful gaze, Charles said, "Teacher, I really want to help you, but is this okay?" Ruby''s face flushed slightly, and she knew very well that Charles had just seen her below and knew what state she was in now. Putting her slightly hot face close to Charles, Ruby spoke slowly and said, "Don''t worry, there''s no one around. The teacher just wants you to help Charles took a deep breath, He threw away the tissue and reached out his hands directly into Ruby''s underwear, constantly rubbing it, Discover exclusive content at m,v l''-NovelFire Teacher, I can''t find the water that just dripped in, "Charles said, Ruby''s breathing suddenly became rapid, she was very itchy, and she felt insects crawling around her. Especially between her legs, the itching was unbearable, causing her to instinctively mp her legs and keep rubbing them against each other. Then take a look, where did the water go in? Look for it carefully. "Ruby reached out her hands and pressed Charles'' head against her chest, feeling the scorching breath, Charles pulled out his right hand and slowly walked downstream until he reached Ruby''s thigh, trying to reach in. But found that the other person''s plump legs were very strong and difficult to enter. With a slight increase in strength, Charles finally reached in his hand, and a moist and smooth touch came through. Charles paused for a moment, raised his right hand in front of Ruby, and asked, "Teacher, is this kind of water? There are still many in it. What should we do? Ruby looked at the smile on Charles'' lips and knew that Charles had said it intentionally, You, go in and let ite out, "Ruby''s eyes were hazy, she could hardly bear it anymore! After a while, Charles lifted Ruby onto the podium and opened her legs. Apanied by a low moan, The ssroom began to hear rhythmic thrusting sounds, as well as moans that wanted to be suppressed but still went on, ... I''m convinced, Charles. Aren''t you tired Ruby copsed in Charles'' arms. She''s feeling weak and even tired all over now. I didn''t expect Charles to be so powerful that even a level seven Beast Master like her couldn''t bear it. Not tired, what''s so tiring about it, teacher? How did I perform just now? "Charles rxed a lot. The continuous training these days has actually made him a little tired. Great! I never thought it would be great! "Ruby was still reminiscing about what happened just now, feeling it again, Charles noticed that Ruby''s ce had be moist again, Teacher, you just came out with a lot of water, I didn''t expect there to be more inside, "Charles said with a smile, Ruby licked her lips without answering, but directly kissed her. ... In the underground world, within the Octagonal Cage site. Charles took Celestine to sit in the front row of the octagonal cage. He was there to make some money today. However, upon arriving, he realized that Finn''s odds were very low. He wasn''t sure if it was due to the fightst night or because countless people online were praising Finn. The vast majority of the audience there was betting on Finn. Charles felt a bit helpless. If only he had ced his bets on Finn yesterday when no one believed in him. As he thought about it, Charles suddenly felt that all the people online ndering him and doubting him might actually be a good thing. When he signed up for the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge, those people would surely think he was going to lose. Then, when he bet on himself to win at that moment, he would definitely make a fortune! "Charles, where''s that sister Ruby from yesterday? She didn''te?" Celestine recalled the maturedy from yesterday and had a good impression of Ruby. She was still wondering why Ruby hadn''t shown up. Charles remembered how Ruby had slowly left while leaning against the wall when he walked out of the ssroom. He replied, "Ms. Ruby must be a bit tired today, she probably went home to rest." Celestine didn''t think much of it and responded, "Well, okay then. Charles, don''t pay attention to thements online, those are all fake!" The thought of it made Celestine angry. She immediately took out her phone, her long, fair fingers dancing across the screen. Charles looked over with curiosity and saw that Celestine was arguing with someone online. Clearly, she felt that others were ndering Charles, and she wanted to rify things for him! "Uh, I actually don''t care at all, and soon enough, they''ll realize just how foolish they are."Charles said. Upon hearing this, Celestine immediately stopped her verbal battle, a puzzled look on her face. "What do you mean by soon? Charles, you''re not actually thinking about signing up for Reaper''s Scythe, are you?" Imagining that scenario seemed to fill Celestine''s face with worry. She quickly started to persuade him, saying, "Charles, don''t worry about what others say, I see your strength, and I believe in you!" Charles felt a warmth in his heart. He knew Celestine cared about him. After thinking for a moment, he exined: "It''s not because of those people, I''ve wanted to challenge Reaper''s Scythe for a long time now. Colton and Dean Jamie both know about this." Celestine was taken aback. She hadn''t expected that Charles had been nning this for so long! After all, Charles had only recently be a Level 4 Beast Master. Did that mean he had wanted to challenge "Reaper''s Scythe" right after bing a Level 4 Beast Master? At first, Celestine was worried about Charles and didn''t want him to act impulsively. However, after hearing Charles''s words, she had no doubts about his strength and fully trusted what he said. Yet, her worries didn''t diminish at all. Even knowing that Charles wouldn''t do anything without confidence, Celestine couldn''t help but imagine. What would happen if Charles got hurt in the octagonal cage. In her mind, she didn''t even consider whether Charles could sessfullyplete the challenge. "Don''t worry, it''s fine. Trust me."Charles said lightly. Celestine immediately nodded. She remembered how Charles had said simr things in the past, and everything had turned out just as he had said. This time would be no different. While the two were talking. Finn and his opponent entered the octagonal cage. It seemed that due to the online discussions, Finn''s gaze asionally lingered on Charles. Charles noticed this and initially thought that Finn harbored some hostility. To his surprise, he sensed a hint of apology from Finn instead. "Is he feeling guilty because of his actions affecting me?" Charles wondered. It seemed that Finn was a decent person after all, unlike Zane, who never reflected on himself and always med others for everything. Under Finn''s gaze, Charles nodded. Inside the octagonal cage, Finn let out a sigh of relief. His personality was quite reclusive, and he didn''t like associating with others. Part of the reason was that he didn''t want to trouble anyone, especially if his issues could end up affecting his friends. At that moment, bing friends with someone was undoubtedly putting them at risk. If one day his enemies found out he was still alive, they would surely go after the people he cared about. Finn didn''t want that to happen, so he rejected all social interactions and remained alone, except for Shannon. Even his enemies wouldn''t dare to target Shannon! Thinking of this, Finn took another deep breath, pushing those thoughts out of his mind. He still had a fight to prepare for. Today, the bald man''s introduction was much shorter, seemingly because it was assumed that the audience already knew who Finn was. As for the introduction of the other ace Level 4 Beast Master, it was simr to yesterday''s, mentioning their age and number of kills. Charles specifically looked at the reactions of the surrounding audience, which were much stronger than when Kira was introduced yesterday. It seemed that today''s ace Level 4 Beast Master was even stronger than Kira. What he didn''t know was whether this new contender could force Finn to reveal any of his otherbat techniques! Charles was well aware that Finn hadn''t shown his full strength yesterday, he was definitely holding back! This approach was undoubtedly very wise. By concealing his abilities and then surprising everyone with newbat techniques, Finn could avoid injuries as much as possible. However, Charles''s attention quickly shifted. He noticed something strange. Chapter 235 The One-Armed Boy The Level 4 Beast Master standing in the octagonal cage seemed a bit nervous, asionally ncing out of the corner of his eye at someone below. Charles followed the man''s gaze. He saw a one-armed boy standing expressionlessly beside the octagonal cage. The bald man who had been holding the microphone andmentating on the battle was leaning slightly towards him, wearing an expression of fear on his face. The two were only about three or four meters away from Charles. At that moment. As if sensing Charles''s gaze, the one-armed boy slowly turned his head and looked over. His eyes were grayish-white, like an ancient, unchanging ice field, filled with coldness and indifference. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Charles instinctively tensed all his muscles, as if facing an extremely dangerous enemy. "Interesting, I didn''t expect to encounter a second person who piques my interest here in Genosha Calivia."the one-armed boy said, pulling back his gaze in surprise. The bald host beside him turned his head curiously and, upon seeing Charles, instantly understood something. He quickly said, "Lord Icy, that person is Charles, known as the monster of Cyber Academy. I''ve heard he is a rare talent." Icy nodded slightly. He had only recently arrived in Genosha Calivia, but he had heard of Charles. He initially thought he was just someone hyped up online. To his surprise, the brief eye contact they shared earlier had given him a hint of danger, which was simply marvelous! He had thought that his visit to Genosha Calivia would be devoid of any interesting urrences, but unexpectedly, he hade across two intriguing individuals so quickly. These two people were none other than Finn and Charles. "Lord Icy, when do you n to make your move?" the bald man asked curiously. This question was something the boss had been eager to know. If Icy intervened and fought Finn, there was no doubt that Finn would lose! At that point, the underground world could deliberately release some information, allowing the audience to ce bets on Finn. This way, they could directly rake in quite a bit of gold! Explore more adventures at m,v l''-NovelFire "Let''s wait and see. I''m just a bit interested for now, I don''t have a strong desire to fight yet. If he were stronger, I would step in myself."Icy replied and fell silent. The bald man, sensing the moment, picked up the microphone to prepare for the pre-fight announcements. Meanwhile, Charles pulled back his gaze with a serious expression. He hadn''t expected to encounter a second person who made him feel tense within just a few days. First it was Finn, and now it was that one-armed boy. When did Genosha Calivia have so many powerful young talents? Or have they always existed? With this thought in mind, Charles looked over at Celestine and quietly asked, "Have you ever seen that one-armed boy before?" Celestine nced curiously and then replied, "I don''t recognize him. He probably isn''t from one of the three academies, since they generally don''t recruit individuals with disabilities." Charles thought the same. Some physically disabled individuals could indeed be Beast Masters, but they often had to put in much more effort than ordinary Beast Masters to grow stronger. The one-armed boy gave Charles the impression of a wild wolf lurking in a dark forest. No, it was a wolf king! An extremely dangerous wolf king! "If he''s also a top-tier Level 4 Beast Master in the underground octagonal cage, the difficulty for Finn to challenge Reaper''s Scythe will likely increase a notch."Charles slowly voiced his thoughts. He looked at Finn in the octagonal cage, curious about whether Finn had noticed the one-armed boy. Meanwhile, on Charles''s right, an annoying voice rang out, "Oh, what a surprise to see the monster from Cyber Academy here!" Zane eximed with an exaggerated expression, speaking loudly. Immediately, several audience members took notice, especially those sitting in the front, as they whispered: "Look, isn''t that Charles? Who would have thought he''d show up?" "Isn''t it normal for him toe watch Finn fight? He''s probably here to see just how big the gap is between him and the strong!" "What are you saying? Charles is definitely stronger than Finn!" "Stronger, my ass! If he dares to sign up for the Reaper''s Scythe challenge, I''d bet on him every time. The question is, does he have the guts?" "You! Charles has just be a Level 4 Beast Master. Give him some time, and he''ll make it!" "Hah, not daring is just not daring. It seems everything said online is truehe''s just an actor, and it''s all fake!" ... The audience behind started to argue, their voices bing increasingly heated. Two of them even prepared to throw punches, but fortunately, the staff quickly intervened to prevent the situation from escting further. Zane naturally saw what was happening in the back, and his smile grew even wider as he smugly said, "The eyes of the public are sharp. No matter how some people try to disguise themselves, they''re just fake clowns. Look at Finn, standing right there in the octagonal cage fightingthat''s a genius, a true genius!" Charles scratched his ear, feeling bored, and said to Celestine next to him, "What''s going on? Where''s that fly buzzing around?" "You! How dare you call me a fly!" Zane began to retort but quickly shut his mouth. He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. The reason he came today wasn''t for Charles, it was for Shannon and Finn. He wanted to build a good rtionship with them as quickly as possible. Even without Finn challenging Charles, Zane still needed to curry favor with Shannon. After all, the Stone Kingdom was the most powerful nation among the seven, and Shannon''s family held a high status within it. Shannon also had a good rtionship with the Gao family of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. Earlier, at the Robinson family banquet, Zane had tried to impress Snowy from the Gao family but ended up embarrassing himself by kneeling and apologizing to Charles in front of so many people! Thinking of this, Zane felt his previously calmed emotions re up once again. He quickly shifted his focus and said to Shannon, "Bro, I feel like Finn is in great shape today. He''s definitely going to win, and I even ced a bet on his victory!" Shannon frowned and replied ufortably, "Zane, our rtionship isn''t close enough to call each other brothers. We''re just ordinary friends." Zane''s face instantly stiffened. He hadn''t expected Shannon to be so direct. Their rtionship was merely that of having met a few times and exchanged a few words, hardly brotherly. However, Shannon''s bluntness made him feel awkward. Zane could only pretend he hadn''t heard as he tried to think of another topic. To his surprise, Shannon simply bypassed him and approached Charles. "Charles, I was rude earlier at the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. I hope you won''t take it to heart."Shannon said very seriously. Once those words were spoken, not only did Zane freeze, but Charles also looked bewildered. He truly hadn''t expected Shannon toe and apologize after so many days had passed. The difference between Shannon now and the Shannon at the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association was like night and day! "It''s alright, what''s past is past."Charles waved his hand dismissively. He could sense that Shannon''s apology was sincere and heartfelt. He just didn''t know what had happened to cause such a significant change in Shannon''s attitude. "Could it be that Teacher Ezra visited Shannon''s home? That can''t be possible."Charles thought to himself. Thest time the Robinson family''s attitude shifted was also due to Teacher Ezra, which was why Charles was considering this possibility now. "I saw the news report from Genosha. It said you saved 26 children. There was also a simr incident in the Stone Kingdom..." Shannon said earnestly, his eyes filled with respect. Charles was taken aback for a moment. He hadn''t expected Shannon to bring up those children, let alone mention that something simr had happened in the Stone Kingdom. Was it purely a case of child abduction, or was there involvement from the Constetion organization, like in Genosha? With so many people around, Charles felt it wasn''t appropriate to ask for details. He could only say, "Has something so ''special'' happened in the Stone Kingdom as well?" The word "special" was enough to convey everything, especially since any incident involving the Constetion organization was far from ordinary. Shannon sighed and replied slowly, "Yes, but those children weren''t so lucky. All that was found were their bodies..." After saying this, Shannon and Charles fell into silence. It was as if both were lost in their memories. After a while, Charles slowly asked, "Have you seen such a scene yourself?" Shannon instinctively recalled the event, and then he felt an overwhelming sense of resistance. He looked up at Charles''s calm demeanor, filled once again with astonishment. The reason he had apologized to Charles was that he knew the truth behind the missing children''s cases. The sister of his close friend was one of the victims. He had been to the scene and had witnessed that haunting memory that could never be erased! "Yes, I have seen it. So Charles, the fact that those children were able to survive is entirely because of you. You are a hero."Shannon said. He instinctively clenched his fists tightly. His friend''s sister was innocent, cheerful, and optimistic, and they had a very close rtionship. Shannon couldn''t ept that a living little girl had turned into a twisted, lifeless body, filled with endless suffering. Everyone has their own battles to fight. Finn wanted revenge. He not only hoped his friend could move on from the pain of losing loved ones but also wanted to investigate more leads about the Constetion organization! As for Charles, being the key figure who saved those children, he surely knew more. There might even be some new discoveries to uncover. "This is my business card. We can set up a time to discuss this matter further."Shannon said, handing over a gold-embossed card. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 236 The Arrangement of Fate Charles took the business card, nced at it, and then ced it in his pocket. He was also interested in learning more about the activities of the Constetion organization in the Stone Kingdom. Perhaps he could find more clues without having to contact the Dawn organization! While Shannon and Charles were talking, Zane was having a mental breakdown nearby. He wanted to curry favor with Shannon and was making every effort to build a good rtionship, but Shannon waspletely ignoring him! Now that Charles had shown up, Shannon was apologizing and handing over a business card, making Zane feel like a clown. Zane struggled to suppress his frustration and thought to himself, "Damn it, when I get back tonight, I need to get those guys to step up their efforts. I hope Charles bes the most despised person online!" Soon, the attention shifted to the octagonal cage. The battle between Finn and the Level Four Beast Master had escted from a test to a real contest. Today''s ace Level Four Beast Master was very different from Kira from yesterday, he had impressive physical capabilities. As he faced Finn''s attacks, without using anybat techniques, he managed to withstand the blows, and it looked like he didn''t sustain any injuries at all! For a moment, the situation seemed to reach a stalemate. At that time, the audience below was continuously shouting, "Tank! Tank! Crush him!" "Turn him into mush! I''ll give you a tip!" "Finn, what are you doing? Hurry up and attack! Why are you just standing there?" "It''s useless. Based on thebat techniques he used yesterday, the Tank perfectly counters him!" "Exactly! Once Finn''s stamina runs low, he''ll see what a real tank charge looks like!" Celestine listened to the fervent shouts from the crowd and felt quite unclear about the situation inside the octagonal cage. She didn''t know whose chances of victory were greater. "Charles, it seems that Tank is a bit stronger. If I faced him, I probably wouldn''t stand a chance."Celestine remarked. Charles nodded. It was clear that the ace Level Four Beast Master, known as Tank, had the upper hand. His physical condition was almost machine-like, with terrifying defensive capabilities. However, after observing a few attacks, Charles noted that Tank''s speed and strength were still rtively normal. He remembered how tense the ace Level Four Beast Master had been when he first entered the octagonal cage, constantly ncing at the one-armed boy out of the corner of his eye. It seemed that this battle was meant to test whether Finn had any other offensive strategies that could break through Tank''s defense. "Let''s wait and see. If I were Finn, I would definitely try to finish this fight quickly to avoid any surprises that could affect tomorrow night''s battle."Charles stated his judgment. Indeed, in the next moment, Finn took a deep breath, his chest instantly swelled, only to tten again almost immediately. At the same time, the recently repaired ground beneath Finn''s feet shattered once more. His speed was not fast, and all the spectators present could see it clearly. "What''s going on? Why so slow? Is he doing this on purpose?" "Is Finn trying to give up? Damn it, I bet on him to win!" "Is this really the strongest Level Four Beast Master? What a joke! My grandma runs faster than him!" Unlike the insults from the crowd, Charles wore a serious expression. He wasn''t concerned about the speed, but rather the rising momentum surrounding Finn! As Finn closed the distance to the ace Level Four Beast Master, Charles could vaguely sense that Finn''s strike would shock everyone! Among all the people present, the one who felt the most unusual was Tank, who was inside the octagonal cage! As the target of Finn''s attack, Tank''s perception waspletely different from everyone else''s! In Tank''s eyes, Finn appeared like a massive iron-forged mountain, getting closer and closer, with an ever-increasing sense of pressure. Moreover, Finn''s speed was picking up,pletely shedding that sluggish demeanor from earlier! He could clearly feel that he couldn''t just sit tight and wait for death, if he let Finn continue like this, he would definitely lose! Tank gritted his teeth. As the ace of the underground octagonal cage, he had no choice but to fight back. With no other options, Tank tensed all his muscles, brought his thick arms together in front of his body, and unleashed his signaturebat technique, the Tank Charge! In the next moment, a massive iron-forged mountain collided with the rapidly charging Tank. But as soon as they made contact, the oue became clear! The ace Level Four Beast Master, Tank, was sent flying, embedding himself forcefully into the iron mesh of the octagonal cage. Blood slowly flowed from his wounds, dripping onto the ground. In an instant, all the spectators fell silent. They never expected that Finn, who appeared to be moving slowly, could actually send the ace using the Tank Charge flying! And seeing Tank in his current state, many people gasped in shock. They now had a clear understanding of the power behind Finn''s earlier strike. Tank''s physical prowess and high defensive capabilities had been reduced to this, if it were an ordinary Level Four Beast Master, they would have likely been crushed into pieces by the iron mesh! "Finn! Finn!" "Awesome! I''ll bet on you to win next time!" "Finn is the strongest!" Countless cheers erupted. Under everyone''s watchful eyes, Finn slowly walked out of the octagonal cage and approached Shannon. "Not bad! Your Iron Mountain technique is getting stronger!" Shannon patted Finn on the shoulder, praising him. However, as soon as his hand made contact with Finn''s shoulder, he sensed something was off. Shannon looked closely and noticed that Finn''s shoulder, which had just collided with Tank, appeared slightly swollen. Without thinking much, Shannon instinctively grabbed a nearby shirt and draped it over Finn. "What''s going on? Was that ace really that strong?" Shannon asked quietly. Finn slowly nodded. The ace Level Four Beast Master in the underground octagonal cage was no weakling, and even he couldn''t achieve a victory without taking some damage. "It''s nothing serious. Just a bit of rest and some miracle drugs tonight should be fine."Finn replied. Shannon looked at Finn''s shoulder. He was about to advise him again when he suddenly noticed the determination in Finn''s eyes and ultimately held back his words. The two left the underground world and returned to Aredale Academy. Although Shannon was not a student at Aredale Academy, he had connections that allowed him to stay there temporarily. "Ah, maybe we should just forget it. The Dawn organization might not be as powerful as the rumors say."Shannon couldn''t help but say. This was only the second fight, and Finn had already injured his shoulder. There were still five more battles to go, and who knows what unexpected things might happen! As Finn applied the healing miracle drug to his shoulder, he said, "You know me. I have only one goal in life: revenge! If I can''t achieve that, then there''s no meaning to my existence." "Moreover, the Dawn organization can''t be that weak. Today, I noticed a one-armed boy. He gave me a very dangerous vibe, he must be connected to Dawn." Shannon immediately became interested and quickly replied, "I noticed that person too. Nothing special, though. I remember there''s no record of him in the database." Finn nodded. He found it hard to exin that feeling to Shannon because it was a sensation that belonged to the realm of genius-level fighters. Although Shannon had decent talent, there was still a gap between him and true geniuses. In the entire Genosha Calivia, it seemed only Charles could sense the danger the one-armed boy posed, just like Finn could. "By the way, have you apologized to Charles? The disappearance cases in Genosha Calivia are likely closely rted to Constetion." Shannon''s expression immediately turned serious as he said, "That''s right. It''s very simr to what happened in the Stone Kingdom. From what Charles said, he knows about this and has even seen the bodies of those kids." "After my challenges are over, let''s find a time to meet Charles. About Constetion, I also..." Finn''s words trailed off. Shannon understood his implication. He didn''t know much about Finn''s enemy, only that the person was an eighth-level Beast Master and seemed to be connected to the Constetion organization as well! "It seems we all want to investigate Constetion. Is that some kind of fate?" Shannon said with a hint of resignation. If possible, he really wished there were no such organization as Constetion in this world. "Yeah, it feels like everything is arranged by fate."Finn remarked. What he didn''t know was that those words had once been spoken to Charles by an eighth-level Beast Master from Constetion. At Cyber Academy, in the dormitory, Charles looked at the business card in his hand. He recalled what Shannon had said next to the underground octagonal cage. Had something simr happened in the Stone Kingdom? Stay updated through m-v l|-NovelFire It seemed that the words of that eighth-level Beast Master were indeed true: all seven nations of the Abyssal Depths had the shadow of the Constetion organization. If things were even worse, the fallout might not just affect the Abyssal Depths, other regions could be involved as well! Thinking about this, A sense of crisis and urgency emerged in Charles''s heart. He needed to keep working hard to be stronger! Now that Little Gold had the help of Feather Gold, he should be ready for advancement in just a few days. In addition, Mia, Max, and Mousie''s levels were also steadily rising. This wasrgely thanks to Mousie''s special skill, otherwise, they wouldn''t have leveled up so quickly. Once he sessfully challenged the Reaper''s Scythe, he would need to focus on the mystical beast''s upgrades and advancements. The inter-academy exchangepetition was approaching quickly. "By the way, I wonder if I could talk to Finn. If he seeds in his challenge, maybe I could trade him for the alchemy materials that Professor Colton needs."Charles thought to himself. Chapter 237 I Want to Sign Up Too Charles took out his phone and nced at the time, it wasn''t particrlyte. Without hesitation, he dialed the number on Shannon''s business card. After a short while, the call connected. "Charles? Is that you?" Shannon asked. Charles replied, "Do you have some time tonight? I want to discuss a few things with you." "We? You mean Finn too? Perfect, we have some things we want to talk to you about as well. You pick the ce, and we''ll be there shortly."Shannon responded. Charles thought for a moment and decided to set the location at the caf next to Cyber Academy. At this time, the caf should still be open, and the second floor has private rooms, which would be a good choice for a discussion. If possible, Charles wanted to choose a private room on the second floor of the Cyber Academy cafeteria. There, he wouldn''t have to worry about anyone overhearing their conversation. Unfortunately, the academy generally doesn''t allow outsiders to enter. After tidying up a bit, Charles went directly to the caf next to the academy and found a private room. As soon as he entered the room, he summoned Mousie. "Master, did you call me outte at night for something?" Mousie climbed onto Charles''s shoulder and asked. Charles nodded and replied, "In a bit, I need you to slip into the shadows and check if there are any suspicious people near this room. If you see anyone, just let me know. I appreciate your help." "Hehe, being able to help you is the happiest thing for me!" After saying that, Mousie''s figure vanished into the darkness, scanning for suspicious individuals. About ten minutester, Shannon and Finn arrived. Once they entered the room, Finn instinctively looked around, seeming a bit puzzled. "What''s wrong? Is something off?" Shannon asked quietly. Finn nodded and replied with a straight face, "I feel like something is watching me, but there''s nothing in this room." Hearing this, Charles was somewhat surprised. Finn was right, he must be sensing Mousie, who had slipped into the shadows. It was unexpected that he had such keen perception. After all, Mousie''s Darkness Cloak isn''t something just anyone can detect. Today, both sides were here to exchange information and have a good discussion. Charles spoke up directly, "You''re not mistaken, that''s my mystical beast. I have it keeping an eye on the surroundings to prevent anyone from eavesdropping." "Oh, I see! But howe I didn''t notice anything?" Shannon looked up at Charles, then nced at Finn beside him. He had a feeling that he and these two people were not of the same kind! "Alright, let''s get down to business."Charles said, looking at Shannon. The meaning of this statement was understood by all three. Shannon was the first to speak, "What happened in the Stone Kingdom is that Constetion is using the blood of children to create a special miracle drug. However, since it was discovered toote, all the missing children have been killed." "Genosha is the same, only 26 children survived. However, the Constetion organization was ambushed by a powerful individual from Genosha, and one Level 8 Beast Master managed to escape."Charles shared the intelligence from Genosha. His feelings were correct, Constetion indeed seemed to have influence across the Seven Kingdoms and was secretly plotting something. "Wow! I knew it! Looking at the news reports online, I figured things couldn''t be that simple. I didn''t expect Genosha to actually deal a heavy blow to Constetion!" Shannon said excitedly. He believed that an organization as hidden and mysterious as Constetion would definitely not be discovered by Genosha. After all, the powerful Stone Kingdom hadn''t managed to uncover their plot in time, let alone the rtively weaker Genosha. Everything should be connected to Charles. After learning that Charles had rescued 26 children, Shannon had specifically investigated all the information about the situation. Now, he was most curious about how Charles had managed to do it. Before he could ask, Charles spoke up with a heavy tone, "The power of the Constetion organization is stronger than you imagine. What''s in Genosha is just a small branch." Then he revealed the structure of the Constetion organization. At that moment, Shannon and Finn fell into silence, clearly unaware of this information. What the twenty-eight mansions represented was only a part of it, just some branches! A Level 8 Beast Master is already the peakbat power of a nation, yet they are merely an elder of the Constetion''s branch in Genosha? "W-where did you get this information?" Shannon asked with a bitter smile. He wished more than anything that this information was just something Charles had overheard and wasn''t true. Charles exined seriously, "How I know is not convenient to say right now, but this intelligence should be urate." "I feel like I''m about to get involved in a shocking conspiracy."Shannon said slowly. Finn, who had been silent, turned to Shannon and said with concern, "Why don''t we just leave it at that?" Shannon was his only friend, and he didn''t want him to fall into danger. Moreover, unlike Shannon, Finn didn''t have a direct grudge against Constetion. It would be perfectly normal to back out. Enjoy new tales from m-v l''-NovelFire At that moment, Charles was also looking at Shannon. He thought that as a member of the group, Shannon might choose to withdraw. In fact, that wouldn''t be shameful at all, when they were investigating the missing children case, that Level 5 Beast Master Jenson had also chosen to back out. After a moment of waiting, Shannon exhaled and looked down at his right hand. He slowly said, "You know what? That little girl is like my own sister to me. She''s really adorable. Every day she would ask her sister, ''When will Shannon Gegee to y with me?''" "She even said that when she grows up, she wants to marry me." "I thought it was wrong to do that, so I directly rejected her and told her that there would be better people waiting for her in the future." "But when I saw her again, she had be a corpse, and..." As he spoke, Shannon''s eyes began to redden. Though he was proud, he ced great importance on emotions. It was precisely because of this that he wanted to investigate information regarding Constetion. Taking a deep breath, Shannon said with unusual determination, "I won''t back out. You can trust me, I will help you. It feels like fate has arranged for me to meet you and Finn." Thest sentence was directed at Charles. Charles was taken aback by this. His heart raced as he quickly asked, "Who did you hear that from just now?" Shannon looked confused and replied, "Finn said it in the hotel earlier. I thought it made a lot of sense." Finn exined, "It just popped into my head, so I said it. Is there a problem with that?" Charles sighed in relief. When he heard Shannon say those words, he suddenly remembered that Level 8 Beast Master from Constetion. That person had also said something simr at the time, "Everything is arranged by fate!" Hearing those words again gave Charles a special feeling. He shook his head, trying to push those thoughts out of his mind. Since this was about Constetion, Charles felt it was necessary to probe Shannon and Finn a bit. He wanted to find out if they knew about those strange existences, like the tentacled creatures or familiars. However, thinking about his past experiences, especially that time when everything around him felt alive, and the shadows of all objects seemed to be writhing, Charles decided against it. He had the protection of the Mysterious Fragment, so talking about those things wouldn''t affect him. But Shannon and Finn might not have that protection, if his words triggered a memory for them, it could lead toplications. "By the way, Finn, if you manage to sessfully challenge Reaper''s Scythe, can we make a deal?" Charles asked. He listed the alchemy materials that Professor Colton needed, indicating that he would do his best to meet Finn''s requests in exchange. Unexpectedly, Finn didn''t agree right away, instead, he asked,: "Charles, you noticed that one-armed boy today too. I don''t haveplete confidence that I can defeat him." Charles recalled seeing that one-armed boy at night and the sense of danger he brought with him. He replied: "That person is very strong and quite dangerous." Only Shannon looked at Charles, then at Finn, and skeptically said: "Wait, how do you both see that? I saw that person too, but I didn''t feel anything at all! What exactly is a sense of danger?" Finn sighed a bit helplessly. He pointed at Shannon and exined to Charles, "He''s someone who has never sensed danger since he was little. Even in front of a Level 8 Beast Master, he dares to do some unusual things." Charles was somewhat surprised. He instantly thought this might be a unique talent. If someone couldn''t feel the pressure and danger from their opponent, they might be able to unleash their full potential and perhaps create miracles. "Finn, if you seed, will you agree to exchange with me? I owe you a favor."Charles said. "I can only say I''ll give it my all. That personI feel he will be the biggest obstacle. If I can''t do it, then there''s nothing I can do."Finn replied. Charles scratched his head and exined, "It''s okay, if you can''t do it, that''s fine. I''ll sign up for Reaper''s Scythe in a few days as well." "What! You''re going to participate too?" Shannon eximed, his eyes wide. Even Finn was quite surprised. He was participating to get closer to the Dawn organization. Was Charles entering to gather the alchemy materials his teacher needed? Or was there another reason? Could it be that Charles knew about the existence of Dawn as well? The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 238 The Actions of the Taylor Family Charles looked at the surprised expressions on Shannon and Finn''s faces, but he didn''t feel any surprise himself. In most people''s eyes, Charles had just be a Level 4 Beast Master, and he shouldn''t have the strength to sessfully challenge the "Reaper''s Scythe." "Charles, you''re not being influenced by thements online, are you?" Shannon asked curiously. He had specifically searched for information about Charles after seeing news reports about missing children, and he was surprised to find a lot of negative topics about Charles online. Now, hearing that Charles was going to sign up for the "Reaper''s Scythe" in a few days, Shannon thought that Charles must have been provoked by those badments. Before Charles could exin, Finn slowly reined in his shock and said to Shannon, "It shouldn''t be that. I believe Charles must have some confidence in his ability to seed in the challenge." As he said this, he turned to look at Charles, his eyes filled with a sense of eagerness. If it weren''t for the minor injury he had sustained today, and the fact that he would have to continue challenging the "Reaper''s Scythe" tomorrow night, he would have already suggested a sparring session with Charles. "Alright, we only have this information for now. If we can sessfully challenge the Reaper''s Scythe, we might get some additional intel."Charles summarized. Upon hearing this, Finn felt a bit uncertain. He knew that the Genosha Calivia underground octagonal cage was linked to the [Dawn] organization. This organization was just as mysterious as [Constetion], with formidable intelligence capabilities, and he had even heard that it could help someone reach the level of a high-ranking Beast Master in a short amount of time! Could it be that Charles also knew about the [Dawn] organization? After thinking it over, Finn decided not to voice his question, it was still too early to say anything. If that one-armed boy entered the octagonal cage to fight, he didn''t haveplete confidence in his ability to defeat him. "Let''s call it a day for now. Later, the three of us can set up a group chat so we canmunicate about anything thates up in the future. It''ll make things a lot more convenient."Shannon suggested. After seeing Charles and Finn nod in agreement, he immediately pulled out his phone, created a private group chat, and invited Charles and Finn to join. Charles nced at the group chat information and noticed that Shannon had even named the group [Dawn]. "How about it? This name is pretty good, right? I came up with it myself."Shannon said proudly as he noticed Charles''s gaze. To his surprise, no one responded to him, and Charles and Finn simply left the private room. This night was destined to be somewhat turbulent. When Zane returned home, he could no longer control the emotions boiling inside him. He picked up a vase that was sitting in the living room and mmed it hard against the floor. "Damn it! Keep hiring online trolls and post negative topics about Charles!" Zane shouted furiously at the people nearby. To his astonishment, those people offered no response and merely stared behind Zane. The head of the Taylor family, Benson, appeared in the hall at that moment. With his hands sped behind his back, he looked at the venting Zane with a nk expression. The atmosphere in the hall instantly became heavy. After a while, Benson slowly walked up to Zane and fixed a sharp gaze on the future heir of the Taylor family, saying: "I know everything you''ve been doing." Upon hearing his father''s words, Zane''s heart immediately filled with fear and unease. He remembered all too well how Benson had warned him more than once, never to provoke Charles again! Now that Benson said he was aware of Zane''s activities online, he was certain that punishment would follow! "I''m sorry, Father, I realize I was wrong. I''ll cancel the ns right away."Zane replied tremulously, keeping his head down and not daring to meet Benson''s gaze. "Cancel? Why cancel? Increase the investment and continue. Your idea is good, but it''s just not perfect enough."Benson said calmly. Upon hearing this, Zane abruptly lifted his head, incredulously saying, "Father, you''re not angry with me? Didn''t you say not to provoke Charles again?" Benson turned around and sat rxedly on the central sofa, saying, "Times have changed. Ezra is in big trouble now, so we no longer have to worry about him retaliating." Zane''s eyes lit up instantly. He quickly realized that, although he didn''t know what had happened with Ezra. Based on Benson''s attitude, they should be able to take action against Charles now, right? "Why not send someone to eliminate Charles directly? I don''t want to see him live another day. Every time I see him, I''m reminded of that humiliation!" Zane said, his eyes filled with malice, he wanted Charles dead! Benson sighed. He still felt a lot of pain for his son Zane. Back then, in front of so many people, he had made Zane kneel and apologize to Charles. This was not only a hurt to Zane, but also a shame that the Taylor family could never wash away! "Not yet. We can''t act directly."Benson waved his hand and continued: "Here''s the n: send some people to find the families of those children Charles saved. Whether through threats or mary temptation, get them to publicly use Charles." Zane''s eyes brightened. He quickly realized that doing so would be a massive blow to Charles. After all, those he had once saved would now be turning against him, which might drive Charles to madness. At that point, they could provoke him into signing up for the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge and bribe those top-tier Level Four Beast Masters. Charles would be doomed! Moreover, this way, there would be no apparent connection to the Taylor family. Even if someone tried to me the Taylor family, they wouldn''t have a solid reason! "Father, I''ll do it right away!" Zane seemed to see a way to make Charles suffer and eagerly turned to leave. Once everyone in the hall had exited, Benson remained quietly seated on the sofa, and behind him, a vague and shadowy figure appeared. The lights in the living room seemed to lose their brightness, bing somewhat dim. An endless darkness stirred, and now there was a very powerful Beast Master present! "Are you sure Ezra can''t escape?" Benson recalled the oppressive feeling Ezra had brought that day and asked, still feeling a bit uneasy. A hoarse voice replied, "Don''t worry. This time, three Level Eight Beast Masters are involved. Even if Ezra doesn''t die, he will be seriously injured and his strength will decline." "That''s good to hear. Don''t forget our agreement, the Taylor family will do everything in our power to assist you."Benson said with a sigh of relief. He had some idea that Ezra seemed to have touched upon something very important recently, which was why the organization behind him had dispatched three Level Eight Beast Masters to surround him! With the mysterious person''s assurance, the Taylor family could act with confidence. "By the way, weren''t we not allowed to take action against Charles before? How did you all agree to this now?" Benson asked curiously. The mysterious figure behind him remained silent, clearly not wanting Benson to know the reason. Benson didn''t press further. Since the other side had agreed to the Taylor family''s n, there was no point in dwelling on it. Letting Charles die in the underground octagonal cage was also a good option. "Anyone who brings humiliation to the Taylor family will not have a good ending! One day, Genosha will belong to the Taylor family!" Benson stated as he stood up, speaking slowly. The mysterious figure vanished into the darkness. "My lord, the n is proceeding smoothly. The next step depends on Charles''s choice."the mysterious person sent this information to his superior. The Taylor family was merely a sharpening stone, meant to force Charles to be stronger as much as possible. The earlier restriction against the Taylor family acting directly was because they hadn''t confirmed whether Charles was indeed the chosen one by fate. After the elder of the Jiao Mu Jiao organization from the Seven Stars of the Azure Dragon personally confirmed it, arrangements against Charles quietly began. "Everything is arranged by fate, Charles. You will understand."the mysterious person murmured to himself. At the same time, negative topics about Charles began to resurface online once again. These topics began to shift people''s attention toward the missing children''s cases. Many discussions revolved around the idea that Charles epting the bounty mission and rescuing 26 children was all a deception! Some topics even maliciously spected that Charles was in cahoots with the criminals who had kidnapped the children! Any reasonably intelligent person would surely not believe such ims, but the vast majority of people online were ignorant. A portion of them only wanted to watch the drama unfold, disregarding whether the facts were true, they added fuel to the fire and maliciously ndered him. In just one night, many people changed their stance and began to use and insult Charles online. Charles, just waking up, waspletely unaware of these developments. He still entered the training tower as usual, continuing toprehend the figures on the stone walls, along with his understanding ofbat techniques. In the office of the headmaster at Cyber Academy, Jamie frowned as he looked at the information on his phone. He turned to Hale beside him and said, "So, what''s the situation? Have you figured out who is behind all of this?" Hale nodded and replied, "I''ve found outit''s people from the Taylor family. They''re targeting Charles maliciously!" Both of them were quite intelligent and had already deduced the Taylor family''s motives. Continue reading on m_v--NovelBin However, it was strange that, despite having just been warned by Ezra, the Taylor family dared to act this way. While they weren''t directly attacking Charles, if Ezra found out, the Taylor family would still face the wrath of a Level Eight Beast Master. "It''s odd. How did the Taylor family be so bold? Could it be...?" Jamie pondered. Suddenly, he seemed to catch onto something and quickly asked Hale, "When was thest time Ezra contacted you?" Hale, unsure why Jamie was asking, replied, "The timing isn''t fixed, but I haven''t heard from Uncle Ezra in several days." Chapter 239 There’s Nothing to Regret After Hale finished answering, he noticed the heavy expression on Jamie''s face and gradually realized that something was wrong. Enjoy more content froNovelBin "Dean, has something happened with Uncle Ezra? Is that why the Taylor family is acting this way? That seems unlikely."Hale said slowly. Although he had considered that possibility, he was very clear about Uncle Ezra''s strength. An ordinary eighth-level Beast Master would not be a match for Uncle Ezra at all! Moreover, if that were the case, how would the Taylor family even know that there was a problem with Ezra? It wasn''t just Hale who was thinking this way, Jamie was pondering it as well. Ezra''s movements and whereabouts had always been mysterious. Even as the dean of the Genosha branch of Cyber Academy, he was not privy to Ezra''s missions. If something really happened with Ezra, and the Taylor family knew about it even before Cyber Academy did. Then things are definitely moreplicated than they seem. Perhaps the Taylor family has some hidden power behind them? At this thought, Jamie instinctively recalled the organizations "Constetion" and "Dawn." His eyes narrowed slightly as he said to Hale, "I''ll ask the main academy about itter. You should also send a message to Ezra. If something is really going on..." Jamie didn''t finish his sentence, but Hale understood his meaning clearly. The Taylor family had serious problems! "If that''s the case, Charles has really helped out a lot. If it weren''t for him, the Taylor family wouldn''t have shown any weaknesses."Jamie thought to himself. He wasn''t nning to rm the Taylor family just yet, he intended to have someone keep an eye on their movements without provoking them. Everything would wait until Ezra''stest news arrived before moving on to the next step. Moreover, he understood Charles''s mindset well, the discussions online didn''t affect Charles at all. Also, once Charlespletes his self-createdbat techniques, he will definitely sign up for "Reaper''s Scythe." At that point, all the false ims will fall apart! ... At noon, in the training room of Aredale Academy, Shannon looked at the topics about Charles on his phone, his face filled with anger. "Finn, these people online are just too much. It''s getting more and more ridiculous. Some are even saying that Charles got into Cyber Academy through cheating."Shannon said. After meeting and chatting with Charles yesterday, he was very clear that all the online discussions were fabricated. Someone must be maliciously pushing this narrative forward, but unfortunately, the inte users who are criticizing and insulting Charles can''t see through the lies. "Don''t worry. Charles''s strength will prove everything. Once he participates in the Reaper''s Scythe challenge, it will all be fine."Finn replied. Shannon didn''t think so. He had no idea when Charles would sign up for the Reaper''s Scythe challenge. Should they really just sit back and watch these onlinements? "What if I ask Charles if he can announce that he ns to participate in Reaper''s Scythe? That might help stabilize the situation for a while."Shannon suggested. Finn shrugged and replied, "You should ask Charles. I think he wouldn''t mind." "OK, no problem. I''ll ask him right away."Shannon said, and he immediately sent a message to Charles. While waiting for Charles''s reply, Shannon''s fingers kept tapping on his phone screen. He was currently engaged in an online argument with someone. That guy was driving him crazy, constantly saying, "If Charles is so great, why doesn''t he dare to participate in the Reaper''s Scythe challenge?" No matter what Shannon said, that person would only respond with that line. He had long wanted to reveal that Charles nned to participate in "Reaper''s Scythe."but he needed to check whether Charles was willing to disclose that intention first. Soon, Shannon received a message on his phone. He nced at it and eagerly continued arguing with that person. ["Come on, who says Charles is scared? He''ll be participating in Reaper''s Scythe in a few days, you bastard, keep your eyes wide open and see for yourself!"] To lend credibility to his im, Shannon specifically shared Charles''s response. Before long, this topic shot to the top of the trending list. Countless people were retweeting the topic, constantly discussing whether Charles really wanted to participate in Reaper''s Scythe or if he was just trying to divert public attention temporarily. After a few days, the discussion would likely die down. Zane kept a close eye on the information about Charles online. Many of the negative topics were ones he had posted and replied to himself. The person who had just been arguing with Shannon was him. He felt quite displeased with Shannon, especially since he had been trying to ingratiate himself with him over the past few days. To his surprise, not only did Shannon not show him any respect, but he also handed Charles a business card and apologized to him right in front of Zane! He knew that the animosity between him and Charles was irreconcble! "What Shannon said should be true. This way, we won''t have to look for those kids'' families."someone suggested. Now that their objective had been achieved, with Charles about to sign up for the Reaper''s Scythe challenge, there was no need to waste time and energy threatening the families anymore. Zane raised his hand and put his phone away, gritting his teeth as he said, "No, the n continues. I want Charles to be spit on before he dies! I want him to be utterly disgraced!" Seeing Zane''s fierce expression, the Taylor family''s subordinates fell silent, lowering their heads and turning to leave, continuing with their tasks as nned. In just a single afternoon, the slums of Genosha Calivia became even more riotous and chaotic. Several unknown individuals directly stormed into the homes of those who had found their children, first using physical threats, then resorting to financial temptations. They wanted these family members to ept interviews and say things that didn''t exist, all to tarnish Charles''s reputation. To their surprise, faced with threats of violence and temptations of money, only one or two parents couldn''t resist the lure and agreed to the Taylor family''s demands. The rest were unwilling to nder Charles no matter what. "Damn it! They really see Charles as a hero. It''s just because he saved their kid, what''s so great about that? They''re just a bunch of lowlifes!" After receiving this news, Zane felt extremely resentful. He hadn''t expected only two people to be willing to do it, which was a huge letdown for him. Fortunately, one of those two was the person who initially posted the bounty. His usations against Charles would carry more weight. The other person had a good reputation at the crossroads, and many people believed his words. These two were enough. If he could just bribe the journalists conducting the interviewspreferably to broadcast it livepeople online would see Charles''s "true nature"! At that point, no matter how Charles tried to exin himself, he would be unable to clear his name. Thinking of this made Zane unable to contain his excitement. He cheerfully said, "Charles, oh Charles, you''re about to walk right into my trap. All the humiliation you''ve brought me will soon be washed away!" Immediately, someone chimed in, "Yeah, Charles would never expect that this was all your n. He''s lost his mind and is being toyed with!" "Exactly, it seems Charles is only talented, everything else is utterly insignificant!" "I thought Charles could hold on for a few more days, but I didn''t expect him to crack so quickly in the face of onlinements." "He just became a Level Four Beast Master and is going to participate in Reaper''s Scythe, he''ll definitely meet his doom!" In the Taylor family''s hall, the murmurs of many people reached Zane''s ears, and he couldn''t hide the joy and excitement on his face. "Once the journalists for the live interviews are arranged, make sure to control the other family members as well. We can''t give Charles a chance to turn things around, he must be utterly disgraced!" Zane suddenly remembered something and immediately said to the others. As long as they kept those family members under control, Charles would lose his opportunity to exin himself. Sometimes, people online don''t care whether you''re innocent or not, rather than witnessing the rise of a genius, they''d prefer to see that genius fall from grace into the abyss. "Alright, everyone, get to work. Charles should be leaving the training tower this afternoon. That''s when we''ll do the live interview. I want him to see all of this firsthand!" Zane said. Time ticked by slowly. Somewhere in Genosha Calivia, in a hidden warehouse, Sam, wearing sses, looked at his wife beside him and their daughter, who appeared somewhat dazed, and he clenched his fists tightly. "Honey, you won''t me me, will you? After all, Charles saved our child. I" Sam''s words were cut off by his wife. She held their daughter tightly, gently patting her back,forting her fragile little heart that had already been hurt. "I won''t me you. No one could have expected that just when life was starting to improve, something like this would happen. Those people are truly despicable!" his wifeforted him. She understood and supported Sam''s choice. When Sam first told her about this, she was very reluctant, but there were no other options left. "Alright, it''s time to go. The people outside are getting impatient."another voice chimed in. If Charles were there, he would recognize that the speaker was Mark, who he had encountered that night at the crossroads. One was Sam, who had posted the bounty, and the other was Mark, a man of considerable reputation at the crossroads. These two had agreed to the Taylor family''s demands and were about to step in front of the camera, ready to say those words under the watchful eye of countless online spectators. "Are you ready? Once you choose this path, there''s nothing to regret."Mark said calmly. Sam took a deep breath and nodded. The two slowly walked out of the warehouse, escorted by the Taylor family''s people to a waiting car. Chapter 240 Jamies Persistence "Are you saying that the Taylor family has sent people to hide the rtives of those children? And it seems they''ve also asked them to nder Charles?" In the dean''s office, Jamie looked at thetest news, his expression darkening significantly. He never expected the Taylor family to be so shameless, resorting to such tactics to provoke Charles. While Jamie was confident in Charles''s mindset, he knew that this kind of situation would be uneptable to any normal person. After all, who could imagine that someone they once helped would choose to harm their benefactor? "Dean, I''ve already sent people to investigate where those individuals are being held, and we should have concrete information soon."Hale replied. He said this, but deep down, Hale understood that they were likely running out of time. The Taylor family''s actions this time were very covert and swift, and it was estimated that it wouldn''t be long before they appeared directly in the online media. Jamie had just seen on his phone that there were already numerous reports indicating that this afternoon, there would be direct evidence proving that all those topics were true, and it would be live! "Well, we''ll just do our best. I actually think it''s better this way. The real world of the Beast Master is just as cruel and filled with betrayal."Jamie said slowly. Especially when he emphasized the word "betrayal."he looked directly at Hale. Hale instantly fell silent, he lowered his head, staring nkly, clearly lost in thought. After a while, he finally raised his head again, his gaze firm as he replied: "I still want to do everything I can to prevent this, Dean. Out of so many rtives, only two people agreed to the Taylor family''s demands. This world isn''t as terrible as you say." "I know you''ve always felt that way, but Hale, the achievements that Charles will attain in the future are beyond our imagination. He needs to experience certain things early on to go further."Jamie disagreed. He wanted to use this opportunity to make Charles understand that the world isn''t so beautiful. Wanting to be a powerful Beast Master requires more than just talent. It also demands a clear understanding of this world. Otherwise, he would surely be deceived and betrayed, and he might even lose his future and fall into despair. Thinking of this, Jamie looked at Hale once more and asked, "Do you want Charles to be like you?" Those words struck a nerve with Hale. He opened his mouth to retort but found himself at a loss for words. "It''s been seven years, Hale. That incident happened seven years ago, and you still haven''t moved on."Jamie said, showing no regard for Hale''s feelings. He was not only considering Charles but also hoping to push Hale out of his predicament. "Charles is very much like you, you''re both kind-hearted individuals who easily trust others. But people like that can get hurt more easily, trapped in ce, unable to move forward."Jamie continued. Hale slowly lowered his head and replied, "Dean, Charles is different from me. He is more aware and resilient than I am. I''m just worried it will affect his state of mind." "This is reality, Hale. You should think about it carefully when you go back."Jamie''s tone was firm. One Ezra, one Hale, Both of them had fallen to their current state because of betrayal. Hale was once hailed as the genius known as the Pride of the Wind! He became a Level 6 Beast Master in his twenties and even contracted a legendary-quality mystical beast! Now, seven years have passed, and he remains a Level 6 Beast Master, stuck in ce, having given up on moving forward. Jamie didn''t know the full details about Ezra, but there were rumors from the headquarters that he had also been betrayed, leading to his decline into an eighth-level Beast Master, looking like a shell of his former self. Now, Jamie wanted Charles to experience this early on, even if it would affect him. Jamie believed that a short pain was better than a long one. After suffering once, he would be cautious and would not end up like Ezra or Hale. At that moment, Charles was in the trial tower. He was already standing before the stone wall, havingprehended 22 figures, with only 8 figures left to understand. Experience tales at m v|l e''-NovelBin He had also begun to control the progress of hisbat techniques: [Unknown Technique (1) in progress, 85%] [Unknown Technique (2) in progress, 84%] [Unknown Technique (3) in progress, 83%] ... [Unknown Technique (22) in progress, 45%] Except for the most recentlyprehendedbat techniques, which had rtively low progress, the others ranged between 80% and 85%. There were still 8 figures on the stone wall that he had not yetprehended, but Charles was confident he could master them all by tomorrow. Then, within three days, he aimed to bring all hisbat techniques'' progress to 99%. After that, he would need to fulfill the necessary condition for creating his ownbat techniques: engaging in a life-and-death battle, where he could grasp his own originalbat techniques in the midst of a life-threatening crisis! However, it all depended on whether the higher levels of the trial tower could present Charles with a significant sense of life-and-death crisis. If not, he would have to go into the underground octagonal cage and battle those top-tier Level 4 Beast Masters. Charles recalled the one-armed boy he had encountered that day, even a mere nce had given him a considerable sense of danger. If he were to fight that one-armed boy, it would surely be extremely dangerous, but that was exactly what Charles needed. No one could be a true powerhouse without facing dangers along the way. The training of a Beast Master has never been merely about cultivation, it also involves constantly confronting various crises and challenges, oveing everything in the process! Charles was still deep in thought about his future ns and when to sign up for the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge. What he didn''t know was that, at that moment, the inte was already buzzing with discussions. Countlessizens were eagerly debating matters concerning Charles. "Charles just became a Level 4 Beast Master, and he''s going to challenge Reaper''s Scythe? I think those discussions are spot on, such an arrogant person can''t possibly be a hero!" "Exactly! I agree with that viewpoint. He just feels exposed and wants to struggle desperately in this way!" "I bet that even if Charles signs up, he''ll give up quickly!" "You bunch of losers, what are you saying? Come on, if you have the guts, duel me! I know Charles, he''s not like that!" "What duel? Look at you getting all worked up, flustered. If you can''t argue back, you want to resort to violence, right?" "I''m a Level 4 Beast Master, are you brave enough to duel me?" "Cyber Academy, ss A student, Jace. I''m a Level 3 Beast Master, and I''ming to find you right now!" ... Many people just wanted to watch Charles, who was hailed as a monster at Cyber Academy, be a target of scorn. There were also some talents from prominent families who had long been displeased with Charles. They wanted to take this opportunity to see someone with better talent and strength than them fall at their feet. Only then would these individuals feel satisfied. The overwhelming majority of opinions online were pessimistic about Charles, viewing him as a false genius. Some even questioned whether Charles''smoner status was also a lie. They imed he wasbeled amoner just to win people over and gain their sympathy! Once this theory was brought up, many agreed with it. Their reasoning was simr: if Charles were truly amoner, he could never have essed so much knowledge about Beast Mastery. Moreover, the quality of mystical beasts is exceptionally high, along with some high-quality weapons and equipment. These are not things that an ordinary person can possess. Charles must be hiding his true identity! In the royal pce of Genosha Calivia, Cami anxiously waited at the door, pacing back and forth, feeling extremely restless. She had already seen the news online and had thought more than once about asking her father, Miles, for help. However, it seemed like Miles was oblivious and had not given her a concrete response. "Your Highness, the Second Princess, His Majesty is still busy, you should go attend your sses at Cyber Academy for now."a minister approached and said. Cami bit her lip and replied firmly, "No, I won''t go back. I will wait here for Father." "What''s the point of this? His Majesty has his reasons for acting this way. Princess, you should really leave."the minister urged. He also knew that with such a significant online uproar, the Genosha royal family would typically intervene. To his surprise, there had been no movement on that front until now. "I will wait right here."Cami insisted. She was determined to help Charles, thosements online were simply outrageous! Moreover, after learning that Charles was going to participate in the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge. Cami felt even more anxious. She instinctively thought that Charles wanted to prove himself because of thosements, which led him to choose this path. In her view, if they could resolve thosements, Charles wouldn''t have to take the risk of participating in the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge. She wasn''t the only one worried about Charles. Zachary was also in his father''s study, seeking help from General Mason. "Let''s wait and see for now, Jamie hasn''t made any moves, and I don''t want to interfere."Mason replied directly. On the other side, Celestine was also doing her best. She had reached out to many of Charles''s fans, tirelessly rifying online that those negativements were nders and that someone was maliciously attacking Charles. However, the effect was minimal, most of the online public wouldn''t calm down to think rationally, instead, they simply followed the trend, venting their emotions online. The situation grew increasingly intense, and everyone was waiting for the uing live stream. They anticipated that whatever Charles did would be exposed. "Just wait and see, what kind of hero is he to save anyone? Charles doesn''t deserve it at all!" "Yeah, I heard that the families of those children sent representatives to reveal the truth about the situation. Soon we''ll know just how hypocritical Charles really is!" "Charles must be really scared right now. Will he even watch the live streamter?" At that moment, Charles walked out of the trial tower, looking exhausted. Chapter 241 Hales Surprise Charles hadn''t even had a moment to rest when a staff member from the trial tower suddenly approached him, an anxious expression on their face. "Charles, something big has happened! You need to check out the trending topics online!" Charles felt a bit bewildered. He had been in the trial tower all day and hadn''t looked at any online information. What on earth had happened? He pulled out his phone and carefully checked the notifications. After a while, he finally figured out what was going on. It seemed that some people felt the previous nders were too mild and now wanted to bring in the families of the missing children to publicly use him during a live broadcast. Charles took a deep breath. He knew very well that there was a good chance that those people pointing fingers at him were being threatened. "Charles, aren''t you worried?" the staff at the trial tower front desk asked, puzzled. If it were anyone else in such a situation, they would definitely have lost it on the spot, their emotions in a frenzy. Yet, Charles''s face remained calm. As if everything were none of his business. "It''s nothing, just some minor issues. The innocent will clear their names."Charles replied. In truth, he didn''t care about what those people said because from the very beginning, his only aim was to save the missing children, everything else was irrelevant to him. "Thank you for the reminder. I''ll be leaving now."Charles said nonchntly as he turned to walk away. Continue reading at m|v-l''e -NovelBin He hadn''t had dinner yet, and after eating in the cafeteria, he would check out the so-called live broadcast to see what it was all about. He was also curious about who would be ndering him in the live chat. As a result, the students at Cyber Academy witnessed a strange scene. While everyone else was concerned about the trending topics online and the uing live event, Charles was having dinner in the cafeteria as usual. Some students were discussing: "Only Charles could stay calm in the face of such a situation. I would have lost my mind by now!" "Of course! You can''tpare yourself to him. The stuff online is clearly a deliberate smear against Charles." "Not necessarily. After all, they say they want to live stream to expose Charles''s hypocrisy. They wouldn''t say that without some confidence, would they?" "What confidence could they possibly have? Unless they''re using some underhanded tactics. Damn it, who is targeting Charles?" "Sigh, once the live stream starts, Charles''s reputation will probably be ruined. No one cares about whether it''s true, they just want to vent their emotions." "That''s true. Is there really nothing we can do?" Charles slowly walked out of the private room on the second floor of the cafeteria, heading toward the dormitory. He had just nned to take a short break before heading to the training room. Unexpectedly, someone was already waiting for him at the dormitory entrance. "Mr. Hale, is there something wrong?" Charles asked, a bit puzzled. Hale''s expression was not good, he looked heavy and sad. "Do you know about the situation online?" Hale asked with concern. He didn''t want Charles to feel sad or hurt because of this. Betrayal is something hard to ept for anyone who values rtionships. Right now, Charles seemedpletely unfazed, probably because he hadn''t had time to check the online information and was unaware of the situation. However, to Hale''s surprise, Charles replied, "Yeah, I know. What''s the matter?" "What? You already know?" Hale''s eyes widened as he stared at Charles''s calm face. In Hale''s mind, Charles''s reaction shouldn''t be like this. After all, Charles was someone who valued emotions deeply, both toward him and Colton. Given the current "farmer and snake" situation, he should be furious. "Yeah, I found out right after I left the trial tower. Mr. Hale, you didn''t think I couldn''t handle it, did you? It''s just a minor issue."Charles said, scratching his head. He opened the dormitory door and invited Hale in, and they both sat down on the chairs. Hale''s attention was fully on Charles. He hesitated a bit before saying, "I have some news about this matter. The ones targeting you are from the Taylor family." "And during the uing live stream, there will be two people in the broadcast: one named Mark and the other named Sam. They are the ones who posted the bounty task." When Charles heard the names Mark and Sam, he paused for a moment, then asked curiously, "Those two?" "Yes, it''s them. They epted the Taylor family''s request. I don''t know what they will say in the live stream, but it will probably be nders against you."Hale nodded. Charles thought for a moment, recalling his encounters with Mark and Sam. He slowly said: "It''s fine. I''ll check out that live streamter and see what they say." Hale was a bit anxious. He quickly said, "Charles, there''s no need to let this affect your mindset." "Affect my mindset? Mr. Hale, I''m just a little curious. Isn''t this kind of thing somewhatmon?" Charles expressed his thoughts. He wasn''t an ordinary eighteen-year-old boy who would see the world as a wonderful ce filled with sincere and kind people, idealizing everyone and everything. That view belonged to the young, a talent as well as a w. Although Charles was only eighteen, his soul came from another world, where he had long known that beneath the beautiful surface of realityy countless dirty and rotten things. "Do you really think that way?" Hale''s mouth dropped open in surprise. Charles nodded and exined, "I''m just doing what I want to do. Saving those children is what I want, everything else doesn''t concern me." "But the families of those children you saved, they are ungrateful. Won''t you feel betrayed?" Hale pressed. Charles shook his head and answered earnestly: "They haven''t betrayed me, they''ve betrayed themselves and the children. It doesn''t really have much to do with me." Hale was stunned. As a level six Beast Master and a teacher at Cyber Academy, he... He found himself struggling to understand what Charles was saying. What did it mean to betray oneself and the children? After pondering a bit, Hale began to grasp the meaning behind Charles''s words. He never expected that only eighteen-year-old Charles could articte such thoughts. It seemed he had underestimated Charles''s mindset. At that moment, Hale''s phone suddenly rang, and he received a call. "What! How could this happen? Is Jace okay? Wait for me, I''m on my way."Hale said, standing up in shock. Charles asked, "Mr. Hale, what''s wrong?" Hale looked at Charles with aplex expression. He paused for a moment before answering, "Jace is in a duel with a level four Beast Master and has been seriously injured. He''s in the hospital receiving treatment." "Jace? Dueling a level four Beast Master?" Charles said in disbelief. If he remembered correctly, Jace was only a level three Beast Master right now. Moreover, when faced with the ambush from [Constetion], Jace had given up resisting right away. How could he now have the courage to duel someone a level above him? "Yes, Jace sessfully challenged him two days ago and is now a student in ss A. You just haven''t been to ss, so you didn''t know."Hale exined briefly. He turned to leave immediately. But Charles seemed to sense something. Remembering Hale''s gaze from earlier, he followed him and continued to ask: "What exactly is going on? Why did Jace choose to duel a level four Beast Master?" Hale looked at the following Charles and sighed before exining the situation. It turned out that Jace was upset about people insulting and ming Charles online. He kept defending Charles and exining things to those people, which led to a confrontation with an unreasonable level four Beast Master. They ended up arguing and then directly arranged for an offline duel to prove that Charles wasn''t as portrayed online. If Jace won, the level four Beast Master would have to publicly admit his mistake and apologize online. Upon hearing this, Charles slowed his pace. He didn''t know why, but he felt an inexplicable emotion rising within him. His impression of Jace was still from when he faced the ambush by the [Constetion] Beast Master. He never expected that Jace would now have the courage to duel a level four Beast Master for his sake! The two of them rushed to thergest hospital in Genosha Calivia. Outside a certain hospital room, Sadie anxiously paced back and forth in the corridor. This was her first time encountering such a situation, and she had no choice but to call Mr. Hale, hoping he coulde and help. "How is it? Is Jace okay?" Hale''s voice echoed from down the corridor. Sadie looked like she had seen a savior and quickly replied, "Mr. Hale, please go in and check on him." Charles and Hale hurried into the hospital room, only to see Jace wrapped in bandages, unconscious and unaware. Hale carefully examined Jace''s injuries and let out a slight sigh of relief, saying: "It shouldn''t be life-threatening, but he has severe injuries. His right arm is shattered, and he''ll need to rest for a while." Charles approached Jace''s bedside and heard him mumbling something softly in his unconscious state. Leaning in to listen closely, Charles froze in ce. "Win, won, apologize, apologize to Charles... I won." He couldn''t believe that even in aa, Jace still wanted that level four Beast Master to apologize to him. Just as Charles was in shock, a loud, arrogant voice echoed from the corridor: "Damn it, where''s that lunatic? He dares to ambush me, he''s dead today!" "That bastard, just a level three Beast Master, and he''s willing to risk his life just to defeat me? I''m going to teach him a lesson again!" Chapter 242 Worth It The atmosphere in the hospital room instantly grew tense. Hale''s attention was no longer on the corridor outside the door. He turned around and fixed his gaze on Charles, quickly saying, "Calm down. We''re in a hospital, it''s not the right ce to make a scene." As a level six Beast Master, Hale could clearly sense the coldness and killing intent radiating from Charles! It seemed that Charles was genuinely angry this time. But that was understandable, Jace had gone to great lengths to force that level four Beast Master to apologize to Charles, getting seriously injured in the process to win the duel. The consequences were significant, if his recovery took too long, it would affect his subsequent studies in ss A. If that happened, in half a month, he might be challenged by ss B again, and there was a chance he would end up back in ss B once more. Charles was very well aware of the consequences of dueling with a level four Beast Master. Jace must have thought about it too. Yet, despite that, he still fought without hesitation. Now that level four Beast Master was back to cause trouble, and Charles couldn''t tolerate it at all. He directly opened the hospital room door and looked out into the corridor. He saw three people gathered together, constantly checking each hospital room in the hallway, trying to find Jace. Upon hearing the sound of Charles opening the door. The three immediately turned their heads to look. One of them recognized Charles and quickly said to hispanions, "Look, it''s Charles. He''s here too?" "Maybe we should just forget it and leave. Let''s not hang around here."one of thepanions said quietly, hesitating. Charles had excellent hearing, and he wasn''t going to let these guys off easily. "Stop right there. Did I say you could leave?" Charles said as he slowly walked forward. His cold, merciless voice echoed down the empty hallway. Grayson stopped in his tracks, feeling the air around him grow noticeably colder. He was a person who cared about his reputation, especially in front of hispanions. Even though he didn''t want to provoke Charles, he couldn''t just leave with his tail between his legs. If he did, how could he ever engage in online arguments again? People would ignore his words! "No, Charles, what right do you have to stop me? My legs are my own, and I can leave whenever I want!" Grayson raised his voice slightly. In truth, he felt ack of confidence, only by raising his volume could he hide his fear. "You lost to Jace, and now you owe me an apology." Charles wasn''t interested in what this Level Four Beast Master had to say, he didn''t care about the other person''s words at all. "I didn''t lose! That guy was already on the ground, and I was stepping on his face. I didn''t expect him tounch a sneak attack on me!" Grayson immediately retorted. Charles paused, already imagining what had happened. This Level Four Beast Master must have been toying with Jace, humiliating him and forcing him to concede. He never anticipated that Jace would rather be injured and insulted than give up hope. In the end, Jace seized the opportunity and turned the tables! "What did you do?" Charles was now very close to the three of them. At that moment, Grayson and hispanions could sense something ufortable, as if they might lose their lives at any second. Grayson couldn''t help but swallow hard, bending slightly at the waist. He wanted to leave now. What he didn''t expect was that hispanions werepletely oblivious to his change in demeanor. They thought Grayson was confident enough to confront Charles head-on. One of hispanions spoke up, "All he has to do is admit you''re a cowardly fake genius, and it''s like he''s about to kill him." Charles took a deep breath, his muscles tensed up as he summoned the mystical beast Mousie. "Charles, what do you want to do? This is a hospital!" Grayson shouted, a bad feeling churning in his stomach. The figure of Mousie vanished instantly into the shadows. Then the cameras in the hospital corridor plunged into darkness. Three piercing screams echoed through the air. Hale let out a sigh in the hospital room. He didn''t n to go out and stop Charles, as long as no one ended up dead, it wouldn''t be a big deal. These people had started by insulting and ndering Charles online. It was only right that they got a good beating from him. After a while. Charles took out a tissue and wiped the blood off his hands as he slowly walked into the hospital room. "I thought you''d be able to keep your emotions in check."Hale said without turning around. Charles replied m: "I''m human too, I can get angry. Besides, I care about the people who are good to me." Sadie listened to the conversation between Charles and Hale, her curiosity piqued about what had happened outside. She quietly approached the hospital room door, peeking her head out to see. Her face instantly turned pale, and she trembled slightly, clearly startled by the scene outside. Charles noticed Sadie''s unease and said, "Don''t worry, no one''s dead. They just fell to the ground, their bones shattered. I''ve already called a doctor for them." Even Hale, a Level Six Beast Master, found it hard to believe Charles''s words. On normal days, Charles seemed very emotionally stable and quite peaceful. He never expected that when angry, he could be this ruthless. But it was just as it should be! "I''ll stay here, Charles, you can head back first."Hale said, not wanting to waste Charles''s time. Charles shook his head indifferently, pulled out his phone, and replied, "I''m fine. I''ll stay a little longer, the live stream is about to start anyway. I''ll leave after watching." And so, Hale, Charles, and Sadie continued on. In Jace''s hospital room, they tuned into the live stream. The entire onlinemunity of Genosha Calivia was extremely curious about this live broadcast. Before the stream even began, the number of viewers had already reached 100,000 and was still climbing. Meanwhile, at a television station in Calivia, Zane was watching the skyrocketing viewer count with an excited expression. He never expected that the people of Genosha would care so much about Charles''s situation. Whether or not Charles would be disgraced depended on this live broadcast. "Is everything arranged?" Zane asked the person next to him, wanting to ensure that the n was foolproof. Someone replied, "Everything is ready." The live stream soon began. As countless viewers watched, Mark and Sam entered the broadcast room. The host immediately asked, "It''s said that there''s more to the story about Charles saving 26 children. Can you two tell the audience the truth about what happened, so everyone knows what kind of person Charles really is?" Mark and Sam exchanged a silent nce, then slowly nodded and took a deep breath. They stood up, signaling the cameraman to capture everything. In the next moment, something unexpected happened that took everyone by surprise. Mark and Sam shouted loudly, "We were coerced! Charles is the real hero." "It was he who saved our children! Charles, we all believe in you!" "These people threatened us and wanted us to nder Charles..." Suddenly, the live stream went dark, leaving countless viewers stunned in front of their phones. Especially Jamie, who was watching the stream in the dean''s office, gripping his phone tightly. "I never expected things would turn out this way. Charles, it seems I was wrong, in fact, most people were wrong." Jamie said. He wasn''t the only one who thought these two were there to stab Charles in the back, he never expected their true purpose was to clear Charles''s name in front of so many viewers! One must understand that the threats from the Taylor family were no joke. As residents of the slums, if the Taylor family sought revenge. They could very well disappear silently by tonight. Just then, a phone call came in. Jamie looked at the number and felt puzzled, it was an unfamiliar number. "Dean, it''s me. I want those two, and their families, to be safe."Charles''s voice came through. Jamie felt a mix of relief and concern as he replied, "I''ll negotiate with the Taylor family. They shouldn''t die, but they might endure some suffering." "I understand, Dean. The Taylor family''s current actions are somewhat irrational."Charles continued. Jamie responded, "I know, the matter is under investigation. We''re still waiting for news from the main office." "Okay, thank you, Dean." After Charles finished speaking, he hung up the phone. Hale and Sadie both felt that Charles had done well by asking the dean for help regarding Mark and Sam. But unexpectedly, Charles made another call. "President Xavier, I have something I''d like your help with..." This wasn''t the end, Charles continued dialing the next number. "President Owen..." "Teacher Colton, it''s like this..." "Head of the Lance family, it''s me, Charles..." No one knew how many calls were made, but Charles''s intention was clear: he wanted to leverage personal connections to pressure the Taylor family into releasing Mark and Sam, and to do so without harm! "Is this really worth it, Charles?" Hale was shocked, he never thought Charles would be so resolute. To ensure Mark and Sam''s safety, he was willing to go to any lengths. In fact, Jamie negotiating and applying pressure on the Taylor family was already sufficient to ensure both of them would return alive. Charles''s gaze was unwavering as he answered, "It''s worth it. These two know the consequences of their actions, yet they still went ahead without hesitation." "Jace, Mark, and Sam all did this for me. I can''t just pretend nothing happened." After doing all of this, Charles nced at Jace, whoy unconscious on the hospital bed. He turned to Sadie and said, "Thank you for your hard work. When Jace wakes up, make sure to let me know. I still need to get back to training." "Training? Are you nning to enter the Trial Tower?" Hale guessed. Charles nodded and turned to leave. He didn''t want to wait any longer! Soon, those who had been shouting and ndering him online would witness what true genius really looked like! Chapter 243 It’s Time to Make Those People Shut Up "Damn it! Is this what you call everything being arranged? Damn it! I can''t believe I let twomoners y me!" "Go! Bring those two damn guys here. I want them to know what it''s like to wish they were dead!" Zane''s frenzied voice rang out, he was now a madman who had lost all reason, his eyes filled with brutality. Today was supposed to be the day Charles would be utterly disgraced, but unexpectedly, Mark and Sam had messed everything up. These are twomoners, rats living in the slums, bugs! How dare they toy with him? He is the son of the head of the Genosha the Taylor family, the future head of the Taylor family! If this gets out, it will be a shame forever etched on his face! Charles has already humiliated him more than once, and now he finds himself humiliated by two slum-dwellingmoners! "Damn it, right! Bring their wives and children too!" Zane thought of a more cruel way and quickly made arrangements. Before long, Mark and Sam were brought in, still processing what was happening, only to find themselves forced to kneel on the ground. "You two, should I call you brave or stupid?" Zane took a deep breath. He couldn''t wait to torture these two. They were just two people from the slums, if they died, no one would care. "What did Charles give you that makes you protect him like this? Was it money? Did I not offer enough?" Zane pulled out a dagger and examined it closely in his hand. Mark stared at Zane intensely, gritting his teeth, not saying a word. "Good, very good. You two are tough guys, I love to torture tough guys like you!" Zaneughed maniacally, continuing, "I will remember how you both look right now. Soon, even your rtives won''t recognize you." Sam took a deep breath. He looked at Mark and then at Zane, saying, "It''s toote now. The slums aren''t as pathetic as you think." "What do you mean, toote?" Zane frowned, And soon he realized what Sam was talking about. The people he sent out returned empty-handed, "There''s been an incident! Someone attacked the warehouse guards and took their families!" "What! Damn it! You''repletely useless, you should all die!" Zane was on the verge of exploding. He turned to look at the fearless Mark and Sam, and now he understood the meaning of that earlier statement. He never expected Mark and Sam had already made arrangements, that there were capable Beast Masters in the slums who had managed to take their families away before the Taylor family''s people could get to them. "Why aren''t you running away?" Zane struggled to calm his emotions as he asked. Mark and Sam exchanged nces, and Mark slowly replied, "Someone has to help Mr. Charles, I volunteered." "Aren''t you afraid of dying?" Zane seemed a bit reluctant to ept this, he never thought anyone would go this far for Charles. Mark responded, "I am afraid, I fear death. But I fear even more that Mr. Charles will be misunderstood. We are all waiting for him." "Waiting for him? Waiting for what? Speak up!" Zane pressed, feeling that something was about to be revealed to him. "Waiting for the day he brings the truth." Mark didn''t answer directly. All the people in the slums who had lost their children, those still waiting for their missing kids toe home, under Sam and Mark''s exnation. Came to know there was someonea genius with limitless potentialwho was helping them, and who promised that those who deserved to die would indeed die! The people at the bottom of the socialdder were quite clever, they sensed that their children might never return. They just couldn''t let go, or perhaps they wanted to understand what was really happening. Charles had given them hope. Sam recalled when he first met Charles, he had no expectations of him at all. After all, he looked like just an eighteen-year-old boy, surely not as capable as those experienced Beast Masters. But unexpectedly, it was Charles who had saved the missing daughter, reuniting the family. Originally, the one who was supposed to help rify things for Charles wasn''t him but another person, a pitiable soul who was all alone with his daughter, who had gone missing. However, Sam felt that as the one who issued the bounty, his words would carry more weight and be easier for people to believe. So he came, heading toward the already clear conclusion. "What''s going on? You won''t say, huh? Soon, I''ll make you beg to talk!" Zane no longer waited. He gripped the dagger tightly and slowly approached Sam and Mark. Just when everyone thought Mark and Sam were surely doomed, Zane''s phone suddenly rang. Zane pulled out his phone and took a look, it was his father, Benson, calling. "What? Let them go? Father, why should we let them go?" Zane''s face was filled with disbelief. He never expected his father would want to release these two, and especially not unharmed, without a scratch on them. "Just do as I say, and don''t ask so many questions."Benson''s somewhat irritated voice came through. He hadn''t anticipated that within just a few short minutes. The headmaster of Cyber Academy, Jamie, the president of the Alchemist Guild, Owen, the president of the Forging Masters Guild, Xavier. General Mason of Genosha, and the master-level alchemist Colton, among others. All demanded that he return Mark and Sam unharmed. Even though Benson insisted that this matter had nothing to do with the Taylor family, their stance was unusually strong. Benson was at a loss, the Taylor family didn''t want to offend so many people right now. The Taylor family needed a bit more time, so he could only let Zane release the two. "Father, did Charles''s alchemy teacher get involved?" Zane was reluctant, he really wanted to kill these two right now! Benson replied directly, "Don''t ask questions, just do as I say! Let them go now." Then the call ended. Discover stories with m,v l''e-NovelBin Furious, Zane smashed his phone to the ground, roaring, "Damn it! I can''t swallow this anger!" After a while, his rationality returned a little. He thought to himself that this was only a temporary retreat. Even if he let them go, he would have people keep an eye on them. When the opportunity aroseter, he would choose to strike! And perhaps then they could capture Mark and Sam''s families, and really torment them! "Let them go, no, make them get lost."Zane waved his hand and said. Someone asked in confusion, "Wait, are we really just letting them leave?" Zane still had anger boiling inside him, he stepped up to that person and unleashed a powerful kick. The person was instantly sent flying against the wall, blood spattering from their mouth. "Can''t you hear what I said? I told you to make those two get lost!" Zane said harshly. Now, no one dared to speak again, they quickly escorted Mark and Sam away. Mark and Sam, still in a daze, found themselves at Cross Street. Looking at the familiar ce, an overwhelming sense of unreality washed over them. "Did we actually survive?" Mark said as he pped his face. Sam, still somewhat rational, considered various possibilities and replied, "Maybe Mr. Charles saw us, he must have saved us." Mark asked, puzzled, "Can Mr. Charles really make the Taylor family listen? I feel like it''s for other reasons." Sam was a bit uncertain himself, he exined, "Is there anyone else who cares about the lives of those in the slums besides Mr. Charles?" As soon as the words left his mouth, Mark suddenly became alert. He nodded, looking at the dpidated neighborhood and slowly said, "Yeah, it''s only Mr. Charles who cares about those kids." Cross Street at night was still somewhat chilly. Mark wrapped his worn clothes around him and headed home. His steps, which had been heavy at first, began to grow lighter. Under the dim light, he lifted his head and looked up at the sky. The dazzling lights of Genosha Calivia obscured most of the night sky. In the past, Mark would never have looked up like that because he knew that in the slums, he couldn''t see any stars at all. Now, He seemed to have an illusion, he could feel that behind those colorful lights, a bright moon was radiating its clear light. Inside Cyber Academy, Charles looked at the messages on his phone. He knew Mark and Sam had returned safely. This time, the Taylor family''s targeting of him hade to light. It seemed something had gone wrong on Ezra''s side, or the Taylor family had found a way to counter Ezra. Only this could exin why they dared to act like this. "Relying on others is ultimately not a long-term solution, true strengthes from bing strong oneself."Charles reflected. He had juste from Colton''s ce, where he had picked up some miracle drugs for mental recovery. After several days in the trial tower, his mental strength was slightly diminished, so it was time to recover. Tonight, he had canceled his fight with Finn and Ruby''s ss. Now, there was only one thing Charles needed to do: to grasp as many insights as possible in the trial tower, controlling the progress of hisbat techniques. He wanted to see if he could create his ownbat techniques within the trial tower. If that didn''t work, he would head straight to the underground octagonal cage! "It''s time to make those who act recklessly online shut their mouths."Charles thought to himself. There was still some time before the trial tower closed, and without a moment''s hesitation, after using the mental recovery miracle drug, he once again stepped slowly into the trial tower to continue his trials. Chapter 244 Red Miracle Drug Tonight''s so-called live broadcast ended like a farce, leaving countless viewers shocked and confused as they drifted off to sleep. Only a small number of people knew the full details of what had happened. At the home of General Mason in Genosha, Zachary still hadn''t quite processed everything. He once again turned to his father Mason and asked, "Dad, what is Charles trying to aplish? As the headmaster of Cyber Academy, isn''t it enough for the Taylor family to spare Mark and Sam''s lives?" Mason nced at the still-confused Zachary, sighed, and began to exin: "Charles''s actions, while somewhat exaggerated, will ensure that the upper echelons of Genosha recognize him as a man of deep loyalty and honor. This incident has truly made everyone aware of who he is." Zachary fell into deep thought. Those who were previously unfamiliar with Charles''s character would surely have etched his name into their minds after tonight''s events. After all, everyone wants friends like Charles who will go all out to help them in times of danger. To be honest, Zachary thought to himself that if his rtionship with Charles could be a bit better, perhaps in the future, if he faced any dangers, Charles would not hesitate to lend a hand. It''s important to remember that Charles is no ordinary person, a talent like him is destined to be a Level Eight or even a Level Nine Beast Master. Moreover, unlike others, judging by tonight''s events, even if Charles bes a Level Nine Beast Master, he wouldn''t forget those who helped him. Many prominent families and forces try to win over talented individuals, hoping to call upon them for assistanceter on. However, it''smon for those talents to overlook those who supported them once they be powerful. Mason slowly spoke, "A man of loyalty and talentwho wouldn''t like someone like Charles? If I were around your age, I would be eager to befriend him." "Two people living in the slums would go to such lengths for him, it seems Charles has even more charisma than I thought." Zachary rubbed his nose, fully agreeing with his father Mason''s words. During the time he spent with Charles, Zachary was able to see things that others could not. When they entered the abandoned factory underground that day, Zachary had already begun to admire Charles. Now, with Mason saying this, he could pick up on his father''s implied messagethat he should cultivate a good rtionship with Charles. Who knows, one day the Allen family might need Charles''s help. "Don''t worry, Father, my rtionship with Charles is quite good right now. As far as I know, there aren''t many people who have a better rtionship with him than I do."Zachary said, patting his chest. "That''s not necessarily true. I happen to know a kid named Jace who is currently lying in a hospital bed, in aa because of Charles."Mason said casually. Hearing this, Zachary recalled who Jace washe was a new student in ss A just a couple of days ago, and he had heard that Jace had recklessly challenged a ss A student. After the entire battle, he had consistently chosen to trade injuries, which had initially frightened the other student. This was how he sessfully challenged and entered ss A. "I understand, Father. I''ll buy some gifts and go visit him tomorrow."Zachary said, catching on. He was actually quite clever. As the son of the general, Zachary had no enemies in Genosha. This was not only due to his status but alsorgely because of his high emotional intelligence. At first, Zachary was unwilling to ept Charles and didn''t really want to get close to him. However, as the days went by, things changed significantly. Now, he needed to work on improving his rtionship with Charles. Thus, visiting Jace tomorrow to strengthen his ties with Charles''s friends was essential. Zachary wasn''t the only one in Genosha Calivia who thought this way. The vast majority of families began to truly take Charles seriously, believing he was someone worthy of long-term investment. However, there was another issue: Charles needed to sign up for the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge. If a significant amount of money and effort was invested now, and something unexpected happened to Charles in the underground octagonal cage, it would all be a wasted effort! Moreover, the Taylor family, the driving force behind this incident, would not give up easily. As a result, many people chose to wait and see if Charles could sessfully challenge the "Reaper''s Scythe." In the Genosha royal family, Emperor Miles looked at the documents on the table, a hint of dissatisfaction rising on his stern face as he spoke: "The Taylor family''s actions have gone too far. Charles''s medal was awarded personally by the royal family, yet the Taylor family still attempts to nder him, treating the royal family with such disdain!" Avery kept his head lowered, studying the patterns on the floor. He knew that the Emperor was in a foul mood. Ever since he became aware of the Taylor family''s actions, the Emperor had been like this. He chose not to intervene because he wanted to see more unfold. Some things had already begun to show signs. In the past few days, many foreign Beast Masters quietly arrived in Genosha Calivia. They scattered and blended into Genosha Calivia like spring rain. As the Emperor of Genosha, Miles naturally took this matter very seriously. "Avery, keep investigating what those people are here for, and don''t alert them. Let them continue to believe we are unaware."Miles instructed. Avery nodded in response to themand and exited the grand hall. Now, only Miles remained in the royal hall, sitting on his throne, his figure appearing somewhat lonely and helpless. Stay connected through m-v l|e''-NovelBin "s, internal troubles and external threats!" ... The Taylor family, A dejected Zane slowly walked into the study. He still hadn''t moved on from what had just happened, his mind constantly racing with thoughts on how to torment Mark and Sam to death. These two were simply outrageous! How dare they y tricks on him? Every day they lived was a mockery and insult to him! As the son of the head of the Taylor family, being humiliated bymoners while they thrived was uneptable to him. Such a situation meant that the entire Calivia would fear him less and less. Zane could not ept that, he preferred others to lower their heads and not dare to look him in the eye! "Father, I''m back."Zane took a deep breath and said to Benson. Benson was currently reading a book and nodded slightly without speaking. The study fell into a profound silence. Zane kept his head down, still thinking about how to take revenge on Mark and Sam in theing days. After a long time, Benson slowly set down the book he was holding and carefully ced it back in its ce before speaking to Zane. "Still thinking about it? They''re just twomoners, they don''t mean anything." Zane kept his head down, looking at his father''s shadow under the light, and replied sullenly, "I still feel a bit unwilling, I can''t take action against Charles, but I can''t even kill twomoners?" "Waste, when will you learn to think long-term? Charles is signing up for the Reaper''s Scythe, death is surely waiting for him!" Benson said, somewhat displeased. The current situation was clear, Ezra had encountered an ident and was unlikely to return. Even if Charles had a master-level alchemist as a teacher, it wouldn''t change anything. In the underground octagonal cage, once a life-and-death agreement was signed, life or death depended entirely on strength! "What if, what if Charles manages to survive?" Zane gritted his teeth and said. Perhaps due to having suffered losses at Charles''s hands multiple times, he was now very worried about this possibility. "It won''t happen, everything has been arranged. We are just waiting for Charles to sign up for the Reaper''s Scythe."Benson said as he took out a bottle of red miracle drug. He slowly raised the bottle of miracle drug under the light of the study. In the illumination, the red miracle drug emitted an alluring glow, seemingly beckoning him to drink it. ... Early the next morning, a student passing by the training tower nced up at therge screen outside and instantly stopped in his tracks, rubbing his eyes. "Am I still dreaming? Charles''s results weren''t like this yesterday! How did he break three records overnight!" the student eximed in disbelief, standing frozen in ce. Many others noticed something unusual and looked up at the big screen. On the leaderboard for level four Beast Masters in the training tower, Charles''s name appeared as the first ce in the first, second, and third tiers. Moreover, the times for each tier had shattered the records of Cyber Academy! This news quickly spread throughout Cyber Academy, with students discussing it animatedly: "Is this for real? Did I sleep for several days? Did this result juste outst night?" "Someone saw Charlesst night. He seemed to have entered the training tower around eight o''clock." "The training tower closes at ten, which means that in just over an hour, Charles broke three records! He''s now first ce in the first, second, and third tiers!" "Unbelievable! I can''t think of any other words to describe Charles right now, those people who were cursing him online shoulde and see." "It''s useless, even if you show them, they won''t believe it. Those people have already been misled." "True, even after the live stream yesterday, many still refuse to believe it and continue to nder Charles online. I just want to go and beat them up!" As time passed, more and more people gathered in front of the training tower, waiting for Charles''s arrival. Soon, Charles''s figure appeared in front of the training tower, just like usual. The students who were watching became incredibly excited when they saw Charles arrive again, as if the records for the first to third tiers had been broken by them. Chapter 245 Ethans Shock! An older teacher from Cyber Academy passed by the training tower and looked at the gathered students, unable to contain his admiration. "Charles is truly remarkable. The recent performance of these students has clearly improved a lot, it seems they have been influenced by Charles." As a school that only epts talented Beast Masters, Cyber Academy hadn''t seen such a phenomenon in a long time. A person who can inspire all the students to train will undoubtedly achieve great things in the future. As a teacher at Cyber Academy, he watched Charles''s figure with eyes full of appreciation. "Those idiots online keep spouting nonsense. Can they really nder a genius like Charles? Damn the Taylor family!" The teacher couldn''t hold back and shouted out loud. Charles, of course, was unaware of this. He patted his face, found his focus, and slowly walked into the training tower. He hadn''t had a proper rest for several days, spending all his time in the training tower, trying to finish his self-createdbat techniques as quickly as possible. At this rate, he should be able to attempt the fourth tier of the training tower the day after tomorrow, or even the fifth tier. He was searching for that feeling of life-and-deathbat, seeking toplete his self-createdbat techniques amidst life and death! Last night was Finn''s second fight. Charles didn''t go to watch it live. When he got up this morning, he briefly browsed the information online. He discovered that the ace fourth-tier Beast Master in the underground octagonal cagest night wasn''t very strong. Finn didn''t use any newbat techniques and wasn''t injured, he won the battle outright. More and more people began to believe in Finn, thinking he could sessfullyplete the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge. Now, most people have started to ce bets on Finn''s victory. Charles had a hunch, if that one-armed boy was also the ace fourth-tier Beast Master in the underground octagonal cage, he should be stepping up soon. It was obvious that once all the spectators bet on Finn''s victory, the underground world would send that one-armed boy to face him. In that case, Finn would likely not be his match. If that happened, it would just be one battle, and the underground world could rake in a fortune! If Charles faced that one-armed boy right now, he would probably be in for a tough fight! "Let''s try the higher tiers of the training tower the day after tomorrow. If I can''tplete my self-createdbat techniques, I''ll have to find opportunities in the underground octagonal cage."Charles thought to himself. He took a few deep breaths, slowly exhaling, trying hard to calm his mindset and began toprehend the figures on the stone wall. It wasn''t until dinner time that Charles finally walked out of the training tower, his steps a bit unsteady, as if he were walking on cottonthis was due to mental fatigue. Some students passed by, secretly watching Charles, and spoke to theirpanions around them. "How many days has it been? It seems like no one has ever stayed in the training tower for so many consecutive days like Charles." "Don''t just seem like it, it''s really true. Normally, people need to rest for several days after entering the training tower, but Charles? He''s practically not human!" "By the way, does anyone know how Charles is doing with hisbat techniques? I feel like he must have grasped at least three or four by now." "He should have four or five. With Charles''s talent, it can''t becking!" "Four or five is an understatement. After all, the time is too short. Charles has only been in the training tower for a little while, and grasping four or fivebat techniques in such a short time is already incredible!" Charles stood in front of the training tower for a moment, and he naturally heard the discussions around him. Four or fivebat techniques? That was underestimating him, he had alreadyprehended 28 figures! There were hardly any figures left on the stone wall, only two remained to beprehended. If he had time tonight, he would be almost done. The remaining task was to improve his progress steadily, trying to maintain a consistent pace to facilitate futureprehension. After resting for a while, Charles stepped out to the training area and ran into Teacher Ethan. "Charles, after dinner, we''ll head to the same training room asst time. I''ll help you train properly again."Ethan said. The main reason Ethan came to find Charles was to check on his progress and see if his strength had improved. This morning, Ethan had also noticed the updates on the leaderboard outside the training tower, which suggested that Charles had made some gains. Perhaps he had alreadyprehended 15 figures,st time he inquired, he had already grasped 11 figures. Now that a few days had passed, at Charles''s speed, he should be close to it. Fifteen figures were the minimum requirement for creating his ownbat techniques. At Cyber Academy, as long as students could reach this number, they had a chance toplete their self-createdbat techniques. Even if he couldn''t do it right now, it was still possible once his Beast Master level increased! Ethan thought to himself that if Charles sessfullyprehended 15 figures, giving him another half month might just allow him toplete his self-createdbat techniques. At that time, participating in the underground world''s "Reaper''s Scythe" would surely lead to sess! In the underground octagonal cage, without summoning mystical beasts or using equipment and skills, a Beast Master with self-createdbat techniques would be an invincible presence! "Alright, Teacher, but I still need to go back into the training tower tonight. Can we speed up the training a bit?" Charles replied. After discussing the timing with Ethan, he headed straight to the academy''s cafeteria. He ordered arge table full of food and summoned Little Gold, Mia, Mousie, and Max. These past few days, Charles had been busyprehendingbat techniques, and he hadn''t summoned any mystical beasts in the training tower, only spending time with Max and the others during meals. Noticing Charles''s fatigue, Mia was unusually quiet today, eating her food carefully. It''s worth noting that in the past, Mia''s eating sounds were the loudest. As for Little Gold, there aren''t many feathers left. If I don''t want to dy Little Gold''s growth, I need to hurry and find suitable metal materials. Also, regarding the advancement of these mystical beasts, Little Gold is growing quickly, and it won''t be long before it needs to advance. At that time, preparing various materials will require time, effort, and money. "No wonder they say that as you progress, the increase in a Beast Master''s strength bes slower. A seventh-tier Beast Master with seven mystical beasts spends a lot of time and energy just raising them." Charles sighed, starting to gradually realize how difficult it is to be a powerful Beast Master. Hurrying to finish dinner, Charles directly used the Darkness Cloak to reach the training room fromst time. He and Ethan didn''t engage in much conversation and immediately began their practical training. This time, Charles''s performance was even stronger than before, seemingly because he hadprehended manybat techniques. When faced with Teacher Ethan''s attacks, Charles could instantly think of various countermeasures, and the various forms ofbat techniques made him feel much more at ease. During the practical training, Ethan''s shock grew stronger. In just a few days, Charles''s strength had increased to the point where he felt some pressure. It''s important to note that although he had limited his strength, he was still a seventh-tier Beast Master. Hisbat experience and instinctive reaction speed were significantly better than an average fifth-tier Beast Master! Even so, during their fight, Ethan felt it was somewhat taxing. There were even a few times when, facing his attacks, Charles''s counters were perfectly timed, causing him to suffer quite a bit. "Charles, I have to admit, you''re already very strong now. You''ve surprised me."Ethan couldn''t help but express his admiration, unable to contain his astonishment. His desire to take Charles as his disciple had slightly weakened. With such a genius, he wasn''t confident he could provide perfect teaching at this point. Read new chapters at m_v-l''e|-NovelBin "Next, I will usebat techniques. Charles, I want you to feel how battles between Beast Masters usingbat techniques are like."Ethan said in a deep voice. The two quickly began to spar again. It wasn''t until eight o''clock in the evening that Teacher Ethan''s practical training finally came to an end. After resting for a while, Charles headed back to the training tower, aiming toprehend all the figures on the stone wall tonight! Meanwhile, as Ethan left the training room, he stopped in his tracks, pped his forehead, and shouted: "Oh no! I was so amazed by Charles''s progress that I forgot to ask him how many figures heprehended. But judging by his performance, he must have reached fifteen!" "What a genius! I only had ten back then, there''s indeed a huge gap between people." "I''ll ask him properly tomorrow." Ethan dismissed the thought of inquiring right now and returned to his dormitory to continue his training as a Beast Master. On the other side, In the underground octagonal cage, Finn looked at the fourth-tier Beast Master lying on the ground and felt a slight sense of relief, he hadn''t been injured today. This oue was exactly what he wanted, he maintained good form and defeated seven fourth-tier Beast Masters, sessfully challenging the "Reaper''s Scythe"! The audience below was going wild, cheering frantically, they had made quite a bit of money today. Some regretted, saying, "Damn it, if I had known, I would have sold my house and bet everything on Finn''s victory!" "No way, don''t be so impulsive, Finn could lose in the next match." "Lose? Don''t be ridiculous, he''s definitely going to win. Finn is still in great shape, I have faith in him!" Finn nced at the frenzied crowd, his face betraying no emotion as he slowly walked out of the octagonal cage. Shannon hurried over to him. At that moment, Finn seemed to sense something and turned to look at the corner. There, the one-armed boy from earlier wore a cold expression, but there was a hint of eagerness in his demeanor. He extended his left hand and made a fist towards Finn in the air. Finn''s expression turned serious and heavy, he had a premonition. The battle between him and the one-armed boy was about to begin. Chapter 246 Preparing to Register Soon, two days passed. At noon, Charles left the training tower, marking the first time he hade out at this hour in days. He had tried both the fourth and fifth levels of the training tower. He was looking for that feeling of life-and-death crisis, wanting to engage in a true battle for survival, but the results were disappointing. Inside the training tower, he always felt like something was missing, perhaps it was the subconscious knowledge that even if he lost a battle, he wouldn''t truly die. Charles found himself unable to merge and create thebat techniques he hadprehended, he simply couldn''t do it. "It seems I still need to find a real life-and-death battle. I''ll have to give the underground octagonal cage a try."Charles sighed. If possible, it would be better toplete the creation of his ownbat techniques in the training tower. Unfortunately, reality doesn''t always meet our expectations, and life can''t be smooth sailing all the time. Such things only left Charles a bit disappointed, but his mindset remained very positive. As Charles walked towards the principal''s office, he contemted Finn''s situation. Today marked the fifth day of Finn''s challenge against the "Reaper''s Scythe." He had performed exceptionally well in the first four battles, leading more and more people to believe that Finn would surely seed in his challenge. Even the tickets for the underground matches had begun to rise in price. I just wonder if that one-armed boy will make a move, if he does, it should be within the next couple of days. Charles was contemting this in his mind. He nned to speak with Principal Jamie and Teacher Coltonter about going to watch Finn''s fight in the evening, and to register for the "Reaper''s Scythe." Soon, Charles arrived at the principal''s office. Coincidentally, Teacher Hale was also there, seemingly in a discussion with Jamie about something. When Charles walked in, the two stopped talking, but Hale''s expression looked somewhat grim, as if he was worried about something. Upon seeing Charles, he forced a stiff smile and said, "Why aren''t you in the training tower? You can''t keep up high-intensity training all the time, it''s good to take a proper rest." Charles looked at Hale with curiosity. He didn''t answer the question and instead asked, "Teacher Hale, is something wrong?" Hale shot a straight-faced nce at Jamie and chose to remain silent. He was unsure whether he should tell Charles. If it affected Charles''s training state and dyed his progress, that wouldn''t be good. Charles turned to Jamie, waiting for his response. Jamie sighed and slowly said, "The thing is, we''ve received news from the headquarters, they haven''t been able to contact Ezra either." The office fell silent instantly. Concern began to creep into Charles''s mind, he had already spected about all of this. "Principal, it seems that the Taylor family is not so simple, they have issues, and Ezra''s situation might be rted to them."Charles immediately stated. This was a logical deduction, based on the Taylor family''s actions, they must have been aware of the problems with Ezra long ago. Only then would they dare to target him so maliciously, otherwise, once Ezra returned, the Taylor family would face the wrath of a divine beast! "I know. The investigation into the Taylor family is ongoing. Recently, there have also been some other movements from Genosha Calivia. It seems..." Jamie only said half of his sentence, as the rest was not suitable to share with Charles. He didn''t want Charles to be preupied with thoughts of Ezra, so he chose to change the subject and asked, "Charles, is there something you need today?" Charles remembered the reason he came to see Jamie and replied, "Well, Principal, I want to register for the Reaper''s Scythe challenge tonight." "What! Tonight?" "Charles, is something wrong? Don''t act impulsively!" Jamie seemed to have heard some unbelievable news, as he stood up, eyes wide open, staring at Charles. Hale''s reaction was simr, he instinctively thought that Charles had encountered some problem and was acting on impulse to register for the Reaper''s Scythe today. Charles looked at their reactions and scratched his head, exining, "I think it''s about time, I''m ready to take on the challenge." "The timing seems off, Charles. You really should think this through, maybe wait a bit longer."Jamie quickly responded. It had only been a few days, Jamie felt that it might be the result of recent intense training that made Charles feel this way. "I have fullyprehended the figures on the stone wall, and my progress inbat techniques has reached its limit. What Ick now is a real battle."Charles said. Jamie instinctively replied, "It''s only been a short while, you''veprehended... wait, what did you just say?" "You fullyprehended the figures on the stone wall?" Faced with Jamie''s stunned expression, Charles simply nodded. He had seen thirty figures on the stone wall in the training tower, and he hadpleted theprehension of all of them. Moreover, his understanding ofbat techniques had reached 99%. It was indeed time to register for the Reaper''s Scythe challenge! "Charles, are you saying you''veprehended all thirty figures, or just the fifteen you saw?" Jamie asked cautiously. These two concepts were not the same, if Charles hadprehended all thirty figures, he would be a genius among geniuses! However, there were a total of thirty figures on the wall, and no one had ever been able to see them all, let aloneprehend thempletely. After Jamie asked, he quickly realized that thetter was simply impossible. He hurriedly said, "Toprehend fifteen figures and manage the progress ofbat techniques so well, Charles, you truly amaze me!" Hale also understood the significance of this, Charles was a monster! However, what Charles said next once again plunged the two into silence. "I saw thirty figures on the stone wall, and I''veprehended all of them."Charles stated. He had nothing to hide at this point. Initially, he mentioned only fifteen figures just to stay low-key. But after being the center of attention for so long, Charles had gotten used to it and decided to just say it all outright. The office was incredibly quiet. Only the sound of their three heartbeats filled the air. Charles looked at Principal Jamie and Teacher Hale with confusion, if it weren''t for the sound of their heartbeats, He might have almost thought that the two had turned into statues! "Thirty figures, my goodness! Charles, you are a monster among monsters!" Jamie gulped. After saying this, he quickly picked up the tea on the table, disregarding the heat, and took a big gulp, as if that was the only way to ease the shock he felt inside. Charles wouldn''t joke about something like this. Even though Jamie was aware of Charles''s personality, he felt a bit uncertain because this matter was truly beyond what he could ept! Jamie had never personally seen how many figures were on the stone wall in the Genosha Cyber Academy''s training tower, he only knew from headquarters that there were a total of thirty, representing thirty differentbat techniques. For any student, being able to see five or six figures and fullyprehend them to transform intobat techniques was already impressive. Reaching a count of fifteen would give a chance to create one''s ownbat techniques. He never expected that Charles would directly arrive at thirty! What kind of concept was that! If he could create his ownbat techniques, Charles''s techniques would surely be among the top tier,bining thirty differentbat techniques into one unique style. Jamie had never seen anything like it! After a long discussion, Principal Jamie ultimately agreed with Charles''s decision. The only thought in his mind was that no matter what, he couldn''t let Charles die in the octagonal cage. In every battle Charles faced in the "Reaper''s Scythe."he would be there, ready to support him. If Charles encountered any life-threatening danger, as an eighth-level Beast Master, Jamie would not hesitate to intervene. Even if it meant breaking the underground world''s rules and upsetting the Dawn organization, he didn''t care! Charles was the hope of the Genosha branch of the Cyber Academy! He was also Jamie''s hope, the hope of returning to the main academy! After leaving the principal''s office, Charles went to see Teacher Colton and briefly exined the current situation. Teacher Colton hesitated for a long time but eventually agreed with Charles''s choice. He cared deeply about Charles but believed that one couldn''t grow quickly without facing challenges. The next steps were straightforward. In the evening, they would go to the underground world to register for thepetition. With the whole afternoon ahead of him, Charles thought he should take a short rest, he was exhausted from recent training. A little rest would help him recover to peak condition and prepare for the battle tomorrow. After having lunch, he returned to his dormitory. Charlesy on his bed, unable to fall asleep for a long time. In his heart, he kept thinking about Teacher Ezra. But right now, he didn''t have the strength to participate, all he could do was wait, wait for good news to arrive. ... That night, in the underground world of Genosha Calivia. The massive underground space was already packed with people. The recent battles had turned the octagonal cage into the focus of attention for everyone in Genosha. Charles brought Celestine to a spot near the "Graveyard" octagonal cage and sat down. He looked around, trying to find out who Finn''s opponent was today. Unfortunately, it wasn''t time for the fight to begin yet, and neither side had appeared. The fervent spectators weren''t concerned about Finn''s opponent, they simply rushed to the staff, pulling out wads of cash to bet on Finn''s victory. Watching this scene, Charles thought to himself that if that one-armed boy showed up, those gamblers would probably lose everything! At that moment, Finn slowly walked out of the tunnel, prompting a wave of loud cheers. On the other side, a boy without a right arm entered the octagonal cage amidst the audience''s boos. Chapter 247 The Battle Begins To the audience, it seemed unreasonable for the underground world to arrange for a one-armed Beast Master to fight Finn. As a result, many people in the stands shouted out loud: "Who is this person? Is he also a top-tier Level Four Beast Master?" "Can''t they find anyone else to fight Finn? Aren''t there plenty of top-tier ones avable?" "How ridiculous! A crippled person can actually enter the octagonal cage to fight?" In response to the audience''s doubts, the bald man in charge of hosting didn''t care. He held the microphone in his hand and began to introduce the fighter. "Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to introduce this remarkable individual, the top-tier Level Four Beast Master from the Haunted Marsh! Icy!" As soon as the words "the Haunted Marsh" were spoken, the entire underground space fell silent. The spectators who had been shouting and questioning just moments ago now lowered their heads, afraid of being noticed. Genosha is a small nation within the Abyssal Depths, and the Abyssal Depths is a rtively remote and underdeveloped area in the Ethereal Grove. Faced with the one-armed youth from the Haunted Marsh, no one dared to speak loudly again, they merely murmured quietly among themselves: "The Haunted Marsh, I''ve only heard of that ce, but I''ve never been there." "No wonder! So he''s the top-tier Level Four Beast Master from the Haunted Marsh. It seems Finn is in danger today." "That''s a bit harsh, though. Even if he''s from the Haunted Marsh, he''s missing an arm. He shouldn''t be a match for Finn." "Exactly! I''ve spent my entire sry from the past few months betting on Finn to win!" "The underground world is not to be underestimated. Someone from the Haunted Marsh must be quite strong." "They must be extraordinary. There are simr ces throughout the Ethereal Grove, and the forces behind them are not simple at all." Charles sat in the front row, ignoring the murmurs behind him. He was quite curious about the Haunted Marsh, after all, the headquarters of Cyber Academy was located there, and Beast Masters from the Haunted Marsh were even stronger, with more geniuses among them! He just wondered if this Icy, who gave him an extreme sense of danger, was truly a genius in the Haunted Marsh. The world of Beast Masters was farrger than one could imagine. For ordinary people, Genosha was already big enough, some might spend their entire lives without leaving Genosha. However, for Beast Masters like Charles, Genosha was too small, and the Abyssal Depths wasn''t muchrger either. The entire Ethereal Grove was the real stage! Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Icy stood quietly in the octagonal cage, his expression neutral, but his eyes sparkled with eager excitement. Opposite him, Finn adjusted his breathing. He genuinely hadn''t expected this one-armed youth named Icy to make a move today. But it was a good thing, if he could defeat Icy, the subsequent challenges would be much simpler. With that thought, Finn tensed his muscles and then slowly rxed them, aiming to fully unleash his strength in the uing match. "Finn, right? I''ve watched your fights, and they are quite interesting."Icy said. His voice was not loud, yet it was very clear, carrying a chill like a winter storm. "I hope you can bring your full strength in this fight. I haven''t had a good battle in a long time, so don''t disappoint me."Icy continued. Since leaving the Haunted Marsh for the Abyssal Depths, he hadn''t encountered a Level Four Beast Master that made him want to fight. He never expected to find two individuals in this small Genosha who piqued his interest. One was Finn in front of him, and the other was Charles sitting in the audience. However,pared to Charles, Icy was more eager to fight Finn. He had watched a few of Finn''s battles in the underground octagonal cage and could somewhat gauge his true strength. As for Charles, Icy was only slightly interested, his desire to fight Charles was not as strong. Finn nodded seriously and replied, "I will give it my all." This statement was genuine, facing an opponent like Icy, choosing to go all out was a form of respect. Moreover, he was eager to find out just how strong the top-tier Level Four Beast Master from the Haunted Marsh truly was. The battle was about to officially begin. The atmosphere in the octagonal cage grew heavier, and the spectators below fell silent, their eyes wide with anticipation for the uing fight! Neither Icy nor Finn made a move right away. At the moment the fight began, Finn instinctively aimed to attack Icy''s right side, knowing that it had to be a weakness due to his missing arm. But just as that thought crossed his mind and he was about to act, Finn noticed a smirk slowly rising at the corner of Icy''s mouth, filled with disdain. "Stop staring. If you don''t make a move soon, you won''t get the chance."Icy said. His words were incredibly arrogant, showing no regard for Finn at all. If it were an ordinary Beast Master, they would likely have lost theirposure and attacked by now. Finn was different, his mind was racing, constantly calcting how to attack in a way that would establish an advantage right from the start. "Maybe I should test him first and see what remarkable skills this Icy possesses."Finn thought to himself. In the next moment, his body exploded with astonishing speed, slicing through the air with a whoosh as heunched his attack. "Agility-basedbat techniques, not bad, but a bit slow."Icy remarked, unfazed by Finn''s speed. He was in no hurry, remaining rxed as if he were not fighting but simply taking a stroll. As he critiqued Finn, Icy casually extended his left hand, opening his palm toward the front. A simple action made Finn feel as if he were facing a formidable enemy! He realized that Icy had urately predicted his attack route. Unwilling to give up his assault, Finn gritted his teeth and directly usedbat techniques to change his attack posture and route. However, he never expected that with his change in posture, Icy was silently adjusting his own body as well. With each adjustment, Icy could anticipate Finn''s attack route! Some spectators were utterly confused, from their perspective, Finn was constantly moving around the octagonal cage, looking like he wanted to attack but never making a move. "What''s going on? What is Finn doing? Why hasn''t he attacked yet?" "That Icy is just standing there,pletely still. Does he have a problem with his brain?" Explore more at m,v l''e-NovelBin "I thought this fight would be exciting, but it''s turning out to be so boring." Only a small number of Beast Masters could see the situation between Finn and Icy clearly. Charles understood it thoroughly, he knew that the current situation was due to Icy''s vastbat experience and remarkable observational skills. "Charles, how is Icy able to urately judge Finn''s attacks?" Celestine, as a Level Four Beast Master, could sense something was off. She was filled with confusion, Finn''sbat techniques could seamlessly change attack routes, which should be difficult to predict. Yet it seemed Icy could foresee information, as each of his body adjustments was remarkably perfect! Charles thought for a moment before replying, "I''m not entirely sure, but it must be based on Finn''s gaze, muscle tension, posture, and so onan overall judgment." "Gaze? Muscle?" Celestine''s mouth dropped open, clearly unable toprehend. Charles didn''t borate further, it was just a guess, and there might be other possibilities. Finn''s situation was not looking good, having his attack intentions seen through right from the start was not a good omen. With no other options, Finn gritted his teeth and chose to confront Icy head-on in a direct battle! "Bang!" Finn''s fist mmed hard against Icy''s left arm, producing a dull thud. His reaction was swift, he was well aware that Icy was missing his right arm, while he still had one to attack with! In the moment their bodies collided, Finn wasted no time andunched a second attack! But just then, it felt as if he had been struck by a speeding truck, and he was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground! "What? What just happened?" Shannon, who had been closely watching the fight, clenched the towel in her hand, her expression frozen. Didn''t Finn just seize the opportunity tounch a second attack? How could he be sent flying like that? Many spectators were baffled, although they didn''t understand exactly what had happened, that didn''t stop them from shouting insults! "Damn it, Finn, can you even do this? If not, just give up! I bet on you to win!" "Get up quickly! Don''t just lie there ying dead!" "For crying out loud, keep fighting! You can''t defeat an enemy with only one arm?" These shouts came from spectators who had bet on Finn''s victory, naturally, they didn''t want to see him fail! Meanwhile, Celestine rubbed her eyes, She hadn''t clearly seen what had just happened, one moment she blinked, and the next, Finn was flying through the air. Celestine turned her head, about to ask Charles, only to find that Charles looked very serious and focused. He said, "It was a second burst of power! Icy''s initial defense wasn''t used to its full potential. Once he sensed Finn''s attack, he immediately executed a second burst of power!" "A second burst of power?" Celestine was puzzled, she had never heard of such a thing. Charles''s gaze remained fixed on Icy. A second burst of power was a practicalbat technique, and few people knew how to perform it. What truly surprised him was Icy''s strength, which should beparable to his own. Chapter 248 I Don’t Want to Give Up It''s important to note that Charles''s strength is extremely formidable, he has been training in Overlord Heavy Armor. Most ordinary Level Five Beast Masters don''t possess strength as powerful as his. The Icy before him, with only one arm, is still nearly as strong as him. Indeed, the genius from the Haunted Marsh is quite impressive, he shouldn''t be underestimated! Finn isn''t so easily defeated either, he slowly rises from the ground. At this moment, Icy chose not to press the attack, but instead remained where he was and spoke with some disappointment: "I told you to give it your all and stop holding back. If you can defeat me, you will sessfully challenge Reaper''s Scythe." If any other Ace Level Four Beast Master had said such a thing, Finn would surely not believe it. But after his encounter with Icy, he was well aware that Icy''s words were genuine! With that thought, Finn slowly clenched his right hand into a fist and then gradually rxed it, thatst blow had left his arm slightly trembling. Now, he had to bring out all his strength, he couldn''t afford to probe again! Before long, Finn began to undergo a transformation. His heart raced, his blood flowed faster, and his skin turned a fiery red, as if it were moltenva. "Now that''s more like it, this is interesting."Icy said, his eyes lighting up. Finn didn''t respond, instead, heunched another attack. This time, his speed was faster and more ferocious than before! His fists, elbows, and knees all became Finn''s weapons, and at that moment, he resembled a red tornado, encircling Icy tightly! The sound of metal shing echoed in the octagonal cage. This was due to the incredible physical prowess of both fighters, making their shes sound like iron striking iron. Faced with Finn''s relentless assault, Icy began to take things a bit more seriously. His left arm acted like a shield, blocking all iing attacks around him. Icy, with just one arm, demonstrated perfect defense, making it hard to believe. The audience stared wide-eyed, dumbfounded, and eximed: "Does this guy really only have one arm? Why does it look like he has multiple arms?" "That''s because his speed is so fast that he creates afterimages. Damn, this guy is incredibly strong!" "And have you noticed? It seems he hasn''t attacked proactively at all, he''s just been waiting for Finn to make a move." Finn gritted his teeth, his body was starting to ache. This temporary enhancement of physical prowess was called "Boiling." It was abat technique that utilized the heart to elerate blood cirction and enhance muscle strength, but it came with significant side effects. If he couldn''t end the battle quickly, only defeat awaited him. Yet, his attacks were failing to inflict any effective damage on Icy, despite having only one arm, Icy was blocking all his assaults. This couldn''t continue! Finn didn''t want to fail here, he wanted to sessfully challenge "Reaper''s Scythe." Only then could he have a chance to connect with the Dawn organization. Only then could he enhance his strength in a short time and have hope for revenge! In the next moment, Finn stopped his attack and created distance between himself and Icy. His eyes were filled with blood, resembling a red gemstone, while the skin on his body began to slowly turn ck. This was the specialbat technique called "Burning"! It was stronger than "Boiling."but the side effects were also greater! This bizarre scene instantly captivated the audience in the underground world, who stared intently at the octagonal cage, not wanting to miss a single detail. Combat techniques like this were a rare opportunity for ordinary Beast Masters. Even the geniuses from Cyber Academy, after enduring long trials in the testing tower, could onlyprehend two or threebat techniques. But Finn possessed a total of tenbat techniques! At this moment, he was all in, unleashing variousbat techniques to attack Icy. Icy put away the disdain in his gaze and began to take things seriously. In an instant, the aura surrounding Icy transformed, he was no longer like an iceberg, but rather akin to a weapon that had imed countless lives, cold and filled with danger. Icy slowly spoke, "Your quantity ofbat techniques is impressive, but they are not powerful. Let me show you what truly powerfulbat techniques look like!" "Self-createdbat technique: Asura!" As he shouted the words "Asura."Icy charged forward without hesitation. He was going on the offensive now. At this point, Finn showed no fear, this was his full strength, and he would soon know whether it was a win or a loss. Neither of them chose to defend, they attacked each other with reckless abandon. Blood fell to the ground like rain, it was the blood seeping from Finn''s body, as well as blood drawn by Icy''s sharp physique. The atmosphere in the underground world reached its peak, with countless spectators shouting and cursing. They hoped Finn could ovee all his enemies so they could win gold coins! But the result was that Finny on the ground, oblivious to life or death. Blood flowed out, resembling a red carpet. Shannon frantically shook the iron door of the octagonal cage, shouting, "Enough, enough! We concede! The match is over!" ... Beside the octagonal cage, medical personnel began urgent treatment for Finn, while staff members raised transparent shields to block the trash thrown by the audience. "Doctor, how is he?" Shannon asked anxiously, with Charles beside him, feeling heavy-hearted. He never expected Icy to possess the self-createdbat technique "Asura!" It nearly killed Finn! Fortunately, the medical personnel''s response relieved both of them. "He''s not in immediate danger."the doctor said after examining him. Shannon felt weak all over, nearly copsing to the ground, but Charles was there to support him. Looking at Finn, unconscious and covered in blood, Shannon kept repeating, "That''s good, that''s good." Then, as if realizing something, he turned to Charles. "What''s wrong?" Charles asked, somewhat puzzled. Shannon replied, "Charles, do you really want to sign up for Reaper''s Scythe? That Icy is too terrifying, even Finn isn''t his match." Upon hearing this, Charles felt a warmth in his heart. Shannon was a good guy, even at this moment, he remembered to check on him. But Charles was determined to proceed with the challenge, he had no intention of giving up. After watching Finn''s battle with Icy, he had formed a rough assessment of Icy''s strength. After signing up for the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge, Charles would undoubtedly encounter Icy. There wasn''t a trace of fear in Charles''s heart, instead, he was filled with excitement. The battle between him and Icy was precisely the life-and-death fight he had always anticipated! Only in such battles could he create his ownbat techniques. After witnessing Icy''s "Asura."Charles was eager to showcase his own self-createdbat techniques! Celestine looked somewhat dazed, if Charles signed up for "Reaper''s Scythe." didn''t that mean he would definitely face Icy in battle? Finn, lying on the stretcher, was carried away by the medical personnel. Celestine first nced at the unconscious Finn, then turned to stare at Charles, her eyes filled with worry. "Charles, are you really going to sign up? Finn is already in this state, I''m worried about you..." Celestine said. Charles maintained a calm expression on his face. He patted Celestine''s shoulder and replied, "It''s fine. Trust me, it should be okay." Just then, Charles''s phone rang, someone was calling him. Upon closer inspection, it was none other than Professor Colton. "Charles, I watched the live stream. Let''s give up."Colton''s voice came through. He had been keeping an eye on the battles in the underground octagonal cage, and after seeing Finn''s tragic condition, he called Charles right away to persuade him to back out. Colton cared more about Charles''s safety than the rare alchemy materials. If Icy had malicious intent and struck a bit harder, Finn wouldn''t have even had a chance to be carried off on a stretcher, he would have already died in the octagonal cage! "Professor, I don''t want to give up. I think I can handle it."Charles said slowly. On the other end of the line, Colton fell silent. After a moment, he replied, "Be careful. If it bes too much, you can concede." After hanging up, numerous messages flooded Charles''s phone, from Hale, Zachary, Cami, and others. Even Raj and David from Lsengard sent messages. Explore more at m,v l''e-NovelBin The gist of their messages was simr, they were all worried that Charles''s participation in the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge would lead to unforeseen consequences. Charles nced at the messages on his phone but didn''t respond. It was simply impossible for him to back down. Now it was not just about Professor Colton''s alchemy materials, the Dawn organization likely had information regarding the missing children. Moreover, he needed life-and-death battles to create his ownbat techniques! Charles didn''t want to retreat, he aspired to be a top Beast Master, and without facing some dangers and challenges, that was utterly impossible! At that moment, a familiar voice echoed behind Charles. "Charles, you''re not afraid after seeing Finn''s condition, are you?" Zane approached. He raised his phone, shook it a little, and eximed, "You said you were going to sign up for Reaper''s Scythe! You''re not thinking of backing out now, are you?" "Charles''s decision to participate or not is none of your business!" Celestine immediately retorted. To her, Charles''s safety was extremely important, she didn''t want anything to happen to him. Chapter 249 I Hope You’ll Surprise Me Zanepletely ignored Celestine''s words, pretending he hadn''t heard her, and continued speaking to Charles. "A real man keeps his word, you can''t just act like you never said anything!" Right now, Zane had only one thought in mind: he wanted Charles to sign up for the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge! After witnessing Finn''s fate, Zane felt quite pleased. Because as long as Charles also signed up, his oue would surely be the same! Even if the ace Level 4 Beast Master arranged by the Taylor family failed, Icy would still make Charles understand what death feels like! Moreover, at that time, Zane nned to see if he could strike a deal with Icy, getting Icy to be a bit harsher and kill Charles in the octagonal cage! Right now, Zane was only worried about one thing: what if Charles got scared and chose to back down? If that happened, he wouldn''t have any way to proceed and would never find such a good opportunity again. That''s why he thought toe over to Charles and provoke him with words, hoping to push him to sign up for the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge. Charles was well aware of Zane''s intentions, he didn''t even acknowledge him and turned to Celestine instead. "Don''t worry, I''ll be fine. Trust me." Hearing the same words as before, Celestine stared intently into Charles''s eyes and chose to believe him. Meanwhile, Zane nearlyughed out loud after hearing Charles''s words. He thought that his earlierments had driven Charles to lose his mind and decide to continue signing up for "Reaper''s Scythe." "It seems Charles isn''t so great after all, he''s been led around by me this whole time!" Zane thought to himself, and he couldn''t wait to see Charles die in the octagonal cage! At that time, he could also bet on Charles''s defeat and recover all the gold coins he had lost because of him! "Alright! Charles, I admire you for being a real man!" Zane said, suppressing his excitement. Charles and Celestine ignored him once again. Zane felt no embarrassment at all, he kept his eyes glued to Charles as he slowly walked into the octagonal cage. This scene piqued the audience''s curiosity. "What''s going on? Isn''t the fight already over? Is there going to be a second round?" "Are you out of your mind? This guy is Charles, he said he was going to sign up for Reaper''s Scythe!" "No way, after seeing Finn and Icy''s battle, Charles still dares to do this?" "I really don''t know whether to call him brave or just overly confident!" As the audience debated, Charles stepped into the octagonal cage. The blood on the ground hadn''t been cleaned up yet and was slowly congealing. The bald man held the microphone, looking quite surprised as he shouted, "It seems we have another brave warrior wanting to sign up for the Reaper''s Scythe challenge today!" "This warrior is known to everyone, he is hailed as a monster from Cyber Academy, Charles!" At this moment, the live broadcast was still ongoing. People from Genosha were in the chat room, watching that familiar figure in the octagonal cage, and hundreds of thousands of viewers began discussing it. Many people were not optimistic about Charles, Finn was so strong, and he was carried off on a stretcher, unconscious, after facing Icy, the ace Level 4 Beast Master. Charles had just be a Level 4 Beast Master, and his strength was definitely not on par with Finn''s. How could he dare to sign up for "Reaper''s Scythe" now? Wasn''t that just asking for death? However, there were also loyal fans of Charles, continuously supporting him. "He wouldn''t go looking for death, and neither would Charles! He has the strength!" "Exactly, Charles is a true genius, he must have some hidden cards up his sleeve!" "Just wait, I''m going to bet my entire six months'' sry on Charles''s victory!" At the same time, in the royal pce of Genosha, in Cami''s room, she was anxiously sitting on her bed, holding a tablet and watching the live stream. Next to her sat Rose, the Grand Princess of Genosha. Seeing her sister''s worried and tense expression, Rose spoke up, "What''s wrong? Are you that worried about Charles?" "Sis, do you think Charles will seed in the challenge?" Cami asked,pletely ignoring her sister''s joking tone. Her heart was filled with concern for Charles, eager to know if he could seed in the challenge. Rose recalled Icy''s battle and said, "It''s tough, but you don''t have to worry too much, if it reallyes down to it, he can surrender." "Surrender?" Cami looked at Charles standing in the octagonal cage. In her heart, she felt that Charles would never choose to surrender. Tonight, countless people were paying attention to this event. Countless eyes were fixed on Charles in the octagonal cage, where three gold-ranked Level 4 Beast Masters appeared before him. "The rules for signing up are well-known, you must defeat three gold-ranked Level 4 Beast Masters in a short time to proceed with the Reaper''s Scythe challenge!" the bald man announced to the audience. He pointed at Charles and then at the three gold-ranked Level 4 Beast Masters, shouting loudly, "The battle is about to begin, those who want to ce bets should act quickly!" While many spectators didn''t believe Charles couldplete the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge, they still thought he could defeat the three gold-ranked Level 4 Beast Masters. Soon, the battle began! With a piercing sound ringing out, the blood-soaked ground beneath Charles cracked suddenly, and his figure shot forward like a cannonball, charging straight at the three gold-ranked Level 4 Beast Masters. This move instantly sparked cheers from the crowd. Perhaps it was because they had seen Finn''s cautious fighting style that the audience particrly enjoyed Charles''s straightforward and aggressive approach. Zane looked at the cheering crowd around him, wearing a disdainful expression on his face. He thought to himself that Charles was only doing this to attract attention, defeating three gold-ranked Level 4 Beast Masters would not be that easy! However, in the next moment, the attacking Charles faced the first reacting gold-ranked Beast Master. He mmed a punch directly into the opponent''s blocking arm and then, without even looking back, turned to confront another gold-ranked Level 4 Beast Master. As expected, the gold-ranked Beast Master who took the punch from Charles staggered back, his arms trembling, trying to make a move but unable to lift his arms at all! "Be careful, his strength is terrifying! Don''t take it head-on!" the injured gold-ranked Beast Master shouted loudly. He wanted to warn his teammates about Charles''s frightening power, but the other two Level 4 Beast Masters didn''t have time to react, Charles''s threat was not just his strengthhe had speed too! Facing the onught from the two remaining gold-ranked Beast Masters, Charles showed no signs of concern. He had gone through countless simr scenarios in the training tower, defeating just three Level 4 Beast Masters was nothing, especially since he hadn''t even summoned his mystical beast yet. It was almost too easy. Every evasive maneuver was executed perfectly, precisely timed. All of the attacks from the two gold-ranked Level 4 Beast Masters struck nothing but air, failing to touch Charles at all. In their eyes, Charles seemed like a phantomvisible, yet untouchable! They werepletely unable to inflict any effective damage on Charles! The gold-ranked Beast Master who had initially been injured joined the fight, but all he could do now was to slightly restrain Charles to create opportunities for his teammates. Yet Charles paid him no mind at all, facing the attacks from all three of them. No longer choosing to evade, heunched a forceful attack! A gold-ranked Level 4 Beast Master struck toward Charles''s face, and Charles countered with a punch aimed directly at the man''s fist. The result was that the man''s arm shattered instantaneously, a segment of white bone breaking through the muscle and exposing itself on the surface of the skin! "Ahhhhhh!" The screams mixed with the cheers of the audience echoed throughout the underground arena. In the next ten seconds, Charles swiftly and decisively took down the remaining two gold-ranked Level 4 Beast Masters. In the octagonal cage, he stood alone in the center. The audience shouted, "Awesome! No wonder it''s Charles, I just made some money!" "This is the way a real man fights! Charles, even if you loseter, you''re still a true man!" "Defeating three gold-ranked without usingbat techniquesimpressive!" Zane slightly tempered his inner joy. He had anticipated that Charles could defeat three gold-ranked opponents, but he hadn''t expected it to happen so quickly, so cleanly! It seemed Charles''s strength was indeed formidable, but so what? Finn had also been strong at first, yet he was defeated by Icy and fell into aa. Charles wouldn''t be any different, and the Taylor family had other ns! Outside the octagonal cage, Icy, who hadn''t left yet, watched with interest as Charles slowly walked out of the cage. He had paid some attention to the previous fight and noticed that Charles''s strength was considerably greater than Finn''s, with both speed and power at a high level. However, since Charles hadn''t used anybat techniques, Icy couldn''t urately gauge just how strong he truly was. At this level, even if Charles possessed a simr number ofbat techniques as Finn, he still wouldn''t be a match for him, at most he could only hold on a little longer. "Master Icy, this Charles seems quite strong, I wonder if you''re interested?" the bald man inquired cautiously from the side. If Icy was interested, he could have his boss make some arrangements. However, it couldn''t be like today, where so many spectators lost their wallets, from now on, whenever Icy appeared, gamblers would undoubtedly bet on his victory without hesitation! "Let''s see, it seems Charles is stronger than Finn, but I wonder how manybat techniques he possesses. If it''s too few, I won''t be interested."Icy said nonchntly. That was exactly what he was thinking. Even if Charles had the same number ofbat techniques as Finn, he still wouldn''t be a match for him. Experience tales at m v|l e''-NovelBin After all, not everyone could create their ownbat techniques. What the Dawn organization needed wasn''t just a talented Beast Master, but a true monster! Completing the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge merely granted ess to the Dawn organization, while he was a formal member! "I hope you bring me some surprises."Icy said, looking at Charles. Chapter 250 Really? A battle against three gold-ranked Level 4 Beast Masters led many to believe that Charles''s strength should beparable to Finn''s, perhaps even slightly stronger. However, even so, not many believed that Charles could defeat the formidable Icy. A genius capable of creating his ownbat techniques is a true genius! Many Beast Masters were unaware of the intricacies involved in creating one''s ownbat techniques. Still, those with insight, who understood the relevant information, exined it online, allowing other Beast Masters to realize just how difficult it truly was. The entirework of Genosha was buzzing with discussions about Icy''s strength, the mysteries of the Haunted Marsh, and whether Charles''s participation in the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge was a reckless pursuit of death. Charles didn''t care at all about these discussions. After leaving the underground world, he went to the hospital to buy some fruit to visit Jace. To his surprise, he encountered Zachary, who was also there with a gift for Jace. Zachary was sitting beside the hospital bed, chatting happily with Jace. "Charles, you''re here? We all watched the live stream earlier, you were amazing!" Jace was already awake. Hey in bed, looking at Charles with admiration in his eyes. Zachary immediately stood up and stepped back, giving Charles his ce. Charles waved his hand dismissively and took a couple of steps closer to the bed, saying to Jace, "So, how are you feeling? Better?" "Much better, the doctor said a good two weeks of rest should be enough."Jace replied, his expression showing no signs of distress. Charles nodded, knowing full well that this two-week recovery period was actually a significant setback. Having just sessfully challenged his way into ss A, Jace might fall behind the other students and end up back in ss B because of this two-week break. Seeing Jace''s nonchnt expression, Charles didn''t know what to say. He thought to himself, maybe he could ask Teacher Colton for some targeted miracle drugster on. That way, he could help Jace recover sooner and not dy things too much. The three of them chatted for a while longer, and when it was about time, Charles and Zachary left the hospital room. In the corridor, Zachary nced at Charles and hesitantly asked: "Charles, do you feel confident about the uing battles? The inter-academypetition is starting soon, and if you get injured at this time..." He didn''t finish his sentence, but Charles understood the implication. If he were to get injured and it affected the inter-academypetition, he might miss out on the opportunity to enter the Genosha secret realm. At that point, while others were inside gaining strength, he would be stuck outside nursing his injuries. He might even miss thepetition between Genosha and Kingston altogether! Charles scratched his head and replied casually, "It''s fine, I still have some confidence. It shouldn''t be a big deal." Many people understood Charles''s strength and character, believing he wouldn''t do anything reckless. Even so, they still worried about him. This was inevitable, in the world of Beast Masters, idents are always unpredictable. Charles could only patiently exin that their concern for him was a good thing. "By the way, I want to check on Finn. Why don''t you head back first?" Charles said. Coincidentally, Finn was also in this hospital, and he still had some time to spare, so visiting him would be nice. "I won''t go then. I''ll head back first."Zachary nodded. He had no rtionship with Finn, so it would be a bit awkward to visit him out of the blue. Visiting Jace made sense since they were both in ss A, but visiting Finn would feel out of ce. Charles checked with Shannon on his phone, and soon he arrived at another ward on a different floor. Finn''s condition was much more serious than Jace''s. Although Finn was awake now, he couldn''t move at all and could only lie in bed, staring nkly at the white ceiling. The atmosphere in the room felt somewhat off. Charles looked into Finn''s eyes and noticed that he seemed to have lost all hope, his entire being resembling a lifeless body, devoid of any vitality. Even when he sensed Charles''s arrival. Finn showed no reaction, lyingpletely still in the hospital bed. "What''s wrong with him?" Charles frowned and asked Shannon, who was nearby. Shannon sighed, looking at Finn''s lifeless eyes without giving a direct answer. He stood up and gestured for Charles to step outside to talk. The two of them walked into the corridor, where the hospital was quiet, almostte at night. Shannon pulled a cigarette from his pocket, leaned against the wall, and lit it up. Next to him was a "No Smoking" sign. "What''s going on? Is there something wrong with Finn''s health?" Charles asked, puzzled. He could sense that Finn''s mental state was off, as if he had lost all hope and was sinking into despair. Taking a deep drag from his cigarette, Shannon exhaled slowly, watching the smoke dissipate under the hospital lights before finally speaking. "The doctor said he needs time to recover. Physically, there''s nothing wrong, it''s just that failing to challenge Reaper''s Scythe was a huge blow to him." Charles responded, "That shouldn''t be the case." "Actually, there''s a secret organization in the underground world that one can only ess after sessfully challenging Reaper''s Scythe."Shannon said, dropping his cigarette to the ground and extinguishing it. "Only by sessfully entering this organization does he have a real chance for revenge." Upon hearing this, Charles fell silent, realizing he hadn''t expected Finn to challenge Reaper''s Scythe in order to join the Constetion organization, and even more so, for revenge! Finn''s current condition required a long period of rest to fully recover, which meant he might miss the inter-academypetition. Missing out on the Genosha secret realm would be a lost opportunity for gaining strength, and he wouldn''t have ess to the Constetion organization. No wonder Finn seemed like everything had lost hope for him that night. Charles didn''t know what to say. He turned and went back into the hospital room for a while before returning to Cyber Academy. Life is full of coincidences and surprises. If it weren''t for Icy suddenlying from the Haunted Marsh to the Abyssal Depths of Genosha, Finn, with his strength, would have had a good chance ofpleting the Reaper''s Scythe challenge. That would not have affected his participation in the uing inter-academypetition. However, for Charles, Icy represented an opportunity. Only by fighting someone like him could he experience a true life-and-death battle. That would give him the chance to create his ownbat techniques and enhance his strength. Charles had many things he wanted to aplish. He wanted to find his parents, help Ezra, seek out Catherine, and investigate the missing children cases... There were many goals waiting for him, and only by bing stronger could he achieve them. In some ways, Finn''s situation was simr to his own, both needed to be powerful Beast Masters to realize their aspirations. Now, the opportunity to create his ownbat techniques and connect with the Constetion organizationy before him. Therefore, Charles had to sessfully challenge the Reaper''s Scythe! He needed to defeat that guy Icy! Taking a deep breath, Charlesy down in bed and slowly fell asleep. The next morning, Charles woke up at six-thirty, as usual. After a quick wash-up and breakfast, Explore more at m,v l''e-NovelBin he headed straight to the training room. There was no need to go to the Trial Tower anymore, unless hepleted his ownbat techniques and wanted to challenge the highest level to see the mysterious reward mentioned by Dean Jamie. But that was something to consider in the future. He took out his phone and asked if Teacher Ethan had time. After watching the battle between Finn and Icyst night, Charles had learned a lot. Especially the scenes of Icy''s fight, which reyed continuously in Charles''s mind. He carefully recalled every detail, trying to discover some of Icy''s habits and weaknesses. After waiting for a while, Teacher Ethan arrived at the training room. As soon as he walked in, he eagerly asked, "Charles, I heard from the dean that youprehended thirty shadows. Dean is really something, joking with me like that, I''m not stupid, I definitely won''t believe it." After saying that, Ethan nervously looked at Charles''s expression. Although he imed not to believe it, there was still a glimmer of hope in his heartwhat if it were true? Under Ethan''s gaze, Charles slowly nodded, confirming that what Dean Jamie said was true and not a joke. Ethan was momentarily stunned. Even though he had mentally prepared himself, he still found it hard to ept such news. He knew that Charles''s talent was far greater than that of other geniuses, but he never expected it to be this powerful! At Cyber Academy Genosha branch, no one had everprehended all the shadows on the stone wall before! "Wait a minute, let me catch my breath. Is this really true?" Ethan couldn''t help but ask again. Charles replied, somewhat helplessly, "Teacher Ethan, it''s true. I need a real life-and-death battle to finalize my ownbat techniques." Ethan took a few deep breaths. He began to understand why Charles insisted on signing up for the Reaper''s Scythe after witnessing the fight between Icy and Finn. Only Icy,ing from the Haunted Marsh, had the strength to push Charles to the brink. Among the other Level Four Beast Masters in Genosha, very few possessed such power, even Finn fell a bit short. "Thirty shadows, huh? I wonder how powerful your self-createdbat techniques will be."Ethan said instinctively. His heart was filled not only with shock but also with anticipation, eager to see just how powerful Charles''sbat techniques would be! Chapter 251 The First Battle The morning passed quickly. Ethan continuously provided Charles with practical training, focusing primarily on Icy''s demonstrated strength from yesterday. Particrly on his self-createdbat technique, Asura! Charles also discussed Icy''s Asurabat technique with Ethan. They didn''t know the specific principles behind it. Every self-createdbat technique is unique, tailor-made for the individual who created it. Other Beast Masters simply cannot replicate it. Through yesterday''s battle, Charles could clearly feel that when Icy used the Asurabat technique, he seemed to be a weapon. Every part of his body could be used to attack, turning him into a tool for eliminating his opponents. Moreover, in that state, Icy''s physical attributes were further enhanced, and his reflexes improved significantly. At the same time, he managed to maintain perfect rity of mind. In contrast, Finn also used his trump cardbat technique, but it seemed to affect his rationality. His eyes turned blood-red as he relentlessly attacked. If Charles faced Icy using the Asurabat technique, he would absolutely be plunged into extreme danger. If he couldn''tplete his self-createdbat technique during the fight, he would have to try to buy time and see if he couldunch a counterattack when Icy''s energy was depleted. "Charles, the path to bing strong is always rugged."Ethan said slowly. After watching the live stream, he didn''t dissuade Charles because he understood that only by pressing forward and achieving victory after victory could one truly be strong. As far as he knew, Charles had never experienced failure since arriving in Genosha Calivia. He could sense a momentum beginning to build around him, a confidence that was crucial. If Charles failed during the challenge of the Reaper''s Scythe, the momentum and state he had umted might never be regained. That would be a tremendous loss for Charles. The phrase "the heavens and earth all share the same strength" referred to Charles''s current state! "Don''t worry, Teacher Ethan, I won''t fail."Charles replied. He couldn''t afford to fail! Whether it was the intelligence from the Dawn organization, the alchemy materials needed by Teacher Colton, or the matter of his self-createdbat techniques. Everything hinged on the battle with Icy. If he failed, nothing could continue. Charles had a feeling that if he couldn''tplete his self-createdbat technique this time, it might take a long time to try again. After a simple lunch on the second floor of the cafeteria. Charles took a short break before turning back to the training room. The weight of his Overlord Heavy Armor had been adjusted to its maximum, and he still felt a slight difort, but he estimated that he would be fully ustomed to it in a couple of days. At that point, he could take off the Overlord Heavy Armor before battle, and his strength would be even greater. Facing Icy inbat, his chances of victory would also be significantly higher. Time passed little by little, and as night approached, the discussions online grew increasingly heated. People continuouslypared the gap between Icy and Charles, especially regarding the self-createdbat techniques. Some analyzed that Charles had never usedbat techniques in previous battles, and since he was a civilian. The vast majority believed that Charles wouldn''t be able to usebat techniques at all! Although it was evident fromst night''s battle against three Gold-level Level 4 Beast Masters that Charles''s strength was on par with Finn''s, and perhaps even slightly stronger. Withoutbat techniques, Charles was simply no match for Icy! "What do you mean he doesn''t havebat techniques? Charles has been in the Cyber Academy''s Trial Tower, and he must have understoodbat techniques!" "Come on, in such a short time, whatbat techniques could he possibly have grasped? I''ve heard the Trial Tower is incredibly difficult." "I''m from Cyber Academy, and Charles''s strength is beyond your imagination. He has already broken the records from the first to the third levels of the Trial Tower!" "So what? Icy has self-createdbat techniques. Does Charles have any?" "Regardless, I support Charles. He will definitely achieve victory." Disputes like these were constantly unfolding online, with supporters of Charles being a minority. There weren''t many students at Cyber Academy, and they couldn''t debate with thousands ofizens, so their voices were weak. The mainstream opinion still held that Charles would likely defeat other ace Level 4 Beast Masters, but when facing Icy, he would definitely fail. If he didn''t concede, he''d probably end up like Finnbadly injured, unconscious, and then urgently sent to the hospital. In the Taylor family of Genosha Calivia, Zane and his father Benson were discussing in the study. "Father, I think we should let that Level 4 Beast Master fight Charles first. It''s not easy to approach Icy."Zane expressed his opinion. Last night and this morning, he had already tried to gather information about Icy. He primarily focused on Icy''s preferences, hoping to get closer to him. However, everyone in the underground world had little understanding of Icy, they only knew that the leaders of the Genosha underground held him in high regard. Even being a member of the Taylor family wouldn''t allow him to approach Icy. Originally, Zane had nned for Icy to fight Charles and to take lethal action, killing Charles on the spot. Now it seemed that this n was going to fall through. If Icy seriously injured Charles, preventing him from continuing his subsequent challenges, wouldn''t that mean losing the opportunity to kill Charles altogether? Benson was also deep in thought. He had been unable to find any concrete information about Icy, he only knew that Icy came from the Haunted Marsh. "The underground world is not as simple as you think. The ace Level 4 Beast Master we are trying to recruit also carries significant risks. If we provoke Dawn, it could be problematic."Benson said slowly. He understood the forces behind the underground world, although his contact with them was limited. Still lost in thought, Benson waved his hand, sending Zane out of the study. After a while, he finally spoke up and asked, "When can I expect the items I requested to be delivered?" The shadows in the study rippled, and a figure emerged from the darkness, replying, "It will be delivered tomorrow night." Benson''s eyes lit up, he could hardly contain his excitement. The reason he was willing to take risks and coborate with a mysterious figure was for that vial of miracle drug that could elevate him to an Level 8 Beast Master! Once he became an Level 8 Beast Master, the Taylor family, possessing two Level 8 Beast Masters, could attempt to take control of all of Genosha! At that point, no one would be able to stop him! Taking deep breaths to calm his racing heart, Benson had already decided that tomorrow night, he would have that ace Level 4 Beast Master drink the red miracle drug. Eliminate Charles directly! Even if the people in the underground world notice something unusual, they won''t immediately investigate everything, because chaos is about to ensue in Genosha. Your journey continues at m v|l-e''-NovelBin By the time they uncover the connection to the Taylor family, Benson will have already be a Level 8 Beast Master, and at that point, he wouldn''t fear anyone! Countless undercurrents are surging beneath the seemingly peaceful facade of Genosha. Some ordinary citizens feel nothing at all, but only a select few at the top have sensed something amiss and are conducting investigations. In addition, there are those living in the slums. Mark has noticed many unfamiliar faces appearing in the slums over the past few days. As a well-known figure in the Crossroads, Mark possesses a sense of danger that is not typical among ordinary people. He quietly roams around, visiting all the convenience stores and restaurants in Crossroads, gathering useful information. "Recently, someone has been buying a lot of supplies, and the number of food takeouts from the restaurants has increasedpared to before."Mark said to Sam. Since the live-stream incident, their rtionship had grown closer, and theymunicated from time to time. Now, Mark shared his discoveries, curious to hear Sam''s thoughts. "This is not something we should get involved in, it feels like something bad is about to happen."Sam frowned. Even if they had noticed these irregrities, as civilians, they had no means to act. "Yeah, I n to warn everyone to stay indoors for a while and avoid going out as much as possible."Mark replied. Sam nodded, he felt the same way. "Do you think we should tell Mr. Charles? It shouldn''t affect him, right?" Mark hesitated. Sam said, "There''s probably no need. We don''t have any substantial findings yet, so it''s not appropriate." The two reached a consensus and then began to inform the residents of Crossroads. By evening, the once bustling Crossroads had suddenly fallen into an eerie silence. At the same time, in the underground world, Charles stood in the entrance tunnel of the octagonal cage, with Celestine gripping his shoulders tightly, trying to help him rx. He still didn''t know who his opponent for today''s battle would be. Charles lifted his head and looked at the dark passage opposite him, where someone was emerging amidst the cheers of the audience and the announcer''s introduction. Celestine watched intently, only breathing a sigh of relief when she realized the person was not Icy. "Today is not that one-armed youth."Celestine said with relief. Charles nodded, specting in his mind whether this person wanted to see his strength once more. Then, it was his turn to enter the arena. Sparse cheers and scattered apuse erupted, indicating that he didn''t have many supporters. That didn''t matter to him, since it wasn''t Icy, Charles nned to resolve this quickly. If he could finish early, he would have more time to visit Jace and Finn in the hospitalter. Chapter 252 The Battle Ends Soon, as the bald man''s introduction came to an end, most of the spectators began to look for staff to ce their bets. Although they didn''t believe that Charles could defeat Icy, they thought that facing a top-tier Level 4 Beast Master shouldn''t pose much of a problem. Many people ced their bets on Charles for the win. In the octagonal cage, the top-tier Level 4 Beast Master flexed his muscles and said to Charles: "I watched your fight yesterday, and you were quite impressive. May I ask how manybat techniques you currently possess?" Charles stood still, not moving. He replied seriously, "I don''t know anybat techniques." Upon hearing this, the top-tier Level 4 Beast Master was taken aback. He instinctively reached up to touch his ear, doubting whether he had heard correctly. He initially thought Charles was joking, perhaps trying to hide his true abilities. But looking at Charles''s earnest expression, he began to believe that Charles was speaking the truth. "Nobat techniques? And you dare to challenge Reaper''s Scythe? You really are asking for trouble!" The beast master couldn''t hold back his curiosity and wanted to know what Charles was thinking. Charles frowned slightly. Did this guy just say he was asking for trouble? "It''s fine. Even withoutbat techniques, defeating you will still be a piece of cake."Charles said slowly, lifting his chin slightly and no longer looking at the expression on the top-tier Level 4 Beast Master''s face. Immediately, the beast master felt belittled and shouted, "You''ll see the consequences of your arrogance soon! So what if you''re strong and fast? Withoutbat techniques, you''re nothing!" After saying that, he left his position without hesitation and charged at Charles. The man''s speed was not slow, and his fists gleamed with a metallic sheen, catching the light in the underground arena. "I have twobat techniques, so you won''t be so arrogant after this!" he shouted. Charles felt a bit helpless. His attitude had been quite good until this guy used him of asking for trouble, which slightly changed his demeanor. Besides, he was just stating factshow was that arrogant? Not thinking too much, Charles watched his opponent''s attack and, without hesitation, tightened his fist to meet his opponent''s punch. The man was initially taken aback, thinking that Charles''s earlier words were a joke. He took a closer look at Charles''s fist and found nothing unusual. "How arrogant! He''s actually choosing to face my punch instead of dodging!" thought the top-tier Level 4 Beast Master. He was using thebat technique "Iron Fist"! Metallic energy surged into his fist, strengthening his bones and enhancing his muscles and skin. With one punch, a typical Level 4 Beast Master would likely be severely injured on the spot. Even with a genius like Charles, he was confident he could gain the upper hand. He wasn''t the only one thinking this. The spectators in the stands, especially those who had bet on Charles to win, were directly berating him: "Damn it! Charles, what are you doing? The opponent is clearly usingbat techniques, and you go in headfirst!" "I''m at a loss here. Is he stupid for not usingbat techniques and just taking it head-on?" "Could it be that Charles really doesn''t know anybat techniques? It looks like my money is going down the drain!" Celestine listened to the shouts from behind and was filled with anger. If she could, she would love to teach a lesson to those who were talking! But now was not the time, her focus was entirely on Charles. Meanwhile, in a hospital room, Finn and Shannon were also watching the live broadcast. Shannon found Charles''s actions baffling. In his opinion, even without usingbat techniques, he shouldn''t be so reckless! A top-tier Level 4 Beast Master in the underground world wasn''t that weak, they all hadbat techniques and extensive battle experience. Finn had sharp eyes. He was constantly observing Charles''s expression and eyes, noticing that Charles was intentionally or unintentionally focusing on his opponent''s jaw. A premonition formed in his mind, and he said, "This top-tier Level 4 Beast Master is going to lose." "What? How is that possible? Charles isn''t using anybat techniques!" Shannon couldn''t believe it. However, what happened next proved Finn''s statement right. In the octagonal cage, Charles''s fist collided with the opponent''s metallic fist. In an instant, an invisible shockwave spread out from the point of contact between their fists. The top-tier Level 4 Beast Master was utterly shocked. He never expected that Charles, without using anybat techniques, could withstand this punch purely with his physical strength. At that moment, it felt like his fist had struck steel. He could clearly feel the pain in his knuckles. Before he could react, Charles''s left leg shot up like a drawn de, aiming directly for his head. As a top-tier fighter in the underground world, his reflexes were decent. He immediately tried to shift his position to defend. But Charles didn''t give him that opportunity. As Charles''s right leg was in mid-air, he retracted his right arm and, while turning, delivered a powerful elbow strike straight to the opponent''s jaw. The underground octagonal cage''s top-tier Level 4 Beast Master, who had twobat techniques, managed to use only one"Iron Fist"before copsing to the ground. The entire underground world fell silent in an instant. Then, a wave of cheers erupted. Countless spectators waved their betting slips and shouted: "Awesome! I apologize, Charles, you are the strongest!" "To defeat him without usingbat techniques is just incredible!" "Hahaha, I won money! Now I don''t have to worry!" Cheers echoed throughout the underground world. Celestine let out a sigh of relief. She looked at Charles standing in the octagonal cage and the opponent lying at his feet. Her heart was filled with admiration. At that moment, Charles seemed even more impressive in her eyes! Meanwhile, in Calivia''s hospital room, Shannon turned to Finn, mumbling, "No way, how did you know? Charles is incredible!" Finn slowly replied, "He''s even stronger than I thought. But this still isn''t enough, he''s not a match for Icy." Mentioning Icy, Finn''s eyes dimmed. It wasn''t despair from being unable to defeat an opponent, it was the loss of hope to connect with the Dawn organization that left him feeling lost, unsure of how to quickly strengthen his abilities for revenge. "Maybe Charles really can seed in the Reaper''s Scythe challenge. If he gets into Dawn, you could ask him for help. There might still be hope."Shannon said. He wasn''t entirely clear on Dawn''s rules, he only said that to uplift Finn and get him back on track. Upon hearing those words, Finn fell into deep thought, not knowing what he was contemting. As Charles''s first fight came to an end, many began to notice his performance against the top-tier Level 4 Beast Master, and their impression of him started to improve slightly. Some viewers were paying close attention in the live chat and noticed the exchange between Charles and the top-tier fighter. Even though they couldn''t hear the words, among so manyizens, there were quite a few who understood lip-reading and analyzed the conversation. "Did Charles just say he doesn''t knowbat techniques?" "Is that for real? How is he supposed to fight? The uing battles are definitely going to be more intense!" "Exactly! The top-tier fighters in the underground world all havebat techniques. If Charles doesn''t, he won''t be able to seed in the challenges!" "It looks like we can''t blindly bet on Charles for the next match. We need to think it through." "Wait, didn''t you notice? If Charles is already this strong withoutbat techniques, imagine how powerful he''d be if he actually knew them. He could definitely beat Icy." "Are you dreaming? Icy created his ownbat techniques. Can Charlespete with that?" There will always be debates online. Some support Charles, while others back Icy, and the arguments continue to escte. Charles didn''t have time to watch their bickering. After a brief look at Jace and Finn, he returned to Cyber Academy. Ruby''s extra sses had been paused for a few days to avoid affecting Charles''s performance. Charles agreed with this decision, after all, being around a mature and alluring woman would inevitably influence him in some way. Late at night, in the Taylor family home, Zane reyed the live stream recording over and over again. This was already the fifteenth time he had watched the footage. "Damn it, how can he be this strong? A top-tier Level 4 Beast Master was taken down so quickly!" Zane frowned. He was extremely worried that if Charles was hiding even more power and defeated the top-tier Level 4 Beast Master arranged by the Taylor family, he would have no choice but to rely on Icy for the next fight. That wasn''t a safe bet, as Icy hadn''t gone all out against Finn, and Zane spected that, if all went as expected, Finn wouldn''t kill Charles either. After all, there was no real hatred between them. "I can''t let this go. I need to ask my father again if that red miracle drug can really help the top-tier Level 4 Beast Master kill Charles."Zane thought to himself. His mind was still filled with worry because, for him, killing Charles was the most crucial task at hand. Only by ensuring Charles''s death in the octagonal cage could he forget the pain Charles had caused him before! No one had ever treated him this way, forcing him to kneel and apologize in front of everyone, making him lose face and costing him a fortune! If someone had dared to humiliate him like that in the past, they would have been tortured to death along with their family, disappearing from this world. Soon, Zane entered his study. Before long, Explore stories at m,v l''e-NovelBin he emerged from the study with a smile on his face. "With the help of the red miracle drug, Charles, you''re as good as dead!" Zane clenched his fists and gritted his teeth as he spoke. Just moments ago, his father Benson had shown him the incredible power of the red miracle drug, and Zane finally felt at ease. What he is looking forward to now is the battle tomorrow night. Charles will surely die in the octagonal cage! Chapter 253 Drinking the Red Miracle Drug For Charles, life didn''t change much. He no longer had to get up early to go to the Trial Tower toprehend the figures on the stone walls, nor did he need to challenge the Trial Tower to improve his understanding ofbat techniques. He started spending all day in the training room. Having Mia, Max, Mousie, and Little Gold fight against the projected ferocious beasts, while continuously training to enhance his physical fitness andbat skills. Teacher Ethan was quite busy, only finding time in the evenings toe to the training room for specialized training with Charles. Aside from that, Charles spent most of his time alone. But with thepany of four mystical beasts, he didn''t feel lonely at all. Little Gold has been growing at an incredible pacetely, and its length is nearly reaching one meter. The corresponding cost of this growth is that the quantity of Feather Gold is continuously decreasing. It''s estimated that in just a few days, he will need to search for other rare metals. Moreover, Little Gold is also approaching the time for promotion, which means he will need to prepare the necessary advancement materials, and that is a troublesome matter, as he doesn''t know how easy those materials will be to find. Time passed little by little. While Charles was sweating it out in the training room, in a certain neighborhood of Calivia, Chad, the ace Level Four Beast Master of the underground world''s octagonal cage, was staring at the bottle of red miracle drug in the safe, caught in hesitation. Initially, he had some confidence in being able to directly kill Charles in the octagonal cage for the mission against the Taylor family. However, ever since he watched Charles fight yesterday, he felt certain that he was not a match for Charles. That kind of physical fitness, raw strength, andbat experience were all significantly superior to his own. Even if the other party truly didn''t know anybat techniques, he had no absolute confidence that he could kill Charles! "The people from the Taylor family said that as long as I drink this bottle of miracle drug, it will significantly enhance my strength, and then killing Charles will definitely be no problem."Chad thought to himself. Just a moment ago, the boss of the underground world had informed him that he would be fighting Charles tonight and told him to prepare. Chad wasn''t happy to receive this news; he was well aware that in the world of Beast Masters, every gift had already been marked with a hidden cost. If he wanted to kill Charles in the octagonal cage, he had to use this bottle of red miracle drug. However, as a fourth-level Beast Master and the ace of the underground octagonal cage, Chad had never seen or heard of a red miracle drug, which made him somewhat anxious. There was no need to think too much; a miracle drug that could greatly enhance strength definitely wouldn''te without side effects. He just didn''t know if his body could withstand it. Chad sighed and looked up at the photo hanging on the wall, where a woman was holding a little girl, and a young Chad stood beside them. The three of them smiled at the camera, their faces filled with happiness and joy. "Mother, sister, with the money from the Taylor family, you will definitely get better."Chad no longer hesitated. He reached out and took the red miracle drug from the safe, unscrewed the cap, and drank it in one go. Nothing was more important than family; the people from the Taylor family had promised that even if things went wrong, they would ensure his mother and sister received treatment. Soon, the red miracle drug began to take effect. The images before Chad''s eyes gradually blurred, and a maddening whispering sound began to echo in his ears, along with screams, apanied by intense pain in all his muscles. It felt as if someone had opened his chest and was pouring boiling molten iron inside. In the next instant, all the pain vanished without a trace, reced by a sense of pleasure that surged deep into his soul. It felt like being in a legendary paradise, making him tremble with delight. In a daze, the scene before Chad began to change. Ordinary furniture, casting shadows under the sunlight, gradually became chaotic, as if it hade to life. They twisted, howled, and merged together. Tentacles covered in eyes appeared in Chad''s field of vision; at that moment, he felt no fear, but rather found those bizarre tentacles oddlyforting. Like his family. No! Moreforting than his family! Under the light''s reflection, Chad''s body remained still, as if he had fallen into a stupor. The photo hanging on the wall cast a shadow of him; it was not very clear, but it was evident that the muscles in Chad''s back were twitching strangely. It was as if something was trying to break through his skin and emerge. Soon, the restored and awakened Chad instinctively clenched his fists, a tremendous sense of power surged in his mind. "This... this is incredible! It''s so much stronger than what I felt before! This sensation is simply mesmerizing."Chad eximed in surprise. He tried it out, lightly punching the wall beside him, and instantly, the wall cracked. This power was even stronger than Charles''s physical strength! "Now, Charles is undoubtedly doomed!" Chad said confidently, staring at his unscathed fist. As he reveled in the sudden surge of power, he failed to notice a three-centimeter crack quietly forming beneath his clothing on his back. A pair of grayish-white eyes was slowly opening. ... In the office of the Cyber Academy, Hale was reporting to Jamie, primarily about Ezra''s situation. The main headquarters of Cyber Academy had already sent someone to investigate; the specific details of the investigation had not been disclosed, but those individuals had contacted Hale through the inte to gather some information. "Dean, why do I feel like even the main headquarters isn''t quite clear on where Uncle Ezra is?" Hale asked, furrowing his brow. Jamie sighed; Ezra was not an ordinary eighth-level Beast Master; he was a Beast Master with a divine beast. Most people really wouldn''t know Ezra''s exact location, and even the main headquarters would take some time to investigate. As for the Taylor family, Jamie had already dispatched others to look into it, but the Taylor family''s operations were very cautious, often conducted through intermediaries. Moreover, the actions of Cyber Academy couldn''t be too conspicuous, lest they attract the attention of the Taylor family; that would make any investigation even more difficult. "We''ll just have to wait for now; everything wille in due time. I still need to go to the underground world every night to protect Charles."Jamie said slowly. He had no certainty about the situation regarding Ezra; no one knew. Perhaps the Taylor family had more detailed information, but he couldn''t just go to the Taylor family and ask; that would be too foolish. Upon hearing Jamie''s words about Ezra, Hale nodded. He was also very worried about Ezra, but now there was no information at all. Even if he wanted to help Ezra, he had no leads! "Dean, tonight''s battle shouldn''t have any surprises, right? In the underground world, we only need to be careful about Icy; the others don''t seem to be Charles''s match."Hale thought for a moment and expressed his thoughts. To his surprise, a heavy expression crossed Jamie''s face as he slowly replied: "Not necessarily; the Taylor family might take action. They could have already moved without us knowing, so we need to be cautious." In recent days, there had been undercurrents in Genosha Calivia, and Jamie had sensed something amiss. Moreover, given his understanding of the Taylor family, they would not miss any opportunity to strike at their enemies. Now that the Taylor family knew something had happened to Ezra, it was the perfect opportunity to go after Charles. However, they certainly wouldn''t attack openly; they would resort to some despicable means in the shadows. So he still needed to go to the underground world, to be on-site, in case anything unexpected happened with Charles. At this moment, Jamie could say without hesitation that Charles was more important to him than anyone else! A genius? Could there be anyone more talented than Charles? Given enough time, Charles would surely be a ninth-level Beast Master! That would be a ninth-level Beast Master! There were very few ninth-level Beast Masters in the entire Abyssal Depths! "It''s almost time; we''ll wrap it up here for today. I still need to go to the underground world."Jamie said. Hale turned to leave the dean''s office; he had tasks to attend to and no time to focus on Charles''s battle tonight. But it shouldn''t be a big problem; as long as Icy didn''t intervene, Charles should be able to handle it smoothly. Hale wasn''t the only one thinking this way; many others in Genosha shared his sentiments. After witnessing Charles''s performance in yesterday''s battle, everyone believed that as long as he wasn''t up against Icy, Charles had a strong chance of winning! Thus, the vast majority of the audience betting tonight ced their bets on Charles for victory. Chad, who had already arrived in the underground world, was waiting in the lounge for his turn to go on stage. In the past, before each battle, he would take out a photo of his family and study it closely. But today, he didn''t do that; this was the first time he hadn''t taken out the photo of his family. Chad was feeling extremely exhrated now. He looked at the others in the lounge, and a growing sense of desire began to swell within him. It was as if an enticing voice whispered in his ear, guiding him to unleash the violent desires within his heart! "What''s wrong? Are you okay? You''re up soon."a staff member from the underground world said, handing him a bottle of water with concern. Chad looked at the bottle of water but didn''t reach for it; instead, he stared intently at the person''s throat. He had only one thought in his mind: he wanted to see the person''s blood spray from their throat, sttering onto the ceiling! Sshing onto the floor! Onto the cab! Ideally, it would stter onto his face, allowing him to feel this person''s despair and fear! He could barely contain himself! "Alright, it''s time for you to go on stage. Chad, fight well; if you win, I''ll treat you to dinner tonight."another ace said as he walked over. His words conveyed familiarity and friendliness towards Chad. But Chad couldn''t recall who this person was; he felt as if he had forgotten many things. Chapter 254 Even More Dangerous! Chad shook his head, trying to dismiss that strange feeling. He knew the battle was about to begin soon. Once he entered the octagonal cage, he could fully enjoy his opponent''s suffering, listening to the delightful cries of anguish and savoring the scent of blood that filled the air. All of this was what he had been anticipating; he craved violence, thirsted for blood, and relished the fear and despair of others! As soon as Chad thought of this, he immediately stood up and eagerly walked toward the passage. The ace-level Beast Master who had greeted him scratched his head in confusion and said to the person next to him: "What''s going on? Chad seems a bit off today; I''ve never seen that expression on his face before." Someone replied, "Yeah, it''s a bit strange. Maybe he''s worried about facing Charles?" "That makes sense. Charles is indeed quite powerful; I wouldn''t feel confident facing him either." In Chad''s ears, the conversations around him grew fainter, reced by a series of whispers that seemed toe from nowhere. He turned his head in confusion, looking around, only to see one enthusiastic spectator after another shouting out something. Chad couldn''t hear what they were saying; he stood there, utterly perplexed, feeling dazed. A few secondster, he finally discerned what the spectators were yelling. "Blood!" "Fear!" "Despair!" "Pain!"... One word after another appeared in his mind, and Chad couldn''t help but break into a manic grin, wildly waving his arms like tentacles. Charles frowned as he looked at the ace-level Beast Master standing in the octagonal cage. He had a strange feeling, as if there was something familiar about this ace-level Beast Master. He couldn''t quite put his finger on what that familiarity was, but it felt like he had seen him somewhere before, yet he couldn''t remember where. As the bald man finished his introduction. Charles finally learned that this Beast Master was named Chad, with a decent record and many victories, though not many kills. Looking into Chad''s eyes, Charles felt a sense of doubt; he could sense that this person was filled with a desire for ughter and brutality. Logically, that should lead to a higher number of kills. Listening to the signal for "Fight!" Charles pushed his thoughts aside and didn''tunch an attack immediately; instead, he chose to stay in ce and observe closely. For some reason, facing this ace-level Beast Master named Chad made him feel a sense of danger. In the audience, someone suddenly shouted in dissatisfaction: "What''s going on? Why is he so timid today? Go for it!" "Yeah! Get in there! I want to see you take care of this like you did yesterday, clean and swift!" "Damn, is he really going to back down? Charles, are you going to fight or not?" Listening to the shouts around him, Zane, who was sitting near the octagonal cage, looked up at Charles and then turned to nce at the ace-level Beast Master. He rxed his bodyfortably, leaning back in his chair, a pleased smile spreading across his face. "Charles, oh Charles, from the very beginning, you walked right into my trap. Today is your day to die!" Zane''s mind began to fantasize about Charles''s impending fate. In front of so many spectators, in a live stream watched by hundreds of thousands, Charles was destined to meet a gruesome end in the octagonal cage! At that moment. Chad could no longer suppress his inner craving. He pushed off the ground with his feet, and instantly, spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the floor, sending dust flying. In the blink of an eye, he appeared right in front of Charles, his muscles bulging, bing even more formidable in an instant. With a powerful thrust of his arm, he swung his fist down toward Charles''s head without hesitation. Charles''s pupils constricted slightly; he was taken aback by Chad''s speed, which exceeded his expectations. However, this didn''t present a life-or-death crisis for Charles. Using his right foot as the pivot, he slightly turned his body and narrowly dodged Chad''s punch. Seizing the moment when Chad''s attack missed, Charles quickly lifted his leg and raised his knee to strike at Chad''s weak point. To his surprise, it seemed Chad had anticipated this, as he immediately reacted and effectively defended against Charles''s attack. At the moment of their contact, Charles''s muscles tensed, and he experienced a brief moment of disorientation. Chad''s eyes lit up as he quickly seized this opportunity, delivering a blow that sent Charles flying! "What? How is this Chad so strong? He justunched Charles across the ring right at the start?" "Damn, I should have bet on him to win; this is it!" "Shit! Charles was doing so well yesterday; why is he struggling today?" The underground space erupted with countless curses as the audience marveled at Chad''s fighting ability, shocked that this ace-level Beast Master had gained the upper hand right from the beginning. Celestine clenched her hands tightly in front of her chest. The moment Charles was sent flying, she stood up from her seat, deeply concerned about his situation. At that moment, Zane''s voice came from beside her. "It''s over, it''s over; Charles is done for. Just watch how he meets his end!" Celestine didn''t even nce at Zane; her gaze remained fixed on Charles. She only sighed in relief when she saw Charles stand up from the ground. Meanwhile, in another part of the underground space, Jamie frowned, feeling perplexed. From what he knew about Charles, that brief moment of disorientation should not have happened. Charles had extensivebat experience, with formidable fighting skills and techniques. Most importantly, he was always able to maintain hisposure in battle. He shouldn''t have made such a mistake. What could have caused this momentarypse? Charles, under Jamie''s scrutiny, wore a serious and heavy expression. He took a deep breath. The moment he made contact with Chad, an image appeared before him. In a chaotic scene, children were crying and wailing, blood flowing from their bodies, tightly wrapped by countless strange tentacles. They were continuously moaning and crying out. That image reminded Charles of the events that took ce in the underground of the abandoned factory. Though he didn''t know what had happened to Chad, Charles was very clear that everything was certainly rted to those unspeakable, unknown horrors, tied to the Constetion organization. The reason he could see that image was likely because he wasn''t wearing the Mysterious Fragment. Since carrying any equipment was not allowed in the octagonal cage match, Charles had stored the Mysterious Fragment in his storage space. "Oh, you can still stand? Looks like you can take a hit. I''m starting to look forward to your screamster."Chad said excitedly. His eyes were particrly strange; his left pupil was twitching uncontrobly, while his right pupil seemed to be rolling upward, as if it might pop out of its socket. Charles observed Chad''s bizarre state and took a deep breath; this wasn''t the right time to ask questions. Moreover, it seemed Chad had lost his sanity and be frenzied. It seemed the only way to get any information was to defeat Chad first. Find exclusive stories on m_v l|e-NovelBin With that thought, Charles cracked his neck; the leads about the Constetion organization were right in front of him, and he needed to seize this opportunity! In the next moment, Charles took the initiative to attack. His figure moved like a ghost, appearing in front of Chad, delivering a powerful kick aimed at Chad''s waist. This kick even had a sense of cutting through the air, sending invisible ripples around him. Though Chad was a bit deranged, he hadn''t lost his ability to sense the danger around him. In his eyes, this strike was incredibly dangerous; if he allowed Charles''s attack tond, he would definitely suffer significant damage. Just as he thought about dodging, his body moved on its own. Under Charles''s gaze, Chad''s figure twisted like rubber, evading the strike with an almost illogical motion. Moreover, he seized the opportunity, twisting his waist andunching an attack without hesitation! Countless spectators witnessed this scene and instinctively shouted: "What kind ofbat technique is this! I can''t believe Chad is this strong!" "This is shocking; Charles''s speed was incredibly fast just now, and ordinary Beast Masters wouldn''t have had any chance to resist. I didn''t expect Chad to dodge so easily!" "Look at the way Chad''s waist twists; this is too bizarre! What kind ofbat technique allows for such an angle?" Unlike the thoughts of the audience, Jamie, an eighth-level Beast Master, sensed something unusual. He stared intently at the attacking Chad, frowning deeply. "Bizarre? Could it be...?" Jamie seemed to have realized something. He quickly shifted his gaze to Charles, noting that Charles had a nk expression, showing no fear or hesitation. "It seems Charles is still confident; I won''t need to intervene."Jamie thought to himself, wanting to avoid stepping in if possible. At that moment, Charles remainedposed. Although he wasn''t sure how Chad had managed to dodge his attack, it didn''t hinder the continuation of the battle in the slightest. The two continued to fight, the deafening sounds of their shes echoing outside the octagonal cage, causing the audience to quiet down considerably. Everyone was glued to the exciting fight, oblivious to the fact that Chad''s eyes were bing increasingly bizarre. Charles had incredibly keen observation skills, and when his gaze swept over Chad''s eyes, he noticed that Chad''s original pupils were uncontrobly rolling upward, turning the entire eye a grayish-white! "Those are the eyes from those tentacles!" Charles immediately deduced. He didn''t know what was happening, but Chad now felt even more dangerous to him! "Hahahahahahaha! Blood! Pain! Fear and despair!" Chad fixed his gaze on Charles. Chapter 255 Not Surrendering In the entire underground world, only a very few people sensed that something was off, including Icy, who was watching Charles fight. He had been closely observing Chad; during their time in the Haunted Marsh, he had seen simr individuals. Those people had consumed a type of red miracle drug, which drastically enhanced their abilities but drove them into madness, causing them to lose their sanity. Not only that, but they also forgot their past, including their family and friends. Even the closest people would be targets of their attacks. Moreover,pared to ordinary people, they took pleasure in torturing the loved ones they had forgotten. "It seems chaos is about to break out in Genosha."Icy murmured. He was well aware that once such events began, they would not be isted incidents; the Constetion organization was already preparing to take action. However, this was none of his concern, nor was it rted to the Dawn organization, at least for now. The world was on the brink of chaos, with various hidden forces and organizations each having their own objectives. As long as the others weren''t obstacles, they generally wouldn''t interfere with each other. Watching Chad''s figure, Icy remained silent, feeling a sense of anticipation instead. Explore more at m,v l''e-NovelBin If Charles could defeat Chad, he would have a greater interest in engaging in an exhrating battle with Charles himself. After all, he hadn''t unleashed his full power when facing Finn. At this moment, Charles had no idea what Icy was thinking; his only goal was topletely incapacitate Chad to make it easier to control him for questioning. With this thought in mind, Charles dodged Chad''s attacks while waiting for the right moment to strike at Chad''s leg joints in retaliation! Unfortunately, it seemed as if Chad felt no pain at all; his movements were unaffected. He appeared to be a lucid madman! The reason for this was that Chad seized every opportunity,unching powerful attacks at the most opportune moments! This put Charles in a difficult position; he was gradually being pushed into a disadvantageous spot by Chad. Charles''s physical qualities were stronger than those of a typical Level Five Beast Master, but even so, he was exhausting his stamina rapidly. In contrast, Chad maintained a peak state, showing no signs of fatigue whatsoever. However, from Charles''s perspective, Chad appeared to be growing thinner, as if he were consuming his life force while battling him! Continuing like this was not a viable solution; Charles''s mind raced with thoughts. He needed toe up with a way to render Chadpletely immobile. It was important to note that defeating someone as bizarre as Chad was already a challenge in itself. Moreover, to do so without harming his life, while stripping him of his ability to move and resist, was clearly a formidable task. Charles was well aware of the difficulty of this task; he had to do this to find clues about the Constetion organization. Soon, Charles took a deep breath and began to change his strategy. While dodging Chad''s attacks, he started aiming for Chad''s eyes and ears. Charles''s idea was simple: to make Chad lose his vision and hearing as much as possible! As time passed, Charles''s n began to show results. After hitting Chad''s eyes and ears a few times, his overall attacks were affected, and he started to lose precision. Just as Charles was about to press on, he sensed something was off. It seemed there were other eyes watching him from Chad''s body! Originally intending to close the distance for further attacks, Charles instinctively pulled back. In the next moment, Chadunched a frenzied assault. Every single attack was incredibly precise! As Charles defended himself, he thought, "Everything before was just an act! He wasn''t affected at all!" Seeing Chad''s eyes, which seemed somewhat unfocused, Charles immediately realized that Chad had other ways to "see" his movements! So, Charles shifted his attention to Chad''s body. He continued to fight while trying to discover Chad''s "method!" Finally, Charles noticed something unusual. He saw that small cracks appeared on Chad''s body when he attacked. If one didn''t observe closely, they would never notice! Within those cracks, it seemed there were pairs of eyes watching Charles''s every move! "Is that so? Is it simr to those strange tentacles? What are their weaknesses?" Charles quickly epted what was happening. He was constantly contemting various possibilities in his mind, trying to figure out how to deal with the threat of those eyes! Soon, Charles no longer hesitated. He aimed to create as many wounds on Chad''s body as possible. Right now, he wasn''t seeking efficient attacks; he just hoped to inflict enough injuries on Chad. This action immediately sparked heated discussions among the spectators. Many noticed that Charles''s attacking style had changed and seemed "foolish!" "Thatst strike should have targeted Chad''s throat! That would have caused greater damage and might have ended the fight right there!" "Why do I feel like Charles''s attacks are getting weaker? It looks like Chad is bleeding, but those are just minor injuries!" "Exactly! At this rate, before Chad even faints from blood loss, Charles is going to exhaust himself in that octagonal cage!" "How foolish! Charles now seems like he hasn''t even experienced a fight; hisbat skills are absolutely terrible!" Zane nearlyughed out loud. As a Level Five Beast Master, he had somebat experience. In his eyes, Charles was clearly panicking, unable to maintain hisposure, and his attacks had be ordinary,cking any lethality! It seemed that Charles''s death was just around the corner. Jamie, being an Level Eight Beast Master, initially understood the purpose of Charles''s actions. After observing closely, he connected all of Charles''s movements. "So that''s how it is. Charles originally wanted to blind his opponent."Jamie thought to himself. "Now, he''s trying to use his attacks to create enough wounds, letting blood cover Chad''s body, thereby affecting those cracks?" As time went on, Charles''s movements seemed to slow down a bit, and his strength diminished slightly. To Chad, it appeared that Charles had already exhausted most of his stamina. However, Chad was also in bad shape; he looked like a blood-soaked man, with some of his blood beginning to dry and congeal. Whenever he tried to wipe away the blood, Charles would relentlesslyunch into a furious attack. At this moment, Chad could only use his hands to block Charles''s attacks, which meant he couldn''t wipe away the blood on his body. If this continued, he would lose the "eyes" needed to observe Charles''s movements! "Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" After saying it three times in a row, Chad let out an angry roar! He felt exceptionally ufortable right now, filled with a mix of fear, despair, and pain. Yet, he sensed none of those negative emotions in Charles. The Charles in front of him was like a still pond,pletely devoid of ripples! This drove Chad nearly insane; his expression twisted further, his face resembling a y sculpture made by an apprentice. In the next moment, Chad''s body became even more emaciated, like a mummy. His skin began to wrinkle, and the dried blood, affected by the wrinkles, exposed patches of skin underneath. Charlesunched another attack, creating a wound, but only a small amount of blood flowed out. It seemed that Chad''s earlier transformation had reduced the blood in his body. Charles stepped back, standing still as he observed Chad''s changes, and sighed. "I originally wanted to spare you, but now it seems there''s no hope."Charles thought to himself. At this state, Chad wouldn''tst much longer. Since that was the case, there was no need for questions; he would have to eliminate him! Otherwise, if this dragged on, he might get injured, which could jeopardize his opportunity to contact the Dawn organization, leading to even greater losses! In the audience, Zane watched as Charles distanced himself from Chad and immediately stood up, shouting, "Charles, a real man never retreats! Do you want to give up like this?" Zane''s heart was in his throat, almost ready to burst out. He didn''t want Charles to concede directly; that would mean his n would bepletely ruined. Many spectators, hearing Zane''s shout, believed that Charles was giving up the fight due to exhaustion, and they cursed him: "Coward!" "You''re giving up just like that? I bet on your victory!" "Charles, are you even a man?" "If you''re a man, keep fighting! Your opponent is bleeding and still going; what about you?" Charles paid no attention to the crowd''s shouts. He merely nced at the anxious Zane and then at Chad in the octagonal cage, and a thought crossed his mind. Could the Taylor family have some connection to Chad? Charles set that possibility aside for now; everything would wait until he dealt with Chad. In the next moment, Charles''s figure shot forward like a cannonball, his fists clenched tightly, roaring through the air as he aimed for Chad''s temple! Feeling Charles''s attack, Chad was utterly shocked: This speed! This power! It was exactly the same as when Charles had been serious at the start! Could it be that the earlier decrease in speed and strength had all been an act? He wasn''t the only one thinking this; the most astonished was Zane in the audience. The smile on his face had not yet faded, and now it was frozen, like a clown''s grimace. "So, Charles wasn''t trying to concede earlier; he was actually serious about ending this fight?" Zane thought to himself. He trembled rigidly, like a toy, utterly surprised by Charles''s strength! Chapter 256 Chads Corpse In the underground octagonal cage, Chad''s figure swayed like a young sapling in a raging storm, While Charles''s attacks struck like a hurricane enveloping Chad, relentlessly targeting his throat, temples, and other vital areas. Each assault carried an unparalleled momentum, those fists were as hard as if forged from steel. Chad felt the world in front of him beginning to blur, He truly didn''t expect that Charles''s stamina was still at its peak. The earlier ims of decreased speed and reduced strength were all a facade, The purpose was likely to make him lose his ability to fight. Thinking of this, Chad''s expression became somewhat dazed, as if he saw the faces of unfamiliar people appearing before him. He had never met these people, yet it felt as though they had always lived together. Charles unleashed his true strength, facing his assault, Chad''s expression seemed somewhat vacant, yet his movements were incredibly agile. It felt to Charles as if Chad''s body had developed a consciousness of its own. This battle was no longer between him and Chad, it was a fight against the unknown entity within Chad! With each collision of fists and feet, the entire octagonal cage''s floor became a wreck, scattered with broken stones and dust. The audience below watched intently, it was the first time they had seen such a thrilling battle in the underground octagonal cage. No mystical beasts, no equipment, and no skills, It was purely two real warriors fighting fiercely with their bodies. Countless spectators gaped, forgetting to cheer or discuss, the underground world became eerily quiet. Time passed little by little. Under Charles''s relentless assault, Chad''s body still stood, seemingly unharmed. However, looking at Chad''s now skeletal form, Charles knew he couldn''tst much longer. The entity within Chad was nearly draining his life force, without that support, Chad would die on the spot. That thing was indeed strange, allowing a Beast Master to fight to the point of death. It was simply terrifying. Soon, Chad, who had been wildly battling Charles, suddenly paused, standing still. He trembled all over, and his grayish-white eyes began to revert to those of a normal person. Seeing this, Charles cautiously closed the distance and quickly asked, "What is happening? Chad, what did you do?" Chad seemed not to hear, he slowly knelt down, then copsed entirely onto the ground. Looking at the distant lights illuminating the underground world, Chad attempted to open his mouth to say something. He didn''t even have the strength to speak, at that moment, he had already seen the arrival of death. "Tell me, what happened? How did you end up like this?" Charles rushed to Chad''s side, desperate to extract some information from him. Unfortunately, Chad could muster only enough strength to softly utter two words: "Mommy." Outside the octagonal cage, Zane had been closely watching what was happening inside. When he saw that Chad hadn''t managed to say anything, he let out a sigh of relief. No one expected Charles to be this powerful. Faced with Chad, who had used the red miracle drug, he could still feign exhaustion, only to unleash his true strength in the end! "Why pretend to be exhausted? Did Charles intend to control Chad from the very beginning?" A terrifying thought arose in Zane''s mind. After watching the entire fight, he sensed something was off, it felt as if Charles had discovered something. However, back in the study, his father Benson had said that when facing someone who was taking the red miracle drug for the first time, even an eighth-level Beast Master wouldn''t be able to notice anything unless they got too close. Only after the second or third doses of the red miracle drug would those strange entities truly begin to manifest in the real world. At that point, an ordinary Beast Master would be able to see them. Could it be that Charles had something special about him? Zane thought to himself, beginning to doubt his own conclusions. Perhaps at the very beginning, Charles genuinely wanted to participate in the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge, not just because of his n. Because now, it seemed that Charles truly had the strength to attempt a challenge against Icy! "The urgent thing now is to discuss this with my father and see if there''s anything we''ve overlooked." Zane couldn''t afford to think too much. He stood up and walked into a private box in the underground world, pulling out his phone. Meanwhile, the match in the octagonal cage had already concluded. Facing the dead Chad, the audience erupted into cheers, all shouting at Charles: "Awesome! That''s how it should betake out the enemy!" "Charles, you''re amazing! Do the same in the next battlejust kill them!" "Kill! Kill! Kill!" "This is so exhrating! I haven''t seen a fight like this in ages. Charles, you''re the real ace!" Some female spectators even lifted their shirts, shaking their bodies toward Charles and wildly jiggling their chests. At the same time, The audience in the underground octagonal cage''s live stream started sendingments, most congratting Charles, though many still believed he was incapable and that this was just luck. "Luck, my foot! If you went up there, you''d probably wet your pants out of fear!" In a hospital room, the awakened Jace furiously tapped on his phone screen with his fingers. The speed was so fast that most people could only see afterimages. He was currently responding to some negativements about Charles. On the other side of the hospital room, Finn withdrew his gaze with aplex expression. He recalled the fight he had just seen in the live stream and said softly, "Charles is strong, I''m no match for him." Shannon was busy packing up his things. The reason Finn and Jace were in the same hospital room was that he had arranged it. This way, he could take care of both of them and also express goodwill toward Charles. "Finn, Charles was indeed very strong in that fight, but it seems he hasn''t used anybat techniques. You know so manybat techniques, he can''t be better than you, right?" Shannon replied. In his opinion, Charles truly didn''t seem to knowbat techniques. Against Chad, Charles hadn''t used anybat techniques at all! "It''s not about the quantity, it''s about the quality. Charles probably really doesn''t knowbat techniques right now."Finn sighed, sharing his perspective. Shannon looked puzzled and asked, "Right now? What does that mean?" "Just wait and see. When Charles faces Icy, you''ll understand."Finn didn''t borate further. He could vaguely tell that during Charles''s fight, the reactions of his body and his attacking methods bore the shadow ofbat techniques. In GenoshaCalivia, within the Allen family, Zachary had not gone to the underground world to watch Charles''s match in person because he needed to train at night. He had initially thought today''s fight would be simr to yesterday''s, but he didn''t expect this fourth-level Beast Master named Chad to be so surprising. What surprised him even more was Charles''s strength! Thinking of this, Zachary looked at the training equipment in front of him and sighed. He had now lost the motivation to be stronger. Reflecting on the battle in the octagonal cage, He realized that against Chad, he would be killed in less than two minutes! "Is the gap between people really this vast? I guess I''ll only be able to look up at Charles''s back from now on." Zachary wasn''t the only one thinking this, almost all the geniuses in Genosha Calivia had watched Charles''s fight. These so-called geniuses, who were often regarded as exceptional by ordinary people, were now all plunged into silence, unsure of what to say. Some higher-ranked Beast Masters were somewhat better off, they could console themselves that Charles was only a fourth-level Beast Master and would likely need some time to be a fifth-level Beast Master. As for those fourth-level Beast Masters, they initially wanted tofort themselves by saying this fight didn''t involve mystical beasts or equipment. But the moment they thought of Charles''s diamond-quality mystical beast and his high-quality gear, all their spirits deted, and they sighed repeatedly. In a certain mountain range within Genosha, Grace stared at her phone as it slowly loaded the information, remaining silent and expressionless. Once she finished reading, she put her phone away, looked at the dark cave ahead, and resolutely walked inside. Only her teacher remained outside the cave, letting out a sigh and slowly saying, "I know you''re verypetitive, but a genius like Charles doesn''t need two years to surpass you." "Perhaps, the only thing that can help you defeat Charles now is a miracle." ... In the underground world, after the fight ended, the staff began cleaning the octagonal cage. Charles still stood in ce, his gaze fixed on Chad''s corpse until a bald man approached and asked, "Mr. Charles, do you have any other matters?" "I want to ask how Chad''s body will be handledter."Charles replied. The bald man scratched his nonexistent hair, looking at Charles with a puzzled expression and said, "Of course, it will be taken to the crematorium for incineration. What''s the matter?" Charles took out his phone and sent a message to Hale. After receiving a reply, he spoke directly. "Here''s the thing: Chad has some matters rted to Cyber Academy, and we need to investigate his body, so it cannot be cremated for the time being." The bald man frowned. Although the Cyber Academy was powerful, the underground world was not intimidated by it. ording to the rules of the underground world, Chad''s body should be handed over to his family after cremation. "Mr. Charles, what you''re saying cannot be agreed to by the underground world. You can''t represent Cyber Academy, can you?" the bald man replied. Chapter 257 Tentacles and Caves Charles understood the bald man''s words. Taking Chad''s body for investigation indeed didn''t quite align with the rules of the underground world. However, there was no way around it, the mysteries surrounding Chad needed to be thoroughly investigated. It was very likely that they were connected to the subsequent actions of the Constetion organization. During the battle, the images that appeared before Charles reminded him of those lost children, the atrocitiesmitted by the Constetion organization! "I cannot represent Cyber Academy, but I have already contacted people within the academy, and they are on their way."Charles said. Upon hearing this, the bald man immediately turned and left. He needed to report this matter to his boss. Soon, a burly man wearing sunsses and a bear fur coat approached Charles. "Let me introduce myself, I am Golden, the head of the Genosha underground world." Golden said. He truly lived up to his role as the boss of the underground world, he sensed something was off right from the start. In Golden''s eyes, Chad''s power had increased too abnormally. The strength of every top-tier Level Four Beast Master is recorded, and all relevant data is analyzed by specialized personnel. This is to ensure that the underground world can control the oue of every octagonal cage fight, allowing them to continuously profit from the audience''s pockets. Therefore, he wanted to know what had really happened to Chad! He initially thought no one else would notice Chad''s body, but unexpectedly, Charles went directly to the Cyber Academy and wanted to take the body away. That simply wouldn''t do! "Mr. Charles, Chad is a part of the underground world, and we have the right to handle his body. Please leave for now."Golden said. After speaking, he waved his hand, and someone behind him immediately stepped forward, wearing white gloves, intending to take Chad''s body away. "Wait!" At that moment, a familiar voice slowly echoed. Golden instantly felt as if he were facing a formidable enemy, his entire demeanor became tense. Charles was rtively close to him, and he could sense the oppressive aura of a high-level Beast Master. Ready for a fight, Golden turned to look toward the corner. He saw Jamie''s figure slowly appearing before everyone. "Dean Jamie? Sneaking into the underground world doesn''t quite fit the status of an Level Eight Beast Master."Golden said slowly. He truly hadn''t expected that today''s events would attract an Level Eight Beast Master. And judging by Jamie''s demeanor, it seemed he had been here for a while. Jamie casually waved his hand and replied, "I just came to take a look. Chad''s body involves the safety of Genosha, and I have the right to take it away for investigation." "Oh? The safety of Genosha? Dean Jamie, you really know how to scare me. How could... " Golden''s words were not yet finished. Jamie directly ced his phone in front of him, and a familiar face appeared on the screen. Golden immediately fell silent, choosing to shut his mouth. The person was none other than the Emperor of Genosha, Miles! "What in the world happened to warrant the Emperor''s attention? Damn it! Chad couldn''t have done something truly terrible, could he?" Golden thought to himself. He was also curious as to why Chad''s body had attracted so many people, but now all of this was irrelevant to the underground world. Golden turned to nce at Icy, and seeing that he was showing no signs of movement, he understood immediately. Icy knew the reason behind the anomalies surrounding Chad. His higher rank in the Dawn organization meant that hisck of concern indicated this matter had nothing to do with Dawn. Soon, Chad''s body was taken away by Jamie, along with Charles and Celestine. Celestine knew that Charles had other matters to attend to, so she left directly when they reached the entrance of Cyber Academy. Charles followed Dean Jamie into the office. Hale had been waiting there, along with a man Charles had never seen before, who appeared to be from the royal family based on his attire. The man took Chad''s body and proceeded with the autopsy. "We have some bad news. When Chad made his appearance, his mother and sister both died in the hospital, along with a middleman who was in contact with him."Hale said gravely. Cyber Academy hadunched an immediate investigation, but they found no clues at all. The people behind this were ruthless, leaving not a single trace. It seemed that if Chad had defeated Charles, death would have been his only fate! "Now we can only see if we can find something on Chad''s body."Jamie said. He could sense the changes in Chad and had a vague suspicion that it was due to the use of a forbidden miracle drug. The royal family sent people to conduct the autopsy investigation to better confirm the situation and see if they could find any other clues. Genosha was far from peaceful right now, there were undercurrents at y, and perhaps Constetion was plotting something to create chaos and unrest. "Dean, I have a feeling that the Taylor family is definitely involved."Charles said slowly. He recalled Zane''s behavior over the past few days, which was clearly aimed at getting him to participate in the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge, wasn''t it? Now, facing the ace-level four Beast Master Chad, the sudden surge in power was hard to separate from the Taylor family''s influence. "Charles, the Taylor family has significant power in Genosha. Without evidence, it''s hard to inflict any damage on them."Jamie replied. He knew that Emperor Miles was also keeping an eye on the Taylor family, trying to uncover something. What is needed now is time. Everything must be approached cautiously, direct action is not an option. Only by fully understanding the entire situation and the web of rtionships can we strike with overwhelming force. Then we can eliminate these tumors once and for all! Otherwise, it would easily lead to chaos in Genosha, especially considering that many people from the Taylor family held positions among the bordermanders. Jamie was also uncertain about the Emperor''s thoughts, Cyber Academy had always maintained neutrality and did not have close ties with the royal family or various powerful families. The three discussed the Taylor family and Ezra for a while longer before concluding their discussion. As Charles walked back to the dormitory, he touched the Mysterious Fragment hanging around his neck, his mind reying the events rted to the Constetion organization and the tentacles he had seen in Professor Colton''s secret chamber. "Constetion, Dawn, the world is about to descend into chaos, it''s all part of fate''s arrangement."Charles murmured softly. He could sense that something revolutionary was about to happen in the world of Beast Masters. Being a Level Four Beast Master was still far from enough, he had to seize the time to grow stronger! Stay connected with m-v l|e''-NovelBin Back in his dormitory, Charles quickly washed up and then fell into a deep sleep. Not everyone could sleep as peacefully as Charles did. In the Taylor family study, Benson had just sent away a worried Zane. He hadn''t expected Charles to be this powerful. The key was that bottle of forbidden miracle drug, after Chad drank it, it seemed to have alerted Charles to something unusual. Cyber Academy had actually taken Chad''s body away! The Taylor family had arranged everything well. Benson was confident that even with Chad''s body, Cyber Academy could at most only determine it was due to the forbidden miracle drug. Finding clues rted to the Taylor family was simply impossible! "What exactly is going on with Charles? How can a Level Four Beast Master notice something''s off?" Benson questioned the empty study. After a moment, a voice responded: "Charles''s matters are not for you to know. I remind you, the Taylor family cannot send a high-level Beast Master to directly deal with Charles." "Prohibiting the direct killing of Charles while allowing us to target him, it seems they see us as a sharpening stone."Benson seemed to have realized something. He turned to stare into the shadows of the study and slowly spoke again: "Let''s see how sharp this knife that Charles is honing can truly be." The next day, Charles, as usual, had breakfast and wanted to enter the training room for practice. A few students, mustering their courage, stopped him and said: "Charles, on behalf of the Garcia family of Genosha, I wish to..." "I represent..." ... Charles watched as students continuously handed him business cards and invitations. He could only ept the cards and invitations. It seemed that many families in Genosha, knowing about the battle from the night before, could no longer contain themselves and wanted to win him over. Charles was not interested in these so-called prominent families at all. He currently had an Level Eight Beast Master as his teacher in Beast Mastery, and a master-level alchemist as well. He looked down on these powerful familiespletely. With that thought, Charles began to worry about Professor Ezra again, as there was still no news about him. He wondered how Professor Ezra was doing. In a remote mountain range, where high-level ferocious beasts roamed freely, a mysterious figure in a ck robe looked at the cave entrance before turning to hispanions and said: "Damn! Ezra is way too strong! The three of us can''t contain him for long, we need to call for backup!" "There are no extra hands avable now, we can only do our best to hold him here. Maybe others will arrive soon."another mysterious person replied. At that moment, a deafening roar of a tiger echoed from the mysterious cave. The three of them changed their expressions and hurried to the entrance, channeling energy into an enormous tentacle. The tentacle waved like a python as it entered the cave. Soon, the entire mountain began to shake, as if the world was copsing! It was unclear how long had passed before everything around them finally returned to calm, as if nothing had happened. "At this rate, we probably won''tst much longer. I hope the organization sends someone over quickly." "Damn Ezra, the three of us still can''t kill him, this is just insane." "Just wait. Once the organization sends someone over, Ezra is as good as dead!" Chapter 258 The Battle Tomorrow Night By the time Charles emerged from the training room again, it was already afternoon. His strength had reached a bottleneck. The self-createdbat techniques showed no signs of progress, and he had fully adapted to the maximum weight of the Overlord Heavy Armor. Now, this orange-quality gear no longer felt as impactful for Charles. He could only wear it during battles to boost his defense and suddenly change his weight. "It seems I need to focus on leveling up my Beast Master rank and the level of mystical beasts from now on."Charles thought quietly to himself. He wondered if he could ask Professor Colton about getting that Map Fragment early. If he could, it might provide a chance to search for the whereabouts of the divine beasts. However, a level four Beast Master still possesses rtively weak strength, so a solid n will definitely be necessary. Setting aside his thoughts, Charles quickly had dinner with his four mystical beasts and then headed straight to the hospital. He had rushed back yesterday due to Chad''s situation and hadn''t had the chance to visit Jace. Upon entering the hospital room, he noticed that Shannon was absent, but Finn and Jace were chatting casually. After learning about Jace''s situation, Finn had been quite friendly towards him, after all, not every level three Beast Master dares to challenge a level four Beast Master! Moreover, Jace had achieved victory! "Charles, you''re here! What brings you here at this time?" Jace, who had been focused on his phone, looked up. There were still quite a few people online criticizing Charles, iming he wasn''t capable. Lying on the hospital bed to recover, Jace''s daily routine involved fervently responding to thosements online. Charles slowly walked to the front of the hospital bed and looked at Jace''s condition. He seemed to be doing quite well. As for the physical injuries, without the help of high-grade miracle drugs, recovery would have to be a gradual process. "It looks like I need to visit Professor Colton tonight, or maybe check out the alchemist guild to see if I can get some high-grade recovery miracle drugs."Charles thought to himself. After chatting briefly with Jace, Charles took the opportunity to approach Finn''s hospital bed while the nurse was taking Jace for an examination. He looked serious as he stood by Finn''s side. "What''s going on? Has something happened?" Finn asked, a bit puzzled. Charles replied, "You must have seen yesterday''s battle. That Chad is likely connected to the Constetion organization." Upon hearing Charles''s words, Finn immediately sat up and looked around the room. Charles waved his hand and said, "Before I came in, I summoned my mystical beast. There''s no one around now, so we can speak freely." Seeing Finn rx, Charles continued: "I don''t know the specifics, but Chad''s condition yesterday should be rted to the Constetion organization." "Is there any news from Cyber Academy or the Genosha royal family?" Finn asked right away. Charles shook his head, there were no further leads at the moment. The Constetion organization was incredibly mysterious, and the underground Dawn organization was as well, most Beast Masters were unaware of their existence. The two briefly discussed the matter. When Jace returned, the room fell silent again. Before long, Jace, who had been staring at his phone, suddenly shouted, "Charles, Charles, you have to see this!" Jace handed his phone to Charles, who nced at the information on the screen. He discovered it was a statement released by the underground world, announcing the appearance of the ace level four Beast Master tomorrow nightnone other than Icy. As soon as the news was released, it immediately sparked heated discussions. People online were fervently debating who was stronger between Charles and Icy. In a poll on the topic, three hundred thousand people participated, and two hundred fifty thousand still believed Icy was more powerful. Only fifty thousand thought Charles could defeat Icy andplete the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge. "Icy isn''t all that impressive! Charles, you can definitely beat him, I believe in you!" Jace said earnestly. In his view, Charles was the strongest level four Beast Master, even if Icy came from the Haunted Marsh and mastered his ownbat techniques, he wouldn''t stand a chance against Charles! "It''s still hard to say, we''ll find out tomorrow night."Charles replied calmly. His strength should be on par with Icy''s, mainly because Charles''s ownbat techniques were still iplete. Otherwise, Icy would surely not be his opponent. Now, Charles was also quite curious about his ownbat techniques, he wondered what kind of techniques would emerge from the thirty figures he hadprehended. On the other side, Finn looked at Charles''s calm eyes and spoke up, "Charles, you need to be careful, that Asura is no simple opponent." Charles turned around, nodded, and replied, "Don''t worry, I will. You guys just sit tight and watch the live stream tomorrow." Tonight''s battle still had to continue. The underground world had released the news about Icy''s appearance tomorrow to build hype and draw more attention to the fight. Celestine continued to sit in the same spot as yesterday, keeping her gaze fixed on Charles. After the battle yesterday, when she returned to her room, Charles''s figure had lingered in her mind. Especially the way he fought Chad, with those moves full of masculine energy and a demeanor that remained calm throughout. Celestine barely slept all night, as her mind was filled with thoughts of Charles! The battle was about to begin soon. This time, the ace level four Beast Master wasn''t as strong as Chad from yesterday, he was quite average. Charles didn''t engage in much back-and-forth, he opted for a direct and aggressive attack! His strength had long been revealed, and there was no point in hiding it any longer. As a result, The audience in the underground world witnessed one of the fastest battles ever. The entire process took less than a minute, and that newly appeared ace level four Beast Master had already lost the ability to fight, leaning dazedly against the octagonal cage. Charles didn''t linger, after the battle ended, he left the underground world immediately. He still had to visit Professor Colton. After Charles''s figure vanished, some audience members finally reacted, shouting: "That was way too fast! What''s going on? I hadn''t even started watching seriously, and it''s already over?" "The time was too short, only a minute! It waspletely unsatisfying!" "There''s nothing we can do but wait for tomorrow''s battle. Icy vs. Charles is sure to be spectacr!" Inside Cyber Academy, In the bamboo forest, Colton looked at Charles with a serious expression and slowly said, "Regarding that ace from the underground world, he indeed took a forbidden miracle drug." "Charles, it seems the Constetion organization is nning something. You''d better not leave Cyber Academy for the next few days, except for battles."Colton said with concern. He was very worried about Charles, his recent performances had been astonishing. More brilliant than a geniushe was practically a monster. Such a person would surely be a primary target for the Constetion organization. Colton was furious when he learned that Jamie had arranged for Charles to attract the Constetion organization''s people. He scolded Jamie for nearly an hour. If anything unexpected happened, losing a genius like Charles would be an unbearable consequence. This time, when Charles participated in the underground octagonal cage''s "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge, Colton knew Jamie would follow him closely, and he fully supported that decision. "Don''t worry, teacher, I''ll be extra careful."Charles replied. He recalled the purpose of his visit today and directly asked, "Teacher, do you have any miracle drugs that can provide rapid recovery? I have two friends who are seriously injured, and the revival pill isn''t working well." Colton thought for a moment, then carefully inquired about Jace and Finn''s conditions. He pulled out two bottles of mystical beast and handed them to Charles. Charles took them and quickly began to examine them. The information prompt disyed: [Body Recovery Regting Miracle Drug] [Grade]: Orange-quality [Description]: Taking this miracle drug can provide rapid recovery for the body and regte it, allowing the patient to return to a perfect state in a short time. It was actually an orange-quality miracle drug, and ording to the description, there were no side effects or aftereffects. "Teacher, an orange-quality miracle drug? This is incredibly precious."Charles said somewhat bashfully. Colton looked at Charles and replied, "You''ve got a good eye, you recognized it right away. It''s fine, just take it." "Those two friends are Jace and Finn, right? They''re pretty good guys." Colton thought to himself as he looked at Charles, not only was he a genius, but he also had a charismatic leadership quality, always remaining calm and working exceptionally hard. Who wouldn''t like a disciple like that? Two bottles of orange-quality miracle drug were nothing particrly precious to Colton. Charles tightly clutched the miracle drug in his hand, feeling Colton''s kindness toward him. Whether it was Ezra or Colton, both had cared for him greatly, and Charles never took these things for granted. He always kept it in mind that when the opportunity arose, he would definitely repay their kindness! After cing the two bottles of miracle drug into his storage space, Charles bid farewell to Colton and turned to leave. Colton stood in the bamboo forest, watching Charles''s retreating figure, and slowly said: "It seems I need to focus on refining miracle drugs for a while. As a disciple of a master-level alchemist, it''s a bit uneptable not to have at least a dozen orange-quality miracle drugs on hand." Colton didn''t waste any time, he turned and entered the wooden house, beginning the process of refining miracle drugs. Chapter 259 Jace’s Shock It was now past ten in the evening. After picking up two bottles of orange-quality miracle drug, Charles didn''t waste any time and headed straight to the best hospital in Calivia. Shannon had not left yet, he had just finished packing up his things. Upon seeing Charles arrive, he was quite surprised. "Charles, I heard from Finn that you came by this afternoon. Is there something urgent that brought you here at this hour?" Shannon asked curiously. Jace and Finn also looked over, momentarily puzzled about why Charles had returned to the hospital in the middle of the night. Under the gaze of the three, Charles took out the orange-quality body recovery miracle drug. "What is this? A miracle drug? The doctor said that miracle drugs below purple-quality aren''t very effective for our recovery." Jace scratched his head. His first reaction was that Charles had brought a miracle drug for recovery. Unfortunately, both he and Finn were severely injured, and their injuries were not ordinary. Miracle drugs below purple-quality had limited effectiveness. On the other hand, miracle drugs of purple-quality or above were not something a typical Beast Master could easily obtain. Even Shannon,ing from the Stone Kingdom with powerful connections, couldn''t find a suitable miracle drug in a short time. After all, high-quality miracle drugs had to be either crafted by alchemists or purchased at auctions. Generally, even if a Beast Master had ess to high-quality miracle drugs, they would typically choose not to sell them, opting to keep them for emergencies. "I know, I got this from Master Colton. It''s an orange-quality miracle drug, perfect for your current situation."Charles said calmly. Those words left the three present speechless. Jace''s face was filled with shock, he never expected that what Charles brought out was an orange-quality miracle drug. Moreover, it was specifically chosen by a master alchemist for him! Forget about orange-quality, Jace had never even seen a purple-quality miracle drug up close. This was far too precious for him, he was just a third-level Beast Master, and using such a miracle drug felt like a waste! Jace''s first reaction was to refuse. He quickly said: "Charles, this is too valuable! I can''t take it. You should keep this miracle drug, it mighte in handy for you someday." Charles didn''t waste words, he simply ced one bottle of the miracle drug on Jace''s bedside and said, "Valuable? If I''ve chosen to give it to you, it means you are more important. Hurry up and drink it, I''m waiting for you to join me in A ss." This wasn''t just polite talk, Charles genuinely felt this way. It was just an orange-quality miracle drug, under Master Colton''s guidance, his alchemy skills were improving rapidly. He might soon be able to refine an orange-quality miracle drug himself. Besides, Jace desperately needed this miracle drug to help him recover quickly. Otherwise, in half a month, the people from ss B might challenge Jace, and he would have to regretfully leave ss A. "There''s another bottle, Finn, you should take it too." Charles said as he walked to Finn''s bedside with the other bottle of body recovery miracle drug. Before Finn could respond, Shannon, who was beside him, immediately took the miracle drug and said: "Charles, we will remember this kindness, Finn and I. If you ever need anything, don''t hesitate toe to us!" Shannon spoke sincerely, ncing at Finn, who hadn''t refused yet, and he let out a sigh of relief. As Finn''s good friend, Shannon was very worried that he would reject Charles'' goodwill. He had been trying to find a suitable miracle drug to help Finn recover over the past few days. However, Genosha was a small ce, and even if he had the money, it would take time to make a purchase. This was not good news for Finn, the longer the dy, the more it would affect his training progress. With this bottle of orange-quality miracle drug, Finn wouldn''t miss the inter-academy exchangepetition. Once he sessfully entered the Genosha secret realm, improving his strength would be a sure thing! "Thank you, Charles. I really appreciate it this time."Finn said, his expressionplicated. He had thought everything was falling apart, not only had he failed to challenge the "Reaper''s Scythe."but he was also likely to miss the inter-academy exchangepetition. This was something he couldn''t ept. Over time, the pressure of revenge had be overwhelming. The only thing he couldn''t bear was watching his hope vanish before his eyes. Now, with Charlesing in the middle of the night and reigniting that extinguished hope, it meant so much more to Finn than just a bottle of orange-quality miracle drug. Some people add frosting to the cake, while others provide crucial support in times of need, thetter is particrly rare and precious. This friendship was something Finn etched deep in his heart. Charles didn''t say much, seeing that Jace and Finn had epted the miracle drug, he left feeling satisfied. The reason he gave Finn the orange-quality miracle drug wasn''t just because he and Charles both wanted to investigate the Constetion organization. Charles also saw potential in Finn, one could say Finn''s strength had earned his recognition, making it a kind of investment. Charles, returning to the dormitory to sleep, had no idea what would happen next. After receiving the miracle drug, Jace carefully took a photo, not only posting it on his personal page but also seriously responding to everyment ndering Charles. [Someone called me foolish for fighting alongside Charles and a fourth-level Beast Master, but I have to say, Charles is worth it!] [This orange-quality miracle drug was specially found for me by Charles, take a good look, everyone!] [A person who values loyalty and friendship could never be the scammer or loser you im he is!] Soon, Jace''s post sparked quite a stir and discussion. At first, those who had ndered Charles believed that the miracle drug in Jace''s hand was fake. They began to share the post, hoping to embarrass both Jace and Charles. However, it didn''t take long for someone from the alchemist guild to recognize that the miracle drug was indeed the Body Recovery Miracle Drug, orange-quality, which was extremely difficult to produce and had no side effects or aftereffects! This revtion instantly ignited a flurry of discussions: "Damn! Why don''t I have a friend like Charles? Jace is really lucky!" "Isn''t that the truth? I remember when Jace faced a high-level Beast Master, he just gave up and didn''t resist, that was so cowardly!" "Now he has defeated a fourth-level Beast Master, how is that cowardly? He is clearly a brave person!" "Is it toote for me to get to know Charles? I want an orange-quality miracle drug too." "What''s orange-quality? Who knows, maybe Charles will be able to refine golden-quality miracle drugs in the future. Don''t forget, he''s a genius alchemist!" "I almost forgot! I''ve been so focused on his battlestely that I forgot about his talent in alchemy!" Some people finally remembered that Charles became famous not just for his talent as a Beast Master, but also for his skills in forging and alchemya genius cksmith and genius alchemist at just eighteen! If he grows up, he won''t just be a powerful fighter, he''ll also be skilled in alchemy and forging. If I can be friends with Charles, I won''t be short of high-quality equipment and miracle drugs! Jace looked at the messages continuouslying in on his phone, feeling satisfied as he drifted off to sleep. The next morning, Charles didn''t head back to the training room. Tonight''s battle would likely be the most important of this "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge. Training now wouldn''t yield any improvement in just one day. He sent a message to President Owen of the alchemist guild. The gist of the message was to ask the other party to keep an eye out for any suitable rare metals, Little Gold''s food supply was running low. If this continued, it would likely face starvation. Thinking of this, Charles tapped his head, after all, a diamond-level mystical beast was indeed more troublesome to raise than an ordinary mystical beast. He wondered how Teacher Ezra had managed to raise his own divine beast. At this point, it seemed that Little Gold''s expenses would be significant in the future. If he were to contract a legendary or even a divine beast someday... He pushed that thought out of his mind and headed to the library at Cyber Academy. What he wanted to do now was to settle down in peace, partly for the battle with Icy in the evening, and partly to learn more knowledge, especially about those strange tentacles. Although Teacher Colton and Dean Jamie had repeatedly said that his current strength was insufficient and that he wasn''t suited to learn so much in advance, Charles thought that the world might soon descend into chaos. Knowing more relevant information mighte in handy then. Moreover, he had encountered quite a lot rted to those strange tentacles. As for what that eighth-level Beast Master from the Constetion organization had said about fate''s arrangement. It made Charles even more concerned. He wanted to investigate whether there was really something to fate! Time passed quickly. People online were buzzing about tonight''s battle, and even the teachers at Cyber Academy were no exception. Ruby was sitting in the teacher''s office, listening to her colleagues share their opinions about Charles. She couldn''t help but recall scenes from the ssroom, instinctively squeezing her legs together. Ruby thought with a hint of frustration, "Right now, the battle is important. After it''s over, Charles has plenty of lessons he hasn''t learned, I need to make sure to teach him well!" Watching the discussions around her, Ruby remembered Charles''s strength. In her view, unless something unexpected happened, Charles would likely not be Icy''s match. She wasn''t the only one thinking this, most of the teachers in the office shared the same sentiment. They understood that facing Icy, who had created her ownbat techniques, Charles would be at a disadvantage from the very beginning! Chapter 260 The Battle Begins! The library at Cyber Academy was unusually quiet. Most of the students who came here were focused on studying theoretical knowledge of Beast Mastery. However, Charles''s goal was not to read those types of books. He headed straight to the section with misceneous books, calming himself down as he began to read slowly. He didn''t find any books about the strange tentacles, but he dide across several ounts of unusual events. For example, one book detailed how the residents of a town mysteriously vanished overnight, sparking widespread discussion. By the time evening rolled around, Charles hadn''t made much progress. At that moment, he suddenly remembered someone: Experience new stories on m v|l e''-NovelBin The Beast Mastery schr, Dovid, whom he had met at the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association''s trading market! As the most renowned Beast Mastery schr in Genosha, he was likely to know things that ordinary people were unaware of. After the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge was over, Charles nned to find an opportunity to visit him in person. Stepping out of the library, Charles, as usual, summoned Little Gold, Max, Mia, and Mousie. Little Gold seemed somewhat unhappy, mainly because the quantity of Feather Gold was limited. Charles had slightly restricted the amount for him. After finishing his meal, Little Gold kept his head raised, staring longingly at Charles. He looked incredibly pitiful! "Don''t worry, it''s just how things are. I''m already looking for other food sources. Can you wait a couple of days?" Charles gently stroked Little Gold''s head. Soon, Little Gold nodded, trying hard not to gaze at the other mystical beasts eating, and went back to the Beast Mastery space. After dinner, Charles made his way to the underground arena. Along the way, all the spectators who saw him surrounded him, shouting loudly: "Charles! Do you have confidence today? I want to bet on your win, is that okay?" "Go, Charles! I spent ten gold coins betting on your victory!" "You''re done for! I bet on Icy winning, Charles definitely can''t do it!" Listening to the shouts around him, Charles suddenly thought of something. Little Gold would need a lot of rare metals in the future, which would cost quite a few gold coins. This battle was a good opportunity. Once he arrived in the waiting room, Charles took out his phone and sent a message to Celestine, transferring fifty gold coins. [Can you help me with something soon? I want to ce a bet, and I want to buy my win with all this money.] Before long, Celestine replied: [So much! Alright!] She didn''t ask any further questions and immediately called over a staff member to ce all fifty gold coins on Charles''s victory! "Ma''am, are you sure? The maximum personal bet is fifty gold coins. The current odds are 1:2.5. If Charles wins, you could receive 125 gold coins."the staff member said. Celestine showed no hesitation, she believed in Charles! The maximum amount a person could bet was fifty gold coins, and after betting for Charles, she wouldn''t be able to ce another bet. Celestine didn''t care about that, she only hoped that Charles would not get hurt. Even if he couldn''t defeat Icy, as long as he remained uninjured, that would be a good oue. Under the watchful gaze of the spectators, Celestine received the ticket handed to her by the staff. Some onlookers watched her intently, their eyes fixated on the ticket in her hand, eager and restless. At that moment, Ruby arrived beside Celestine, apanied by a teacher from Cyber Academy. Sensing the aura of a high-ranking Beast Master, the teacher immediately lowered his head, not daring to look up again. "Sister Ruby, do you think Charles can defeat Icy?" Celestine couldn''t help but ask the question that had been worrying her since she saw a familiar face. Ruby hesitated for a moment upon hearing the question, in truth, she didn''t think Charles had a great chance of winning. The fact that Icy had created her ownbat techniques put a significant gap between her and Charles! "Don''t worry, Charles will win."a deep voice chimed in, it was Ethan, who hade along with the Cyber Academy staff! Unlike the other teachers, Ethan understood Charles''s current state very well. Havingprehended the thirty silhouettes on the stone wall and perfectly controlling his progress, there wouldn''t be another like him in all of Genosha! As long as Charles could create his ownbat techniques during the fight with Icy, he would definitely be able to defeat her! With that thought, Ethan waved his hand, and a staff member promptly approached him. "This card has fifty gold coins on it, bet it all on Charles winning."Ethan stated directly. This made Celestine breathe a sigh of relief and caused Ruby''s eyes to widen in surprise, fifty gold coins was no small amount even for a teacher at Cyber Academy. She was astonished, realizing that Ethan must have some insider information to be so confident in Charles. With this in mind, Ruby no longer hesitated and used all thirty gold coins she had to bet on Charles''s victory. "Charles, you better not disappoint your sister! If you win, I''ll reward you, but if you lose, there will be consequences."Ruby thought of several ways to reward and punish Charles as she watched him walk through the tunnel. Under the gaze of everyone, Charles slowly entered the octagonal cage, his expression showing no signs of agitation or nervousness. All the spectators could sense the calmness radiating from him, as if facing Icy in battle was just an everyday affair for Charles. Finally, when Icy entered the octagonal cage to the cheers of the crowd, Charles''s expression began to change, the calmness vanished, reced by anticipation! Some spectators who were closer began to discuss among themselves: "Am I mistaken? Why do I feel like Charles is really looking forward to this fight?" "Anticipation is normal, there aren''t many Level Four Beast Masters in all of Genosha who can fight with Charles. Icy is the best opponent right now!" "That''s true, a true powerhouse must crave battles with other strong opponents. But who will win?" "That''s obvious, it has to be Icy! She has her ownbat techniquesdoes Charles have any?" As the bald host introduced the fighters, the atmosphere in the underground arena reached its peak. Countless frenzied spectators twisted and turned their bodies, feeling a wave of impulse and excitement. They shouted the names of their chosen fighters, their faces filled with fervor, as if this was the way to vent all their negative emotions. Feeling the surrounding energy, Icy''s heart started to race, it had been a long time since he felt this excited. Hisst fight with Finn hadn''t satisfied him, and now he was facing an even stronger Charles. Genosha was truly a remarkable ce, as it had produced two individuals who piqued his interest at the same time. "Charles, I won''t hold back this time."Icy said casually. "Coincidentally, neither will I."Charles replied. Their gazes met in mid-air, filled with the desire for battle. Fighting was the best way to enhance one''s strength! Meanwhile, in front of the live stream, Jace, lying on the hospital bed, Finn, and Shannon beside him, silently stared at the screen, the atmosphere more serious than ever. "Finn, do you think Charles will seed in the challenge?" Shannon asked nervously. He had already considered Charles a friend in his heart. The moment he learned that Charles had saved twenty-six children, he had epted him. Not to mention that they had stood together against the Constetion, and that Charles had given the orange-quality miracle drug to Finn. All of this made him genuinely concerned about Charles and anxious for his sess. "I''m not really sure either, all we can do now is believe in Charles."Finn replied. They weren''t the only ones thinking this way. In Genosha Lsengard, David, Raj, Henry, Lord Matthew, and many others who Charles didn''t know were gathered together, their eyes glued to the images on the screen. The battle hadn''t officially started yet, but everyone present was unusually serious. Those who were closer to Charles were really hoping for his victory, to them, knowing Charles and having worked together was already a great fortune. As for Matthew, he was feeling extremely nervous. He didn''t want Charles to win, but he also didn''t want him to die. After all, Charles had a human contract with his daughter, Grace! If Charles won, it would likely mean that, two yearster, Grace could be Charles''s servant! If something unexpected were to happen to Charles, the Garcia family of Lsengard would lose a powerful Beast Master, alchemist, and cksmith! But the audience following the live stream was far from limited to just these people. There was Grace, who was training hard in the mountains to grow stronger, Lily, who was already a Level Two Beast Master after her solo training, and Aria, who was squeezing time out of her busy schedule in the Atacama Desert. Countless individuals were waiting for the start of this battle, hoping for Charles''s victory. In the octagonal cage, Charles had no idea how many people were watching this fight. His thoughts were very simple at the moment. He aimed to perfect his self-createdbat techniques and defeat Icy! That was what he intended to aplish tonight, and he was determined to seed! Soon, the signal for "Fight Begin" sounded. The entire underground arena fell silent in an instant, many spectators tried to slow their breathing, stopping their chatter, and focused intently on the action in the octagonal cage. "From what I''ve seen in the earlier fights, it looks like your physical condition is pretty good. Let me see it for myself."Icy said casually. He didn''t want to start with his self-createdbat technique, Asura, a thrilling battle should unfold gradually. In the next moment, Icy''s body vanished from its original spot, and when he reappeared, he was right in front of Charles. With fists slicing through the surrounding air, creating a whistling sound, he aimed a powerful punch straight at Charles''s face! Chapter 261 Is This All Youve Got? Icy''s strike was not a test, he came at Charles with all his strength right from the start. Of course, this was without using his Asurabat techniques. He wanted to personally gauge just how strong Charles was in actualbat. In the next moment, Charlesunched an attack with both arms simultaneously. His right arm blocked in front of his face, sessfully deflecting Icy''s punch. Meanwhile, his left arm moved like a strange, twisting python, fingers merging into a knife-hand, slicing toward Icy''s neck. Icy''s pupils constricted slightly, he hadn''t expected that Charles could not only defend against his attack but also had already nned a follow-up offense while defending. Not only that, but when he threw that punch, he had been ready to capitalize on Charles''s defense by delivering a kick to his waist! Now, however, it was Charles who had seized the initiative. Such battle experience and awareness were nearly on par with his own. "I''m really curious, Charles, about how you developed yourbat awareness."Icy asked while dodging. Charles didn''t respond, his gaze was focused intently on Icy''s muscles, his eyes, and every subtle detail. Only by doing so could he urately gauge Icy''s intentions for attack. "Well, if you won''t tell me, that''s fine."Icy said with a hint of frustration. He took a deep breath, then suddenly mmed his right foot down on the ground, causing the hard surface to crack. His figure shot toward Charles like a bullet, and this speed was significantly faster than Finn''s. Even so, Charles managed to react in time. In the moment of dodging, he counterattacked promptly. The two continued to battle in the octagonal cage, the entire area bing a wreck, filled with shattered stones and swirling dust. The two figures moved like beams of light, dazzling to behold, constantly dodging, attacking, and defending. The dull sound of collisions echoed throughout the underground space. Some spectators couldn''t help but whisper: "Oh my God, this is incredible! The other top-level Beast Masters seem utterly weakpared to these two!" "Absolutely! This is the most exciting fight I''ve ever seen!" "Charles is not at a disadvantage at all, they''re evenly matched. It''s really hard to say who will win!" "Of course Icy will win, he hasn''t even used his self-createdbat techniques yet!" The quiet discussions quickly drew the displeasure of those around them, and some turned to re at the talkative group. Instantly, those people shut their mouths and resumed watching the battle in the octagonal cage seriously. In the front row, Celestine''s eyes were wide open, and her mouth was agape. She was extremely worried about Charles''s situation. Though it looked like both were engaged in a fierce battle, she was well aware that Icy still had his self-createdbat techniques. Meanwhile, Charles did not. "Ethan, you aren''t trying to deceive me, are you? In this state, even if Charles can hold on for a while, he will lose the fight due to excessive physical exhaustion."Ruby turned to Ethan. As a Level Seven Beast Master, her insight wasmendable, and she quickly grasped the situation. Ethan nodded and replied, "You''re right. Once Icy employs his self-createdbat techniques, if Charles is still in this state, he will gradually lose the fight." "Still in this state? Do you mean there''s a chance for him?" Ruby immediately sensed something and asked. Ethan looked at Celestine''s worried expression and Ruby''s curious demeanor, thought for a moment, and quietly answered: "There is indeed a chance. Charles is currently trying toplete his self-createdbat techniques!" "What!" Ruby eximed, instantly drawing a lot of attention. She quickly covered her mouth and asked in a hushed tone: "Is that true? Does that mean Charles hasprehended the fifteen phantoms? Is this kid really that impressive?" Ethan looked at Ruby with a hint of pity, wondering if she could not imagine how talented Charles truly was. Are fifteen phantoms considered impressive? "Fifteen? You''re underestimating Charles too much. He hasprehended thirty phantoms, and his progress is all the same!" Ethan replied. This left Ruby with her mouth even wider open. She turned to look at Charles in the octagonal cage, her eyes filled with disbelief. What does it mean to have thirty phantoms! Only a monster like Charles, a freak, could achieve that. "Using his fight with Icy to attemptpleting his self-createdbat techniques, Charles is indeed confident and bold!" Ruby murmured to herself, her gaze fixed on Charles as she observed intently. Soon, Ruby noticed something unusual, sometimes Charles''s attacks and defenses seemed a bit off. This anomaly was not only noticed by her. Icy, who was battling Charles, sensed something as well. He took a couple of steps back and slowly asked with a hint of confusion: "Charles, what are you doing? Is this really all your strength?" Seizing the opportunity, Charles''s mind raced as he recalled the phantoms on the walls of the trial tower and the insights gained from fighting in the tower. Combining that with his recent battle against Icy, he felt he was not far frompleting his self-createdbat techniques! What he needed now was a more dangerous fight! With this thought in mind, Charles replied, "Not yet, Icy. You might as well use your self-createdbat technique, Asura. I want to see the power of your self-created techniques!" "As you wish. I hope you canst a little longer, Charles. Don''t let me down."Icy said, furrowing his brow. Although he didn''t fully understand what was going on with Charles, Icy decided to use his Asurabat technique. He was looking forward to Charles unleashing his full strength so they could have a real fight! The audience, hearing their conversation, grew even more excited and animated, especially those who had bet on Icy''s victory. They immediately began to discuss: "Finally, it''s here! Icy is using the Asurabat technique, he''ll surely take care of Charles quickly!" "I bet a good amount of gold on Icy winning. I''m going to make a lot of money now!" "Go, Charles! Even withoutbat techniques, I believe in you!" Meanwhile, everyone supporting Charles and worried about him felt their breaths be heavier, especially Celestine, whose hands trembled uncontrobly. She truly did not want to see Charles get hurt! "Go for it, Charles!" Celestine kept repeating this phrase. She wanted to control her trembling hands, but found it utterly impossible! At that moment, Icy, who had activated the Asurabat technique, underwent aplete transformation in aura. The once aloof individual now resembled a weapon that had imed countless lives, cold and sharp, as if he were about to decapitate his enemy in the next instant! An indescribable feeling surged within him. Facing the Icy who wielded the Asurabat technique, Charles finally understood Finn''s earlier warning: Danger! Extreme danger! Charles''s mind raced with rm, and he took a deep breath to regain hisposure. Simultaneously, his brain worked furiously, constantly estimating the route Icy''s impending attack would take and where it would strike. Before long, Icy''s cold and ruthless gaze locked onto Charles''s eyes. The two locked eyes again, but this time it was eerily calm. Charles made an effort to clear his mind of all emotions. He knew the opportunity had arrived, the chance toplete his self-createdbat techniques was right in front of him! So, in the next moment, without a hint of hesitation, Charles left his original position. He chose to take the initiative and attack! The two figures collided once more, but this time Charles found himself at a disadvantage! With the Asurabat technique activated, Icy''s strength had increased, and his speed had be faster. What made matters even more troublesome was that every part of his body had turned into a weapon: his hands like des, his fists like hammers, his elbows like guns, and his legs like whips... Various unexpected attack methods repeatedly forced Charles into a passive position. Wounds of all sizes began to appear on his body, with bright red blood gushing out and dripping onto the ground. Yet even so, Charles''s eyes showed no sign of retreat or fear, they remained calm and filled with anticipation. He could feel itjust hold on a little longer, just endure a bit more! His self-createdbat techniques were almostplete! However, this scene left those concerned for Charles in stunned silence. Celestine clenched her fists tightly, her fingers dug in so hard that they broke the skin, and blood slowly oozed out. She felt no pain at all, her eyes filled with concern and worry as they remained fixed on Charles. Beside Celestine, Ruby gripped the armrest tightly, her strength so great that it left deep marks on the metal. The calmest of them all was Ethan, who widened his eyes, not wanting to miss any detail. He knew very well that Charles was not in life-threatening danger, for there was an eighth-level Beast Master, Jamie, the headmaster of Cyber Academy, in the underground world, ready to intervene at any moment! Even so, Ethan still hoped Charles would take this opportunity toplete his self-createdbat techniques. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Charles gradually fell into a greater disadvantage. A wound inflicted by Icy''s hand strike had opened on his forehead, and blood flowed down his skin, slightly impairing his vision. As time slowly passed, Charles''s movements began to feel heavy. This was not an act, he was genuinely fatigued. Now, Charles had endured longer than Finn had. Even in this state, he still refused to give up and continued to push through. "Is this really all your strength? It''s about to end, Charles. I''m very disappointed."Icy said slowly. Chapter 262 Charless Self-Created Combat Techniques "It''s still too early." Charles''s expression showed no signs of fluctuation as he quietly regarded Icy, his eyes filled with calm. It was this calm, tranquil gaze that made Icy sense something unusual. By all logic, geniuses like them, with extensivebat experience, would not risk everything to face a battle they had no chance of winning. Charles must have some other trump card! "But why isn''t he using it? If this continues, he will surely fail!" Icy''s mind raced, frantically considering all possible oues. He felt it was not that Charles didn''t want to use it, rather, that trump card must have certain limitations. Perhaps Charles had mastered a certainbat technique that could only be perfectly executed at thest moment, when faced with a life-and-death crisis! Thinking of this, Icy became excited again. He wasn''t afraid of the power of Charles''s trump card, what he worried about was that Charles only had his current strength, which wouldn''t allow for a thrilling fight! "Charles, I''ve already guessed your trump card, but don''t worry, I will give you a chance!" Icy said slowly. Upon hearing this, Charles felt a slight ripple in his heart, could it be that Icy had guessed he wanted to create his ownbat techniques? In the next moment, Icy''s fierce attacks came crashing down once more. Charles found himself once again caught in a storm of assaults. With every attack from Icy, Charles was trying toplete his self-createdbat techniques! However, his injuries were bing more severe, as if at any moment he would copse to the ground and lose consciousness! "Icy, well done! That''s it, give it to Charles hard!" In the Taylor family, Zane jumped up from his seat, waving his fists in sheer delight as he watched the live broadcast. In his eyes, Charles was already in a desperate situation, with no chance of turning the tables! Even so, Charles continued to fight, unwilling to give up. To Zane, this was pure madness! Facing an unbeatable enemy and still struggling was clearly something only a fool would do, if it were him, he would have surrendered long ago. But this was fine, theter it got, the more intense the battle would be, and soon, Charles would run out of stamina and be unable to defend effectively. Perhaps Icy wouldnd a fatal blow! That would be the perfect oue for the entire Taylor family and for Zane! "Come on, Icy, go a bit faster, hit harder!" Zane had never been this focused before. He widened his eyes, staring intently at the live feed, his attention entirely locked on the octagonal cage. Soon, the expression on his face began to stiffen, as if he had noticed something was off! "What''s going on? Is Icy running out of stamina? How is he missing all his attacks on Charles? But Icy''s speed and strength don''t seem to have changed!" Zane muttered to himself. He wasn''t the only one to notice this change. Some observant viewers began to discuss: "Has Charles exploded with power again? His speed, strength, and reflexes seem worse than at the start of the fight!" "Icy should still be at his peak, how is he missing Charles?" "Damn it, what''s going on? Could there be some behind-the-scenes dealings? Are they throwing the fight?" Soon, the calls for foul y and match-fixing grew louder. In the front row, Ethan watched Charles''s movements with increasing tension. When he saw Charles dodge Icy''s attack once more, He immediately mmed his hand on the chair, his face filled with excitement as he said, "It''s on! Charles haspleted his self-createdbat techniques!" "What? Really? Howe I haven''t noticed any change in Charles? His stamina is nearly depleted, and he''s not in as good a state as he was at the beginning."Ruby turned and asked. As a Level 7 Beast Master, she could see at a nce that Charles wasn''t doing well and there was no sign of him using anybat techniques. Could it be that Ethan had misjudged the situation? But right now, the situation in the octagonal cage was gradually evening out! "Charles has definitelypleted his self-createdbat techniques! Although I don''t know what they are, if you calm down and observe, you''ll see that Charles isn''t relying on speed and reflexes to evade Icy''s attacks!" Ethan said confidently. As Charles''s recent special training instructor, Ethan knew Charles''s peak state very well. Now, Icy''s attacks were being perfectly neutralized by Charles almost every time. This indicated that Charles had surely grasped some specialbat techniques that allowed him to master the timing and angles of Icy''s attacks! Among everyone present, the one who could feel Charles''s change the most was Icy. At this moment, his face was filled with disbelief, no longer the indifference he had shown earlier. He quickly stepped back two paces to create distance between himself and Charles, slowly raising his fists and looking at them. It was as if he couldn''t believe that this was his fist, and he hadn''tnded a single hit on Charles! "Is this your trump card? I have to admit, it seems like you''ve seen through all my movements. You''re really strong!" Icy said candidly. He took a deep breath. In his Asura state, he shouldn''t be so easily read by others regarding his next move. After all, he was like a weapon now, every muscle movement and change in his eyes were not something an ordinary person could observe and glean information from. Let alone using that information to make deductions and judgments! "How did you do it?" Icy couldn''t hold back his curiosity and asked loudly. Charles took a deep breath, sensing the information around him. He wasn''t sure what had just happened, it was as if, in a moment, a switch in his mind had been flipped. All the information in the octagonal cage was projected into his mind, including every move Icy made. He could even see the sweat slowly flowing on Icy''s skin, the opening and closing of the pores on the surface of his skin, all vividly appearing in Charles''s mind. Looking at the information prompt in front of him, Charles finally understood what kind of self-createdbat techniques he had developed. [Self-Created Combat Techniques (Unnamed)] [Description]: Forms a circr domain with a radius of ten meters around you. Within this domain, you can enter a special state, perceive everything around you, and anticipate all of your enemy''s actions in advance. Charles stared nkly at the description. It was brief, but it surprised him. The key point was "anticipate all of your enemy''s actions in advance!" Isn''t that akin to predicting the future? It merely limits the foresight to the enemy while also allowing him to sense every subtle detail within the domain. This was beyond powerful! Charles took another deep breath and directly named this self-createdbat technique, [Divine Domain] [Description]: Forms a circr domain with a radius of ten meters around you. Within this domain, you can enter a special state, perceive everything around you, and anticipate all of your enemy''s actions in advance. This name was incredibly fitting, within this domain, Charles could foresee all of his enemy''s moves like a deity. Logically, the thirty figures he had perceived in the Trial Tower shouldn''t have led to such abat technique. It seemed that the information prompt was the reason why Charles was able toplete the [Divine Domain]! "I''m not quite sure either, this should be the reason for my self-createdbat techniques."Charles answered Icy''s question. That one sentence instantly left Icy shocked once again. Experience more on m-v|l e''-NovelBin "Self-createdbat techniques? Charles, are you saying that just now, during our battle, youpleted your self-createdbat techniques?" There was no trace of coldness on Icy''s face, only astonishment. He hadn''t expected that Charles''s trump card would be this! Completing self-createdbat techniques through a life-and-death battle! This move was undoubtedly very risky, if anything went wrong, Charles could end up seriously injured. If anyone else had said this, Icy would have thought they were too arrogant, not taking him seriously. But looking into Charles''s calm eyes, Icy now had only one thought in his mind: Charles was truly a genius, a genius like himself! "Great! That''s how it should be! Charles, now that you have your self-createdbat techniques, we can have a proper fight!" Icy said, twisting his neck. He took a deep breath, pressed his palms together, and instantly his whole body swelled up like a balloon. Then, Icy slowly exhaled the murky air from within him, and his aura underwent a dramatic transformation. If Icy had been a weapon before, now he was a weapon that had just in thousands, covered in thick blood! The audience in front of the octagonal cage quickly covered their noses as a strong smell of blood wafted from Icy! Charles became even more serious, now Icy felt even more dangerous to him. "Was that not the full state of Asura earlier?" Charles asked for the first time. Icy''s eyes were blood-red, and his mouth curled into an exaggerated grin. He licked his lips and slowly replied: "Charles, dying under the true Asura state is an honor!" The former Icy had been exceptionally indifferent, now he was filled with arrogance and bloodlust. Especially in those blood-red eyes, filled with an endless desire for ughter, it seemed that this state had some special effect on him! Soon, the situation of the battle grew tense once again. One was Charles, who hadpleted his self-createdbat techniques in the heat of battle, and the other was Icy in a new state of his Asurabat techniques. The two stood opposed to each other in the octagonal cage. All eyes were fixed on them, and no one dared to breathe! Chapter 263 Next Comes My Attack "By the way, Charles, your self-createdbat techniques look pretty impressive. I wonder what it''s called?" Icy shook his head and nced sideways at Charles as he asked. He was now very curious about the name of Charles''s self-createdbat techniques. Generally speaking, one could gain some relevant information from the name of abat technique. To be honest, Icy had no idea how Charles had perfectly dodged every one of his attacks. Although he was now in a stronger Asura state, understanding how Charles had done it might still prove to be a challenge. Fortunately, Charles answered his question. "The name of thebat technique is: [Divine Domain]."Charles said slowly. His voice wasn''t loud, but it was very clear. Even in his second-tier Asura state, Icy was momentarily taken aback. He instinctively reached for his ear, as if uncertain about the name Charles had just spoken. [Divine Domain]? Divine? A Level 4 Beast Master actually dared to name his self-createdbat technique with a word that includes "Divine"? Was Charles too arrogant, or did he have high hopes for this [Divine Domain]bat technique? Not only did Icy think so, but even Ethan sitting in the audience had some doubts about his own hearing. However, considering that Charles hadprehended thirty figures on the stone wall toplete his self-createdbat technique, naming it as such wasn''t entirely unreasonable! For an ordinary Beast Master, a self-createdbat technique derived from thirty figures could indeed be called "Divine"! "I want to see just how strong thisbat technique of yours is, worthy of this ''Divine'' title."Icy dered as he prepared tounch his attack. He had gathered useful information from the name: first, thisbat technique was incredibly powerful, and Charles had great confidence in it, Second, it should be rted to a domain, which meant it likely had some range limitations. He just didn''t know how extensive that range was, would it cover the entire octagonal cage? The rest of the information needed to be explored by Icy himself, so he charged at Charles without hesitation. This time, the speed of his attack was even faster, and the force was greater. Icy''s feet even left a dent in the ground. Countless fragments and dust flew through the air, propelled by the gusts created by Icy''s movements. From a distance, Icy looked as if he had wings, soaring towards Charles. However, Charles made no move at all, as if he didn''t have time to react. Some spectators gasped, saying: "Icy''s attack looks absolutely invincible this time! What a magnificent strike! Is Charles stunned?" "Icy''s speed is so fast, did Charles not manage to react?" "Are you guys stupid? Just now, Charles perfectly dodged Icy''s attacks several times, he won''t encounter any surprises now!" "Maybe Charles can''t pull off what he did earlier anymore?" Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Han Yan was almost face-to-face with Charles. Unexpectedly, at that moment, he suddenly changed the direction of his attack, opting to strike at Charles''s side instead! However, just as Icy altered his movement, Charles moved as well! The two acted simultaneouslyone changing his attack, the other adjusting his position. In the next instant, Icy''s attack grazed past Charles and hit the ground. "How is this possible? At the same time? This can''t be!" Icy stared at Charles in disbelief. As a battle genius, he was well aware of what had just happened: Charles had moved at the same time he did? What did this imply? Did Charles predict all of his movements? That was impossible! Because in the second-tier Asurabat techniques state, no one could perceive his muscle movements through the killing intent and bloodlust surrounding him to anticipate his actions. Moreover, from the moment he changed his movement to deducing his true intent, time was required. It was simply impossible for both of them to act simultaneously! "It must be that Charles got lucky and happened to dodge."Icy thought to himself, as he could only rationalize it this way. Otherwise, he had no way to exin what had just transpired. In contrast to Icy, Ruby, a Level 7 Beast Master, turned her head in disbelief, her mouth agape in shock as she looked at Ethan and asked: "Ethan, did you just see that? Charles actually..." Before she could finish her sentence, Ethan, taking a deep breath to calm himself, responded with certainty: Your next read is at m v|l-e''-NovelBin "You didn''t missee it, Charles didn''t act simultaneously with Icyhis movement was just a fraction faster!" To understand what this means, consider that even Ruby, a Level 7 Beast Master, and Ethan, who is hailed as the tiger of Cyber Academy, were utterly shocked. A slight difference indicates that Charles didn''t merely predict Icy''s movements, he preemptively foresaw them! By anticipating Icy''s actions, Charles had already begun to shift his position before Icy even moved. Although Icy was incredibly strong, he was slightly affected by the Asurabat techniques, and since he was not on par with Level 7 and Level 8 Beast Masters, he didn''t notice the difference. While Ethan and Ruby were still in shock, a figure quietly appeared beside themit was Jamie, the dean of Cyber Academy. He no longer worried about Charles''s condition, this battle held no suspense anymore. "Dean!" "Dean!" Ruby, Ethan, and several other teachers from Cyber Academy quickly stood up to pay their respects. Especially Ruby, who nced at the dean''s astonished expression and then looked back at Charles in the octagonal cage. She thought to herself, "The dean actually came here. Is it for Charles? This kid must be pretty important to have an eight-level Beast Master like the deane in person!" The other teachers likely had their own guesses about the dean''s purpose for being in the underground world, and in their minds, they had a clearer understanding of Charles''s importance. He was undoubtedly a unique genius, unprecedented in the Genosha branch of Cyber Academy! At this moment, Celestine had no idea what the teachers were thinking or what Jamie''s appearance in the underground world represented. Her attention was entirely on Charles, watching his bleeding wounds, her eyes turned red, and silent tears dripped onto the ground. "Charles, go for it! You''re the best." Celestine didn''t dare to shout too loudly. She was afraid of affecting Charles, so she chose to cheer him on softly yet firmly, repeating her encouragement over and over. In the octagonal cage, Icyunched a series of fierce attacks, each time changing angles and trajectories, leaving no intact spot on the ground. The ground was all pockmarked and uneven, yet despite this, he still hadn''t touched Charles''s skin! All of the wounds on Charles''s body were caused by Icy''s attacks when he failed toplete his self-createdbat techniques earlier. Now, he could no longer inflict any effective damage on Charles. "Damn it! Is this some kind of absolute defensivebat technique?" Icy thought to himself. He had tried many times, and each attack was perfectly evaded by Charles. Whether he chose to attack directly or change direction mid-attack, it was always the same! It was as if Charles could see into the depths of his mind, moving simultaneously to avoid each of his strikes. "Onest attempt, let''s rely entirely on instinct!" Icy still hadn''t given up. He wanted to try maintaining calm and rationality in battle, something every strong individual must learn. Now, for Icy,pletely losing his calm and rationality and relying on his battle instincts had be hisst offensive strategy. In the next moment, Icy closed his eyes and then opened them again. In his bright red eyes, there was not a trace of human emotion, only endless killing intent and bloodlust. At that moment, Icy resembled a sharp de, cutting through the air around him, charging toward Charles''s shoulder with an unstoppable momentum! Then, This final offensive maneuver was evaded by Charles with a slight sidestep. The powerful strike crashed into the ground, creating a deep pit instantly. Icy, feeling somewhat dazed, looked down at the pit beneath his feet, unsure of what to do. It was the first time he had encountered such a situationnone of his offensive techniques had any effect on Charles at all. At this moment, the bnce of victory had begun to tip in Charles''s favor. "Can I ask how you''ve managed to evade so many attacks?" Icy gritted his teeth, regaining some rationality, and he desperately wanted to know the answer. Failure is not something that is impossible to ept, not knowing how you failed is what truly drives one to despair. "I told you, mybat technique is called Divine Domain."Charles replied slowly. This statement left Icy stunned once again. He reluctantly assumed a defensive stance and spoke up again: "From now on, I will choose to defend. Charles, yourbat technique should only serve the purpose of evasion, right?" Icy took a deep breath. If he wanted to avoid being defeated by Charles, this was the only option lefthe hoped that Charles''s Divine Domain only had defensive capabilities. Charles didn''t show any other expression upon hearing Icy''s words. He was also curious about the offensive capabilities of Divine Domain. He carefully sensed everything within the domain, including the muscles throughout Icy''s body and the traces of energy flow. Soon, a perfect offensive route appeared before Charles, and it seemed he could even see how Icy would attempt to block it. "Let''s give it a try, now it''s my turn to attack."Charles said. Chapter 264 The End of the Battle! The tides of battle between Charles and Icy had shifted, now it was Charles''s turn to attack while Icy defended. At this moment, Icy, who was in the second stage of Asura, experienced an immediate change in momentum. When he was on the offensive before, he was like a weapon that could y thousands. When it was his turn to defend, Icy suddenly transformed into a heavy shield, firmly nted on the ground. He positioned his left arm across his chest, exuding an immense sense of weight and solidity, as if no attack could topple him. However, in Charles''s eyes, the shield that Icy had be, whilerge and sturdy, still bore numerous fine cracks. This was due to the enhancement of Divine Domain, Charles could perceive everything within the domain, including Icy''s current weaknesses and how Icy would defend when heunched an attack. A fair amount of time had passed, and Charles had been using Divine Domain for a while now. He faintly sensed a decline in his mental state, as if he were experiencing a slight headache. "It seems that using Divine Domain not only consumes physical strength but also takes a toll on my mental faculties, I need to be more careful in the future."Charles thought to himself. He didn''t waste any more time and initiated his attack, following the route he had visualized. Charles was feeling fatigued now, his speed and strength were not at their peak, but that didn''t hinder him. Instead, it caused Icy, who was on the defensive, to break out in a sweat. He couldn''t figure out from which direction Charles intended to attack or what kind of offensive strategy he would use. The route coulde from the side or directly rush him head-on. Even though Charles''s speed was slow, it should have been easy to predict! Icy no longer hesitated and decided to follow his instincts, he chose the route he felt was the most likely for defense. At that moment, Charles had already arrived in front of Icy. He anticipated Icy''s choice and altered his initial attack route,unching a sudden strike aimed directly at Icy''s most vulnerable spot. In the next instant, Icy''s body was pushed back three steps. Since Charles''s strength wasn''t particrly overwhelming, Icy did not suffer any fatal blows. However, his mental state now seemed somewhat poor as he incredulously stared at his retreating feet and left hand, unable to believe that in both offense and defense, he was no match for Charles! "What a Divine Domain, Charles. You''ve truly chosen a fitting name, I admit my defeat."Icy said slowly, lowering his head. He had no other options left. The oue of this battle had been sealed the moment Charlespleted his self-createdbat technique, Divine Domain. What followed was merely his unwillingness, a desperate struggle against the inevitable. Moreover, he could no longer maintain the second stage of Asura, if this continued, the toll would only increase. Icy stood there, somewhat dejected, casting aplex gaze at Charles, his feelings were quite intricate at this moment. Initially, he believed that he would be the victor of today''s battle, Charles, while strong, had not reached the level where he could defeat him. If it came down tobat experience, skill, and physical attributes alone, Charles would surely failand fail miserably! What Icy hadn''t anticipated was that Charles wouldplete his self-createdbat technique, Divine Domain, during their fight! That kind of determination and willingness to face danger was not something just anyone possessed. When Icy hadpleted his self-createdbat technique, Asura, it had been after facing real battle, pushed into a corner with no other options. In contrast, Charles actively chose to pursue the opportunity to create his own technique. From this perspective, Icy felt a sense of admiration for Charles. With the loser''s departure, only Charles remained in the octagonal cage. Before the host could announce the battle''s oue, the majority of the audience erupted into wild cheers for Charles, with some shouting: "Awesome! I am witnessing history! A newly minted Level 4 Beast Master has truly seeded in this challenge!" "What is Reaper''s Scythe? It''s not an issue at all for Charles!" "Charles is the strongest Level 4 Beast Master, who dares to argue?" "It''s over, it''s all over. Damn Icy, he made me lose so many gold coins!" Some people were ecstatic, while others were engulfed in despair, with the most affected being Zane from the Taylor family. He was slumped in a chair, and the entire room had turned into a wreck. Everything he could throw was destroyed, including the phone he had used to watch the livestream. "Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Self-createdbat techniques, it''s all about self-createdbat techniques!" Zane shouted in a frenzy. He never expected that not only had Charles survived Icy''s attack, but he had also defeated Icy andpleted his self-createdbat technique, Divine Domain! This was a heavy blow for him! All his meticulous nning, from online public opinion to the people in the slums, and even to Chad, the ace Level 4 Beast Master, had all been in vain. Discover more content at m,v l''e-NovelBin Moreover, Zane couldn''t help but think: "What if I hadn''t provoked Charles? Would he have participated in the Reaper''s Scythe challenge? If so, he wouldn''t havepleted his self-createdbat techniques and be stronger?" Was there anything more painful than this? To Zane, Charles was a mortal enemy, yet he felt that he had inadvertently made this enemy even stronger, and not by a little! In the Bamboo Grove of Cyber Academy, Colton watched the livestream with a sigh of relief. Even knowing Jamie was on-site, he had been very worried about Charles. Now, it was all good, the fight was over, and Charles had defeated Icy. The Reaper''s Scythe challenge held no more suspense, without Icy as an opponent, the remaining ace Level 4 Beast Masters were definitely no match for Charles. Even though Charles had sustained some injuries in today''s battle, "What does it matter? I''ve already given Jamie the miracle drug for healing, and since I''m working overtime tonight, I can brew some more miracle drugs. I''m a master-level alchemist, after all. Does Charles reallyck miracle drugs?" Colton said slowly. He felt very satisfied with Charles at the moment. First, because in a few days, once Charlespleted the Reaper''s Scythe challenge, he would help him obtain that alchemy material, bringing him one step closer to his goal. Second, because Colton saw in Charles a person who could inherit all of his alchemy techniques! This was incredibly important. Initially, his deliberate support of Charles might have been more about the future "Valley of the Herb King" secret realm. Now, Colton had changed his perspective, even if Charles couldn''t fulfill the agreement, that wouldn''t stop Colton from continuing to teach him. He had already regarded Charles as his only disciple! "It''s time to go back and brew some miracle drugs. If I work a little harder, I can make sure Charles has a dozen bottles of orange-quality miracle drugs, achievingplete freedom with miracle drugs!" Colton thought to himself. "No, orange-quality won''t be enough! It would be best to have some golden-quality miracle drugs! I need to push myself even more!" Before long, Colton put away his phone, turned, and walked into the alchemy room to begin his brewing. He was preparing for Charles''s future. A monster like Charles might not be long before he roamed the world, encountering more powerful foes and making more friends. If that time came without good miracle drugs on hand, that would be a problem! ... Inside Lsengard, Matthew watched the projected images, closing his mouth. He listened to the cheers of those around him, feeling somewhat uneasy. From this perspective, Charles''s talent was indeed terrifying. His daughter Grace would likely not be a match for Charles in the future. If, because of the human contract, Grace became Charles''s servant, wouldn''t that bring shame to the entire Garcia family of Lsengard? No, looking at it from another perspective, someone like Charles would eventually be a top Beast Master. Having a human contract between Grace and Charles might actually allow the Garcia family to thrive and strengthen under Charles''s protection. Thinking of this, Matthew felt a bit relieved. What he feared most now was that Grace would continue to offend Charles. If Charles decided to vent his anger, it could drag the entire Garcia family into trouble, and that would be disastrous! He took out his phone and called his daughter Grace. From what he knew about her, she had probably just finished watching Charles''s livestream. "Father? What''s the matter?" Grace''s voice came through the phone, the signal a bit shaky, but he could still make out what she was saying. "Grace, did you see the fight earlier? Charles is truly remarkable, he''s only eighteen" Before Matthew could finish his sentence, Grace interrupted him, "There''s no need to say more. I know. I''m also eighteen and a Level 4 Beast Master now. Father, please believe me, in two years, Charles won''t be my opponent!" Hearing the determination in his daughter''s voice, Matthew sighed and decided not to say anything more, instead starting to ask her about some everyday matters. After hanging up the phone, Grace tightly gripped her phone. She took a deep breath and turned to her teacher, saying: "Teacher, I want to go to more dangerous ces. I want to be a Level 5 Beast Master faster!" The teacher frowned and replied, "Some things can''t be rushed. Take your time, what you need now is rest." "I don''t have time to rest. Charles is getting stronger quickly. If I want to defeat him, I have to take risks. If he dares to fight Icy like that, why should I be afraid of danger?" Grace''s gaze was exceptionally resolute. She didn''t care about any dangers right now, she only cared about whether she could be a Level 5 Beast Master before Charles and contract a higher-quality mystical beast. "Alright, you are the most gifted person I''ve ever seen, so there is still hope."the teacher thought for a moment and said reassuringly. Grace turned around and looked toward the direction of Genosha Calivia, saying calmly, "In the battle two years from now, I will definitely be the one to win!" Chapter 265 Dont Go Out Recently Everyone reacted differently to the results of tonight''s battle, some were joyous, while others were sorrowful. In the underground world of Genosha Calivia, the crowd''s cheers were deafening. Some fervent spectators, especially those who had bet on Charles to win, were now acting like they had gone mad, surging toward the octagonal cage like a tidal wave. The expressions on their faces were incredibly fervent. Amidst the crowd''s shouts, Charles''s calm face stood out strikingly. He slowly walked out of the octagonal cage and approached Celestine. At this moment, Celestine finally let out a sigh of relief, her eyes were red as she looked at the wounds on Charles''s body, some of which were already dried and crusted with blood. She was on the verge of tears. "It''s nothing, just some superficial injuries. I''m fine." Charles said with a hint of helplessness. His injuries weren''t too severe, it was just that he had expended quite a bit of energy, and he felt exceptionally fatigued now. At that moment, Jamie, the head of Cyber Academy, approached him, pulling out a bottle of miracle drug and handing it to Charles, saying: "Here, drink this. Colton prepared it for you. I knew you''d need a miracle drug to recover." Upon hearing this, Charles immediately took the bottle. The information disyed in his eyes indicated that it was an orange-quality miracle drug, very suitable for his current condition. He downed it in one go, and the wounds on his body began to heal slowly, while a faint warm current coursed through him. Charles understood that the miracle drug was repairing his internal organs, and it seemed that it wouldn''t be long before his body returned to peak condition. This battle had also drained a lot of his mental energy, and now Charles just wanted to return to his dorm, take a hot shower, and get some proper rest. There were still several more battles ahead, and ordinary Tier Four Beast Masters would not be able topete with him. He figured that by that time, he wouldn''t even need to use [Divine Domain] to defeat his opponents directly. Now, Charles''s goals could be said to be mostly aplished. He had sessfully created his ownbat technique, [Divine Domain], and was about to challenge "Reaper''s Scythe." The remaining task was to deal with the [Dawn] organization, but that could only wait until they took action first. "Charles, how are you feeling? Is there anything ufortable?" Celestine quickly asked as she approached him, carefully observing his condition. Meanwhile, Ruby and Ethan chimed in, saying, "Congrattions, Charles! You''vepleted your ownbat technique! Among all the youth in Genosha, you''re the only one who could do this!" The other teachers from Cyber Academy also nodded in agreement. There truly was no one who couldpare to someone like Charles among the talented youths of Genosha! Charles''s expression didn''t change much, he didn''t feel particrly excited. To him, what happened today was somewhat expected. He just hadn''t anticipated how powerful thepletedbat technique, [Divine Domain], would be. If it hadn''t been for his earlier injuries and dwindling energy, Icy probably wouldn''t havested three minutes against him! This was the strength of Charles''s self-createdbat technique, [Divine Domain]. Moreover, in future battles against regr Beast Masters, with the presence of mystical beasts, skills, and equipment, Charles''s advantage inbat would be even greater. The moreplex the situation, the more evident the advantages of [Divine Domain] in sensing everything around him would be. However, this self-createdbat technique, [Divine Domain], was not perfect. It had a currently unfixable weakness: its range limitation. It could only sense everything within a circr area of ten meters in radius centered on Charles, predicting the enemy''s movements. If he encountered a Beast Master with long-range capabilities, the advantages of [Divine Domain] would not be as significant. "By the way, Charles, you should stay at Cyber Academy for the next few days and try to minimize going out."Dean Jamie said with a serious expression. He was worried that Charles''s performance in the battle today had surely been noticed by the people from the [Constetion] organization. If the [Constetion] organization still harbored intentions of assassinating Charles, staying at Cyber Academy and minimizing his outings was a wise choice. Last time, [Constetion] had lost a Level Seven Beast Master when they were lured outside the city by Charles. This time, they would likely be more cautious and would not act unless they were absolutely sure of sess. Charles also understood that he needed to continue fighting in the underground world until he fullypleted the challenge of "Reaper''s Scythe."waiting for the [Dawn] organization to make their move. "Dean, I need to go to the hospital for a bit. After today, for the next few days, I''ll return to the academy right after finishing my battles."Charles said. Yesterday, Jace and Finn used an orange-quality miracle drug for physical recovery, so he should be feeling much better. It shouldn''t be long before he could leave the hospital. "Alright, go ahead. I''ll follow you."Jamie nodded. In the past, Ruby, being a Level Seven Beast Master, could provide close protection for Charles. Now that Jamie had seen Charles''s true talent and strength, he felt a bit uneasy. If he had the time, it would be safer for him to apany Charles personally. Within Genosha, the only person who could have an Level Eight Beast Master as protection would likely be Emperor Miles himself! If others found out, it would surely cause a huge uproar, Charles''s importance was nowparable to that of the emperor! Soon, the group left the underground world. Ruby, Ethan, and the other teachers from Cyber Academy all chose to return to the academy. Jamie was now unaware of where he was hiding, leaving only Celestine and Charles together. Seeing Charles gradually recover, Celestine finally rxed. As soon as she came out, she rushed to a nearby supermarket to buy some tissues and water. Carefully, she wiped the blood off Charles''s face, each movement incredibly gentle, unlike how she had acted when they first met in Lsengard. Thinking of this, Charles suddenly became interested and spoke up. "Do you remember when we first met? You were so proud back then, even trying to ambush me at night." Hearing Charles''s words, Celestine''s movements came to a halt as she recalled what had happened that night. She never expected that her failed ambush would end up backfiring on her! "How can you bring that up? You were the one who..." Celestine started to reply, but as she remembered the scene, her face instantly turned red. Charles burst intoughter. After they finished cleaning up, the two of them made their way to the best hospital in Calivia. They entered Jace and Finn''s hospital room. The two of them were already able to briefly leave their beds and move around. Suddenly, they spotted Charles and Celestine walking toward them. Jace''s face lit up with surprise. Ignoring the doctor''s advice to avoid strenuous activity, he sprinted over to Charles, excitedly asking: "Charles, what are you doing here? The battle just ended, you should go rest!" Before Charles could respond, Jace suddenly twitched, the injuries that hadn''t fully healed red up in pain again. Celestine and Charles hurried to support Jace''s body and gently helped him back to the bed. Shannon was also there, and he said with a hint of schadenfreude, "Looks like you''ve learned your lesson. The doctor said to avoid running around, but you just had to ignore it." "So what? Even if I''m in pain, I''m happy inside!" Jace retorted. Over the past couple of days, he had be a bit more familiar with Finn and Shannon. Especially with Shannon, they had started to tease each other when they had nothing to do. Jace was no ordinary person, he was quite outspoken online and fiercely defended Charles against anyone who ndered him. "Alright, alright, Charles just got here, you two should take a break for a moment."Finn chimed in, Discover hidden content at m,v l''e-NovelBin his gaze fixed on Charles. Long before this battle even began, Finn had a feeling that Charles would achieve victory. At that time, he only had a hunch that Charles might be working on creating his ownbat techniques. To his surprise, the reality turned out to be exactly what he had suspected! While both were geniuses, Finn could only learn tenbat techniques, whereas Charles had alreadypleted his self-createdbat technique, Divine Domain. The gap between them was quite significant! Finn remembered when he first met Charles, he thought Charles only had impressive physical qualities andbat experience, and couldn''tpare to him, who possessed tenbat techniques. Now, it seemed he had underestimated Charles. Even if Charles hadn''t created thebat technique Divine Domain, he probably could still defeat Finn. "Congrattions, Charles! You shouldn''t have any issues in the uing battles. You''ll definitely seed inpleting Reaper''s Scythe."Finn said earnestly. Charles waved his hand dismissively and asked with concern: "How''s the recovery going for you and Jace?" "Very well, of course! After downing a bottle of orange-quality miracle drug, the recovery is bound to be quick!" Jace replied eagerly. Finn nodded in agreement. They figured that in about three days, they would be able to leave the hospital and return to their normal lives. "That''s good to hear. I might note to the hospital to visit you in the next few days."Charles exined briefly. Jace didn''t think much of it, but Finn and Shannon exchanged nces and seemed to recall something. However, since there were others present, they didn''t say anything and simply nodded. Charles stayed a bit longer before finally leaving the hospital with Celestine. On the way back, she walked slowly, wanting to spend more time with Charles. Charles wasn''t oblivious, he could sense the reliance emanating from Celestine. Recently, he hadn''t spent much time with her. There was no avoiding it, as the inter-academy exchangepetition was about to begin soon, and he might not have much time then either. Chapter 266 Celestine Arrives On the dimly lit streets at night, under the faint glow of the streetlights, Celestine feigned ease as she looked at the tall buildings in the distance and slowly said, "Charles, this is far enough. You can head back now." "Isn''t there still a bit of distance left? I''ll walk you to the entrance."Charles replied. Celestine shook her head. She focused on Charles''s somewhat blurred face under the streetlight and said: "I want to watch you walk away, that way, I can see you a little longer." Charles was taken aback. He gazed at the girl before him with aplex expression. Even though she was doing her best to suppress her emotions and appeared veryposed, But Charles could still sense Celestine''s emotions. Without a moment''s hesitation, Charles opened his arms and pulled her into an embrace, softly whispering in her ear: "It''s okay now. It''s all behind us. I''m fine now, and I will be fine in the future." In that brief moment, Celestine lost herposure. The girl, who had been holding back her emotions, could no longer contain her feelings, and her tears flowed like a summer downpour. "I was so worried tonight, watching your wounds bleed endlessly. Charles, please promise me you won''t get hurt again." At her words, Charles felt a warmth in his heart. He could clearly sense how deeply this crying girl cared for him and how much he meant to her. "Alright, I''ll do my best to avoid it in the future. The fight is over now, so cheer up! After all, I''m the victor tonight."Charles said, trying to shift Celestine''s focus. He didn''t know how tofort her, so he could only say this. As time passed bit by bit, Celestine finally stopped sobbing. She slowly rested her head against Charles''s chest, feeling his warmth and listening to the steady beat of his heart. "It''s almost time for me to head back to Cyber Academy. I guess I''ll be staying there for the next few days."Charles said helplessly. He felt reluctant, and as he sensed her presence, his arms instinctively tightened around her. "I understand. Can Ie visit you at your academy?" Celestine suddenly looked up, locking her gaze with Charles''s eyes. Charles thought for a moment and replied, "Even if youe, I won''t have much time to spend with you. I have to be in the training room early in the morning..." Before he could finish, Celestine interrupted him. "I meant in the evening. Can Ie to Cyber Academy at night?" "At night? I think the academy doesn''t allow outsiders to stay overnight."Charles said, feeling a bit confused. He hadn''t really considered that question. Celestine stepped out of Charles''s embrace, took a deep breath, and called out loudly to the surroundings, "Dean Chen, I''m applying to enter Cyber Academy now. Is that okay?" Charles was taken aback, he hadn''t expected Celestine to do that. The area fell silent, with no response at all. After a moment, Jamie''s voice echoed from somewhere, "Sure, I approve." Celestine instantly lowered her head, taking Charles''s arm as they headed toward Cyber Academy. After they left, Jamie emerged from the shadows, scratching his nose and saying: "Being young is great. I was once pulled along by a beautifuldy just like that." ... In the dormitory of Cyber Academy, Charles watched Celestine, who was packing her belongings, and he still couldn''t quite process everything. She came to Cyber Academy just to spend the night with him? "Stop staring. You''re tired today, right? After you shower, I''ll give you a massage."Celestine said, looking down. The decision she made earlier was sudden, if it weren''t for how much she missed Charles, she wouldn''t have acted this way. During the battle that night, Celestine had been filled with worry. She feared that Charles could be seriously hurt, and even more, she was scared of something unexpected happening. Seeing Charles embrace her, Celestine could no longer hold back her feelings and felt bold enough to act. Since Charles couldn''t leave Cyber Academy, then she woulde to him instead. "Well, I''ll go take a shower first."Charles said, scratching his head as he spoke slowly. Celestine nodded at first but immediately shook her head and said, "You got hurt today, it might be inconvenient for you. Let me help." Charles was taken aback, before he could even agree, Celestine had already pulled him into the bathroom. As Celestine gently and slowly removed Charles''s clothes, she deliberately brushed her firm chest against his skin. With each movement, Charles could only take deep breaths and try to control his body''s reactions. When it came time to remove his pants, Celestine noticed the tent that formed and instinctively licked her lips. Before long, all of Charles''s clothesy discarded. "I''ll help you wash. Is the water warm enough?" Celestine adjusted the water temperature and asked. Charles gazed at the hot water spraying from the showerhead and the mist that enveloped the room, feeling his most primal desires stirring within him. Especially when Celestine identally got her clothes wet from the water overhead, her curvy body became partially visible, with her firm breasts and shapely hips all drawing Charles''s gaze. "My clothes are wet, and it''ll be inconvenientter, so I should take them off."Celestine quickly exined, looking down and not daring to meet Charles''s intense stare. Before long, Celestine was left wearing only a sexy ck lingerie. Charles could vaguely see the hair between her legs, free from the constraints of her panties, with glistening droplets of water on it. "Come on, let me help you shower."Celestine said, pulling Charles closer. After the battle ended, Charles had taken the miracle drug prepared by Professor Colton, and now all his wounds had healed. Feeling her soft, delicate hands roaming over him, especially the softness of Celestine''s breasts, Charles could no longer hold back, his lower body became incredibly hard, raised high, eager to find an enemy to fight. The softness of her skin, the slickness of the shower gel, and their increasingly heavy breaths mixed with the sshing water sounds in the bathroom created an intoxicating atmosphere. Charles turned around to look at Celestine''s flushed, alluring face. Two fiery gazes met through the steam, neither of them spoke. Celestine pushed her hair back and lowered her head. Her rosy lips enveloped Charles''s rigid member, a warm and wet sensation flooding his mind. As Celestine''s mouth moved rhythmically up and down, Charles took deep breaths. His hands began to explore Celestine''s body, removing her top and yfully caressing her firm yet soft breasts. Before long, feeling that the time was right, Charles lifted Celestine up, rinsing off the remaining soap suds. They stood in front of the bathroom mirror, beginning to repeat the pleasurable motions. Early the next morning, Charles woke up around six as usual. Beside him, Celestine was sleeping peacefully. She had exhausted quite a bit of energy yesterday, and her throat was a bit hoarse. Fortunately, the soundproofing in the academy''s dormitory was excellent. Otherwise, they might have receivedints the next day. Gently getting out of bed, Charles washed up quickly. He first headed to the academy''s cafeteria, had breakfast, and packed an extra meal to ce on the desk in the dormitory. Finding a piece of white paper and a pen, he wrote a few lines and set an rm clock. Only then did he make his way to the training room at Cyber Academy to begin his daily training. Now that his self-createdbat techniques wereplete, the Overlord Heavy Armor could no longer help him enhance his physical attributes or increase his strength. All he could do was continue his training as a Beast Master and work on leveling up his four mystical beasts. Over the recent period, Little Gold was quickly approaching level neen, but since he had nearly exhausted the rare metal materials, Little Gold''s leveling speed had slowed down. As for Mia, Max, and Mousie, they had leveled up significantly, especially Mia, who, as Charles''s third spirit pet, had reached level twenty-five. The information disyed in his eyes was: [Moon Riding Wind Falcon] [Name]: Mia [Attribute]: Wind [Level]: Lv25 [Quality]: Emerald [Skills]: [Moon Riding Wind], [Sharp w Strike] [Weakness]: Abdomen/Lightning Attribute [Hobby]: Alcohol [Emotion]: Happy [Health]: Good ... Max and Mousie''s levels had also reached twenty-seven. However, the higher the level, the slower the upgrading process became. It seemed like it would take quite a bit of time before they could advance. On the other hand, if Little Gold had enough rare metals, he could be ready for advancement in just a few days. Now, Charles wasn''t as busy as before. The "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge would bepleted soon, and he would also obtain the alchemy materials from Professor Colton shortly. The only thing left was the uing inter-academy exchangepetition. The winners would gain ess to the secret realm of Genosha, allowing them to rapidly enhance their abilities. This was a must for Charles! If he had more time, he nned to slowly try the Training Tower to see if he couldplete the most difficult challenges. After all, Jamie Dean had mentioned that if hepleted everything, there would be a mysterious hidden reward. Besides that, What worried Charles a bit was the news about Professor Ezra. With that in mind, Charles nned to visit the Dean''s office again at noon to see if there were any updates on Professor Ezra. "Sigh, my strength still isn''t enough."Charles said slowly. He watched the mystical beasts training hard and let out a sigh. Continue reading at m|v-l''e -NovelBin Maybe once his strength improved a bit more, things would get better. Bing a top-tier Beast Master was Charles''s goal, he knew he had to be more diligent and work harder. Chapter 267 Might Not Be Able to Participate in the Fight In Genosha, Calivia, in the underground world, the underground world was very quiet during the day. In the vast underground space, only a dozen figures were busy cleaning the area. In the boss''s office, Golden stood in front of the desk, hunched over with his head down, looking at a girl sitting in the chair. She was a petite girl, only about one hundred and fifty centimeters tall, wearing a pink fluffy dress, with a ponytail and holding a pink lollipop in her hand. Icy also stood next to Golden, unlike Golden, he wasn''t as tense or humble and appeared quite casual. "Cecilia, I''m really curious. How did the organization send you here? Shouldn''t it have been someone else?" Icy asked helplessly. He hated dealing with immature kids, and working under someone like that would surely lead to all sorts of trouble. "Icy, what kind of expression is that? Do you not want me here? If that''s the case, I''ll just leave." Cecilia immediately jumped off her chair, wanting to walk away. Golden, who had been hunched over, quickly reached out his hand and pleaded, "Mydy, please don''t go! You''re the only one in the organization with the authority. If you leave, what are we supposed to do?" "Lord Icy is just joking. After he found out you wereing, he was actually quite happy, really!" Golden looked at the two young people in front of him, feeling utterly helpless. He could only try his best to pacify them. Otherwise, if Cecilia really did leave, it would just be him and Icy left, and he had no qualifications to represent the Dawn organization in contacting Charles! ording to the rules, as long as someonepleted the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge, a member of the Dawn organization would reach out to the sessful challenger. They would conduct an assessment within a certain time frame, and then arrange for relevant tasks. Only afterpleting those tasks could one temporarily join the Dawn. Cecilia was the only one with that authority, Icy didn''t qualify yet. "Hehe, I was just joking! But I''ve heard this Charles is really impressive, even Icy isn''t his match. Is that true?" Cecilia fixed her gaze on Icy and asked. She was doing it on purpose. After all, Icy always wore a cold expression, as if everyone owed him money, which annoyed Cecilia greatly. Faced with Cecilia''s question, Icy didn''t respond. He had alreadye to terms with the reality. The Divine Domain was a very powerful self-createdbat technique, and Charles was a genius stronger than him. There was no denying that, even if Charles was better than him now, it was only temporary. He wouldn''t be unable to defeat Charles forever, there was still plenty of time ahead. In a year or two, perhaps Charles would be his defeated foe! "Cecilia, don''t forget the reason you''re here. I don''t have time to y house with you." Icy said slowly. He was someone who valued efficiency in his work, and he was quite annoyed by Cecilia''s casual attitude. "Okay, since Charles''s subsequent battles are already determined, there''s really no need to wait any longer. The other ace-level Beast Masters definitely won''t be his match."Cecilia said as she licked her pink lollipop. She savored the sweetness on her tongue before continuing, "I''m not in a rush right now, I have another task. We can talk about Charles after the battle ispletely over." Icy paused for a moment. What other task? He had no idea at all! Cecilia nced at Icy and said proudly, "You''re curious, aren''t you? Too bad your level is too low, I can''t tell you!" With that, Cecilia turned around and left. Golden and Icy exchanged nces, both letting out a sigh. ... On the other side, in the Taylor family, in Benson''s study, a mysterious figure suddenly appeared, startling Benson, who was reading. "What''s going on? Why such a sudden visit today? Did something happen?" Benson quickly asked. In the past, this mysterious person had always been very calm, as if nothing could surprise him. But today, for some reason, Benson could clearly sense the unease radiating from him. "Something has indeed happened. The Taylor family should not make any moves during this period, everything must stop temporarily and wait for further news!" The mysterious person''s words came out quickly, and his tone seemed a bit off, as if something very important was at stake. It was the first time Benson had encountered such a situation, and he quickly pressed for more information, "What exactly has happened?" The mysterious person took a deep breath, trying to digest the news he had just received. "I can''t tell you just yet. This matter has caught even us by surprise, we can only wait and see for now. Remember, do not make any moves until we notify you!" "Make sure to remember this!" The mysterious person seemed a bit uneasy and repeated it for emphasis. After seeing Benson nod, the mysterious figure vanished again into the darkness. Benson was left alone in the study, feelingpletely baffled. "Could it be that Ezra has returned? That shouldn''t be the case, even Ezra wouldn''t cause this kind of panic!" Benson pondered hard. The fact that the mysterious person had issued a notification to halt all actions and go into hiding indicated that something very serious was going on. However, the Taylor family had no information at all, and Benson began to feel anxious. He quickly informed everyone in the Taylor family that, unless there was something extremely important, they were prohibited from leaving the Taylor family estate. Especially Zane, Benson ordered him to stay at home and not go out, even confiscating Zane''s phone andputer. Throughout Genosha Calivia, it seemed that only the Taylor family had received this news and started to retreat. Other prominent families continued on as usual, as if nothing had happened at all. Meanwhile, at Cyber Academy, Charles arrived at the Dean''s office, wanting to inquire about any news regarding Teacher Ezra. To his surprise, the only person in the office was Teacher Hale, who was busy handling some documents. "Ah, Charles, is there something you need today?" Hale asked. Charles replied, "I wanted to check with the Dean to see if there''s any new information about Teacher Ezra." Hale sighed and said slowly, "Not at the moment. The Dean left early this morning, he must have other matters to attend to." Charles epted this, but just as he was about to leave, Jamie''s figure suddenly appeared at the doorway. Upon seeing Charles, he said with a serious expression, "Charles, you might not be able to participate in today''s battle." "What! What happened?" Both Hale and Charles were filled with confusion. "Especially since Charles has already defeated the strongest Icy, the remaining opponents are just ordinary ace-level Beast Masters." "If he can''t participate in tonight''s battle, doesn''t that mean he''s giving up on the ''Reaper''s Scythe'' challenge?" If that''s the case, not only would Teacher Colton be unable to obtain the alchemy materials, but Charles would also lose the opportunity to connect with the [Dawn] organization! "What exactly is going on, Dean? Why can''t I participate in tonight''s battle?" Charles asked again. Jamie''s serious expression remained unchanged. He walked in from the doorway and sat down in the chair by the window, slowly beginning to speak: "The reason you can''t participate in the battle is that someone has arrived in Genosha Calivia today." "Someone? Who? What does that have to do with my battle tonight?" Charles felt extremely confused. The fact that he couldn''t participate in the underground octagonal cage battle was just because someone hade to Genosha? What was going on? Hale, however, seemed to remember something after hearing Jamie''s words, and his face showed an expression of disbelief as he slowly said: "Dean, is it that person?" Jamie nodded and looked at Hale with aplex gaze, slowly saying: "Exactly, he''s here. Hale, whether your curse can be lifted depends on him!" Charles listened to their conversation,pletely baffled. Soon, after his inquiries, Jamie and Hale exined everything to him. A legendary ninth-level Beast Master hade to Genosha Calivia today! The ninth-level Beast Master known as the Radiant Knight! Lucas! "A ninth-level Beast Master!" Charles was very surprised, he originally thought it would be someone else, but it turned out to be a ninth-level Beast Master! And judging by the title, he seemed to be a good person. However, looking at Jamie and Hale''s expressions, it seemed that things were not that simple. "Sigh, this person is very peculiar, he cannot tolerate even a hint of dark attribute Beast Masters. If he sees you, Charles, you could be in trouble." Jamie sighed. He was feeling a bit of a headache, it just so happened that a ninth-level Beast Master arrived at this moment! If it had been a few dayster, after Charlespleted the ''Reaper''s Scythe'' challenge, there wouldn''t have been any issues. But it had to be today! Even without summoning a mystical beast, Charles would still exude dark attribute energy, and that wouldn''t go unnoticed by a ninth-level Beast Master. If the other party came to the underground world and saw Charles fighting, Jamie, as an eighth-level Beast Master, would have no confidence in being able to ensure Charles''s safety. So the best solution was to keep Charles hidden in Cyber Academy, that way, there wouldn''t be any unexpected incidents. But doing so would mean he couldn''tplete the ''Reaper''s Scythe'' challenge! "Can''t tolerate dark attribute Beast Masters? Dean, what''s wrong with dark attribute Beast Masters? I haven''t done anything wrong." Charles said, puzzled. Does being a dark attribute Beast Master automatically make someone a bad person? "There''s nothing we can do, he''s a ninth-level Beast Master."Jamie replied, feeling a bit overwhelmed as he tried to think of a solution. Chapter 268 The Black Blood Tavern Jamie walked to the window, gazing at the scenery of the academy outside. He let out a sigh once more and slowly said: "Lucas is a very strange person. If you happen to encounter him when he''s in a bad mood and he sees a dark attribute Beast Master, he will directly take action and eliminate them." "Your teacher, Ezra, almost died at his hands." Upon hearing Jamie''s words, Charles was taken aback. It''s important to note that Teacher Ezra was an eighth-level Beast Master with a divine beast, and the nine-tailed me tiger was a dual-attribute divine beast. Charles remembered the scene when he first saw the nine-tailed me tiger very clearly, including the information prompt at that time: [Nine-Tailed me Tiger] [Attribute]: Dark, Fire [Level]: Lv85 [Quality]: Mythical [Description]: Originally an ordinary jungle tiger, it identally fell into a chasm engulfed in a mysterious ze. The fierce mes did not burn it to death, instead, they refined its essence over nine thousand years of suffering, allowing it to achieve perfection and be reborn. "Teacher Ezra is also a multi-attribute Beast Master, not just a pure dark attribute Beast Master. Even so, did Lucas still take action?" Charles asked curiously. He understood that Ezra was not an ordinary eighth-level Beast Master, almost no one in Genosha dared to provoke him. "Yeah, when Lucas goes crazy, he doesn''t care about anything. If he wants to attack you, no one can stop him."Jamie replied with a heavy nod. There''s almost no perfect solution to such matters. The only thing that can be done now is to keep Charles at Cyber Academy as much as possible, avoiding any contact with Lucas. Perhaps thetter was just passing through Genosha Calivia. "Wait a minute. If Lucas leaves tonight, you can still participate in the underground octagonal cage battles without any issues."Jamie suggested. This was the best n avable at the moment. "Is that all? What if he doesn''t leave? Am I just supposed to give up on the battles tonight?" Charles said, somewhat unwilling to ept it. Everything was so close, he only needed a few more fights toplete the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge, help Teacher Colton obtain alchemy materials, make contact with the Dawn organization, gather intelligence about what was happening in the abandoned factory underground, and find the hidden enemies within Genosha. Just when everything was about to get better, he suddenly encountered Lucas, who harbored animosity toward dark attribute Beast Masters. Moreover, Lucas was a ninth-level Beast Master, a rarity in the entire Abyssal Depths and the topbat power of the Ethereal Grove! "Sigh, life is always full of surprises. Charles, you''ve alreadypleted your self-createdbat techniques. You just need more time to be a top Beast Master."Jamie said as he turned to face Charles. He stared into Charles''s eyes, noticing his reluctance, and continued to persuade him: "You''re only eighteen. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future, there''s no need to take risks. Skipping the underground octagonal cage battles is perfectly fine." Charles fell silent. He knew that Dean Jamie was right, and perhaps Lucas would leave soon. In that case, he could still participate in the underground battlester. With that thought, Charles gained a clearer understanding of the world of Beast Masters: in the presence of absolute strength, everything must yield! Power is the most crucial thing in the world of Beast Masters! "I understand, Dean."Charles said, taking a deep breath in response. Seeing that Charles agreed to stay at Cyber Academy, Jamie felt relieved. A talent like Charles must not encounter any idents. Furthermore, the safety within Cyber Academy was guaranteed, as long as Lucas didn''t go crazy, everything would be fine. Genosha Cyber Academy is just a branch campus,cking the protection of top Beast Masters, but the main campus does have them. "Hale, get ready in a bit ande with me to greet Lucas. Let''s see if we can ask him to help lift the curse on you."Jamie said, turning to Hale. Ezra had already tried many methods to help Hale, but none had worked. Perhaps a ninth-level Beast Master with a light attribute could sessfully lift the curse, allowing Hale to break free from being stuck at a sixth-level Beast Master and unable to improve his strength. Hale didn''t show much excitement on his face, he kept his head down, lost in thought. "It''s been a long time, you shoulde out of this now."Jamie said, gently patting Hale''s shoulder. Hale nodded and followed Jamie out of the office. Charles was left alone in the office, gazing out at the scenery beyond the window. Soon, the top families of Genosha, the royal family, and the deans of the three major academies all gathered at the gates of Calivia. The surrounding crowd had already been dispersed, and even the Genosha officials had issued warnings on the inte, advising all residents to stay home and minimize unnecessary outings. All of this was to wee the arrival of a ninth-level Beast Master. "Father, what''s going on? It seems like everyone is here, it''s so grand."Zane asked Benson in a lowered voice. This was the first time he had witnessed such a scene, so serious and formal, with everyone''s faces filled with intensity and tension. Benson recalled the notification he had just received and began to understand the situation. It turned out that the legendary Light Knight, ninth-level Beast Master Lucas, was passing through and would be stopping for a while. No wonder the mysterious people were so anxious, if this Light Knight noticed anything amiss, the entire Genosha could be turned upside down, exposing those hiding in the shadows and cutting them all down! The Taylor family would surely not escape! "Don''t ask what you shouldn''t. Remember, stay close to me, and don''t say or do anything you shouldn''t!" Benson said, turning around. His expression was exceptionally serious as he repeatedly urged Zane. Zane naturally sensed the seriousness of the situation. He nodded, closed his mouth, and widened his eyes as he stared at the distant road. Time passed little by little. The legendary Light Knight, ninth-level Beast Master Lucas, still had not appeared. Jamie stood beside Emperor Miles, furrowing his brow. By this time, he should have arrived already, why was he still not here? Miles looked off into the distance with a hint of disappointment and said slowly, "It seems he doesn''t want to get too involved. He must have already entered Calivia by now." Hearing this, Jamie understood. Miles hade out to greet him personally, but there was a hidden agenda behind it. The tensions between Genosha and Kingston were escting, and the issues between the two nations were essentially beyond reconciliation. If they could gain the support of a ninth-level Beast Master at this time, it would be a tremendous boon for Genosha. Then, when facing Kingston, Genosha would have more confidence! "Your Majesty, should we continue waiting?" someone asked quietly. Miles fell into deep thought. He couldn''t afford to overlook any glimmer of hope, this ninth-level Beast Master was incredibly important for all of Genosha. Even if they couldn''t gain his support, they needed to avoid any actions that might cause dissatisfaction. "We''ll continue waiting here. Avery, send someone into the city to find his location ande back without disturbing him."Miles decided. He was the emperor of Genosha, but in the presence of absolute power, he had to humble himself. This was the world of Beast Masters, strength was the most fundamental and essential aspect. Avery, receiving the order, turned and left. Meanwhile, inside Calivia, no one had yet noticed a strange figure appearing in a tavern in the slums. Cross Street, ck Blood Tavern. During the day, the tavern didn''t have many customers, a few scattered patrons were talking loudly. It was at night that Cross Street came alive, and only when darkness fell did the tavern''s atmosphere heat up. While the bartender absentmindedly wiped a ss, a middle-aged man dressed in white with a white top hat walked in. As soon as he appeared, he captured the attention of everyone present. There was no other reason, the man''s attire looked extraordinarily luxurious and elegant, clearly worth a fortune. "A person like this definitely isn''t from the slums, he must be an outsider."the bartender instinctively thought. He exchanged a knowing nce with the nearby barmaid, who immediately understood and stepped further into the tavern. Experience new stories on mvl "Wee, esteemed guest. Good afternoon. What can I get for you?" the bartender asked with a stiff, false smile. "Give me a cocktail that you excel at."the man in white said, pulling out a gold coin and tossing it onto the table. The bartender''s smile instantly became genuine. He suppressed his inner greed and didn''t take the coin right away, instead, he chose to carefully prepare the drink. Gin, Campari, and vermouth Before long, a Negroni was ced on the bar, and the entire tavern fell silent. Dozens of eyes were fixed on the outsider at the bar. The middle-aged man in white elegantly picked up the drink, took a small sip, then set it down and said slowly, "It tastes quite good." The bartender let out a sigh of relief and reached out to take the gold coin. Soft music began to y, and the tavern gradually returned to its previous atmosphere, though the bartender''s eyes asionally darted toward the entrance, as if waiting for someone''s arrival. The man in white, however, did not lift the Negroni again. His long fingers tapped rhythmically on his thigh, and he began to hum along with the music. As the song ended, the middle-aged man in white stopped his movements and turned to look at the door. A few secondster, a figure appeared in the doorway of the tavernit was Mark, the one Charles had saved earlier! Chapter 269 The Mouse of Constellation Mark cautiously stepped into the tavern. He was one of the shareholders of this establishment.When the strange man in white entered, the bartender had already quietly notified him. Someone who had spent years in the slums mightck strength, but their judgment still remained sharp. The aura of the middle-aged man in white was clearly not something an ordinary person possessed. Mark sat down nearby and ordered a Bloody Mary. While the bartender was preparing the drink, he turned to the man next to him. "Good afternoon, sir. How may I assist you?" Mark asked gently. His judgment was also quite good, he wasn''t sure how to address the man, but considering his attire and choice of cocktail, calling him "sir" seemed appropriate. "Good afternoon, my name is Lucas. I do have a few things I''d like to inquire about."Lucas said as he removed his hat and held it to his chest. He came to this tavern in the slums specifically to gather some information. Even as a Level Nine Beast Master, he wasn''t omniscient. The tasks he needed to aplish required the assistance of these people. "I''d like to ask if there have been any outsiders in Genosha Calivia recently?" Lucas put his white top hat back on and asked. Mark nced at Lucas and replied, "Are you referring to outsiders like yourself, or?" "Some filthy rats that only hide and skulk around."Lucas said bluntly. His expression of disgust waspletely unmasked, as if he could already see that stinking bunch of rats. Mark wanted to say something more, but Lucas pulled out a handful of gold coins and ced them in front of him, saying, "I understand the rules. I''ve always been one to abide by them, of course, until I see those rats." Looking at the gold coins before him, Mark''s eyes widened. From his experience, there were at least twenty coins there! Even if he shared all the information he had, it wouldn''t be worth that much gold. While the money tempted him, Mark, who had managed to carve out a position in the slums, understood very well that some money wasn''t meant for him to take. He reached out, counted three gold coins, pocketed them, and then pushed the rest back. Only then did Mark respond, "Recently, there has indeed been a group of people trying to keep a low profile in Calivia. The information I have is limited, worth three gold coins." "I appreciate someone who knows their worth. Since you only require three coins, I won''t press further."Lucas replied with a smile. For some reason, looking at that smiling face sent a chill down Mark''s spine. His instincts told him that this seemingly gentlemanly man was anything but simple! "Well, it so happens that there are a few ces in the slums" Mark shared the information he had, watching Lucas fall into thought. He nced at the nearly untouched Negroni on the bar, instinctively looking toward the bartender who was bringing over the Bloody Mary. Seizing the opportunity as the bartender approached, Mark quietly asked, "Has that Negroni been consumed? What did the guest think of it?" "They took a sip and said it was quite good, tipping me a gold coin."the bartender replied honestly, without holding anything back. Mark''s heart skipped a beat, a gold coin was far more than the price of a Negroni. He was about to ask the bartender to return the coin when Lucas spoke up, "No need to be so cautious. This bartender''s skills are quite good, and the drink is decent." Hearing this, Mark breathed a sigh of relief. In the chaotic slums of Cross Street, things appeared utterly disordered and chaotic on the surface. However, there was actually a hidden set of rules in ce, to live safely and steadily, one had to abide by these rules. Since Lucas said so, there was nothing to worry about. "Thank you for the information. By the way, I appreciate those who follow the rules."Lucas said as he stood up, holding the Negroni and slowly walking to the tavern door. Just before leaving, he added, "By the way, do you know of any notable geniuses in Genosha Calivia?" Mark instinctively thought of one person: Charles! In all of Genosha, there was hardly anyone more gifted than Charles. He opened his mouth to respond but then remembered the impression Lucas had left him and closed it again. "Well, if you don''t know, I''ll just ask someone else."Lucas said, somewhat regretfully leaving the ck Blood Tavern. He walked elegantly along the streets of the slums, and everyone kept their distance from him, as if an invisible spotlight descended from above, illuminating him. This tant demeanor quickly alerted the royal agents nearby, someone reported the information, and Avery and Miles received the news. "It seems it''s him. He has entered the city ande to the slums. We should head straight over."Miles said. He too couldn''t understand Lucas''s intentions, why enter the city and go straight into the slums? Was there something or someone special that drew Lucas''s attention? The emperor of Genosha, the deans of the three academies, Xavier, the president of the Forging Masters Guild, Owen, the president of the Alchemist Guild, and the heads of various prominent families, and so on. A group of people marched toward Cross Street, and when they entered, they witnessed an unforgettable scene. Lucas, dressed in a white suit and wearing a white top hat, elegantly held a cocktail in his hand. In front of him knelt a dozen terrified Beast Masters. "I''ll ask you one more time: where are the other rats hiding? Speak up, and I might consider a quick death for you."Lucas said in a detached tone. No one answered, all those kneeling on the ground trembled but resolutely chose to remain silent. "Truly stubborn, aren''t you? Rats will always be rats. It''s utterly disgusting!" Lucas lifted the Negroni to his eyes, admiring the enticing color before downing it in one go. A burst of light energy erupted from him, and all those kneeling suddenly levitated, unable to move. At that moment, Lucas turned to face the approaching emperor and his entourage. He snapped his fingers elegantly, and the suspended individuals instantly exploded, bursting apart like fireworks. Countless blood and tiny fragments rained down from the sky, crashing onto the ground. The entire area transformed into a deep crimson, resembling a monotonous red oil painting. Amidst the bloody liquid, Lucas stood quietly in his white attire, not a drop of blood on him, exuding an eerie elegance. Jamie''s expression was nk, as if he saw nothing at all, clearly, he had anticipated this. He understood very well that this seemingly graceful man was, in essence, a madmanone with formidable power! "Hello, everyone. I came to Genosha Calivia just passing through, nothing special going on."Lucas exined with a smile, but looking at the blood and body fragments around him made it impossible to sense any goodwill. Zane shrank back, silently hiding behind his father Benson. At that moment, he couldn''t help but feel the urge to vomit. Benson noticed Zane''s movements and kept a straight face as he stepped on Zane''s foot. Their actions didn''t draw the attention of others, everyone was focused on Lucas and the scene he had just created. Miles, the emperor of Genosha, looked at the smile on Lucas''s face and spoke up: "Sir, what is going on here?" As Lucas walked forward slowly, he casually replied, "Just some rats from the Constetion, nothing worth paying attention to." Upon hearing the word "Constetion."everyone present seemed to understand the situation. It was rumored that Lucas, known as the Light Knight, had a deep-seated hatred for dark attribute Beast Masters, and most of the Constetion members were indeed dark attribute Beast Masters. "Sir, Genosha has prepared a banquet for you, pleasee this way."Avery immediately said. Lucas waved his hand in boredom, casually cing his empty ss on a nearby stall. Then, looking at the high-ranking officials of Genosha before him, he spoke in a gentle tone, "No need to trouble yourselves. I have other matters to attend to." Other matters? The people of Genosha instinctively nced at the ground, the bright red blood had not yet dried. Was Lucas nning to do this again? "If only I could find some more hidden rats, I would like to know if there are any special geniuses within Genosha."Lucas voiced his curiosity. Upon hearing this, everyone present began to think. Some reacted quickly, recalling that Lucas, as a level nine Beast Master, seemed to have never taken on an apprentice. Could he be looking for a suitable genius to take as a disciple? This thought immediately excited everyone in the room, bing the apprentice of a level nine Beast Master would be a huge leap forward! In an instant, the members of the prominent families began to rapidly search for suitable candidates within their families. However, after turning it over in their minds, they found few who could truly be considered geniuses. This is because above all the geniuses in Genosha loomed an undeniable genius, Charles! Thinking of this, Benson''s eyes suddenly lit up. He remembered that Charles was a multi-attribute Beast Master, contracted with a wind attribute, a dual fire and ice attribute, and a dark attribute mystical beast! A dark attribute mystical beast! What would happen if this level nine Beast Master, who had a particr hatred for dark attribute Beast Masters, found out about Charles''s existence? Would Charles be killed on the spot by Lucas? Experience tales at mvl Benson''s heart began to fill with anticipation. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 270 What Are They Hiding? The mysterious figure had once said that as long as they did not directly attack Charles, they would not intervene in any matters. The opportunity presented to Benson was truly a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Even if Ezra returned safe and sound in the future, it would not significantly affect the Taylor family. A level nine Beast Master taking action against Charles had little to do with the Taylor family. Moreover, considering Charles''s level of recognition within Genosha Calivia, even if the Taylor family remained silent, others would definitely talk about it. "Just a little guidance will do, avoid saying too much. Safety first!" Benson''s mind raced with thoughts. Meanwhile, Jamie, the head of Cyber Academy, had a bad feeling in his heart. Charles was undoubtedly the most famous genius in Genosha. If he caught Lucas''s attention, especially after Lucas had just killed a dozen people, the consequences could be dire! What if Lucas acted impulsively and decided to attack Charles? Thinking of this, Jamie immediately spoke up before anyone else could: "Most of the geniuses in Genosha have already entered the three major academies for their studies. The remaining ones are being taught by teachers." "If you''re looking to take on a disciple, you''ll need to exclude those who have already pledged themselves to a master." Jamie''s words echoed in the ears of the crowd, and everyone turned to look at Lucas, eager to know if he truly intended to find an apprentice. "That''s true, but can anyone elsepare to me? I want to see what level the geniuses of Genosha are at before deciding on a disciple."Lucas replied. This answer neither confirmed nor denied his intention to take on an apprentice. Jamie wasn''t ready to give up just yet, he turned to Miles and proposed, "Your Majesty, why not notify the young geniuses in Genosha who wish to take on a master toe to the royal banquet?" Miles nced at Lucas and, seeing that he showed no signs of refusal, nodded in agreement. The top figures in Genosha around them began to understand Jamie''s purpose in doing this. Just as Benson was about to say something, before he could open his mouth, Jamie was already in front of him, staring intently into his eyes, filled with murderous intent, and said: "Oh, does the head of the Taylor family have any other opinions?" Benson looked into Jamie''s cold, murderous gaze and chose not to respond. He could sense that if he mentioned Charles at this moment, he would surely face Jamie''s retaliationter! The wrath of an eighth-level Beast Master was something the Taylor family could not bear right now. Thinking of what the mysterious figure had promised, Benson took a deep breath and shook his head, indicating he had no objections. Yet in his heart, he vowed that once he used that thing to be an eighth-level Beast Master, he would make Jamie pay the price! The decision had been made. A group of people was heading toward the royal pce. Meanwhile, the young talents of Genosha received notifications from the royal family, with messages appearing on their phones. It stated that a level nine Beast Master would be attending the royal banquet and encouraged them to perform well, as this could be a chance to earn the favor of the Beast Master. Upon seeing this message, countless individuals were instantly excited! A level nine Beast Master was the dream of many Beast Masters, a figure revered wherever they went. Finn looked at the message on his phone, swayed his body, and felt that his injuries had mostly healed. He turned to Shannon beside him and said: "I want to go see it, to try my luck." Shannon craned his neck and leaned down to peek at the information on Finn''s phone, astonished. He asked, "A level nine Beast Master? Is this for real? There are only a handful of level nine Beast Masters in the Abyssal Depths. Who could it being to Genosha Calivia?" Shannon clearly had more knowledge about the Abyssal Depths. His mind raced, most level nine Beast Masters were incredibly busy, and there were very few who coulde to Genosha at this time. Moreover, those without disciples who were looking to take on apprentices were even rarer. "Could it be Light Knight, Lucas?" Shannon considered this possibility. He immediately turned to Finn and said, "You need to think this through. Lucas has another title: the Elegant Madman!" Finn slightly furrowed his brows. He found the two contrasting titles quite strange. One was Light Knight, which sounded full of justice and power. The other was Elegant Madman, suggesting a sense of obsession and abnormality. However, for him, as long as it was a level nine Beast Master, it was not a problem. If he could be a disciple of a level nine Beast Master, his revenge would have a greater chance of sess! "No more thinking, if I miss this chance, there won''t be another. A level nine Beast Master is not someone you encounter easily."Finn took a deep breath and made his decision. He was determined to give it a shot! There were many others who shared Finn''s thoughts. Some senior students from Cyber Academy were also making their way to the Genosha royal pce. Those who received the message were all exceptionally talented and powerful young individuals, only such people were qualified to attend the banquet. Otherwise, if their skills werecking and their talent insufficient, they would only embarrass themselves in front of the level nine Beast Master. Charles was no exception, he looked at the message on his phone, feeling a bit perplexed. Before Charles had a chance to think further, Jamie''s call came through. "Charles, you absolutely must not attend the banquetter. A lot of people from Constetion died at Cross Street today, Lucas was behind it." Cross Street? People from Constetion? Charles felt his curiosity about Lucas intensify. He attempted to search for some information online, but details about a level nine Beast Master were ssified and generally inessible to the public. Hearing Jamie''s concerned voice, Charles nodded and replied: "Dean, I won''t be going. Besides, I already have Master Ezra, I''m not interested in other Beast Masters." Upon hearing Charles''s response, Jamie sighed with relief. What he needed to do now was wait for Lucas to leave. If things went smoothly, it wouldn''t interfere with Charles participating in the underground octagonal cage fight that night. He also hoped to see if he could get Lucas to help look into the curse on Hale. Thinking of this, Jamie nced toward the center of the banquet, where Lucas was sitting. If it were the old days, that seat would surely have been upied by Genosha''s Emperor Miles. This was the benefit of having immense powercountless people admired and respected you, too afraid to provoke you, desperately wanting to win your favor. Even the position of the Dean of Cyber Academy''s Genosha branch felt somewhat insignificant in this moment. If Jamie wanted to ask Lucas for help, he could only give it a shot. "Hale, be careful and stick close to me."Jamie instructed Hale. Hale nodded and followed Jamie over. "Sir, I am Jamie, the Dean of Cyber Academy. This is Hale, his uncle is Ezra." Jamie introduced them right away. There could be no hesitation at this moment, he needed to mention his status as Dean and Hale''s connection to Ezra to pique Lucas''s interest. Sure enough, upon hearing Jamie''s words, Lucas looked up at Hale. After a few seconds, he spoke with genuine interest, "Interesting. This curse seems somewhat familiar. Let me think about where I''ve seen it before." Upon hearing this, Jamie instantly felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders. Hale instinctively looked up at Lucas, who was deep in thought. His emotions wereplicated, he desperately wanted Lucas to help lift the curse but feared it might all be in vain. After all, Ezra had tried various methods to resolve the curse on him, and none had worked! Could Lucas have a solution? After a moment, Lucas shook his head and slowly said, "I can''t remember where I encountered it before, but I can help him lift the curse." Hale froze in ce at these words. His body began to tremble, the curse that had trapped him for years was about to be lifted today? However, in the next moment, all his fantasies and hopes were ruthlessly shattered. "I can lift the curse on him, but why should I bother?" Lucas said casually. A dean from Cyber Academy''s branch and a connection to Ezra, It wasn''t enough to make him help Hale. To lift this curse, he would need to expend energy, time, and effort. "Well, I wonder what your requirements are, sir?" Jamie spoke first. He didn''t want to lose this opportunity. Over the years, he had been watching Hale''s performance closely. He knew that Hale had great potential and would definitely achieve more than just being a level eight Beast Master in the future. But the key was that the curse had to be lifted, otherwise, Hale would remain a level six Beast Master for life! "I have no demands. I''m just quite curiouswhat is Cyber Academy hiding?" Lucas smiled as he looked at Jamie. The observational skills of a level nine Beast Master were not so easily deceived. Back at Cross Street, he had already noticed some interesting things. When geniuses were mentioned, many people''s eyes in Genosha subconsciously turned towards Jamie and Benson. Especially the way Jamie spoke to Benson, filled with threats and malice. Clearly, things were not so simple, was Cyber Academy hiding something about their geniuses that he wasn''t meant to know? As he entered the banquet earlier, Lucas had taken out his phone and searched for Cyber Academy, discovering that much of the information was rted to a particr young man. There were mentions of a monster from Cyber Academy, a true genius, a disciple of a level eight Beast Master, an eighteen-year-old level four Beast Master, and a mystical beast of diamond quality... All this information shared onemon name: Charles! But why did Jamie not want him to know about Charles''s existence? "So, Charles is a multi-attribute Beast Master? And he has contracted a dark attribute mystical beast?" Lucas murmured softly. The smile on his face grew even broader. Chapter 271 Charles Arrives Hale looked at the elegant smile on Lucas''s face. He never expected that his attempt to hide information about Charles would be detected. Moreover, Lucas had even guessed that Charles was a multi-attribute Beast Master who had contracted a dark attribute mystical beast. Hale couldn''t help but wonder how Lucas, who had always held animosity toward dark attribute Beast Masters, would react upon meeting Charles. He dared not think further. He directly spoke to Jamie, saying, "Dean, let''s go back." After saying that, Hale bowed to Lucas and sincerely said, "Sir, there''s no need to lift the curse on me, I apologize for the disturbance, and I hope you can forgive me." Jamie let out a sigh as he looked at the defeated Hale, unsure of what to say. Clearly, Hale was more concerned about Charles''s safety than the curse afflicting him, he had already made his choice. "Sir, Charles is just an ordinary student with some talent, but he is already a disciple of Ezra. It''s normal for him not to want to attend the banquet."Jamie exined. As long as Charles didn''te out and stayed within Cyber Academy, there should be no problems. No matter how reckless Lucas was, he couldn''t possibly enter Cyber Academy to take action against Charles. Moreover, Jamie had another thought in mind: Charles had encountered a level eight Beast Master from Constetion and returned unscathed. Additionally, Ezra had specifically sent over some equipment, and Colton had prepared a miracle drug to suppress spiritual sensitivity. Jamie was aware of all these things. Charles was definitely not an ordinary multi-attribute Beast Master. Jamie could sense from this information that Charles possessed talents beyond what most could imagine. It was likely rted to his spiritual sensitivity, which was probably much higher than that of an average person. However, this was not a good thing, the higher the spiritual sensitivity, the more one could perceive things that ordinary people could not. This made it easier to encounter unspeakable horrors! If Lucas became aware of Charles''s spiritual sensitivity, he would undoubtedly take action! Without absolute will and conviction, those who were exposed to such things too early often fell prey to temptation, corruption, and madness. "Ezra''s disciple, huh? It''s been a long time since I''ve seen Ezra. Checking out his disciple sounds like a good idea."Lucas said, growing more curious. He wanted to know what kind of genius couldmand Jamie''s respect so greatly that this cursed level six Beast Master would give up the chance to lift his curse. "Does anyone know Charles? I''ve heard he is a true genius."Lucas called out loudly. Many talented young individuals at the banquet looked at each other upon hearing Charles''s name. Finn was also present, as soon as he arrived at the banquet, he scanned the room, hoping to catch sight of Charles. When he realized Charles wasn''ting, Finn let out a sigh of relief. If Charles were to attend, he would surely be overshadowed by such a talented individual! However, after hearing the words of the level nine Beast Master at the center of the banquet, Finn became curiouswhy hadn''t Charlese? "Sir, Charles isn''t important. There are already many geniuses here, they are the focus."Jamie reiterated. Lucas waved his hand dismissively and replied, "I''m just curious. Ezra''s discipleif I could just see what Charles is like, I would help him lift the curse." Hale looked at Lucas, who was pointing at him, and shook his head, indicating that he no longer needed the curse to be lifted. At that moment, Benson, who had been keeping an eye on the situation, walked over. A mocking expression was on his face as he said, "Sir, this Charles is a real genius. He has excellent talent in alchemy and forging, and he''s already a level four Beast Master at just eighteen." "Not only that, but he''s also a multi-attribute Beast Master, able to contract mystical beasts of different attributes, and he has even created his ownbat techniques!" Bensonid out all the details about Charles. This information was all true and could be found online. Now that Lucas knew of Charles''s existence, it didn''t matter if he said these things, it was merely to irritate Jamie. Lucas listened with great interest to Benson''s words, his eyes growing brighter. "If all of this is true, then Charles is indeed a worthy genius. However..." Lucas''s smile slowly faded. He turned to Jamie and said seriously, "However, a genius who walks the wrong path is worse than a fool who trains diligently." The meaning behind his words was crystal clear. No matter how talented Charles was, if he contracted a dark attribute mystical beast, he was likely to go down the wrong path, making him worse off than a fool with lesser strength. Jamie clenched his fists, he had never encountered such a situation before. As the headmaster of Cyber Academy, there had been very few times in his many years that he had to bow down. Today, he had lowered himself more than once, trying to avoid drawing Lucas''s attention to Charles. But it seemed that fate was not on his side. "Charles is currently training in the academy''s training room and cannote. I hope you can understand, sir."Jamie straightened up and slowly refused. Lucas''s expression remained nk as he stared at Jamie, the aura of a level nine Beast Master suddenly erupting. The entire banquet hall fell silent. Those younger individuals with lower strength turned red in the face, struggling to breathe. They felt as if a great mountain was pressing down on them, slowly crushing them into the ground. Finn tried hard to stand tall but found it futile. As time passed, he could only gradually bend at the waist, his legs buckling. Fortunately, this oppressive force didn''tst long. Lucas merely wanted to demonstrate his strength and had no intention of killing everyone there. He looked at Jamie, whose face was dark with anxiety, and slowly said, "The gap between Beast Masters only widens as one progresses. It would be very simple for me to kill you." Jamie had no way to refute this, he could feel the difference between them. Both were level eight Beast Masters, and even Ezra could easily defeat him, let alone Lucas, the level nine Beast Master. "Since Charles doesn''t have time, I''ll go visit him myself. What do you think?" Lucas''s face regained its elegant smile. The faint smile was like a pristine mask covering his features. Jamie took a deep breath, the current situation indicated that Lucas was now very interested in Charles. It seemed there was no escaping this today. Noticing the unrefusable tone in Lucas''s words, Jamie decided to make onest attempt. He nned to leverage the power of the Cyber Academy''s main branch to instill some caution in Lucas. "Charles is a student of Cyber Academy, and the main branch is also closely monitoring him."Jamie stated. The smile on Lucas''s face showed no signs of fading. He slowly replied, "And what of it? If it were me from a decade ago, I might have had some reservations, but now..." He only spoke half of his thought. Lucas''s nonchnt attitude left Jamie at a loss. If Lucas no longer cared about Cyber Academy, what could possibly stop him? "Sir, while Charles possesses dark attribute energy, he will never be someone like those in the Constetion organization!" Jamie asserted firmly. Hale took a deep breath, since it concerned Charles''s safety, he stepped forward and said, "Sir, Charles will be a powerful all-attribute Beast Master in the future, even stronger than Uncle Ezra." Themotion quickly attracted the attention of others nearby. After learning about the situation, some also stood up to speak! "Sir, I am the president of the Forging Masters Guild. I vouch for Charles, dark attribute energy doesn''t mean anything!" Xavier spoke in a low voice. Owen, the president of the Alchemist Guild, chimed in, "That''s right! We all know Charles''s character, he will be a powerful guardian in the future!" General Mason from Genosha, Danel, the president of the Genosha branch of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, and others who recognized Charles all began to speak up. Lucas observed the scene before him, growing more curious, while his killing intent intensified. This situation meant that Charles was either truly as they described or an absolute terror who had deceived all these people! Lucas leaned more toward thetter. In his eyes, all dark attribute Beast Masters were, for the most part, potential threats. Not everyone was like Ezra, the other dark attribute Beast Masters would be tempted to join the Constetion and be agents of evil! It was because of these people that his beloved was attacked and lost her life! If it weren''t for the Constetion and the dark attribute Beast Masters, he wouldn''t have lost the love of his life! "Enough! Get Charles over here! Do I really have to go visit him?" Lucas''s emotions began to spiral out of control. He recalled some painful memories, his face void of expression. The pressure of a level nine Beast Master silenced everyone in the room! Jamie sighed and took out his phone, sending a message to Charles: [Charles, you''ve caught Lucas''s attention. He wants to meet you.] Soon, a reply came back. [I''m already on my way.] At the entrance of the Genosha royal pce, Charles looked at the grand doors before him, took a deep breath, and slowly walked inside. Since there was no way to avoid it, he might as well face it head-on. As a dark attribute Beast Master, there was nothing wrong with that! He was eager to see what this so-called Light Knight Lucas was really like! Chapter 272 Trial As Charles walked toward the banquet, he nced at the information prompt in his eyes regarding the mystical beast mousie. [shadow flying squirrel] [Name]: mousie [Attribute]: Dark [Level]: Lv27 [Quality]: tinum [Skills]: [mimetic illusion], [darkness cloak], [darkness drawn], [Demigod Power] [Weakness]: Every part of its body is a weakness [Hobby]: Scaring people [Emotional State]: Good [Condition]: Good [Loyalty]: 89 [Evolution]: 2 paths [Description]: A juvenile Demigod. Don''t be deceived by its adorable appearance, if you identally provoke it, it can be a terrifying experience. Its true power is still sealed away. Charles was very clear about what kind of mystical beast mousie was. Simple, cute, yet very timid, it was an extremely reliable partner. For a mystical beast like this, as long as it''s of the dark attribute, and hasn''t done anything heinous, then neither has he. As a Beast Master with dark attribute energy, it wasn''t his fault. He possessed energy of all attributes, and he could form contracts with mystical beasts of all attributes, light attribute included. So why was he viewed with animosity by a level nine Beast Master? Before long, Charles arrived at the silent royal banquet. The atmosphere was incredibly heavy, almost no one dared to speak, and most weremunicating with their eyes. Charles saw the worried face of Finn, and the delighted expression of Zane. He also spotted familiar figures like President Xavier, President Owen, and Mason, Zachary''s father, among others. Their eyes were filled with concern and spection about what would happen next. Charles maintained a nk expression as he focused his gaze on the most conspicuous person at the banquet. Clearly, the unfamiliar man sitting in the center was the level nine Beast Master known as the Light Knight, Lucas, the one who had disrupted all of Charles''s ns. When Lucas saw Charles arrive, he carefully sensed the atmosphere and immediately frowned. Unlike other ordinary dark attribute Beast Masters, the dark attribute energy surrounding Charles was exceptionally dense, infused with an unknown aura. This intensified Lucas''s murderous intent. Such a rich dark attribute energy,bined with that unknown aura, if Charles were to sumb to temptation and join the [Constetion] organization in the future, he would undoubtedly be a viin causing chaos in the world! Lucas spoke with deep disdain, "So you are Charles? The true genius of Genosha, the multi-attribute Beast Master?" "That''s right, I am Charles."Charles nodded. He walked forward without fear. As soon as he took a step, he felt a terrifying pressure surrounding him, like a massive mountain slowly descending, trying to crush him! In an instant, Charles understood that this pressure must being from a level nine Beast Master! Was this meant to force him to bow down right from the start? Feeling the pressure on him, Charles didn''t speak, he continued to move forward. With each step he took, the pressure increased slightly, as if continuing down this path would turn him into a puddle of flesh. Even so, Charles did not stop. The other young geniuses were standing at a distance, they didn''t feel the same level of pressure as Charles. Yet even so, some of them couldn''t withstand it and instantly spat out blood, clearly suffering internal injuries from the overwhelming pressure. On Charles''s side, there seemed to be no change, he slowly advanced. With every step, the muscles and bones in his body creaked under the strain, the pressure exceeding what he had experienced during his training with the [Overlord Heavy Armor]. As he walked, Charles thought to himself, is this the power of a level nine Beast Master? Without summoning a mystical beast or using any skills, just the sheer pressure alone was already causing him pain. Indeed, in the world of Beast Masters, the higher the level, the greater the gap. Charles was currently a level four Beast Master, but in front of the level nine Beast Master Lucas, he felt like a child, with no means of resistance, and he could only let Lucas manipte him. Some of the young geniuses had already copsed to the ground, and a few others, unable to withstand the pressure, chose to retreat, leaving the area of influence. Finn''s gaze was sharp, he keenly sensed the situation. Even if he couldn''t be a level nine Beast Master''s disciple today, he needed to persist, opportunities like this were rare, and the longer he held on, the better it would be for his future. Thinking of this, he began to imitate Charles and slowly moved forward. Seeing Finn''s actions, the other geniuses also seemed to realize something, and those who could endure started to walk as well. In an instant, the banquet transformed into a trial ground, as countless geniuses began to slowly approach Lucas''s position. Leading the way was Charles, who was about twenty steps ahead of Finn. Lucas watched the unfolding scene with great interest, Charles aside, the youth following him also looked impressive, quick to react and possessing good physical attributesa true talent. As time passed, fewer and fewer people were able to stand. The vast majority of the young geniuses had either withdrawn or copsed, remaining motionless on the ground. They had reached their limits, continuing onward would likely lead to serious injuries. At this moment, many were acutely aware of the gap between Beast Masters. The self-proimed geniuses had not even seen the level nine Beast Master make a move before being overwhelmed by the pressure. Charles continued to move forward slowly. A trickle of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, clearly indicating that he wasn''t finding it easy either. However, his condition was much better than that of the others. Following behind Charles was Finn. At this moment, blood was flowing from Finn''s eyes, mouth, and ears, yet he grit his teeth and persisted. With every step he took, Finn could feel his potential being squeezed out a little more. He wanted to grow stronger and seek revenge, he could not give up! Soon, only Charles and Finn remained, struggling to continue forward. Finn''s consciousness began to blur, he could no longer clearly see Charles''s figure. In his eyes, Charles transformed into a towering mountain whose peak he could not see. In the next moment, the pressure on Finn slowly dissipated, and he copsed to the ground, motionless. "That kid''s not bad, he''s got some potential."Lucas remarked. He had sensed that Finn had reached his limit and could go no further. Since he felt Finn still had some potential, he chose to let him rest. Even so, Finn had gained a lot from the experience. He felt his body gradually bing lighter, clearly much stronger than before. Lying on the ground, Finn struggled to turn his head to see how far Charles could go. All eyes were on Charles, who was now nearly exhausted. He stood still, seeming to gather every ounce of strength just to lift his foot. Others noticed Charles''s current situation, and someone remarked: "Charles is truly a genius, he''s a monster, so far ahead of everyone else." "Yeah, but it seems like this is as far as he can go, he can''t push any further." "If he goes any further, he might lose consciousness, and in a worse case, he could die." Jamie''s expression darkened, and he remained silent, his fists clenched tightly, muscles tensed all over. "What''s this? You want to challenge me?" Lucas suddenly asked, staring at Jamie''s hands. Jamie replied slowly, "So what if I do? As the head of the Genosha branch of Cyber Academy, do you dare to make a move against me?" This statement carried an absolute conviction, Jamie had had enough of Lucas. He did not want anything to happen to Charles, as the headmaster, he wanted to protect this rare talent! "Oh? How do you know I wouldn''t dare? Let me tell you something, I''m nearly dead." Lucas said with a smile, his voice low enough that only Jamie could hear. "What!" Jamie eximed, stunned into silence. His mind raced, no wonder Lucas didn''t care about the main academyhe was on the brink of death! What could be more terrifying than a mad level nine Beast Master? That would be a mad level nine Beast Master who was about to die! No one would dare provoke such a being, even the main academy would have to think twice. With that thought, Jamie felt even more despair, the crisis Charles faced today was undoubtedly a matter of life and death! What had stopped Lucas from killing Ezra when they first met? Jamie felt a pang of regret for not asking more questions back then, if he had, perhaps he could have helped Charles now. All he could do was leave everything to Charles''s fate. Under Jamie''s watchful gaze, Charles slowly lifted his foot and set it down. With each step he took, blood would spurt from his body. Starting from his mouth, then from his eyes and ears, and now blood was pouring out from the pores of his skin. But Charles continued to persevere. He looked at Jamie, he looked at Hale, and he looked at the lofty Lucas. He could still go on! Lucas''s expression was calm, his gaze equally tranquil. No one knew the murderous intent brewing within him. He noticed the [Mysterious Fragment] around Charles''s neck and had already begun to specte about its significance. As a level nine Beast Master, Lucas was no stranger to the [Mysterious Fragment]. Ordinary Beast Masters had no need for such things. Only one type of Beast Master required it: those whocked strength but possessed strong [Spiritual sensitivity]. They needed the fragment to reduce their [Spiritual sensitivity] to avoid unknown influences! Chapter 273 Things Change Generally speaking, a Beast Master with strong [Spiritual sensitivity] like this was not particrly special to Lucas. Although they were rare, the Ethereal Grove was vast, and with arge poption, many such individuals could be found. However, Charles was different, his talent stood out. Among all the gifted youths in Genosha, he was the only one still pressing forward, taking one step at a time, refusing to give up. Not only did he possess great talent, but he was also incredibly resilient. He was a promising candidate to be a powerful Beast Master. No wonder the head of Cyber Academy was doing everything possible to hide Charles''s existence and prevent him from seeing Charles. Because of this, Lucas wanted even more to eliminate Charlespletely. An dark attribute Beast Master with very high [Spiritual sensitivity] and great talent could be a disaster for the entire Beast Master world if he were ever swayed to join an organization like [Constetion]! With this thought in mind, Lucas carefully observed Charles, trying to find his limits. No one knew what was on Lucas''s mind. Everyone was focused on Charles, waiting to see when he would fall. Unexpectedly, Charles erupted with tremendous potential from the second floor, it seemed his stamina was slowly recovering, and he continued to press on. Only Lucas and Jamie''s pupils suddenly contracted. As the two strongest, they were able to notice Charles''s condition more closely than anyone else. The reason for his stamina recovery was that Charles had subconsciously used a skill! It must have been a skill from a dark attribute mystical beast, one that drew power from the shadows to restore stamina! Because of this slight recovery in stamina, Charles''s consciousness was less muddled, and he became a bit more alert, quickly realizing what had just happened. The skill from the mousie, [darkness drawn]: siphons energy from enemies to restore stamina or enhance attack power, and it is also effective against summoned projections. But there were no enemies present right now. Charles quickly regained rity, it was perhaps because he perceived the level nine Beast Master Lucas as an enemy. [darkness drawn] sessfully activated! Lucas felt it even more acutely, his heart was filled with shock and murderous intent! He was a level nine light attribute Beast Master, and a level four Beast Master''s skill, especially a dark attribute skill, could actually siphon energy from a level nine Beast Master to restore stamina! What did this mean? The dark attribute energy within Charles was more terrifying than he had imagined, at the very least, its quality was superior to that of a level nine Beast Master''s light attribute energy! Otherwise, there would be no way to draw energy from him! It seemed that either Charles''s original attribute energy was formidable, or the dark attribute mystical beast he had contracted was extraordinary. Whichever the case, it indicated that Charles''s future growth would surely be remarkable. At this point, Charles''s potential was already quite clear, however, Lucas still did not retract his oppressive aura. He was contemting whether he should just eliminate Charles outright. With this mindset, the light attribute energy radiated from Lucas''s body. This time, Charles''s [darkness drawn] waspletely ineffective because the power of a level nine Beast Master was incredibly formidable. The earlier sessful energy siphoning that had restored his stamina was due to Lucas''sck of vignce. Although Charles''s dark attribute energy was advanced, it was not as powerful as Lucas''s. Jamie sensed something unusual, he was about to take action when he noticed that Charles seemedpletely unaffected. Lucas''s eyes widened as he stared intently at Charles. This time, the smile on his face vanished, and he no longer appeared calm, for he realized that Charles had directly absorbed the light attribute energy he was emitting! "What... what is going on here!" Lucas instinctively eximed. No one answered him. Among all those present, he was the only level nine Beast Master, and if he didn''t understand what was happening with Charles, no one else would either. Under the gaze of countless eyes, Charles began to slowly emit a white glow. This was light attribute energy that he had siphoned from Lucas. At first, Charles merely felt that the light attribute energy was not repelling him. As his body gradually reached its limits, Charles suddenly realized that the light attribute energy began to enter his body on its own. It was helping him repair damaged organs and muscles. Soon, all the injuries on Charles''s body disappeared, reced by an even stronger and more solid physique! Enjoy new stories from mvl He never expected things to turn out this way. Not only was he unharmed, but his strength had also increased! Charles''s physical attributes became even more powerful. Due to the weight limit of the [Overlord Heavy Armor], he had been unable to enhance his physicality over the past few days. This time, however, it was the pressure from the level nine Beast Master,bined with the light attribute energy, that allowed him to break through his limits once again. Everyone present was stunned. Most believed that Lucas had actively healed Charles. But seeing Lucas''s equally bewildered expression, they fell into confusion. Especially Zane and Benson, father and son, whose mouths hung wide open,rge enough to fit a whole egg inside. They would never have thought that Charles, who seemed unwilling to give up and was still holding on, would suddenly recover from his injuries. Moreover, it felt like his strength had improved! Thispletely broke Zane''sposure. Every time he saw Charles on the verge of death, thetter would somehow turn the situation around, rising from the dead. Just like in the previous underground octagonal cage, where Charles had executed his self-createdbat techniques, the same was happening now at the banquetCharles''s physical prowess was bing stronger. How could Zane continue to oppose Charles now? It wouldn''t be long before he, as a level five Beast Master, would no longer be a match for Charles. Zane was unaware that even in the past, Charles wielding the [ck gold long knife] could have easily in him! Let alone now. Soon, once Charles had fully recovered, Lucas unhesitatingly retracted his oppressive aura. He swiftly moved to Charles''s side, carefully sensing the situation. "Strange, there''s nothing particrly special about you. How did you manage this?" Lucas asked directly. Charles was a bit confused, he also didn''t understand what was happening. Clearly, the light attribute energy had entered his body, but he hadn''t contracted a light attribute mystical beast! Mousie was dark attribute, Max was a dual ice and fire attribute mystical beast, Little Gold was metal attribute, and Mia was wind attribute. There wasn''t any light attribute presence at all, and he had no idea why this was happening. At this point, Lucas''s murderous intent had diminished significantly. He began to feel that Charles might be hiding some secret regarding light attributes, one that was even more mysterious and powerful than his own dark attribute! "Summon your dark attribute mystical beast. I want to take a look."Lucas said slowly. Now, he wanted to know Where Charles''s dark attribute energy came fromwas it inherent to his body or belonged to the contracted mystical beast? Soon, a hexagram array lit up. Mousie appeared in front of everyone, looking bewildered. Others might not notice anything unusual. But as a level nine Beast Master, Lucas''s perception of dark attribute energy was unmatched by anyone else. He ced Mousie in the palm of his hand, carefully feeling its energy. Perhaps it was because the light attribute on Lucas was too overwhelming, Mousie dared not move, as if it had encountered a natural enemy! Soon, Lucas''s expression changed dramatically, he had already figured out what kind of mystical beast Mousie was! "Charles, do you know what this mystical beast actually is?" Lucas said with aplex tone. Charles looked at the information prompt in front of him, there was no change regarding Mousie''s information, [shadow flying squirrel] [Name]: Mousie [Attribute]: Dark [Level]: Lv27 [Quality]: tinum [Skills]: [mimetic illusion], [darkness cloak], [darkness drawn], [Demigod''s strength] [Weaknesses]: Every part of its body is a weakness [Likes]: Scaring people [Emotional State]: Hungry [Health]: Good [Loyalty]: 89 [Evolution]: 2 routes [Description]: A juvenile Demigod. Don''t be deceived by its cute appearance, if you identally provoke it, it will be a terrifying experience. Its true power is still sealed. Could it be the juvenile Demigod mentioned in the description? By the way, what exactly is a Demigod? Charles had never paid much attention to these two words before, as he had never heard of them. The Ethereal Grove didn''t seem to have any descriptions about "Demigod." "Could it be?..." Before Charles could finish his sentence, Lucas immediately returned Mousie to Charles and said, "This isn''t a suitable ce for conversation. Let''s find a ce to talk properlyter." Hearing this, Jamie and Hale breathed a sigh of relief. Although they didn''t know what was going on, it seemed that Lucas didn''t intend to target Charles, perhaps because of the earlier light attribute energy incident? Or was it due to the mystical beast that Charles had summoned? The exact reason was unknown to anyone, except for Lucas, who understood the situation clearly. "By the way, I can also help lift the curse on that level six Beast Master. Charles, this is all because of you. You''re doing great!" Lucas pointed at Hale as he spoke. Upon hearing this, Charles became instantly excited, he hadn''t expected to find a solution to the curse on Hale here! Today''s events had truly taken a sudden turn. What could be the reason behind it all? Charles felt very puzzled. He looked at Lucas, thinking that when the time was right, the other party would naturally tell him the reason. Chapter 274 Trial of the Heart The entire royal banquet fell into silence, with all eyes on Charles, especially those talented individuals from Genosha. Only by trulypeting against Charles could one understand the gap between people. Faced with the oppressive aura of a level nine Beast Master, they could only grit their teeth and take a few steps, they couldn''t hold out for long. Some even got injured from the pressure they couldn''t withstand. Even Finn, who had shone brightly during the battle in the underground octagonal cage, found himself left far behind by Charles. Feeling the pain coursing through his body, Finn looked up at Charles''s back. He, who was hailed as the strongest level four Beast Master in the academy, realized, upon meeting Charles, that he had a clearer understanding of his own strength. In this world, there would always be others with greater potential to be strong. If he didn''t strive to catch up, the gap would only continue to widen! Aside from those geniuses. Zane and his son Benson exchanged nces, both gritting their teeth, their eyes filled with unspoken resentment and malice. "That kid Charles really has some luck, he managed to escape with his life!" Zane muttered quietly. He simply couldn''t understand what was happening before his eyes. As a dark attribute Beast Master, Charles had not only survived in front of Lucas, a Light Knight, but had also performed so exceptionally! If it were any other dark attribute Beast Master, they would have been reduced to blood and guts by now! Just like those Beast Masters from the [Constetion] organization on Cross Street earlier. Yet, not only was Charles still alive and well, but it seemed he had piqued Lucas''s interest, which Zane, who had always wanted Charles dead, found entirely uneptable! But speaking of which, why did Lucas suddenly change his attitude? Could it be that Charles has some hidden secret? Zane wasn''t the only one thinking this. Emperor Miles of Genosha keenly sensed Lucas''s interest in Charles. It was likely due to the dark attribute mystical beast that Charles had contracted, which must be quite special. Or perhaps it was the fact that Charles could forcibly absorb light attribute energy without having contracted a light attribute mystical beast. Thispletely overturned his understanding! One must know that a Beast Master can only harness energy corresponding to the attributes of the mystical beast they have contracted, and Charles had no contract with light attribute energy at all! Miles''s mind raced as he tried to figure out what was happening, but he had no clues whatsoever. However, regardless of the reason, a talent like Charles absolutely could not be overlooked! Just as Miles was contemting how to win Charles over, Lucas suddenly made a new move. "Charles, would you like to study by my side? I will teach you well."Lucas asked with a smile. Once those words left his mouth, the entire banquet was once again plunged into shock. Although everyone present had mentally prepared for Charles''s performance, they still couldn''t help but widen their eyes and drop their jaws when they heard Lucas, a level nine Beast Master, express his desire to have Charles as a student! "A level nine Beast Master wants to take Charles as his apprentice? Oh my god, this is too enviable!" "I wouldn''t even dare to dream about that!" "Well, I''m a bit better than you, at least I dare to dream about it!" Listening to the discussions around him, Finn sighed silently. This was to be expected, as long as Charles was present, he would overshadow the brilliance of other geniuses. The talent that Charles possessed was simply enviable! There would be no second genius like Charles in all of Genosha, just as there is only one sun in the world. Stars may shine, but topare their light to that of the sun is quite presumptuous! As the others were caught in shock. Jamie, the dean of Cyber Academy, was the first to react. Charles was one of their students at Cyber Academy, and was Lucas trying to poach him? A genius like Charles certainly had an unlimited future ahead of him. If Jamie wanted to return to the main campus of Cyber Academy, he had to hold onto Charles tightly! "My lord, Charles is already a student at Cyber Academy, and Ezra is his teacher."Jamie quickly said. He certainly didn''t want Charles to leave Cyber Academy. Moreover, being with someone like Lucas could mean that one day he might change his mind, putting Charles in danger again! At that moment, Jamie''s only thought was to hope that Charles would refuse and that Lucas would quickly leave Genosha Calivia. But could Charles really resist the temptation of an invitation from a level nine Beast Master? Jamie felt uncertain, it wasn''t that he didn''t trust Charles, but the allure of a level nine Beast Master was just too great. "I know what you said, but I''m asking Charles, not you."Lucas turned his head, his tone very gentle, but his gaze towards Jamie was filled with sharpness. As an eighth-level Beast Master, Jamie naturally sensed a strong sense of crisis in Lucas''s gaze. He had originally intended to say more, but immediately closed his mouth. He had a premonition that if he said anything more, Lucas would take action! At the banquet, the onlooking youths wore expressions of envy and jealousy on their faces. The once-praised geniuses of Calivia all had their mouths agape, their eyes fixed on Charles. They fantasized about how great it would be if the person standing in front of Lucas were them! No one with any sense would refuse the chance to be an apprentice to a level nine Beast Master! Not to mention anything else, just the identity of being a level nine Beast Master''s apprentice would grant one VIP treatment in any country within the Abyssal Depths! Not to mention the guidance of a level nine Beast Master and the resources thate with it, no one would refuse this invitation! Zane and his son Benson were far more anxious than the others. Charles''s teacher, Ezra, was an eighth-level Beast Master, but even with a divine beast, he couldn''tpare to a level nine Beast Master! If Charles became the apprentice to a level nine Beast Master, the Taylor family would not only find it difficult to target Charles in the future, but they might also face his revenge. At that point, the entire Taylor family would be affected, the energy of a level nine Beast Master was no joke! Under the gaze of the crowd, Charles slowly began to speak: "I already have a teacher. Teacher Ezra has treated me well, I cannot..." His sentence was left unfinished, but everyone present understood the meaning behind it. Someone incredulously whispered: "He actually... rejected him? This is a level nine Beast Master! I''d be willing to be his servant!" "Just look at your talent, they wouldn''t even want you as a servant! Is Charles really that foolish?" "I wouldn''t even dare to dream of such a thing, and he actually turned it down? My god, if Charles won''t, I would!" Listening to the conversations around him, Charles showed no emotion on his face. He certainly understood the power of a level nine Beast Master. But Teacher Ezra had been so good to him, it was just that he was too busy to teach him personally. Moreover, Ezra was a multi-attribute Beast Master, making him more suitable as a mentor. As for Lucas, Charles felt uncertain about him. On the surface, he appeared to be a very elegant middle-aged man, yet he gave off the vibe of a madman, unpredictable and potentially vtile. Enjoy new adventures from mvl If he really encountered a situation like that, it would be toote for regrets! "Ezra is just an eighth-level Beast Master, Charles. Are you sure you''ve thought this through?" Lucas''s smile remained unchanged, his tone still gentle, yet there was a hint of hesitation in his eyes. The reason he wanted to keep Charles by his side was that Charles''s talent hadpletely astonished him. That dark attribute mystical beast was no simple creature, and Charles harbored other secrets as well! Lucas didn''t want Charles to stray onto the wrong path in the future. Once Charles had too much contact with the Constetion organization, he might not be able to resist temptation, bing a monster controlled by desire like those fallen dark attribute Beast Masters, wreaking havoc on the world! Lucas quietly waited for Charles to respond a second time, constantly pondering that if Charles continued to refuse, he would have to resort to other means. Such a powerful genius, not only with an absurdly high Beast Master talent, but also with a very resilient character, had been holding firm against his pressure. If given enough time, Charles''s future achievements would surely not be any less than his own as a level nine Beast Master! However, one condition remained: he had to personally guide Charles''s growth to prevent him from going astray and causing a disaster. Soon, Charles slowly began to speak again: "I..." At that moment, Dean Jamie quickly interrupted, interjecting, "My lord, Charles may need more time to think it over, he can''t make the right decision right now." Lucas turned back with a hint of amusement, looking at Jamie, and said, "No time? If he doesn''t wish to, then there''s nothing we can do. We can''t force him, that''s not something a gentleman should do." Jamie frowned, sensing that Lucas wasn''t going to let Charles off so easily. The thoughts of a level nine Beast Master were not so easily deciphered, and for now, he could only respond to changes with stability, taking it one step at a time. "Charles, if you insist on refusing, there will only be one path left for you."Lucas continued, and Charles''s heart sank as he detected the firmness in Lucas''s tone. The earlier gentleness had vanished like a fleeting firework, this level nine Beast Master didn''t seem ready to let him go so easily! Charles took a deep breath, this was the world of Beast Masters, where strength was revered and the weak had no means to resist! "May I ask, what is that path?" Charles slowly inquired, desperately not wanting to be near this madman, as it was too dangerous. Hearing Charles''s question, Lucas''s smile widened further as he pulled out a glowing staff from his pocket, gently saying: "It''s simple, it''s the Trial of the Heart. If you seed, not only will I leave, but I will also lift the curse off this sixth-level Beast Master." Trial of the Heart? Charles was puzzled, he had never heard of such a thing. He focused on the object Lucas had pulled out, and information appeared before his eyes: [Light Staff * Pseudo [Golden Quality]: Forged from special materials, due to material limitations and insufficient cksmithing skills, it is still far from the legendary true Light Staff. However, even so, its power is undeniable. Effect 1: Curse Removal, utilizing light attribute energy to eliminate curses from items, mystical beasts, and Beast Masters. Effect 2: Purification, using the staff to attack can deal double damage to dark attribute mystical beasts and Beast Masters, while also purifying some low-intensity unknown terrifying effects. Effect 3: Trial of the Heart Illusion, capable of constructing a very realistic illusion that immerses people, making it impossible to distinguish between reality and illusion.] Chapter 275 Lucass Shock Charles didn''t expect that the staff Lucas pulled out was of golden quality, and as he looked at the information disyed in his eyes. He fell into deep thought. ording to the information. This golden quality staff had a tagbeled "Pseudo."clearly indicating that it was not the true Light Staff! Even so, it was still a significant distance from the genuine Light Staff, yet its quality was still golden. Could it be that the true Light Staff has a quality that surpasses gold? What could possibly be above golden quality? Charles wasn''t clear on everything, he only knew that the quality of weapons and equipment was divided into: gray, white, green, blue, purple, orange, and gold. In all of Genosha, there were only a few pieces of orange-quality equipment, and as for golden quality, he had never even heard of it, let alone anything above that. Besides that, this Pseudo Light Staff also came with three effects, each one immensely powerful. The first effect was clearly able to help Teacher Hale remove the curse on him, the second was an auxiliarybat effect, especially useful against dark attribute Beast Masters. As for the third effect, it was likely what Lucas had just mentionedthe Trial of the Heart. Charles''s mind raced as he processed the information disyed before him, andbined with Lucas''s earlier words, he could already guess what the other party was thinking. It was simply a matter of concern, they believed that if he stayed in Genosha Calivia, he might waver and be influenced by other things due to ack of resolve. That was why Lucas had suggested he stay by his side to learn. With this thought, Charles took a deep breath, he was now very clear that whether he could sessfully resolve this crisis depended on the uing Trial of the Heart. What if he fails? That powerful lunatic Lucas might directly take action against him, choosing to eliminate the danger at its roots. "That''s not fair at all! I haven''t done anything, yet because of potential future oues, you''re going to take action against me?" Charles thought to himself. It seemed that the world of Beast Masters was more realistic and crueler than he had imagined. Power! Only with great power can one prevent others from looking down on them. No, it wasn''t about being looked down upon, it was about being taken too seriously. If he were an ordinary genius, Lucas might have chosen to ignore him. Sometimes, having overwhelming talent isn''t a good thing, and now Charles finally understood that saying. "Dean, do you know what the Trial of the Heart is?" Hale asked, frowning slightly. Jamie nodded and replied, "I know a little. Ezra mentioned it before, it seems particrly difficult, and ordinary people can''t seed at all. This trial has nothing to do with talent, it only tests the strength of one''s heart." The others present began to discuss as well. Many were unclear about this so-called Trial of the Heart, but fortunately, a few individuals had some relevant information to share. One person exined, "The Trial of the Heart uses real illusions to manifest a person''s true thoughts and principles. For a young man like Charles, it should be quite difficult to pass." "After all, he''s only eighteen. What kind of strong will can an eighteen-year-old possess? Without having experienced temptation, it''s easy to fall into it and be unable to extricate oneself." Once this was said, many in attendance nodded in agreement. Charles''s genius performance led many to subconsciously overlook the fact that, at the end of the day, he was just an eighteen-year-old boy. At eighteen, he was far too young and had not experienced many things, he couldn''t possibly form a solid set of values. Faced with various temptations and desires, what could he use to resist? "Father, what do you think would happen if Charles fails?" Zane asked, his eyes lighting up as he listened to the others'' discussion, and he cautiously whispered the question. Benson, as the head of the Taylor family in Genosha, was now calm enough to see the situation clearly. "There won''t be any good oues. It''s very likely he will be crippled or even killed on the spot."Benson replied quietly. I must say, in front of a powerful Beast Master, there is no such thing asw or morality. As an eighth-level Beast Master, Ezra summoned divine beasts within Calivia, openly threatening the entire Taylor family, and no one dared to speak against it. Even he, as the head of the Taylor family, didn''t dare to say much, he could only endure the humiliation brought by Ezra. Stay connected via mvl Now, with the arrival of a ninth-level Beast Master like Lucas, no one dared to stop him, and no one had the power to do so! This is the privilege of the strongjust a fourth-level Beast Master, and whether to kill or not is just a thought away. Even if Lucas killed someone at the royal banquet, Genosha''s Emperor Miles couldn''t do anything about it, and he even had to clean up the scene to avoid affecting Lucas''s mood. This is the world of the powerful! Benson took a deep breath and kept a straight face as he looked at the figure of the ninth-level Beast Master Lucas, his eyes filled with envy and desire. He clenched his fists, imagining what it would be like when he became an eighth-level or even a ninth-level Beast Master. By then, the whole of Genosha would be under hismand! With his father''s response, Zane stared intently at Charles, already fantasizing about Charles failing the Trial of the Heart and being killed by Lucas on the spot! "I ept."Charles replied in a deep voice. He had no other options left, he could only choose to ept. This was the second time Charles had encountered such apletely passive and helpless situation. Thest time, it was an eighth-level Beast Master from the Constetion organization who had blocked him outside the academy. Charles had been in this world for too short a time. If he had a bit more time, such a situation would surely not have arisen. His growth rate was rapid, already far exceeding that of his peers. However,pared to these powerful eighth-level and ninth-level Beast Masters, he was still too immature, like a child, with no means of resistance at all. In two extremely passive situations, if it had been anyone else, they would have been dead long ago. Only Charles managed to sessfully defuse the crisis and survive. This time would be no different! With that thought in mind, Charles took a deep breath, adjusted his mindset, and prepared himself for any eventualities. Lucas watched Charles, who was getting ready, feeling a bit curious. He looked forward to Charles''s performancewould he hold onto his true self and not fall into darkness, or would he sumb to temptation and be a pawn of the dark forces? If it were thetter, Lucas would not hesitate to take action, he had already been exceptionally restrained today. The destructive power of a ninth-level Beast Master is beyond what ordinary people can imagine. Moreover, his lifespan was limited. Unless something catastrophic happened that could destroy an entire nation, other ninth-level Beast Masters generally would not intervene. This was because they feared that Lucas might be reckless enough to risk his life, leading to mutual destruction. "Now it''s time to see how you perform, Charles. I''m quite looking forward to it."Lucas said, no longer hesitating. He raised the [Light Staff Star Pseud] in his hand. The light attribute energy surged within him, pouring into the staff, and a beam of white light instantly shot into Charles''s mind. Charles seemed to be hypnotized, standing still as he slowly closed his eyes. At the same time, above his head, the air began to ripple like ake, slowly coalescing into a screen. The screen began to disy various images, clearly showing what Charles was about to experience in the Trial of the Heart. All the spectators were fixated on the screen hovering in mid-air. Jamie, Hale, Finn, and other people known to Charles wore exceptionally serious expressions, they had never seen a scene like this before. Deep down, they hoped that Charles could sessfully pass the Trial of the Heart. As for the othersZane, Benson, and some who were jealous of Charles''s talenttheir thoughts were entirely different. Rather than wanting to see someone seed, they were more eager to witness Charles''s painful failure. Especially some of the once-admired genius youths, who, after seeing Charles''s performance, began to feel psychologically imbnced, thinking that Charles was stealing their spotlight. Soon, the screen began to change. On a celestial bridge, Charles opened his eyes in confusion. He carefully observed his surroundings, seemingly unable toprehend the current situation. "Ugh, my head hurts so much. It feels like I''ve forgotten something very important. What was I supposed to do?" Charles kept hitting his head. He felt like a hungover drunk, unable to remember what had happened before. Charles tried to retrieve the memories in his mind, and as he reminisced, the screen in the outside world began to shake, as if it would shatter at any moment. "Damn, such powerful mental strength nearly broke him out of the illusion!" Lucas eximed in surprise. He quickly increased the light attribute energy flowing into the [Light Staff Star Pseud]. For the first time, the alwaysposed and elegant Lucas lost his poise. In the eyes of the crowd, Lucas at this moment looked nothing like the elegant gentleman who had just ruthlessly ughtered more than a dozen rats from the Constetion organization at the intersection. Instead, he resembled an ignorant person who had never seen the world! Those who had been watching Charles were all thinking the same thing: would a ninth-level Beast Masterck experience? Of course not! It was simply that Charles was too monstrous, often breaking everyone''s understanding. Faced with Lucas''s earlier exmation, many had grown ustomed to it, even a ninth-level Beast Master could not remain calm when encountering Charles! As time passed slowly, the screen in mid-air gradually stabilized, and Lucas let out a sigh of relief. At this moment, some people who didn''t quite understand Charles began to murmur among themselves: "What just happened? A ninth-level Beast Master intervened, and Charles almost broke free?" "Am I seeing things? This is a ninth-level Beast Master we''re talking about!" "That guy Charles is simply a monster! It''s so hard to ept!" Chapter 276 This is Just Too Difficult In the screen, on the sky bridge, Charles opened his eyes again in confusion, but this time he felt no sense of discord or strangeness. "I almost forgot, my mom and dad areing to find me soon. They just happen to be passing through here with some goods and want to see me."Charles suddenly pped his forehead as he remembered. He had just finished his sses at the Beast Master Academy today and received a message from his parents to meet on the sky bridge. It was because Charles was going to start his contract with a mystical beast today, and his father and mother came specially to see him so he wouldn''t feel too nervous. Now Charles had arrived at the sky bridge but had not seen his father and mother. ording tomon sense, the street at noon should be bustling with vehicles and pedestrians. Strangely, there were hardly any vehicles or pedestrians near the sky bridge where Charles was. "There''s an indescribable feeling, it just doesn''t seem right. The permanent poption of Lsengard is around one million, so at this time..." Charles began to specte instinctively. It was a habit ingrained in his subconscious to observe his surroundings, gather information, and then conductprehensive analysis and spection. Continue your adventure with mvl Even in a mirage, he did this out of instinct. In the next moment, outside the mirage, Lucas watched the screen shake again with a sense of helplessness and continued to inject light attribute energy. This time, he didn''t exim, clearly, he was more prepared for Charles''s monstrous performance. "Charles, you''re the first person to be this abnormal. The mirage affects a person''s thinking and logic, thereby exposing their innermost nature." Lucas continued to speak to himself: "At the current intensity of the mirage, a typical Level 7 Beast Master would bepletely entranced. Yet you are able to maintain strong observational skills and logical thinking. It looks like I need to increase the intensity!" After saying this, the intensity of the light attribute energy around Lucas suddenly surged, and he became even more excited about Charles''s performance! The trial hadn''t truly begun yet, but Charles''s performance had already left him sufficiently astonished. Soon, Within the mirage, Charles suddenly felt a ringing in his ears, As if someone had ced a huge speaker right next to him, the loud, sharp static made him close his eyes and shake his head. In the blink of an eye, the ringing stopped, Charles opened his eyes somewhat dazedly, no longer looking around but instead staring down at the area beneath the sky bridge. At the intersection, A figure appeared, it was a girl who looked somewhat familiar, waiting at the traffic light. The girl inadvertently lifted her head and nced up at the sky bridge, eximing in surprise: "Charles! What are you doing up there?" Charles immediately remembered, it was Catherine! They had grown up together, and they were ssmates in the same Beast Mastery high school, with a very close rtionship. Just as Charles was about to respond, a group of lively elementary school students appeared on the other side of the sky bridge. Apanied by their teacher, they slowly made their way toward Charles. One little girl at the front, upon seeing Charles, suddenly brightened up and happily shouted: "Brother Charles, what a coincidence! What are you doing here?" Charles''s mind instantly recalled information about the little girl, she was the sister of his good friend, Daniel. The familiar faces appearing one after another left Charles momentarily speechless. Just as he was about to say something, several screams shattered the tranquility of the scene. "Ahhhh! It''s a ferocious beast! A ferocious beast has appeared!" "Run! There are so many ferocious beasts!" "Mom, help! I don''t want to die yet!" The entire area instantly descended into chaos, with frantic screams mingling with the hissing roars of the ferocious beasts, instilling fear in everyone. Charles remained where he was, not out of fear. In front of him on the sky bridge, behind those elementary school students, a figure suddenly appeareda ferocious beast, a Grayhide Wolf! Just as Charles was about to take action against the Grayhide Wolf, a cry for help came from below the sky bridge: "Charles, help!" In front of Catherine, another Grayhide Wolf appeared! Charles watched as the Grayhide Wolf bared its bloody jaws, slowly creeping closer to the group. On the sky bridge were his best friend''s sister and a bunch of little kids. While below, at the intersection, was Catherine, someone very close to him! Both groups of familiar faces were in danger at the same time, who should he help? Outside the mirage, everyone watching the scene on the screen fell into deep thought. Someone sighed and slowly spoke up: "It seems that Charles knows people in both ces, or at least knows them in the mirage. This is really tough." "Yeah, there are a lot of kids on the sky bridge, and only one girl below. If it were me, I would definitely choose to help the kids above." "That''s easy to say, but what if that girl below is your wife?" "Why not say, what if one of the kids above is your daughter?" "Damn, if that''s the case, I wouldn''t know how to choose!" "What do you think Charles will decide next? As expected of the trial of the heart, it''s really a difficult choice!" At that moment, it seemed like Charles had made up his mind. Lucas, watching the scene on the screen with a smile, said: "Don''t rush, the truly exciting part hasn''te yet! Since you''re so exceptional, we need to raise the difficulty a bit!" In the next instant, within the mirage, Charles heard two familiar voices calling out. "Son, where are you? Dad ising to save you!" "Son, are you okay? Mom is here too!" These two voices belonged to Charles''s father and mother. Charles immediately looked in the direction of the voices, He saw his parents standing below the sky bridge, looking up at Charles with expressions of surprise, waving their hands excitedly. They werepletely oblivious to the fact that a Grayhide Wolf had quietly appeared behind them. "Damn it! Dad, Mom! Run!" Charles yelled frantically, losing hisposure in an instant. He never expected the situation to turn out like this, his parents were in danger too! Damn! One was his parents, one was the ambiguously close Catherine, and another was his best friend''s sister, all of them were in jeopardy. What was he supposed to do? Charles instinctively tried to analyze the situation. ording to the current circumstances, he thought he still had some time to think. The Grayhide Wolf on the sky bridge hadn''t begun to move, it was at the very back and wouldn''t reach Daniel''s sister so quickly. As for Catherine below the bridge, Charles felt a sense of unease. He just had a feeling that nothing bad would happen to Catherine. This reasoning was quite strange, both he and Catherine were students of Beast Mastery high school. Faced with a sudden attack from a ferocious beast, there shouldn''t be any means of resistance. How could he think she would be able to handle it? In the next moment, a ringing in his ears drowned out his earlier thoughts of unease. At the royal banquet, everyone watching the scene on the screen fell into silence once more, this time with no one speaking up to discuss. Each person instinctively put themselves in Charles''s position, facing the choice he had to make. Many quickly ruled out saving the little girl and wanted to choose to help his parents instead. Some faces showed despair because, given the current situation, Charles was still some distance away from his parents. He might not make it in time to help them. What if by the time he got there. What if the Grayhide Wolf had already killed his parents? The little girl was closer, and saving her was the most reliable choice! Then he could escape with the little girl and see if he could make it down to help Catherine. However, no one voiced their thoughts because the situation was simply too agonizing. Some people didn''t care about the bonds between brothers, some didn''t care about other women, only about their father and mother, and there were those who were estranged from their parents and felt indifferent. No one expressed their thoughts, everyone stared intently at Charles, eager to see how he would choose. But then, a worse situation arose. Behind Charles, strange noises began to emerge! It was another Grayhide Wolf, and it had set its sights on Charles! However, there was still some distance between this Grayhide Wolf and Charles, and it didn''t seem like it would attack him right away. If Charles chose to run away at this moment, he could definitely escape safely. But if he decided to take the little girl and flee, they would be pursued by the Grayhide Wolf behind them, and in that case, neither of them might be able to escape! They could all end up as food for the Grayhide Wolf! "Damn, another ferocious beast! This is too difficult! It seems Charles can''t summon a mystical beast, right now, he looks like an ordinary person! This is truly despairing!" "Truly the trial of the heart, if I were in such a situation, I''d go crazy!" "Charles looks just as powerless as we do. At this point, running away is the best choice for him!" "Exactly, it''s impossible to save everyone. Just surviving would be a great achievement." Unable to contain themselves any longer, many people in the room began to shout in frustration, imagining themselves in Charles''s situation, it was a maddening choice to make! Finn clenched his fists tightly, for him, his parents were the most important. If it were him, he would choose to save his parents at all costs! Even if it meant sacrificing his own life, he wouldn''t care! But what about Charles? What kind of choice would he make? Would he give up? Everyone present was thinking about what choice Charles would make next, and Lucas was no exception. Watching the scene on the screen, a dramatic smile tugged at his lips as he whispered: "Charles, it''s your turn now. I''m really curious to see what your choice will be." Chapter 277 The Perfect Solution The Grayhide Wolf is merely a level 6 ferocious beast. As long as a Beast Master can contract a mystical beast and isn''tpletely ipetent, they should be able to kill it. However, the current situation is that, in this illusion, Charles is just a high school student studying Beast Mastery. Not only has he failed to contract a mystical beast, but his physical abilities are also quite average, simr to those of an ordinary person. "An ordinary person would definitely choose to protect themselves first and turn to flee. If it were me, I would probably be able to save that little girl, but as for the others, they would just have to leave their fate to chance," said General Mason of Genosha slowly. Even he, a seasoned warrior, only felt confident about saving the little girl, and it wasn''t a guarantee that he would seed! Mason''s words immediately sparked a discussion among those nearby. Emperor Miles of Genosha sighed and said seriously, "Even you, General, can only save one little girl. Let alone Charles, he''s only eighteen and surely can''t match your abilities." Once those words were spoken, many people nodded in agreement. Hale quietly turned to Jamie beside him and slowly asked, "Dean, how much do you think you could achieve?" As an level 8 Beast Master, Jamie thought carefully before responding, "I could save that little girl and then attempt to help Catherine. It''s just an attempt, and I don''t have much confidence." Upon hearing this response, Hale fell silent. General Mason of Genosha and level 8 Beast Master Jamie could only reach this level of capability. What about Charles? Could he possibly do better than these individuals? In the next moment, something unexpected happened that caught everyone off guard. Charles took a deep breath and slowly walked toward the little girl, stopping in the middle of the sky bridge. This action left many people puzzled. Some asked in confusion, "Why has Charles stopped in the middle? Is he too scared to run away?" "That shouldn''t be the case, right? He could have turned and left when the ferocious beast behind him hadn''t arrived yet. What is he doing now?" "Could it be that he''s frozen in fear and doesn''t know how to face the situation?" "Charles is still a genius, there''s no way he would do that. Perhaps he has another n!" "What other n could there be? Given the current situation, I don''t believe he has any perfect solution!" Only Jamie, Miles, and level 9 Beast Master Lucas seemed to sense Charles''s intentions, their expressions were filled with disbelief. The usuallyposed Emperor Miles of Genosha spoke quickly, his tone filled with shock. "Charles''s position seems a bit strange, it looks like he''s waiting for the right moment. Could it be...?" Before Miles could finish his sentence, Mason clenched his fists, his body tensing up. As the general of Genosha, he thought he had considered all possible scenarios and found no way topletely resolve the predicament in the illusion. Unexpectedly, Charles''s actions revealed to him that there might be another way, albeit the most dangerous one! "If Charles is really thinking that way, it''s too dangerous. While there''s a slight chance of sess, the risks are incredibly high, and it could easily lead to his death," Mason said, his gaze fixed intently on the screen in the air. Some who overheard the conversation between the emperor and Mason were puzzled and bravely asked, "Your Majesty, does Charles''s action have any special significance?" Miles simply nodded and said, "Charles won''t be frozen in fear. You''ll see soon enough." Upon hearing the emperor''s response, all the geniuses present shifted their gazes to the screen in the air. In their hearts, they believed Charles could not possibly find a perfect solution. Even if Charles had greater talent and strength than they did, But in the illusion, Charles was just a high school student in Beast Mastery, and simply being able to protect himself against the suddenly attacking ferocious beast was already quite impressive. Among the young people, only Finn kept observing Charles''s position and the situation below the sky bridge, his gaze gradually sharpened as he seemed to grasp Charles''s intentions. Finn muttered to himself, "You can''t possibly be thinking of saving everyone, can you, Charles? Do you really think you can do it?" Finn took a deep breath, not daring to make a sound, and stared intently at Charles on the screen, wanting to see what would happen next. Soon, in the illusion, on the sky bridge, two Grayhide Wolves slowly approached Charles''s position. Faced with the children who obstructed their attack, the ferocious beasts, devoid of morality andw, mercilessly drove their sharp ws into the small, weak bodies. Instantly, a scene of gruesome ughter unfolded, with cries and howls apanying the sound of blood gushing forth, resembling a hell on earth. Charles held the little girl''s hand tightly, taking deep breaths. His abilities were limited, he couldn''t help that many people. In the face of danger, it was already difficult to protect those close to him. Let alone helping others, between strangers and those he knew, Charles unhesitatingly chose the familiar. He was not a god, he was just a high school student in Beast Mastery. As Charles watched the scene unfolding before him, his mind raced, calcting every possibility. "After I leave, you need to get off the sky bridge and run to where there are more people, okay?" Charles said to the little girl, who was frozen in shock and trembling. The little girl had been so terrified by the scene that she was dazed, after Charles repeated it for the third time, she finally nodded, indicating she had heard his instructions. "Brother Charles, are you going to leave me all alone?" the little girl asked timidly. Charles didn''t answer because there was no time left. He could see the two Grayhide Wolves leaping towards them. As the crisis intensified, Charles became increasingly calm, at that moment, his physical state reached an unprecedented peak. Seizing the opportunity, Charles bent down and pushed the little girl out of the way of the two Grayhide Wolves'' attack. For an ordinary person, reacting to a ferocious beast''s assault would be nearly impossible, but for Charles, it was not a particrly difficult task. He relied not on reflexes but on maintaining a steady and calm mind in the face of danger. As long as he kept his mind clear, the vast majority of crises could be sessfully resolved, this was a talent inherent in humans as advanced animals! In the next instant, Charles released the still-dazed little girl and used the railing of the sky bridge to push off with all his might. His body soared through the air like a hawk spreading its wings, diving toward the two Grayhide Wolves that had yet to recover from their missed attack! In the blink of an eye, the two Grayhide Wolves, which were very close, were taken down the sky bridge by Charles! One person and two wolves fell from the sky bridge, hurtling toward the ground. The scene unfolded too quickly and was too unexpected. Most of the people at the royal banquet had not anticipated such a result, for these so-called genius youths, such an act was tantamount to suicide! If they faced a simr situation, they would never act like Charles! A high school student in Beast Mastery was only slightly stronger than an ordinary person at best. Explore hidden tales at mvl By directly taking two Grayhide Wolves down from the sky bridge, even if he didn''t die, he would lose the ability to move. At that point, facing the Grayhide Wolves below the bridge, he could only sit tight and wait for death, desperately waiting for the arrival of the Grim Reaper! "By doing this, Charles has ensured the little girl''s safety on the sky bridge, but he''s going to be done for himself!" "Not only that, but the parents below and that girl will also be killed by the Grayhide Wolves." "Sigh, I thought there would be a perfect solution, but I didn''t expect... Look! Charles seems to be okay!" Someone started to speak but quickly pointed at the screen in disbelief, shouting. They saw Charles slowly getting to his feet, moving his body, looking as if he could still act and seemingly unharmed. At this moment, the young geniuses present fellpletely silent. Someone opened their mouth, awkwardly asking, "How did Charles manage that? The two Grayhide Wolves beneath him are already motionless, how does he seem fine?" Finn took a deep breath and began to exin, "In the moment of the fall, Charles used the two Grayhide Wolves to absorb the impact, which is why he wasn''t seriously injured." As soon as he said this, many young geniuses widened their eyes, as if they had heard something unbelievable. A high school student in Beast Mastery could achieve this level? "Truly impressive, Charles! To remain calm in such a situation is remarkable, if there had been any mistake, his fate would have been exactly the same as those two Grayhide Wolves!" Finn remarked, feeling that if he faced such a situation, he couldn''t possibly have done better than Charles, this was already his limit! "Even so, there are still two Grayhide Wolves down below, the others are probably going to get bitten to death!" someone immediately said, believing that Charles''s choice was not wise. Even if he temporarily ensured the little girl''s safety and his own, he still couldn''t help the others. "No! They won''t be harmed, from now on, the Grayhide Wolves will only target Charles!" Finn dered firmly. "That''s impossible! How can you be so sure?" the person continued to question. Finn replied slowly, "The Grayhide Wolves have a characteristic: once one of theirpanions is killed, they will instinctively gather together to attack the enemy who killed theirrade!" "What? Is that really the case? Did Charles know this too?" Zane trembled all over, he had always thought that Charles had given up the struggle and chosen to seek death! He never expected the oue to be like this! Chapter 278 I Am Not Wrong! "If what you said is true, with two more Grayhide Wolves remaining, and they targeting Charles for an attack, all Charles has to do is escape," someone said. "Yeah, if that''s the case, everyone else would be safe. I can''t believe Charles actually pulled it off!" someone immediately chimed in. Everything happening on the screen was hard for these genius youths to believe, no one could have thought of such a solution. This not only required an incredibly calm mind and sharp observation skills but also a heart that dared to face death head-on! If there had been any misjudgment in the process or even the slightest issue, Charles would have met a tragic end! If it were any other genius, not only would they not have been able toe up with such a solution, but even if they could think of it, they wouldn''t have dared to attempt it. Or even if they tried, they absolutely couldn''t achieve the level that Charles had. It was perfect, without a hint of hesitation or error! Many people instinctively revealed expressions of admiration, this crisis, which ordinary people could not solve, seemed so simple, so easy in front of Charles! What Charles needed to do next was face the remaining two Grayhide Wolves and try to buy some time. However, Lucas, holding the Light Staff Star Pseud, didn''t want to let Charles off so easily. He smiled and said: "Well done, truly unexpected and absolutely perfect. It seems I have to raise the difficulty a little for you." Upon hearing this, Jamie suddenly looked up at the screen in the air. Under the gaze of the crowd, two more Grayhide Wolves appeared behind Charles! At the same time, the Grayhide Wolf behind Charles''s father and mother swiftly abandoned its original target and turned to run straight toward Charles. The Grayhide Wolf in front of Catherine was the same, its green pupils were filled with ruthless killing intent as it changed direction. Suddenly, four Grayhide Wolves surrounded Charles from four different directions! Seeing the situation before him, Charles was stunned and fell into a daze. He had just observed the surroundings on the bridge, and there were supposed to be only four Grayhide Wolves! Two were on the bridge, now lying motionless on the ground,pletely dead. The remaining ones were his father and mother, along with the two Grayhide Wolves near Catherine. "Were the two Grayhide Wolves behind me hiding under the bridge the whole time? But that doesn''t make sense, Catherine and my parents are down there. If there were any other ferocious beasts, they would definitely be looking at them!" Charles analyzed quickly. ording to Charles''s initial n, after attracting the two Grayhide Wolves over, he would immediately turn and escape into a nearby store. At that point, he could use the terrain to see if he could manage to escape sessfully. Even if he couldn''t, he could dy for time, waiting for others toe to the rescue. But now, two more Grayhide Wolves had appeared, and coincidentally, they came from behind,pletely cutting off his escape route! At this point, there was no way out, there were Grayhide Wolves in every direction! This time, there was no solution, he was just a high school student majoring in Beast Mastery, and facing the attack of four ferocious beasts, he had absolutely no ability to resist! The only reason he could kill the two Grayhide Wolves on the bridge was due to the advantage of the terrain. Now, the area waspletely t, and there weren''t even any vehicles to hide behind! Outside the illusion, Finn, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, became tense again as he watched Charles, who still hadn''t given up and was constantly trying. "How did two more Grayhide Wolves show up? This is way too targeted!" Finn muttered under his breath as he turned to look at Lucas. The level nine Beast Master wore a faint smile as he fixed his gaze on the screen, clearly very satisfied. A thought suddenly arose in Finn''s mind: "Could it be that he doesn''t want Charles to seed in the trial of the heart? Does he want to kill Charles?" As soon as this idea appeared, Finn dismissed it. If that were the case, Lucas should have acted long ago, no one present could stop him. So why would he suddenly raise the difficulty? Trial of the heart, soul-searching? Finn kept thinking about this crucial question in his mind, he felt that things weren''t that simple. Even if Charles were killed by the Grayhide Wolves in the illusion, it wouldn''t count as failure, would it? After all, it was never stated that surviving was the only way to pass. Perhaps Lucas just felt that the previous situation didn''t truly represent a dead end for Charles. That''s why he added two more Grayhide Wolves, wanting to see how Charles would perform in a real crisis. Finn couldn''t analyze any further, he could only continue watching the screen in mid-air, waiting for what would happen next. Soon, Under everyone''s gaze, an incredibly brutal scene unfolded on the screen. Charles still refused to give up resisting, he tried to focus all his attention on the weakest Grayhide Wolf. He actively ran toward that Grayhide Wolf, attempting to find a breakthrough from that direction. However, a high school student majoring in Beast Mastery would absolutely not be a match for the Grayhide Wolf in a direct confrontation! Without any surprise, Charles fell down. Read new chapters at ?? The Grayhide Wolf relentlessly tore at the flesh on his body, the bitten-off skin and flesh dripping blood onto the ground. Charles was engulfed in intense pain, Yet even so, his gaze remained fixed on his parents and Catherine. However, Catherine and his parents chose to turn and leave! They all ran away, leaving Charles to endure the pain of death alone! Outside the illusion, Lucas watched the bloody scene before him and quietly said, "Charles, the people you desperately wanted to save have now turned and fled, not even ncing back at you. Will you regret it?" The four Grayhide Wolves did not kill Charles outright, instead, they slowly tortured him. Not only did they bite off his flesh, but they also used the spines on their tongues to lick the blood and meat clean from Charles''s arms and thighs, leaving only white bones behind! Someone couldn''t help but close their eyes and said: "This is too painful, even so, Charles hasn''t copsed. His will is incredibly strong!" "No, look at his gaze. The people he desperately wanted to save have vanished without a trace, no one is staying for him, and no one is helping him!" "How hopeless and crushing must this be for Charles?" "That''s true, I didn''t even realize it until you mentioned it. If it were me, I would definitely regret it. I should have just left right away!" Inside the illusion, Charles''s throat had been bitten open by a Grayhide Wolf. He struggled to turn his head, looking at the blurry figures of his parents and Catherine, and weakly said: "Alright... just live on." Then Charles lost his breath and closed his eyes. Silence, The entire banquet fell intoplete silence. No one expected that thest words Charles would say before dying would be like this! "Even in death, you don''t regret the choices you made? Charles, I''m starting to admire you," Emperor Miles of Genosha quietly said, as he looked at the mangled body of Charles on the screen and the pale, youthful face that had lost too much blood, unsure of what to say. An eighteen-year-old boy not only came up with solutions that others couldn''t think of, but he also executed them perfectly. He could face death calmly, without a hint of regret. Even he, the Emperor of Genosha, could not achieve that! While others fell into silence, burdened by the weight of the moment, Zane and his son Benson exchanged a quiet nce. Their eyes were filled with immense joy! It seemed that Charles''s trial hade to an end, and he had failed! Lucas would certainly not let Charles off the hook! At that point, there would be no need for the Taylor family to intervene, Charles would no longer be able to do anything to them. "The trial of the heart mainly tests one''s mindsetthe principles, the bottom lines, and the will. Charles did very well," Jamie said to Lucas. Upon hearing Jamie''sment, Lucas did not respond, instead, he elegantly swirled the red wine in his ss. ... Charles felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. He could sense intense pain coursing through his body, yet his heart was filled with tranquility. He had done his best. Until now, there was still one question lingering in Charles''s mind. He believed in his judgment, there should only have been two Grayhide Wolves under the bridge! The two Grayhide Wolves behind him must have suddenly appeared. Where did theye from? Soon, Charles felt himself sinking into darkness, as if the world around him had transformed into a whirlpool, being pulled into a ck hole, copsing inward. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a royal banquet, standing before a middle-aged man dressed in white, who was elegantly swirling a wine ss. Charles felt a splitting headache and, after a while, finally managed to piece everything together. It turns out that everything he just experienced was an illusion! "Charles, I''m sorry, but you failed. In fact, if you had chosen to run from the start, you could havepleted the trial," Lucas said as he ced his wine ss on the table. The liquid inside the ss immediately stopped swaying. "Run away? How could I stand by and watch people I know fall into danger without doing anything?" Charles couldn''t help but retort. Everything he did was the best choice! If it hadn''t been for those two Grayhide Wolves that appeared out of nowhere, everything would have gone perfectly, and he would have surely passed the trial of the heart! "In the illusion, you were just an ordinary high school Beast Mastery student. All you could do was protect yourself. Only when you be stronger can you go further," Lucas replied slowly. Charles, listening to those words, strongly disagreed. He said, "I was not wrong. Those two Grayhide Wolves appeared very strangely, they definitely showed up suddenly!" Chapter 279 Curse Transfer Lucas sighed and said once more, "This is the arrogance of genius. Everyone at the banquet could see the entire scene, if you don''t believe me, you can ask them." "Those two Grayhide Wolves had already appeared, you simply didn''t notice them. Charles, your so-called best solution was wrong from the very beginning!" Charles shook his head and said nothing more. At that moment, Dean Jamie and Teacher Hale both wore expressions of deep regret. Jamie spoke slowly, "Charles, what he said is indeed true, you overlooked those two Grayhide Wolves." Hale nodded sadly, acknowledging that the Dean was right. He cautiously looked at Lucas and hesitantly asked: "Sir, can the curse on me still be lifted?" Lucas nodded but said nothing more, simply directing his gaze at Charles. He slowly began to speak, "Charles, the arrogance of genius has clouded your judgment. You can ask the others, they all witnessed what just happened!" The others present, including Emperor Miles, the president of the Forging Masters Guild, Xavier, and the president of the Alchemist Guild, Owen, all nodded in agreement,menting, "Those two Grayhide Wolves indeed appeared from the very beginning." Even Finn chimed in, saying, "Charles, it''s not your fault. The ce they were in was very easy to overlook. You did well enough." Explore more at ?? In the face of everyone''s words, Charles remained silent. Lucas looked at the silent Charles and slowly said, "What''s wrong? The facts are right in front of you, and you still refuse to believe?" "Charles, this stubborn mindset of yours will ruin you. I take back what I said before, you don''t deserve to learn from me!" Lucas''s tone turned dismissive. Charles took a deep breath and replied, "It''s not that I am stubborn. Even in a fantasy, I could never make such a mistake." As soon as he said that, people began to chime in: "It''s impossible to make such a mistake, Charles. You''re just too arrogant to admit you were wrong!" "Exactly! We all witnessed it firsthand, how could it be fake?" "You''re being overly confident, way too arrogant." In the face of the others''ments, Charles maintained his calm. His gaze was fixed on Lucas. Lucas raised the Light Staff Star Pseud and pointed it at Hale, slowly saying, "I can lift the curse on you." In the next moment, A look of pain began to appear on Hale''s face. The Light Staff Star Pseud emitted a soft glow, as if trying to extract something from Hale''s body. Soon, a ck mist, as dark as ink, appeared before everyone. Just as Charles was examining the ck mist, Lucas suddenly waved his hand. And the mist instantly surged into Charles''s body! "What! What do you mean by this?!" Charles eximed, feeling the pain coursing through him. "Your talent is too strong, and your mindset too stubborn, so this curse fits you perfectly," Lucas replied calmly. He continued, "Not killing you is my greatest mercy. With this curse, you will never be a powerful Beast Master in your life." After that, he picked up a wine ss from the table nearby, shook it once more, and drank it all in one gulp. Not a single person present dared to step forward and criticize Lucas for what he had done. Everyone acted as if nothing had happened. Someone sighed and quietly remarked, "What a true genius, such a shame. If only he had a better mindset. If he had just turned and run during the trial, maybe it wouldn''t have ended up like this." Others agreed, while more fell into silence. No one paid any more attention to Charles, the banquet continued as usual. Jamie and Hale walked over and patted Charles on the shoulder to offerfort. "At least you''re still alive. This curse will limit you to a Level Six Beast Master. Being a Level Six Beast Master is already quite impressive," Jamie said slowly. Charles remainedpletely still, feeling the inexplicable force within him that was indeed restricting him. ... Soon, the events of the royal banquet spread throughout Genosha. Countless people discussed Charles, the cursed genius, online, while Hale began to undergo tremendous changes. The once-proud child of the wind showcased incredible talent once again after the curse was lifted. Though he wasn''t as strong as the former Charles, he was already considered the strongest genius in Genosha at that moment! Then there was Finn, who sessfully became the apprentice of Lucas, the Level Nine Beast Master, instantly bing a hot topic throughout Genosha! Those who had once ttered Charles and befriended him quickly changed direction and flocked to Finn instead. At first, Finn often sought out Charles to offer himfort. But over time, one morning, Finn came to Cyber Academy, left behind a bottle of orange-quality healing miracle drug, andpletely cut off contact with Charles. The once-discussed genius, who nearly seeded in challenging "Reaper''s Scythe," was now left without anyone caring about him. Inside the library of Cyber Academy, Charles kept flipping through the books in his hands, all of which contained knowledge rted to curses. He muttered to himself as he quickly skimmed through: "I remembering to the library once before. There was a book rted to curses, a ck-covered one, ced on the third row, fourth shelf. I should check it outter." After finishing the book he was holding, Charles leisurely walked toward the third row and the fourth shelf. After a brief search, he indeed found the book rted to curses. He nced through it briefly, then closed the book and headed toward the cafeteria. In a private room on the second floor of the cafeteria, Max, Mousie, Mia, and Little Gold were indulging in a hearty meal. Charles, on the other hand, took out a bottle of red wine, poured it into a ss, and gently swirled it. Time passed slowly. Charles''s training speed had noticeably slowed down, he had been a Level Four Beast Master for two or three months now, but his progress was minimal, almost stagnant! It seemed that his talent had also been cursed! In terms of alchemy, Charles''s learning speed was slowing down. Some things that he used to understand at a nce and master quickly now required a significant amount of time for him to remember. "Ah, Charles, I''ve recently found another alchemy genius. He resembles the old you quite a bit. I n to take him on as my apprentice," Colton sighed and said slowly. Charles silently nodded. He wasn''t concerned about alchemy matters anymore, most of his time was spent in the training room improving hisbat skills and in the library studying various subjects. As for his progress as a Beast Master, it seemed that Charles had given up, showing no concern for his training pace. "Teacher, since someone can help me fulfill the agreement, it makes things a bit easier," Charles said slowly. "There''s one more thing, Charles. You need to be strong. Ezra''s body has been found," Colton revealed another shocking piece of news. Silence filled the room. After Colton left, only Charles remained in the bamboo forest cabin. He sat on the steps at the door, wearing the mysterious ne that Ezra had given him, with the ck gold long knife resting on hisp. Charles, who had been calm, began to show signs of change on his face. It seemed he remembered something, and a fleeting look of sadness crossed his features, but he soon returned to his tranquil state. Outside, the bamboo forest was swaying in the wind, rustling like a mournful whisper. Before long, Hale received the news as well. He approached Charles and simply said, "Uncle Ezra was captured by the Constetion because he was investigating your parents'' whereabouts. If it weren''t for you, he wouldn''t have..." Charles sat still, as if he hadn''t heard Hale''s words at all. After Hale walked away, Charles finally looked up at the bamboo forest outside. The wind grew stronger, and the mournful sounds became louder. A few days passed, and before Ezra''s body was sent back to Calivia, Charles received another piece of news about the Serpent People. The new national forces led by Aria and Joshua were besieged by other factions in the Atacama Desert. The two fought bravely for three days and nights but ultimately sumbed to exhaustion and died! Upon receiving the news, the Robinson family in Calivia immediately severed all ties with the new nation and dered to the other factions in the Atacama Desert: All transactions rted to the new nation were influenced by Charles! Now that Ezra was dead, Colton had a new apprentice, and even Charles''s talent had been restricted, he would only be a Level Six Beast Master at most! The various factions within Calivia no longer regarded Charles with any respect. Even Cyber Academy chose to selectively ignore him, Jamie had been focusing all her energy on Hale recently. Grace had also returned from outside the city and specifically sought out Charles. She was now a Level Five Beast Master. Facing Charles, who was still a Level Four Beast Master, Grace said, "Charles, you have no hope. In a year and a half, I will at least be a Level Six Beast Master, while you will be lucky to be a Level Five Beast Master!" Grace arrogantly urged Charles to admit defeat, but he ignored her. He continued his routine of diving into the library to research various materials, studying furiously, and spending time in the training room to improve hisbat skills. These days, he rarely left Cyber Academy. This was because he had previously encountered several Beast Masters outside the city who had attacked him. Fortunately, Charles possessed the ck gold long knife and could utilize the ck gold knife glow to defeat enemies of higher rank. Time passed slowly. One morning, Charles suddenly received a letter. It was written by Catherine, and the gist of the letter was that if he was reading it, it meant that Catherine was already dead. Chapter 280 The Black Miracle Drug Charles''s hands trembled slightly as he held the letter. Instinctively, he gripped the edges of the paper tightly. "I had already anticipated this oue, but facing it for real is still somewhat hard to ept," Charles said slowly. For a brief moment, he felt as if the entire world before him had suddenly gone quiet, as if someone had pressed the pause button. The surroundings seemed to stretch infinitely, expanding to a size that made him ufortable. Since that day. Everything had changed. His once-proud talents were now restricted and cursed. Those close to him had either left this world or drifted further away from him. Charles had essentially lost everything. Celestine had also returned to Lsengard a few months ago. Before she left, she had asked Charles if he wanted to return with her to that small city. Charles declined, saying he still had a promise to fulfill with Grace, needed to search for his parents, and wanted to wait to head to the Cyber Academy headquarters to see Catherine one more time. He carefully ced the letter into the pocket of his chest. Charles patted his chest and turned to walk towards the library. The constant stream of bad news seemed to have no effect on him. Charlespletely shut himself off, frantically studying a vast amount of material while trying to find information about Lucas. As autumn faded and spring returned, in the second year since arriving in Calivia, Charles had entirely removed himself from the public eye. A new batch of students arrived at the Cyber Academy. Some curiously stared at therge screen outside the trial tower, pointing at the names on the leaderboard and asking: "Who is this Charles? He''s amazing! He aplished so much in such a short time!" The older students were momentarily taken aback, struggling to recall anything about Charles. After a while, they slowly replied, "He was once a genius, but now he''s a waste." "A waste? Someone like that has now be a waste?" the new students said in disbelief. The older students continued to exin, "Yes, it''s been nearly two years, and he''s still a Level 4 Beast Master. What else could he be but a waste?" Almost two years was enough to change most things. Those who once looked up to Charles had now be Level 5 Beast Masters themselves. The topic of Charles was no longer mentioned, it was as if everything that had happened before had never urred. Time passed quickly, and there were only two or three months left until the duel he promised Grace. Charles was still a Level 4 Beast Master, and his strength simply could not improve. The effects of the curse exceeded everyone''s imagination. ording to reliable sources, Grace had be a Level 6 Beast Master, rising as a new star in Genosha! Few people remembered the promise between Charles and Grace, as hardly anyone paid attention to Charles. Even if some individuals knew, they didn''t care, to them, Charles seemedpletely hopeless. The once-admired genius was now left far behind by others, standing still and motionless. The disparity between then and now was enough to drive anyone to despair. Charles remained just as he had been before, showing no signs of despair. Until that day, when Grace, now a Level 6 Beast Master, sought him out. "Give up, the gap between us is too vast. You''re still a Level 4 Beast Master, you can''tpete with me at all," Grace said, lifting her chin high. Her gaze was condescending, and she appeared utterly rxed, dismissing Charles entirely as she arrogantly dered, "You will be my servant, that''s a done deal. From now on, you''ll focus on creating the miracle drug." Charles did not respond, he simply raised his arm to look at the mark of the [human contract]. "Oh, are you still not giving up? Let me tell you some new information: Lucas is dead."Grace was visibly annoyed by the calm expression on Charles''s face. She revealed a shocking piece of news: Lucas, a Level 9 Beast Master, was dead! Charles''s pupils constricted sharply, showing a hint of surprise as he slowly asked, "What about the staff? Lucas''s golden-quality staff?" "It shattered. Charles, the curse on you can no longer be lifted. You should just focus on being a high-level alchemist from now on."Grace watched Charles''s anxious reaction with evident pleasure. She stretched her graceful body, wearing a broad smile as she observed Charles fall into silence. "I''ve told you before, you''re just amoner. So what if you once had an Level 8 Beast Master as a teacher? You will only be my servant from now on, forever obeying mymands." Grace looked closely at Charles''s expression and noticed little change. Confused, she continued: "What''s wrong? Feeling defeated? You''re not about topletely fall apart, are you? Charles, you really are fragile." Charles still chose to remain silent, turning to leave decisively. His indifferent demeanor and actions infuriated Grace, who hade to unt her superiority. She stomped her feet in anger and shouted: "Charles, do you really think you''re that genius from two years ago? You''re just amoner, and now you''re nothing but a waste! It''s been two years, and you''re still a Level 4 Beast Master!" Themotion quickly drew a crowd. They watched Charles''s departing figure and then turned their attention to the still-fuming Grace, murmuring among themselves. "Wow, Charles really deserves his reputation. He can still stay calm even now. If it were me, I would havepletely broken down." "Calmness doesn''t change anything, does it? Right now, Charles is just a waste." "That''s true. Charles will probably only ever be a Level 6 Beast Master, even until he dies." Ignoring the surrounding chatter and various taunts, Charles continued his daily routine of going to the library and practicing in the training room. Until one night, after he finished a busy day and was about to return to his dormitory, a mysterious voice emerged from the darkness behind him: "Charles, I''ve told you before, everything is a matter of destiny." Charles suddenly turned around. He recognized the voice, it seemed to belong to an elder from the [Constetion] organization, an Level 8 Beast Master! In an instant, Charles''s muscles tensed up as he entered a state ofbat readiness. But the next second, he rxed hisbat stance, because he felt an oddly familiar aura from this mysterious person. He asked: "Is it you? Have you already be a Level 9 Beast Master?" The person nodded and continued, "I can help you lift the curse on you, and I can also help you be a Level 6 Beast Master in a short time!" "Then, those so-called geniuses will once again witness your terror, the true monster!" Charles was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, and then his breathing became rapid as he anxiously asked: "Everything has a price. What do I need to pay?" The Level 9 Beast Master from [Constetion] raised the corners of his mouth excitedly and replied: "It''s simple: join us, integrate with us, be one of us!" "Is that all? Do I not need to do anything else?" Charles felt that things couldn''t be that simple. "No need. Destiny has already arranged everything. All we need to do is follow its guidance."The mysterious man became fervent, his whole body trembling, his face twisted under the cloak, filled with excitement and joy. "I have heard the holy voice of the divine, Charles. Just drink this, and the curse on you will naturally be lifted!" The mysterious man pulled out a vial of miracle drug from his robe. Discover stories at ?? It was a bottle of ck miracle drug, exuding an incredibly eerie aura. The ck liquid inside the ss vial surged wildly, as if it were alive. Charles took just one nce and immediately felt as if someone was whispering incessantly in his ear. The voice sounded like the cries of a newborn child, yet also like the dying murmurs of an elderly person, apanied by chaos, fear, and despair. It took Charles a while to regain hisposure, and he hesitated. At that moment, the mysterious man spoke again: "You can hold onto it for now, the choice is yours, Charles. The duel with Grace is about to begin. Are you really willing to spend your life as a mere high-level alchemist?" "The death of Catherine was no simple matter, and I know a bit about your parents'' whereabouts. They are in great danger." Upon hearing this, Charles hurriedly pressed, "What do you know? Tell me! Tell me everything!" The mysterious man ced the ck miracle drug on the grass without answering Charles. He took a small step back, and in an instant, he vanished into the darkness. Only a lingering voice remained: "Charles, you only have this one chance. Think it over carefully." Looking at the eerie ck miracle drug on the ground, Charles hesitated for a moment, but then slowly walked over and bent down to pick it up. ... In the Genosha royal pce, Miles, Jamie, and the others stared at the screen, still in shock and unable to recover. In the illusion, Charles had spent nearly two years, while in reality, only a little over ten minutes had passed. The thoughts of a Level 9 Beast Master are indeed beyond the grasp of ordinary people! What they originally thought was the entirety of the trial of the heart, the events that unfolded on the sky bridge, turned out to be merely a prelude! Everything that happened in the sky bridge illusion, as well as the curse transfer after emerging from the illusion, was all designed to immerse Charlespletely in the subsequent illusion. Charles believed the trial of the heart was over, but in fact, the real trial of the heart illusion had just begun! "Oh my God, even an Level 8 Beast Master wouldn''t be able to sense this!" Miles instinctively eximed, then turned to Jamie beside him. Jamie swallowed hard and replied, "From our perspective, there might be some inconsistencies, but for someone trapped in the illusion, it''s very difficult to notice. Even I wouldn''t be able to detect anything unusual." Chapter 281: Chapter 281：[Forbidden Favor] From the perspective of an observer, there are still many inconsistencies in the trial that Charles is currently facing. For example, it does not involve the uing inter-academy exchangepetition, but that is ultimately from the viewpoint of an outsider. Once truly immersed in the trial of the heart, any unreasonable or discordant elements will be subconsciously overlooked, this is the terrifying aspect of the trial! It feels as if one has genuinely experienced so many events and that so much time has passed! Miles nodded and said, "At the very beginning, when Charles emerged from the sky bridge illusion, he should have had a chance to notice something. However, at that moment, he was facing the pressure of Lucas, a Level 9 Beast Master." "Of course, there''s also the fact that his own understanding contradicts everyone else''s. If it were me, I would definitely fall into doubt and confusion, how could I notice anything amiss?" After Miles finished speaking, Jamie, Mason, and Xavier all nodded in agreement. The situation Charles was facing at the time left him no room for much thought, and the illusion created by Lucas, this Level 9 Beast Master, was far more terrifying than they could imagine! All the books in that library were filled with text, and when Charles mentioned a book about curses, it would indeed appear there! Only the upper-tier powerhouses of Genosha can truly grasp the terrifying aspects of the trial of the heart. The other young geniuses present did not think that deeply and began to discuss: "Charles is indeed impressive! He went from being an unparalleled genius to a cripple, and he still managed to persevere for two years. I couldn''t do that!" "Not only that, but he also lost nearly all of his important people without breaking down!" "Two years felt like a day for him. He went to the library to study every day and trained in the training room. It''s truly admirable!" "The gap from genius to cripple would be enough to crush me. Charles''s willpower is truly strong!" "Now the critical choice is here. If it were me, I would undoubtedly drink that bottle of miracle drug without hesitation, as there wouldn''t be any other option!" "What is that mysterious person''s origin? They don''t seem like a good person at all!" Someone shifted their focus to the mysterious person. From the images in the illusion, it was clear that the mysterious individual was very powerful, but they didn''t give off a pleasant vibe. Hearing the discussions around them, Jamie and Hale exchanged nces. They both knew that this mysterious person was from the Constetion organization, and that they had interacted with Charles. They hadn''t expected to see that person appear in the illusion as well. It was evident that the illusion was evolving once again based on Charles''s past experiences, along with Lucas''s intervention, leading to this oue! "Dean, do you think Charles will...?" Hale couldn''t hold back and asked. In response to Hale''s question, Jamie also felt uncertain. Charles was only eighteen, and achieving this much was already impressive. Any young person who had gone through what Charles experienced in the illusion would undoubtedly choose to drink that bottle of miracle drug without hesitation. It wasn''t just a simple miracle drug, it was an opportunityan opportunity to reim everything that was lost! It also involved Charles''s parents, and Catherine, who died in the illusion, as well as the battle with Grace. No one could resist this temptation! Charles did not use the bottle of ck miracle drug immediately, he was still hesitating, which was already quite remarkable. "Is this really necessary? You''re pushing him into a corner. It seems like he has a choice, but in reality, Charles only has one path to take!" Jamie turned to Lucas and said. In response to Jamie''s doubts, Lucas did not offer an exnation. He replied calmly, "How do you know that all of this won''t happen? Fate is unpredictable, no one can know what the future holds." "Sir, there is no perfect choice. In this situation, no one would give up the chance to be stronger!" Hale couldn''t help but interject. Lucas did not respond further and continued to focus on the Light Staff Star Pseud in his hands. This golden-quality weapon, while very powerful, was not enough to support such an illusion on its own, it needed to bebined with his special skills to achieve that effect! On the other hand, the Emperor of Genosha, Miles, the president of the Alchemist Guild, Owen, and Xavier were all staring gravely at the bottle of ck miracle drug in the image. They discussed among themselves: "That couldn''t be the legendary forbidden favor, could it?" Owen said in a hushed voice. As the president of the Alchemist Guild, he had only heard of such a miracle drug. "It seems likely. The forbidden favor also has another name, known as the blessing of the gods. However, because it is so mysterious, not many people know the second name," Miles, the emperor, said slowly. He nced at Lucas and then looked up at the screen in midair. The allure of the forbidden favor was not something an ordinary person could resist, in legends, it was said to possess a will of its own! Anything that could be associated with the divine was not simple at all. Let alone Charles, who was now at his wits'' end, even the current emperor, Miles, would be tempted if he were to obtain such a miracle drug! There is a saying that if one drinks the forbidden favor, as long as they do not die, they will surely be a Level 9 Beast Master! "Having something like this in front of him, if Charles could resist it, that would be abnormal," Miles expressed his thoughts. It seemed that the oue of the trial of the heart was already determined, Charles would fail. Zane and Benson also shared this sentiment. Especially Benson, whose eyes were filled with endless desire when he saw the bottle of forbidden favor! The mysterious person in the study had promised him something, but it was just a watered-down version of the forbidden favor. Even so, the Taylor family was taking a huge risk. If anyone else found out, the entire Taylor family would cease to exist! However, the risk was proportional to the reward. As long as they didn''t get exposed, Benson could be an Level 8 Beast Master! At that point,bined with the Level 8 Beast Master of the Taylor family who had fallen into a deep slumber, their ambition to be the rulers of Genosha would not be impossible! Thinking of this, Benson worked hard to control his facial expressions and breathing, Lucas had not left yet, and he couldn''t show any signs of weakness. Soon, In the illusion, Charles made his choice. As everyone expected, Charles drank the bottle of ck miracle drug. Suddenly, a cloud of ck mist appeared around him, which was the curse that Lucas had transferred into his body. The ck mist seemed to encounter a terrifying enemy, frantically trying to escape from Charles''s body. However, ethereal tendrils began to form around Charles''s body, wrapping tightly around the ck mist like lightning, pulling it inward. Charles felt an intense heat surging through him, and his long-stagnant Beast Master power began to rise frantically! In just a few breaths, Charles''s strength had already increased from a Level 4 Beast Master to a Level 5 Beast Master! This was nothing short of a miracle! Struggling to suppress the pleasure that came with his power increase, Charles shifted his focus to his own body, he could faintly sense that there seemed to be another life inside him, uncontroble. "Was that tendril just now a manifestation of the miracle drug I drank?" Charles muttered to himself. He was well aware that drinking that bottle of ck miracle drug must havee at a tremendous cost! Charles clenched his fists, feeling an unprecedented strength. He raised his hands into the air, somewhat intoxicated by the power, and suddenly a thought emerged in his mind: he wanted to keep rising, to keep getting stronger, even if it meant doing things he had previously been unable to ept! Noticing such thoughts, Charles did not hesitate to p himself hard. "Smack!" A loud sound echoed, and feeling the pain on his face, Charles, who had just been lost in ecstasy, instantly regained rity in his eyes. "What''s happening? It shouldn''t be like this. It felt like I was influenced by something just now, is it the thing inside me?" Charles pondered deeply. Continue reading at ?? After drinking the ck miracle drug, it wasn''t long before the day he had agreed upon with Grace arrived. As a Level 6 Beast Master, Grace attracted a lot of attention with every move she made. There were still many spectators for today''s duel, and when Charles appeared in front of the crowd, some were surprised to notice that his strength seemed to have increased! Grace didn''t take it to heart and said, "Charles, what does it matter that you''ve be a Level 5 Beast Master? My level is already your limit." "Let me show you what a true Level 6 Beast Master is!" The battle between the two began and ended very quickly, Charles effortlessly defeated Grace in a dominating manner. Injured and kneeling on the ground, Grace looked like a puppet, unable to ept what was happening before her. ording to the signed human contract, she was now Charles''s servant and could not defy hismands! Unable to ept her fate, Grace trembled as she gripped her weapon, wanting to end it all. However, Charles simply issued amand for her to drop her weapon. Faced with the broken Grace, Charles chose not to spare her, he unleashed his desires and made her apologize in front of the crowd, repeatedly uttering self-deprecating words. Listening to the sounds of pain and despair in his ears, Charles became somewhat intoxicated. Looking at the onlookers, whose eyes were filled with fear and disbelief, a manic smile unexpectedly appeared on Charles''s face. He had a thought in his mind: he wanted to make these spectators remember this even more! "Why not create a little art with blood, the art of panic!" Charles''s thoughts grew increasingly insane, and he looked at the eyes of the people around him, filled with impulse and anticipation. Chapter 282 A True Monster! Sensing the air of danger, the crowd quickly dispersed. Soon after, news spread that Charles seemed to have lifted the curse. However, this information didn''t attract much attention, the majority of people didn''t believe that Charles had lifted the curse. In their view, his victory over Grace was likely due to some hidden cards he still had or possibly because Grace had underestimated him. Yet, just a month after reaching Level 5 Beast Master, Charles had already be a Level 6 Beast Master. This insane rate of progression was something even Charles from two years ago could not have achieved! Not only that, he seemed like apletely different person, starting to challenge other Level 6 Beast Masters within Genosha. Every opponent he fought against faced a crushing defeat, sustaining severe injuries. It was only at this point that everyone realized Charles not only returned to his previous state but had be even stronger and more monstrous! Outside the illusion, Jamie and Hale watched Charles on the screen with great concern. The current Charles had been affected, he was no longer the calm genius he once was, and he was slowly descending into darkness. "s, if this continues, the trial of the heart wille to an end. The forbidden favor is indeed something not just anyone can touch. Even Charles cannot escape the fate of corruption," sighed Miles, the Emperor of Genosha. He never expected Lucas''s illusion could reach such a level, it was truly unbelievable. No one noticed that Lucas, who was manipting the Light Staff Star Pseud, had several white hairs quietly appearing among his originally ck locks beneath his top hat. "Charles, you really astonish me. Even if it means consuming life force, I want to see if you can break free from the influence of the forbidden favor," Lucas thought to himself. Unlike others, as the illusion maniptor, he would notice details that others couldn''t. There were several times when Charles sensed his changes within the illusion and searched for various materials in the library. Of course, all the books and materials were manifestations of knowledge from his mind as a Level 9 Beast Master. The effects of the Light Staff Star Pseud,bined with Lucas''s special skills and the enhancement of life force, were enough to make the evolution of the illusion feel extremely real. Everything Charles did within it could almost be replicated in reality! This was his way of valuing and rewarding Charles! On the screen, an unexpected situation unfolded for everyone. One day, Charles seemed to regain his sanity, continuously collecting various materials and operating on himself. The onlookers were taken aback. "Oh my God, what is Charles doing? That''s a stone capable of burning for an entire year! He''s actually putting it directly into his flesh and then stitching up the wound?" "Damn, the miracle drug he just drank is meant to amplify perception! That means the pain he''s enduring is now even more intense!" "Look! Charles has also put the worms that can devour Beast Master flesh into his own flesh!" "I can''t take it anymore, just watching makes me tremble all over. How is he enduring this pain?" "Will the pain in the illusion decrease?" "No! Didn''t you see how much agony Charles was in when he died on the bridge?" ... What was happening on the screen sent chills down the spines of everyone present, leaving them utterly shocked! Lucas, the elegant yet insane Level 9 Beast Master, remained expressionless as he turned the members of the Constetion organization into blood and gore. Now, watching the scene before him, he couldn''t help but furrow his brow. "Perhaps we really underestimated him. Charles''s willpower is simply terrifying, he''s using the pain in his body to stay awake and break free from the influence of the forbidden favor!" Emperor Miles said slowly, his mouth agape. As the Emperor of Genosha, he was certainly aware of some brutal punishments that were typically used to interrogate criminals and spies. However,pared to the operations Charles was performing on himself, the punishments used to interrogate criminals and force spies to talk seemed almost gentle! "He''s a genius! I never would have thought of these methods, I need to remember them well!" Avery''s eyes lit up as he fixated on the scene on the screen. He considered himself knowledgeable about cruel punishments, but upon witnessing everything Charles did within the illusion, he immediately understood the gap between people! While everyone was focused on every move Charles made, the pain magnified several times nearly caused Charles to pass out. He gritted his teeth, trying hard to stay awake. At that moment, the mysterious life force within him began to stir. Charles felt his flesh surging, coalescing into several writhing tendrils that iled about wildly. Seeing this scene, Charles felt no fear, instead, his eyes grew even brighter. His guess was correct! Indeed, this unknown life force within him could also feel the same pain. The direction was right, and now it was time for a contest of willpower and endurance. As long as he could make the unknown life force within him copse from pain, he would be able topletely break free from its influence! Charles trembled all over as he continued to increase the pain in his body. Outside the illusion, everyone held their breath, fixated on the scene on the screen. They wanted to know if this crazy method could truly free Charles from the influence when suddenly, the screen in mid-air went dark,pletely losing its image. "What''s happening?" "We can''t see anything. Did Charles go too far and end up killing himself?" "It''s very possible. Just watching his methods makes me shudder, how can someone be so ruthless to themselves?" "He''s so brutal, he''s just terrifying. I''ll never provoke Charles, even if it kills me." "Me too. Charles is truly a monster!" Lucas sighed and said slowly, "The trial has ended, Charles has failed. He is now slowly leaving the illusion." Upon hearing this, Zane and Benson nearly jumped up in excitement. This was the oue they had been hoping for! Charles didn''t pass the trial, and to avoid leaving any hidden dangers, Lucas directly executed Charles! This was a huge win for the Taylor family! No one knew, Lucas still held the Light Staff Star Pseud in his hand. He no longer used light energy to maintain the illusion but instead relied entirely on life force! The purpose of this was to ensure that the situation Charles was facing now mirrored reality exactly! "Come on, Charles! You really astonish me, I''ve never seen anyone like you! Keep going!" Lucas gripped the staff tightly with his long fingers. His skin began to slowly develop several wrinkles, and beneath his white top hat,rge patches of his hair turned white, indicating that his life force was rapidly dwindling. Meanwhile, within the illusion, Charles was still locked in a struggle with the unknown life force inside him. The newly grown tendrils attempted to stop Charles but trembled violently due to intense pain. Arge amount of blood began to flow from Charles''s mouth, apanied by shattered teeth that had crumbled from biting down too hard. His consciousness started to blur, and his vision became shaky, as if he would sumb to this perverse pain at any moment. Just as Charles was about to lose consciousness, a strange sound suddenly emanated from his body, a mix of furious curses and anguished wails. The tendrils that had coalesced began to gradually dissipate. Charles managed to force a smile, slurring his words as he said, "I knew it, I would win." At that moment, Lucas appeared in front of Charles. Charles remained expressionless, as if he had anticipated this, and slowly said, "It seems I have passed the trial of the heart." "Yes, congrattions. Everything here is an illusion from the trial of the heart..."Before Lucas could finish his sentence, he noticed the calm expression on Charles''s face, devoid of any surprise. Combined with the first words Charles had spoken upon seeing him, a thought emerged in Lucas''s mind that he could hardly believe! "Wait a minute, did you know from the very beginning that you were in an illusion?" Lucas looked at Charles as if he were a monster. Charles didn''t answer. He struggled to shift his body to ease the pain a little. "Could it be because of that ck book about curses? So there really isn''t that book in this ce, right?" Lucas''s reaction was quick, he immediately thought of this. Charles nodded with difficulty and slowly said, "Something felt off from the very beginning, especially that ss of red wine. After you shook it and put it on the table, it instantly returned to calm." Lucas thought carefully. He hadn''t consumed any life force at first, so it was normal for there to be some inconsistencies in the illusion. However, ordinary Level Seven or Eight Beast Masters would not be able to notice such small details. At that time, he had to face the pressure from this Level Nine Beast Master, along with the conflict between perception and reality! "How can anyone have such keen observation, staying calm all the while? Charles, what kind of person are you? You''re simply a monster!" Lucas said slowly. He had previously seenments online about Charles, with many people calling him a monster,pletely inhuman. At first, Lucas dismissed it as an exaggeration, but now, he, as a Level Nine Beast Master, genuinely felt that Charles was indeed a monster! Charles let out a sigh of relief, he keenly sensed that Lucas''s tone contained only shock, devoid of the murderous intent he had shown before. It seemed he didn''t have to worry about the other party taking action anymore. However, he was currently in a near-death state, and every second felt like torture, so he asked, "The trial is over, why haven''t I been released yet?" Chapter 283 The Suspended Mountain Token Lucas struggled to suppress the shock within him and exined, "The oue of your struggle against the forbidden seed inside you will remain unknown to the outside world. I have already told them that the trial is over and that you failed." "The forbidden seed? Is that the unknown life force inside me?" Charles asked. Lucas nodded and replied, "Everything that has happened here, you should not mention it lightly once you return to reality, or it may attract their attention." "That bottle of ck miracle drug is called forbidden favor, as soon as you drink it, you can be a Level Nine Beast Master, or even stronger!" "However, the cost is also quite terrifying. I can''t tell you more information. You must remember one thing: you must never lose yourself, or you will only be a powerful shell." "A shell?" Charles wanted to ask more. But Lucas shifted the topic and said, "In a moment, I will give you something. If you get the chance, head to the Haunted Marsh''s Suspended Mountain. There are people there who should be able to help you uncover the secrets within you." Charles nodded, he understood that Lucas was referring to the incident of absorbing the light attribute energy earlier. "Also, you must take good care of your dark attribute mystical beast. Once it reaches Level Fifty, take it to the Beast Sect. You will understand everything then." "The Beast Sect? I''ve never heard of it," Charles said, confused. Lucas didn''t borate further, simply mentioning the Haunted Marsh, so Charles would eventually learn about it. Taking advantage of the opportunity in this illusion, where no one else could disturb them, Charles wanted to ask about some secret topics, like the Constetion organization and the unknown life force within him. Unfortunately, Lucas''s responses were quite limited. He briefly mentioned the Constetion organization. This mysterious organization has a special method to identify dark attribute Beast Masters, and only a very few Beast Masters can stick to their principles and not be deceived by the Constetion. The vast majority of dark attribute Beast Masters have be the organization''s pawns, which is why Lucas harbors a deep disdain for them. In his view, the so-called dark attribute Beast Masters would eventually be members of the Constetion organization, so it would be better to eliminate them while they are still weak. The two talked a little more, and when Lucas''s figure disappeared from the illusion, a ck hole suddenly appeared before Charles, sucking everything around it in, including the half-dead Charles. When he opened his eyes again, Charles found himself back in the real world. He instinctively stretched out his arms and clenched his fists tightly, as if he couldn''t quite believe he hade out of the illusion. He carefully observed everything around him, trying to find anything unreasonable or out of ce, but there was nothing! Charles finally let out a genuine sigh of relief. The talented individuals present looked at Charles with eyes filled with admiration, envy, and a hint of fear. Finn swallowed hard, Charles''s final move had shocked him. He never imagined that the usually expressionless and exceptionally gentle Charles could be so reckless! Finn had no doubt that if he faced that kind of situation, Charles would definitely act just as he did in the illusion! It was a shame, though, that in the end, he didn''t seed, he had failed the trial of the heart. "Sigh, if it were me, after losing all hope, I would definitely copse. For Charles to achieve this level is simply superhuman! If he still can''t pass, what kind of person can seed in the trial of the heart?" Finn thought. All eyes in the room were on Charles, filled with regret and sympathy. Now, Charles''s fate was in Lucas''s hands. If Lucas felt that Charles might fall into darkness in the future and wanted to eliminate the potential threat, no one could stop him! "Kill Charles! Kill him! He has failed!" Zane''s face was agitated, he was screaming madly in his heart. Benson, on the other hand, had an expressionless face, but his fists were tightly clenched, revealing his emotions at this moment. He wanted Charles dead! However, Lucas retracted the Light Staff Star Pseud and slowly walked toward Charles. Under the serious gazes of Jamie, Hale, and others, he patted Charles on the shoulder and said appreciatively, "Charles, even though you failed, you performed quite well. Here, this is your reward." Lucas pulled out a token from his pocket and handed it over. Charles nced at it and immediately received an information prompt: [Suspended Mountain Token [orange-quality]: A special token from the Suspended Mountain of the Haunted Marsh. The materials used for forging are very ordinary, but it has been infused with light attribute energy by a powerful Beast Master, giving it special effects. Effect: Light enhancement, any light attribute skills will receive a certain boost, dealing more severe damage to dark attribute mystical beasts and Beast Masters.] Charles was a bit surprised, this should be what Lucas mentioned in the illusion. Suspended Mountain? A mountain suspended in mid-air? It was yet another ce Charles had never heard of, and along with the earlier mention of the Beast Sect, more and more secrets of the Beast Master world began to unfold before Charles. He ced the Suspended Mountain Token into his jet ring, he wouldn''t be using it for now. Currently, none of the mystical beasts he had contracted possessed light attributes, and he didn''t know any light attribute skills. Upon hearing Lucas''s words, Jamie and Hale exchanged nces, both letting out a sigh of relief. This oue was unimaginable for them! Charles not only came through unscathed but was also praised by the Level Nine Beast Master Lucas, who even gifted him a token! Who is Lucas, anyway? A Level Nine Beast Master, a Light Knight, an elegant madman, a powerful figure who harbors disdain for dark attribute Beast Masters! For someone like him to praise Charles, who possesses dark attribute energy, was simply astonishing! "What? What?" Zane felt as if struck by lightning, his entire body jolting, he nearly fell to the ground. Thankfully, Benson noticed in time and caught him. Even so, it drew a lot of attention from others. Faced with the confused gazes of those around him, Zane kept his head down, not daring to let anyone see the disappointment and resentment in his eyes. How could Charles bepletely fine? Every time he encountered danger, Charles managed to turn the situation around and even gained something from it. Although Zane didn''t know what function the token Lucas gave to Charles had, anything produced by a Level Nine Beast Master surely wouldn''t be worthless! At the very least, it must be something of purple quality! "Damn it! Damn it! Why can''t Charles just die already? Why doesn''t a meteor fall from the sky and crush him?" Zane cursed madly in his heart. He felt ufortable all over, whenever Charles benefited and gained power, Zane felt as if he were falling ill. "Stand straight, we''ll talk about this at home!" Benson''s deep voice rang out. Zane took a deep breath, trying to straighten his body, and replied, "Yes, Father." At that moment, Lucas pointed to Hale beside him and said slowly, "I will fulfill my promise. I will help lift the curse on him, but I need to rest for a day first." "And I will also need some assistance then, I''ll discuss the details with your dean." Charles nodded, he understood that Lucas was likely too drained from earlier to lift Hale''s curse immediately. Only by truly facing Hale''s situation could Charles deeply appreciate what he was going through. From being hailed as a genius of the Wind to being cursed and stuck at the Level Six Beast Master level, the gap in between could drive someone to despair! At the same time, Charles was curious about where such a curse originated. Suppressing his questions, Charles stepped behind Dean Jamie. "Impressive! We all saw your performance in the illusion, no one could have done better than you, Charles," Jamie said, giving him a thumbs up. Nearby, Emperor Miles of Genosha added, "Charles, you should spend more time with Cami when you can, so she understands what a true strong person is." Once those words were spoken, everyone present understood that Emperor Miles was formally trying to win Charles over, even using his daughter as bait to attract him. He was really going all out! Charles didn''t want to refuse, he scratched his head and replied, "Your Majesty, I will." Then there was Hale standing nearby, trembling all over. The curse that had restricted him for so many years was finally about to be lifted, all because of Charles! At first, Dean Jamie had brought him to ask Lucas to lift the curse, but Lucas hadn''t even wanted to acknowledge them. "Thank you!" Hale said very earnestly. He had never imagined that the person who would ultimately help him lift the curse would be Charles! Charles waved his hand and replied, "Hale, you don''t need to thank me, I can''t lift the curse on you. That thing is just too terrifying." "By the way, Hale, how did you end up with such a powerful curse?" Charles asked curiously. Hale thought for a moment and answered, "That''s all in the past, sigh" Seeing Hale lost in memories and sighing repeatedly, Charles didn''t press further. At this royal banquet, besides Zane and Benson, there were two others with extremelyplicated feelings: the head of the Robinson family, Lance, and his brother, Shane. "Eldest brother, Hale''s talent ising back, do you think we should let him rejoin the Robinson family?" Shane said cautiously. Lance let out a sigh and replied, "We were the ones who drove him away, how can we do that now?" "So what? Hale will definitely be a Level Eight Beast Master, and even a Level Nine Beast Master is not impossible. At that point, the strength of the Robinson family will be unimaginable!" Shane said once again. Faced with the future of the Robinson family, Lance found it hard to make a decision. He finally responded, "Charles is the key. If he helps us, it will be much easier for Hale." Chapter 284 Charles Was Just a Little Bit Short When Lucas left to rest, the royal banquet came to an end, and the geniuses of Genosha dispersed. Many people walked back while quietly sighing and discussing: "I came here for nothing today, I didn''t gain anything." "Who says that? I learned a lot, seeing Charles''s performance makes me feel utterly inferior!" "That''s true. With a genius like Charles around, I seem like such a waste. By the way, what was that bottle of ck miracle drug that appeared in the illusion?" "I don''t know either. I''ll ask the strong ones back home, they should know something." "That thing is terrifying! Charles couldn''t even shake off its effects, it''s downright scary!" "Sigh, I really lost out today. I was hurt by the pressure of a Level Nine Beast Master and will need to rest for several days." ... Inside the Genosha royal pce, Cami widened her eyes, looking incredulously at the just-returned Emperor Miles. She slowly opened her mouth and asked: "Father, is what you just said true? Can I go to the underground world to watch Charles fight?" The reason Cami was so shocked was that, aside from attending sses at Cyber Academy, she had never had the time or opportunity to explore the outside world. Her daily schedule was packed, and even an invitation from Charles to dinner had to be approved by the emperor. Let alone going to a chaotic ce like the underground world. She had never been there before! "Of course it''s true. I will send someone to apany you. You''re old enough now, it''s time for you to get out and see the world."Miles said slowly. Today at the banquet, witnessing Charles''s performance in the Trial of the Heart left Miles utterly astonished. An eighteen-year-old genius, amoner with no elite education from a prestigious family, was able to achieve such heights! In reality, he was the pinnacle talent of Genosha, yet he remained humble and calm. In the illusion, even when he hit rock bottom, he still kept hisposure and didn''t fall into despair. Even he, at the age of eighteen, couldn''t have done that. Achieving even half of what Charles aplished would have been quite impressive! Charles''s future achievements would undoubtedly be limitless, and allowing his daughter Cami to interact with him was a decision with only benefits, no drawbacks. "I have some expectations, so don''t just go to have fun."Miles reminded his daughter lightly. Cami replied excitedly, "Don''t worry, Father! I will get along well with Charles. Now that I''m going to the underground world, what should I wear to look good?" Miles watched as Cami fell into thought, mumbling to herself. He couldn''t help but facepalm, perhaps having been overly protected, Cami, the second princess, was far less mature than the eldest princess, Rose. The reason he wanted her to go to the underground world was not only to befriend Charles but also to see if she could learn something from him. In Genosha, at a secret location, there was a dpidated room with blood-red candles burning on the floor. These candles formed a mysterious pattern that resembled a pair of eerie eyes. A mysterious figure dressed in a ck cloak suddenly emerged from the darkness and reported to the figure standing in the corner of the room: "Elder, we received news from the Taylor family. Charles did not pass Lucas''s Trial of the Heart, but he earned Lucas''s praise." The person referred to as Elder slowly turned around, staring at the red candles on the floor, lost in thought. He was the elder who had previously stopped Charles outside Cyber Academy, at the level of an Eight-Level Beast Master. "Tell me all the details of the Trial of the Heart. Charles actually wasn''t killed by Lucas? This is truly surprising."the elder said, his hoarse voice filled with astonishment. In his view, when Charles encountered Lucas, the Light Knight, he was surely doomed, it was almost certain that Lucas would y him on the spot! After all, a top-tier genius with dark attribute energy and terrifying spiritual sensitivity was destined to fall into darkness. What on earth had happened that Charles returned unscathed? And he received praise and rewards from Lucas? It was simply unbelievable! After hearing all the details, the elder immediately sensed something was off. He murmured to himself, "Pressure, light attribute energy, the appearance of [Divine Blessing] in the illusion? Charles actually tried to resist?" "Lucas said the oue was a failure and that he didn''t sessfully pass the Trial of the Heart?" "Why do I feel something is strange? Unfortunately, Lucas''s strength is too overwhelming, otherwise, I would have gone to observe in person." Unable to analyze more useful information, the elder could only kneel on the floor and take on a bizarre posture. Hey on the ground, limp like a piece of boneless meat, trembling incessantly, muttering some obscure phrases. The once calm candle mes began to flicker wildly, suddenly rising into the air and coalescing into a massive me eye! "Dark attribute? Light attribute energy? Are you sure?" A strange voice echoed from the air. If Charles were present, he would be extremely surprised because this voice sounded very much like the one he heard in the illusion! It was the voice he heard at first sight of the ck miracle drug known as [Forbidden Favor]! "Honorable messenger, the news has been confirmed as true!" The elder, an Eight-Level Beast Master, pressed his entire body against the floor, remaining utterly still. His tone was exceptionally reverent, tinged with a barely perceptible fear, as if whatever was before him was extremely terrifying! "Continue to observe. I wille personally when I have time."the mysterious entity known as the messenger said before vanishing. The mes of the blood-red candles on the floor returned to calm once more, as if nothing had happened at all. The Eight-Level Beast Master elder waited for a while, ensuring that the messenger had left before he dared to slowly straighten his body, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Charles, what secret do you possess that the messenger wants toe in person?" the elder said, his gaze fixed deeply on the candles before him. Meanwhile, in the underground world, the petite Cecilia loungedfortably in a giant chair, while Icy and Golden stood before her. "Mdy, we''ve informed you about what happened with Charles. We''re unsure about what to do next."Golden said cautiously, probing for a response. He was a Seven-Level Beast Master and the nominal boss of the underground world of Genosha. Before Icy and Cecilia arrived, he was responsible for all matters in the underground world, including those rted to the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge. Icy wasn''t too worried, he didn''t feel much trepidation. However, he had to tread carefully around this seemingly young girl, because she was an Eight-Level Beast Master, and the most troublesome kinda Poison Attribute Beast Master! Don''t let her youthful appearance fool you, she was actually over thirty! "What to do? Charles hasn''t passed the Reaper''s Scythe challenge yet!" Cecilia replied nonchntly, sucking on a strawberry-vored lollipop. Icy immediately frowned and spoke up: "Charles will definitely seed. You''re aware of what happened at the royal banquet. Someone with his immense willpower and physical prowess is precisely what we''ve been looking for." "There''s no rush, no rush. He hasn''t failed the Trial of the Heart, so there''s no need to be anxious."Cecilia said, still unconcerned. "Lucas''s Trial of the Heart is no simple matter. You know it''s an illusion within an illusion, and it involves that extremely bizarre thing called [Forbidden Favor]."Icy couldn''t help but interject. As a formal member of the [Dawn] organization, Icy had a deeper understanding of [Forbidden Favor] than most high-level Beast Masters. Once someone was tainted by it, there was no way to cleanse it! For Charles to regain consciousness several times within the illusion and attempt to use the pain of amplifying his sensory perceptions to break free from the influence of [Forbidden Favor] was already pushing the limits! "So what? He hasn''t failed, has he?" Cecilia shook her head, her legs in white stockings swinging back and forth. Based on her understanding of Lucas, the more impressive a genius Beast Master like Charles was, the less likely Lucas would let him off the hook. He would either kill him outright to eliminate future threats or take him under his wing for careful guidance. There was no way he would simply praise Charles and take no further action. After thinking for a moment, Cecilia added, "You might not understand Lucas''s Trial of the Heart. Perhaps Lucas didn''t go all out and it was just the simplest of illusions." She knew that Lucas had a special skill that consumed life force, and with his staff, he could make the illusion nearly indistinguishable from reality! Cecilia didn''t believe that Charles couldpel Lucas to use that special skill, if that were the case, Charles would have no chance of resisting something like [Forbidden Favor]! Even attempting to break free from its influence and ultimately failing was out of the question! It could only be said that the illusion Charles faced was the simplest one, far removed from reality. Those whopleted the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge indeed had the qualification to enter the [Dawn] organization, but for Cecilia to feelpelled to engage early, she thought Charles still fell a bit short. "Alright, you call the shots. Who am I to argue when you''re my superior now?" Icy shrugged in resignation and said slowly. Chapter 285 No Need for Rest As someone who had fought against Charles, Icy was well aware of his strength. A life-and-death battle could reveal many things, including a person''s true habits, thoughts, and character. Although he lost to Charles, Icy still believed that Charles was a true genius! Icy''s attitude was to make contact with Charles as soon as possible, lest such a talent be poached by other forces. At that moment. Cecilia turned around and looked at the octagonal cage below, suddenly saying, "He''s here!" Charles''s figure appeared! Golden and Icy quickly moved forward, watching as Charles prepared to enter the octagonal cage. Beside the octagonal cage, Celestine looked at Cami with a hint of hostility. At that moment, Cami was wearing a ck off-the-shoulder evening gown, her swan-like neck held high, and her white shoulders stood out under the lights. However, not many people dared to let their gaze linger on her, because sitting next to Cami was a two-meter tall Level 7 Beast Master! The aura emitted by a high-level Beast Master was enough to make the underground audience keep their distance, especially the seats near Cami, all of which were empty. This was because the royal family had bought up all those seats! "Celestine elder sister, is Charles going to battle? This is my first time in a ce like this. I used to watch from the live stream, but being here in person feels so different."Cami said excitedly, like a livelyrk. She was curiously looking around, tightly clutching a ticket that was her proof of betting on Charles''s victory. "Yes, the battle is about to begin."Celestine whispered in response. Her mind was racing with thoughts, imagining that as the second princess of Genosha, Cami was actually here in the underground world to watch Charles fight. Remembering that Charles and Cami seemed to have interacted before. Could it be that Princess Cami has feelings for Charles? Celestine''s thoughts were bing more and more numerous, and her head was getting more chaotic. What if the second princess, in her admiration for Charles, decided topete with her? Thinking of this, Celestine turned to look at Cami, carefully observing her delicate features and elegantly poised figure. She felt a bit insecure. Loving someone makes you sensitive, suspicious, and anxious about potential losses. As if sensing Celestine''s gaze, Cami asked curiously, "What''s wrong, Celestine elder sister? Is there something on my face?" Celestine quickly shook her head, indicating that there was nothing. At that moment, the signal for the battle to begin drew both of their gazes to the octagonal cage. Charles stood expressionless in ce, watching his opponent''s nervous demeanor. He didn''t want to waste any more time and chose to strike first! In the next instant, the floor beneath Charles erupted with debris as his figure appeared in front of the ace Level 4 Beast Master in the blink of an eye. "So fast! Even faster than before!" Seeing the rapidly approaching fist, the ace Level 4 Beast Master from the underground world quickly raised his arms to block the punch. However, the next moment, his body flew backward like a rag doll! The entire arena was in shock! "What? Just a simple punch, and it has such great power!" "Charles hasn''t even usedbat techniques yet, how can he be this strong?" "Has it only been a day? Did Charles be stronger again? No way, is this ace Level 4 Beast Master too weak?" "No, it''s that Charles is too strong, his power has increased again!" "If that''s true, that''s too monstrous, it''s only been a day!" In the underground office. Icy''s mouth dropped open. He couldn''t believe the scene before him. If Charles had used [Divine Domain], he could understand it. But Charles didn''t use anybat techniques at all! That punch just now was purely physical strength and offensive skill, Charles''s power had definitely increased significantly! "Could it be because of the trial of the heart? But isn''t that an illusion?" Icy said instinctively. Cecilia watched Charles in the octagonal cage with great interest, particrly noting how his aura had be more stable and powerful. Experience and skills in battle cannot be significantly improved in a short time, it''s a process that requires continuous learning, practice, and umtion. Recalling the information that stated Charles had been spending time in the training room and library during the trial of the heart, It seemed that he must have gained improvements there! "Could that guy Lucas really be willing to expend his life force?" Cecilia fell into deep thought, still unable to believe it. A Level 9 Beast Master, and one with a limited lifespan at that, would he really spend his life force on a Level 4 Beast Master like Charles? Thinking back to the final scene of Charles''s trial of the heart, where he used the method of amplifying bodily pain to escape the influence of [forbidden favor]. Cecilia''s subconscious kept telling her that it couldn''t be real, Charles couldn''t possibly achieve that level in the illusion created by Lucas''s life force! But looking at Charles''s current progress and improvement, especially the aura he radiated. Cecilia found herself hesitating. If everything was true, then Charles was truly a monster! She had lived for thirty yearsno, sixteen yearsand had never seen such a genius! At that moment. In the octagonal cage, Charles''s battle hade to an end. After emerging from the trial of the heart, Charles realized that his strength had indeed increased significantly, including hisbat techniques, which were now more powerful than before. During the fight, he could unleash his physical strength to an extraordinary level! This was something he had learned through continuous training in the environment of the trial of the heart! As he watched the ace Level 4 Beast Master from the underground world fall to the ground, the bald host immediately announced the battle results. "The winner is Charles!" In the face of the audience''s cheers, Charles remained expressionless and calm. He thought carefully and realized that the subsequent battles would require him to return to the underground world every night, which felt somewhat like a waste of time. The previous fight hadn''t consumed much of his stamina, it had been quite simple to resolve. In that case, it would be better to... As Charles thought of this, he directly shouted, "Can the next battle start right now? I''m feeling great and don''t need a break!" Upon hearing this, the entire underground world fell silent in an instant. The spectators in the audience looked at each other, their eyes revealing expressions of disbelief! Some people rubbed their ears in shock and said: "Did I just imagine that? Did Charles just say he wants to fight continuously? This is the first time I''ve encountered something like this." "Even though Charles won the previous battle, he must have expended quite a bit of energy, right? Can he really handle the next one right after?" "He can definitely do it! After all, he''s Charles! How much stamina could he possibly have lost in that fight?" Listening to the surrounding audience''s discussions and looking at Charles, who was still quietly standing in the octagonal cage, the bald man immediately inquired for opinions from above. In the office. Golden listened to the inquiriesing through his earpiece. He looked up at Cecilia, who was standing by the window, and asked: "Sir, Charles wants to fight continuously. What do you think?" "Then just agree to him, but with one condition."Cecilia replied. Golden quickly asked, "What condition?" Cecilia thought for a moment and said, "Charles should have two more battles left, so let those two ace Level 4 Beast Masters fight him together." Golden was a bit surprised by this response. Two ace Level 4 Beast Masters at once? Wouldn''t that be a bit extreme? Charles''s strength should be enough to take down two ace Level 4 Beast Masters, but he was concerned about whether the audience would ept it. However, Golden quickly realized. Now that Charles was facing one ace Level 4 Beast Master, there was no suspense, having two ace Level 4 Beast Masters would better excite the audience! Soon, the bald man who received themand immediately took the microphone and asked: "Charles, if you want to fight continuously, that''s fine, but in the next battle, you will face two ace Level 4 Beast Masters!" "If you win, you will sessfullyplete the Reaper''s Scythe challenge!" Upon hearing this, the entire audience instantly boiled with excitement. Between Charles and the ace Level 4 Beast Master, it was certain that Charles woulde out on top. But they thought that facing two ace Level 4 Beast Masters would be a different story altogether. Spectators were continuously analyzing and discussing who would win between Charles and the two ace Level 4 Beast Masters. However, the true strong ones were no longer concerned about the oue, they knew Charles would win. "No problem, I ept!" Charles replied calmly. Cami gazed at Charles in the octagonal cage with admiration and unconsciously whispered, "So handsome, so charming!" Celestine''s ears perked up suddenly, and she turned her head sharply, asking, "Did you just say something?" "Ah! No, I was just expressing a sentiment. Celestine, who do you think will win?" Cami asked in a fluster. "Of course it''s Charles! He hasn''t lost yet."Celestine confidently answered. She knew Charles would definitely win, and Cami nodded in agreement. Under everyone''s watchful eyes, Two more ace Level 4 Beast Masters entered the octagonal cage. "Charles, you''re strong, but you''re also quite arrogant to actually agree."one of the ace Beast Masters said, clenching his fists in annoyance. The other person didn''t speak, but there was a hint of anger in his gaze, he felt slighted. Charles helplessly spread his hands and slowly replied: "I would prefer to fight one at a time, but since you guys from the underground world made this suggestion, I had no choice but to agree." Chapter 286 He Can When the signal to start the battle was given, The two ace Level 4 Beast Masters across from him showed no hesitation, splitting to the sides andunching their attack on Charles together. In Charles''s eyes, the strength of these two was slightly stronger than that of the previous ace Level 4 Beast Master. No wonder they seemed a bit angry right from the start, feeling as if they had been slighted, but this level of anger wasn''t enough! In the past, Charles might have immediately used his [Divine Domain]bat techniques to show them what it meant to be outssed, to let them know that there are always stronger opponents out there. However, after experiencing the trial of the heart, Charles chose to seize every opportunity in battle to improve himself as much as possible. The two slightly stronger ace Level 4 Beast Masters could still pose a bit of danger to him, but just a hint of dangerif he let his guard down for even a moment, it could lead to disaster. With that thought in mind, Charles abandoned the idea of attacking as well. He wanted to hone the skills he had learned in the Illusion of the Mind, after all, he had spent those two years in the training room! Moreover, there had been a few battles where he had used the ck miracle drug, boosting his strength to Level 5 and then Level 6 Beast Master. Now, Charles was a Level 4 Beast Master, and he wanted to use this battle to find his rhythm! In the next moment, Two fierce attacks came at him from the sides. For most people, facing such an onught might leave them unsure how to defend. But for Charles, it was a perfect demonstration. He blocked a punch aimed at his temple with his right arm while raising his left leg high to intercept the whip kick from the other ace. The sound of the massive collision echoed throughout the underground world, and the sh of the three fighters kicked up so much dust that the nearby spectators could barely keep their eyes open. Not only that, Charles, who had withstood the attacks of the two ace Level 4 Beast Masters, used the strength of his muscles and suddenly surged forward, sending both opponents flying! "Damn it! How is he so strong?" one of the ace Level 4 Beast Masters said, stabilizing himself and speaking almost instinctively. "Bring it on! I refuse to believe this!" the other Beast Master gritted his teeth andunched another attack, hispanion quickly following suit. The spectators outside the octagonal cage watched with rapt attention, astonished that Charles faced two ace Level 4 Beast Masters with such ease! Even up until now, Charles had not taken the initiative to attack! "Damn it, I regret it so much, I bet on Charles to lose!" "Are you stupid? Charles is so strong, is there really a chance he could lose?" "Isn''t Charles the strongest genius in Genosha?" "Among Level 4 Beast Masters, Charles is indeed the strongest, but there are some geniuses who are already Level 5 Beast Masters!" "Charles is only eighteen years old. Are there any eighteen-year-olds who are Level 5 Beast Masters?" "It doesn''t seem like there are. Charles will definitely represent Genosha in the two-nation exchange!" "What two-nation exchange? Why didn''t I know about that?" Amid the discussions and cheers of the spectators, the battle gradually came to an end. As the two ace Level 4 Beast Masters representing the underground world were now panting and exhausted. Meanwhile, Charles showed little change, throughout the fight, he had been using these two Level 4 Beast Masters to continuously improve hisbat skills. Now that it was getting a bitte, Charles thought for a moment and decided not to waste too much time. Mainly because these two ace Level 4 Beast Masters had little stamina left, their attackscked power and were no longer of any use. In the next moment, Charles''s body left its original position, and amidst the gasps of the crowd, he appeared directly in front of the two ace Level 4 Beast Masters. In the blink of an eye, he unleashed two punches! He sent the two Level 4 Beast Masters, who hadn''t even reacted yet, flying, crashing heavily into the iron mesh of the octagonal cage! "The battle is over! The winner is Charles!" "I dere that Charles has sessfully challenged the Reaper''s Scythe! Let''s cheer for him together!" The bald man worked hard to hype up the atmosphere. As he shouted into the microphone, he kept an eye on Charles, trying to catch a glimpse of an excited expression. Unfortunately, Charles didn''t feel any excitement, he calmly turned around and walked out of the octagonal cage to stand in front of Celestine and Cami. "You were amazing, Charles! You were simply incredible!" Cami ran over immediately, her big eyes sparkling. Celestine, not wanting to be outdone, linked her arm with Charles''s and gently squeezed it, saying, "Are you tired? Let me give you a massage." Charles sensed that the atmosphere between the two girls felt a bit odd. At that moment, Golden slowly approached, with the indifferent Icy standing beside him. "Congrattions, Mr. Charles! You''vepleted the challenge of the Reaper''s Scythe. Not only will you receive substantial rewards, but your name will also be engraved on the ceiling of the underground world!" Golden said with a cheerful smile. Charles was mainly focused on the rewards, specifically the alchemy materials that Colton needed, as well as the matters concerning the Dawn organization. However, given the number of people around, it was clearly not a good opportunity to ask questions. Golden pulled out a ring and carefully handed it to Charles. Charles took it and nced at it, it was an item simr to the jet ring, capable of storage, containing quite a few things. He had no idea which one was the alchemy material Colton needed. Thanks to the information prompts in his vision, Charles nced around and quickly spotted something rather special. [Wood Spirit [Golden Quality]: An incredibly rare alchemy material, formed only from special trees that are over ten thousand years old, which have the chance to condense after experiencing the cycle of life and death.] A Wood Spirit? A golden quality alchemy material? This must be what Colton needed, no wonder he said it was hard to find another one in the entire Abyssal Depths. Looking at the information prompt before him, Charles couldn''t help but marvel at the fact that it took a special tree over ten thousand years, going from death to life, to have a chance to condense into a Wood Spirit. The difficulty of this was beyond imagination! "Mr. Charles, there''s another special matter I''d like to discuss with you. I wonder when you might have time for a proper conversation."Golden continued. Charles perked up, this should be about the Dawn organization. After careful consideration, Charles decided it would be best to take the Wood Spirit to Colton. "How about tomorrow evening? I''ll choose the location then."Charles replied. Golden nodded and handed Charles a business card, saying, "This has my personal contact information, you can reach out to me anytime." Charles nodded and nced at Icy, who was radiating a cold aura, before turning to leave. Once Charles had left, Golden and Icy returned to the office. "So, what did he say?" Cecilia asked curiously. Golden replied immediately, "He said he''s avable tomorrow, and he''ll pick the ce." "This guy is quite cautious, this is interesting. I''ll go meet him tomorrow."Cecilia said as she unwrapped a lollipop and popped it into her mouth. Icy couldn''t hold back any longer, he asked, "ording to protocol, when dealing with qualified individuals, the organization gives them a task. What level of task do you want to assign to Charles?" "Well, I haven''t thought that far ahead. By the way, what levels of tasks do we have?" Cecilia inquired. Icy''s expression grew even colder, he could barely tolerate it! How could someone with a higher rank and greater strength not know the task levels of the organization? Taking a deep breath, Icy slowly exined, "The assessment tasks are divided into three levels: C-rank, B-rank, and A-rank." "I thought there was also an S-rank task, which I believe is near GenoshaCalivia?" Cecilia said as she took the lollipop out of her mouth and looked at Icy. Icy clenched his fists, he was beginning to suspect that Cecilia was pretending not to know. "There is indeed an S-rank task near GenoshaCalivia, but the requirements for that task are outrageous, Charles probably won''t be able toplete it."Icy mused after a moment of thought. He didn''t want to miss the opportunity to test this genius, as anyone capable of creating their ownbat techniques could generally pass the organization''s assessments. As long as theypleted the assessment task, they could join the Dawn organization. Moreover, Charles was even more abnormal, the Divine Domain left a deep impression on Icy. He felt that within the realm, Charles could foresee his next move! "Let''s give him an S-rank task, it''ll be just right."Cecilia said as she stood up from her chair and walked towards the door. Icy was taken aback by this and incredulously asked again, "Are you serious? That''s an S-rank task! Even you back then couldn''t havepleted it!" "I know I couldn''t, but Charles could at least give it a try."Cecilia replied without looking back as she left. The office was left with only Golden and Icy. Golden turned to Icy and slowly asked, "What did thedy mean by that?" Icy swallowed hard and slowly replied: "What she means is that Charles''s talent is even stronger than hers!" "That... that can''t be possible! Thedy was already an eighth-level Beast Master at just thirty! Are you saying Charles is more powerful than her?" Golden eximed, his mouth agape in shock. Icy patted Golden on the shoulder, somewhat sympathetically, and said, "She hasn''t gone far. You''re in big trouble. Don''t you know it''s extremely rude to talk about ady''s age behind her back?" Golden instantly realized what he had said. Before he could respond, he felt his entire body go numb and unable to move. All he could do was blink his eyes frantically, as if trying to plead with Icy for help. "You can''t do that. Don''t you know you shouldn''t provoke an angrydy?" Icy tossed out the line and quickly left the office. Left alone, Golden felt an itch spreading across his body, yet he was stillpletely unable to move! He blinked his eyes madly, filled with regret, wishing he could p himself twice if only he could move. Chapter 287 Beginning Preparations to Lift the Curse At the entrance of Cyber Academy, after bidding farewell to Celestine and Cami, Charles made his way directly to the wooden cabin in the bamboo grove, where Colton was already waiting. "Professor Colton, I''ve sessfully obtained what you asked for." Charles said as he pulled out the Wood Spirit. It was a deep green piece of wood that looked extremely ordinary. Most people would find it hard to imagine that this was the very item a master-level alchemist had been desperately searching for. Colton carefully took the Wood Spirit from Charles''s hands. As a master-level alchemist, his hands were usually very steady. But at that moment, when he touched the Wood Spirit, Charles noticed that Professor Colton''s hands began to tremble. "Great! With this, the chances of sess are even higher!" Colton said, his voice trembling slightly. He gripped the Wood Spirit tightly while staring intently at Charles. Colton''s gaze held a multitude of emotions. At first, he didn''t believe that Charles couldplete the Reaper''s Scythe challenge. He worried about Charles getting hurt or even losing his life due to unforeseen circumstances. Then, after witnessing the dangerous battle between Charles and Icy, Colton felt nothing but regret. Finally, now that he had truly obtained the Wood Spirithis long-sought goal that could significantly increase the chances of sessColton could no longer contain himself. His eyes began to glisten, as if tears were about to form. "Are you alright, Professor?" Charles asked with concern. He genuinely hadn''t expected such a strong reaction from Colton, who looked on the verge of tears. Thinking of this, Charles lowered his head to give Colton a moment topose himself. Soon, Colton regained hisposure, tucked the Wood Spirit away, and then asked: "How did you manage to identify it? It doesn''t look special at all, and many people have never seen it." Charles scratched his head, he found it difficult to answer that question. He couldn''t just say it was because of the information prompts in front of him. "Never mind, that''s not important. Here, take this. It''s the miracle drugs I''ve been crafting over the past two days."Colton said as he handed over several bottles of miracle drugs. Immediately, a flurry of information prompts appeared before Charles: [High-Level Support Training Miracle Drug] [Grade]: Orange-quality [Description]: This is a supportive training potion. After use, it will rapidly increase the user''s Beast Master training speed for half a month! [Premium Detox Miracle Drug] [Grade]: Orange-quality [Description]: This can alleviate most poisoning conditions and, when taken, can prevent poisoning without any side effects! [Physical Limitation Release Miracle Drug] [Grade]: Orange-quality [Description]: This is a special potion that can temporarily remove physical limitations, boosting strength by 1.5 to 3 times. It can be used by Beast Masters of level six and below, but after the effect wears off, the user will experience three hours of physical exhaustion. ... There were at least a dozen bottles of miracle drugs, most of which were orange-quality, with the lowest being purple-quality. If these were to be taken out, who knows what kind of sensation it would cause! "Teacher, this is too valuable."Charles immediately said. These miracle drugs were literally lifesavers. Having them in dangerous situations would greatly increase the chances of survival! "Just take them. Your safety is the most important thing. Time is limited, and some of these are purple-quality miracle drugs. Use them for now, and I''ll refine moreter. There are still some miracle drugs toe."Colton said nonchntly. After hearing this, Charles didn''t refuse. Instead, he ced the miracle drugs into his storage space. Now, his worth was beyond what an ordinary person could imagine. Even Charles wasn''t sure how much he had on him. It seemed he should find a time to get rid of all the unnecessary items at the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. Then he could take stock of what he had! Oh, speaking of which, Charles remembered the matter regarding Little Gold, the food item, Feather Gold, was almost gone. He would mention to Danel, the president of the Genosha branch of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, to see if they had arge supply of rare metals. After chatting briefly with Colton, he noticed it was gettingte. Charles left the cabin and, on his way back to his dorm, took out his phone. He sent Danel a message about looking for rare metals and mentioned he would be selling some materials in a couple of days. To his surprise, he received a reply just a few secondster. Danel said he was currently upied with some matters and wasn''t in Genosha Calivia. He could arrange for Yana to handle things in his absence. Charles agreed, recalling that Yana was the person who had greeted him at the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association auction. She had a nice figure and was quite beautiful. Early the next morning, Charles got up, quickly washed up, and after breakfast, he returned to the ssroom he hadn''t visited in a while. There was still some time before ss started, and not many people were in the room. As soon as Charles walked in, the chatter that had been going on came to an abrupt halt, leaving the ssroom eerily silent! Most of the students in ss A of Cyber Academy had witnessed Charles''s performance in the trial of the heart. Seeing Charles brought back memories of what he had done during the final trial, and they instinctively lowered their heads, too afraid to meet his gaze! This wasn''t because the A-ss geniuses were timid, it was just that Charles''s actions had been truly terrifying. "Charles, you''re back? I saw yesterday''s battle, it was absolutely amazing!" Jace rushed over. "How are you feeling now? Are youpletely better?" Charles asked, nodding. Jace patted his chest and replied, "Definitely! If I run into that kid again, I can take him down for sure!" Charles knew who Jace was referring to, but Jace wouldn''t have that chance, that person''s fate had been quite tragic. Soon, Cami and Zachary entered the ssroom as well. Upon seeing Charles, their eyes lit up, and they greeted him. Especially Cami, who quietly moved her body and sat directly in front of Charles. Looking at her fair neck and catching a whiff of her perfume, Charles couldn''t help but nce a few more times. The teacher who was about to give the lesson today was quite good at teaching, but in other aspects, she couldn''tpare to Ruby. With the Reaper''s Scythe challenge over, Charles''s life was starting to return to normal. He wouldn''t need Ruby to give him special lessons anymore. Thinking about this made Charles feel a bit regretful. Just then, his phone suddenly vibrated with a message. Upon opening it, he saw it was from Professor Hale: [Charles, you don''t have to attend this morning''s ss. Ruby will help you catch upter.] Charles pped his forehead, he suddenly remembered that Lucas would being to Cyber Academy soon to help Professor Hale lift the curse. Thinking of this, Charles immediately stood up and left the ssroom. The other students spected a bit and figured that Charles must have something important to attend to, while Cami continued to watch the door, her pink lips puffed up. In the dean''s office at Cyber Academy, Jamie, Hale, Ethan, and Professor Ruby were all present, clearly cing great importance on the uing visit from Lucas. When Charles arrived, Ethan immediately eximed, "Charles, I heard about what happened yesterday. You were really ruthless!" As he spoke, he gave a thumbs up. Professor Ruby was dressed in a ck professional outfitplemented by ck stockings, and on her feet were a pair of red-soled high heels, exuding the charm of a mature woman. She smiled and said, "Charles, you were impressive, you did really well!" "Alright, alright, today Charles will also be participating. He has sses, so Ruby, could you please help him catch upter?" Jamie exined briefly. Upon hearing this, Ruby''s gaze lingered on Charles, and she replied, "Not a problem. Charles is a genius, I love tutoring geniuses. It makes things easier." Charles felt Ruby''s gaze on him and kept a straight face, saying nothing. "Lucas informed me that the curse on Hale isn''t easy to lift. There may be some disturbances, so everyone needs to be extra cautious."Jamie said in a serious tone. Charles was a bit curious, he remembered that when Lucas lifted the curse in the illusion, it didn''t seem to take much effort. Could it be that the process was simplified in the illusion? Jamie noticed Charles''s confusion and exined, "That''s correct. The curse on Hale is quite special. Forcing its removal might attract some unwanted attention, so we need to be prepared to shield against that." They would have to use the trial tower within the academy, and several teachers along with the dean would work together to create a unique shielding space. Only then could Lucas lift the curse on Hale without drawing any special attention. No wonder Professor Ezra had been at a loss regarding the curse on Hale, it turned out to be quite difficult. Before long, Jamie led Hale, Charles, and the others to the trial tower. Today, the trial tower was closed, and once everything was prepared, Lucas''s figure appeared before everyone. "Good morning, Charles." Ignoring everyone else, Lucas greeted Charles directly. Charles quickly responded, today, Lucas was still dressed in a white suit, looking exceptionally elegant. Chapter 288 Destined to Become Strong In the trial tower, in the main hall. Jamie and several other teachers looked seriously at Hale and Lucas, who were standing in front of the stone wall. "If anything goes wrongter, Charles, you need to step in and help."Lucas said with a grin. Charles opened his mouth slightly, surprised, and asked, "Me? What can I do as a Level 4 Beast Master?" Inside the trial tower, there was Lucas, a Level 9 Beast Master, Jamie, an Level 8 Beast Master, and other Level 7 Beast Master teachers. If anything were to happen, did they really need Charles to intervene? "You just need to stand next to me. If you sense something is off, hold onto this staff, and you won''t have to do anything else."Lucas replied, still smiling. Charles sensed that the other party seemed tock some confidence. Could it be that a Level 9 Beast Master was unsure? What exactly was the curse on Professor Hale? Charles looked around at the others, especially at Hale in the center. He nodded and slowly walked to stand behind Lucas. "Don''t worry, just stay calm. There might be some other urrences."Lucas said briefly, his smile fading. He began to take things seriously. White tubes slowly descended from the top of the trial tower, and Jamie, along with the other teachers, reached out to grasp them in their hands. Charles observed and thought that those must be the tools for controlling the trial tower. In the next moment, the teachers from Cyber Academy infused their attribute energy into the tubes, creating a faint golden barrier that enveloped Lucas, Hale, and Charles. "Get ready, it''s about to begin!" Lucas said, pulling out the Light Staff Star Pseud and aiming it at Hale. The energy of light suddenly erupted, flowing from Lucas''s body into the staff, and then, enhanced by the Light Staff Star Pseud, it reached Hale. In the blink of an eye, like boiling water, countless wisps of mist appeared around Hale. Unlike the illusions, the mist was gray, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be tiny particles. Just as the gray particles began to emerge from Hale''s body, an unexpected scene unfolded before Charles''s eyes! He watched as those tiny particles slowly cracked open, revealing pairs of pitch-ck eyes inside. It was hard to describe the feelingtens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of tiny eyes were staring intently at Charles. A sudden chill enveloped him, causing him to tremble. At that moment, Charles realized something was wrong, and he turned to look at Lucas beside him. Lucas, holding the staff and infusing it with light energy, was also trembling, an overwhelming fear radiating from him! What could instill such immense fear in a Level 9 Beast Master? What was happening? Charles had no time to think further. He immediately reached out and grasped the Light Staff Star Pseud alongside Lucas! In a daze, Charles found himself in a dark space. Beside him stood Lucas, radiating light. Confused about what was happening, Charles looked at Lucas. He saw Lucas tightly closing his eyes and muttering iprehensible words to himself, such as "great," "absolute," and "eternal. "Wake up, quick! What the hell is going on?" Charles shook Lucas''s glowing body. A terrifying feeling gripped his heart, as if something was watching him from the darkness! That feeling was indescribable, the only word that could barely convey it was "unknown!" Taking a deep breath, Charles didn''t give up. Instead, he increased his effort and pped Lucas''s face several times! Finally, Lucas slowly opened his eyes. He looked at Charles, but his gaze was focused on the darkness behind him. Charles sensed that something was wrong and was about to turn his head to look back when Lucas suddenly opened his mouth wide, and countless tiny insects surged out, gathering and charging towards Charles! At that moment, Charles felt a warmth rising within him. His hands became hot, and a burst of red and white light erupted from his palms! The bright, intensely hot light instantly illuminated the entire space. Lucas regained his senses and quickly pulled Charles, using the red and white light to escape rapidly. Charles could only follow Lucas in their swift retreat, feeling curious about what Lucas had just seen. When he nced back, just a quick look froze him in ce. In the next instant, the surrounding scene returned to normal. "What happened? Why were you threepletely frozen? Did you really encounter...?" Jamie asked anxiously. Lucas pointed to his mouth but did not answer. Realizing what had happened, Jamie quickly closed his mouth and turned to carefully check on Charles. Charles still had his eyes tightly shut, his body stiff as if he were a stone statue. "It''ll be fine in a moment. Remember, don''t ask him anythingter. He doesn''t have the strength right now to retainplete memories!" Lucas said with an unprecedented seriousness in his voice. Everyone around nodded, especially Jamie, who slowly replied: "Sometimes, being weak can actually be a blessing." "Indeed, the stronger one bes, the more one knows, which can lead to greater despair."Lucas remarked with a sense of reflection. He looked at Charles and continued, "However, some people are destined to be strong. Perhaps everything is just a matter of fate." A long timeter, as everyone waited, Charles slowly opened his eyes. He looked around at the people and asked, somewhat dazed, "What happened? What was going on? I feel like I reached out to touch the staff..." "It''s nothing. You were just affected by the staff''s power. Everything is fine now, and the curse on Hale has been lifted."Jamie said with a normal expression. Lucas nodded in agreement, confirming Jamie''s words. Charles scratched his head in confusion. He ced his hands in front of him and seemed to notice something unusual. Lucas''s heart tightened at that moment, and he feigned curiosity as he asked: "What''s wrong? Are your hands feeling ufortable? It might be because you were holding the staff." Charles''s hands felt somewhat hot, and he wasn''t sure why. He only remembered cing his palm on the Light Staff Star Pseud when he saw Lucas frozen, and then everything went nk. "Charles, thank you! I can feel that the curse on me is gone."Hale said, slightly trembling with gratitude. Charles quickly waved his hand and replied, "It''s great that the curse is lifted. Congrattions, Teacher Hale." By the time Charles left the training tower, it was already noon. "Has it really been that long? Is golden-quality equipment that powerful?" Charles thought, feeling puzzled. He sensed that something was off but couldn''t pinpoint exactly what it was, and that feeling was incredibly strange! "What exactly was the curse on Teacher Hale?" Charles wondered as he made his way to the cafeteria, feeling a bit hungry. In the dean''s office, Jamie looked at Lucas with a serious expression and asked: "Is it because of Charles? What exactly is" Before he could finish, Lucas interrupted him with a threatening tone, "I advise you not to try to investigate. What''s on Charles is not simple. Only those at Suspended Mountain can uncover everything while ensuring his safety!" "Suspended Mountain, Suspended Mountain! Damn, what is happening in this world?" Jamie mmed his fist on the table, causing the solid mahogany desk to shatter instantly. "Once you be a Level 9 Beast Master, you''ll be qualified to know more, but you''ll also find it more despairing."Lucas said in a low voice. He seemed to recall something terrifying, causing his body to tremble slightly. Jamie''s eyelids twitched. He had no idea what was happening, but seeing Lucas tremble filled him with immense fear! "My time is short, and I have many things to do. You need to keep an eye on Charles. If necessary, he must not die, even if it costs you your life."Lucas said slowly. Jamie took a deep breath. He valued Charles highly and was shocked to realize how important Charles was in Lucas''s eyes! "I''ve been here for almost two days, I have to leave. Having an Level 8 Beast Master protect Charles is the best choice."Lucas said before walking out. Only Jamie remained in the office, lost in thought. At Cyber Academy, in ssroom A, the afternoon passed quickly. For ordinary students, every day of study was busy and tense. However, for Charles, this kind of learning felt like a break. He could quickly understand and grasp the knowledge the teacher presented in ss. Soon, it was time for afternoon sses to end. Charles declined Zachary and Cami''s invitation, grabbed a quick dinner, and headed straight to the caf next to the academy. As soon as he arrived, he summoned Mousie, instructing it to dive into the darkness to see if there were any suspicious individuals. Recalling Lucas''s remarks about Mousie''s uniqueness, Charles waited for Mousie to finish its task before sending it back to the Beast Mastery space. After sending a message to Golden in the underground world, Charles also briefly updated Jamie before settling in the caf''s private booth, feeling at ease. Three minutester, he heard footsteps outside the boothsoft, just one person. It seemed like someone from the underground world had arrived, but it wasn''t Golden or Icy. Who could it be? Chapter 289 I’m Going to Pin You Down The door to the caf''s private booth was opened, and Charles froze for a moment when he looked over. A girl appeared at the doorway, wearing small leather shoes, whitece long socks, and a pink dress. "Little sister, did you go to the wrong booth?" Charles instinctively asked. The girl in front of him looked no older than sixteen, giving Charles the impression that she posed no danger at all, she was simply an ordinary little girl! Charles''s first reaction was that she was definitely not from the underground world, she must havee to drink coffee and identally entered the wrong booth. To his surprise, upon hearing Charles''s words, the girl''s face lit up with a happy, joyful smile as she walked further into the booth and even closed the door behind her. She plopped down on the sofa, crossed her legs, and smiled brightly as she said: "Big brother, I don''t think I went to the wrong booth! Let''s get acquainted, my name is Cecilia." As she spoke, Cecilia extended her hand, inviting Charles to shake hands. Charles was a bit surprised as he shook her hand. He never expected that the person sent by the underground organization [Dawn] would be a girl who looked no older than fifteen or sixteen! "Hello, I''m Charles."he introduced himself briefly. Cecilia scrutinized Charles closely before continuing, "I know, you must have guessed the purpose of our meeting today, right?" Charles nodded and spoke directly, "I''ve heard that [Dawn] has powerful intelligence capabilities. I was wondering if I could ask you about something. I can pay for the information." "What? You''re looking for information? Aren''t you here to join us?" Cecilia immediately sat up straight, her eyes wide open, her face filled with disbelief. She had always thought that Charles went to great lengths toplete the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge just to get in touch with [Dawn] and join them, bing one of their own. To her surprise, now that they had met, Charles''s purpose was to inquire about information? Cecilia was momentarily at a loss for what to do. At that moment, Charles curiously asked again, "Is that not possible?" "Of course! Yes! Absolutely!" Cecilia bit her lip. Naturally, such things could be done. She deduced that Lucas must have drained some of Charles''s life force, so she personally came to absorb Charles into the curse. She hadn''t expected that Charles wasn''t inclined toward that now, which left her a bit flustered. A talent like this, if she couldn''t absorb him and make him a partner, it would be a huge loss! "What information do you want to know?" Cecilia''s eyes darted around as she quickly sensed the key opportunity. She could leverage Charles''s current need for information to manipte him, slowly enticing him to join the [Dawn] organization! With that thought, Cecilia rxed her body again,fortably lying back on the sofa and gazing at Charles. Charles''s mind was upied with thoughts about the **Constetion** organization, the children who had died under the abandoned factory, and the red taboo miracle drug. Taking a deep breath, Charles slowly replied: "I need to know about the **Constetion** organization and which factions in Genosha are colluding with them." "Those? Well, such information isn''t easy to obtain, it''s quite valuable, and you can''t afford it right now."Cecilia responded, feeling even more rxed after hearing his request. Cecilia recalled the information she had about Charles and began to ponder why he wanted to know this information. She narrowed her focus, ultimatelynding on the case of the missing children in Genosha. "Those children? Is Charles doing this for the kids who were used as alchemy materials in that abandoned factory?" Cecilia thought to herself. She found it hard to believe that if the information was correct, the reason for Charles investigating the **Constetion** organization was most likely due to this. "Charles, you really are kind-hearted and have a strong sense of justice."Cecilia remarked with a hint of admiration. Charles furrowed his brow. He couldn''t tell if the other person wasplimenting or mocking him. In the world of Beast Master, a sense of justice and kindness weren''t considered admirable qualities, only powerful strength mattered most. Moreover, Charles didn''t view himself as a kind person. When faced with danger and threats, he could be harsher than anyone else. After all, he was someone who could inflict torture upon himself! "So, you do know the relevant information? Just tell me what the price is."Charles said directly, his face serious. Cecilia fell into deep thought. She wanted Charles to join [Dawn], so it couldn''t be a one-time transaction, there must be potential for future developments between them! Oh right, that S-level mission near Genosha Calivia might be just the thing for Charles! That mission itself posed little danger and would take some time, allowing her to maintain contact with Charles through it. Then, little by little, she could entice him, letting him see the power of [Dawn], ultimately absorbing him! It was simply perfect! With that thought, Cecilia couldn''t help but wear a smug smile. She slowly began, "Charles, have you considered joining us? Don''t rush to refuse, let me tell you more." Cecilia shared some information about [Dawn]. They were spread throughout the Ethereal Grove, and since the Abyssal Depths was remote, the overall strength of Beast Masters there wasn''t very high. In the Abyssal Depths, [Dawn] had only three level nine Beast Masters, and she herself was an eight-level Beast Master. Not only that, but their intelligence capabilities were extraordinarily strong, they could even inform Charles of every move made by the emperor of Genosha! Upon hearing this, Charles fell into contemtion. The fact that [Dawn] had three level nine Beast Masters in the Abyssal Depths was quite surprising! Charles was well aware of the immense power of a level nine Beast Master. After all, Lucas had left a deep impression on him, just his aura alone had severely injured Charles. Not to mention Lucas''s full strength, it would be a simple matter to destroy all of Genosha! Three powerful Beast Masters in [Dawn]! And that''s just in the Abyssal Depths, how many level nine Beast Masters are out there remains a mystery. Moreover, the girl in front of him, who looked to be only fifteen or sixteen, was actually an eight-level Beast Master! Charles swallowed hard and slowly asked, "Uh, can I ask your age? An eight-level Beast Master in her teens is hard to believe." "It''s impolite to ask ady''s age, you know. So, what do you think? Do you want to consider joining us?" Cecilia replied with a grin, leisurely unwrapping a lollipop and popping it into her mouth. Suddenly, something clicked in Charles''s mind, and he quickly asked, "Do you know anything about my teacher, Ezra?" "Ezra? Let me think." Cecilia took the lollipop out of her mouth and pretended to ponder. Seeing Charles''s anxious expression, she couldn''t help butugh, saying, "Don''t worry, your teacher isn''t in any life-threatening danger. Look at how tense you are, haha!" Upon hearing this, Charles immediately felt relieved. As he looked at the cheerful eight-level Beast Master girl in front of him, one thought dominated his mind: she was unreliable. She gave off a very unreliable vibe! "Let me think. What would be the cost of the information I wanted to know?" Charles asked again. Cecilia suddenly found the lollipop in her mouth to be less sweet. She sighed and replied, "It''s simple. There''s a task. If you canplete it, all the information you want will be yours." "This task isn''t dangerous at all, and you can terminate it at any time. Plus, once you agree, we can provide some information upfront." Charles listened to Cecilia''s response as he picked up the coffee on the table and took a sip, deep in thought. If what Cecilia said was true, it wouldn''t be difficult for him. However, he couldn''t trust everything that came from a Beast Master, he had to prepare for the worst. He could ask Jamie Dean for helpter to see if this so-called task was really that safe. "I have one condition: if I sense any danger, I will abandon this so-called task immediately."Charles said as he set down his coffee. Cecilia nodded, thinking to herself, "If you encounter danger, I''ll be even more anxious than you. Just wait, Charles, we''re going to secure you!" The two left the caf, and after a while, Charles''s phone rang again. He took out his phone and was momentarily stunned, then thoughtfully said: "As expected, the Taylor family! You really are bold!" A few minutester, Charles''s figure appeared in Dean Jamie''s office, where he ryed the information to Jamie. "If the intelligence from [Dawn] is true, the Taylor family is indeed colluding with the [Constetion] organization! Damn it!" Jamie eximed as he stood up, his expression dark and grim. An organization as cruel and evil as [Constetion] was the enemy of every Beast Master. It was shocking that the Taylor family had formed a partnership with them! Looking at the information before him, Jamie took a deep breath and directly told Charles: "You stay at the academy. I need to make a trip to the pce." Charles nodded, understanding that Jamie was going to discuss matters with Emperor Miles of Genosha. It seemed the good days for the Taylor family were about toe to an end! Thinking back to Zane''s arrogance, always looking for opportunities to deal with him, even wanting to back out of a duel after losing! If it weren''t for Teacher Ezra and Teacher Colton, Charles was sure he would have been assassinated by the Taylor family long ago. A family like that, colluding with the [Constetion] organization, was truly despicable! Chapter 290 What Should We Do? In Genosha Calivia, the underground world. Cecilia wearily returned to her office, where Icy had already been waiting for a long time. The moment he saw Cecilia, he immediately asked, "So, what''s the reaction from Charles? Does he want to join us? What''s the task he needs toplete?" Cecilia hung her head, weakly sitting down in her chair. She waved her hand and replied: "Don''t even mention it. He''s not interested in joining us at all, he just wants some information." Now, as an eighth-level Beast Master in the Dawn organization, Cecilia no longer underestimated Charles. Instead, she felt a deep sense of worry and even a hint of regret. If they had acted sooner, the chances of sessfully bringing Charles into the Dawn organization would have been greater. "Information? He''s not looking to join us?" Icy was taken aback by this response. Didn''t expect that Charles''s purpose was simply for information? "What should we do? The trial candidates from other regions are almost finalized, and we still haven''t found a suitable candidate on our side."Icy said, feeling a bit anxious. People like Charles are extremely rare! If they miss out on Charles, there won''t be another like him! "Don''t panic, there''s still some time. I''ll give it another shot."Cecilia said as she lifted her head, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. This was the first time she had put so much effort into trying to recruit a fourth-level Beast Master into the Dawn organization. There was no helping it, it wasn''t just because of Charles''s talent, but also due to something even more important. The selection for the "Summoner" in the Dawn organization would begin soon, and they still hadn''t found a suitable candidate in Genosha. The so-called "Summoner" is a term used within the Dawn organization to refer to special individuals. Those who can be "Summoners" are truly exceptional talents, far surpassing the average genius. They must undergo long periods of rigorous training and face life-and-death crises, constantly improving their strength, all in order to reach the "Silent Land" and fulfill their destined mission. Genosha has not had a suitable genius for a long time, if this continues, she will face punishment from the organization! "Damn it, after seeing Charles, everyone else seems so ordinary. If ites to it, maybe I should have Finn give it a try?" Cecilia thought to herself. If she couldn''t get Charles to join Dawn, she would have to settle for Finn, who was so bent on revenge. Although Finn was quite good, he just couldn''tpare to Charles! At the Genosha Cyber Academy, Charles walked out of the dean''s office, his mind was racing. The Taylor family probably wouldn''t face disaster anytime soon. The emperor of Genosha and Jamie would likely choose to wait, as the situation involved more than just the Taylor family, they also had the Constetion organization behind them. If they wanted to achieve something greater, they would definitely wait a bit longer. Due to the ninth-level Beast Master Lucas, both the Taylor family and the Constetion organization had chosen to go into temporary hiding, waiting for an opportunity to act or gather. They would have to wait a couple of days. "It seems I''ll have to let Zane live a little longer."Charles said softly. Meanwhile, within the Taylor family''s study in Genosha, Zane wore a very grim expression, looking as if he had fallen seriously ill,cking energy and vitality. "Look at your current state, there''s no sign of what a future heir of the Taylor family should be like!" Benson said, his impatience evident as he raised his voice. Upon hearing this, Zane merely lifted his head slightly, showing little reaction. Ever since leaving the royal banquet, just thinking about Charles made him feel suffocated. "Enough! I know you''ve been in a bad mood these past couple of days, it''s natural to vent. But in less than two days, three maids have died at home, you need to pull yourself together."Benson sighed and said slowly. The number of maids who died wasn''t important, after all, those lowly people had no background or connections. In the end, it would just be a matter ofpensating a little, or even better, iming they were up to no good, stealing from the Taylor family, and identally got killed. No one would dare to say anything. This is the might of the Taylor family! "I understand, father. As long as Charles is alive, it''s hard for me to stay calm."Zane clenched his fists and gritted his teeth in response. Benson wasn''t surprised by this, he knew Zane''s character well. As the son of the head of the Taylor family, he had always gotten everything he wanted before encountering Charles. After meeting Charles, he faced setbacks and challenges at every turn. "Just endure for now. It''s not the right time to act against Charles, but it won''t be long before I be an eighth-level Beast Master. If everything goes smoothly, Genosha will belong to the Taylor family!" Benson could only offer these words offort. Zane''s eyes brightened, and he quickly asked, "Then I can kill Charles when that happens?" Chapter Read: The longing expression on Benson''s face instantly vanished, and he replied stiffly, "No, you cannot." Even if the Taylor family controlled Genosha by then, they couldn''t directly act against Charles because the Constetion organization was always prohibiting the Taylor family from doing so. If that weren''t the case, they would have already sent a seventh-level Beast Master to find an opportunity to assassinate Charles. "Alright then, father. I''ll be going now." Upon hearing this response, Zane felt a wave of powerlessness wash over him as he turned to slowly leave, supporting himself against the wall. Watching his son leave, Benson struggled to regte his breathing. He pushed all thoughts of Charles out of his mind. He focused solely on bing an eighth-level Beast Master, hoping that all his ns would go smoothly. At that point, all of Genosha would obey the Taylor family''smands, and he would be the new emperor of Genosha! ... At the crossroads, Mark carried many essential supplies and arrived in front of a dark, dpidated house. This was the same house where Charles had encountered the old woman. He was here to fulfill the task Charles had entrusted to him and to help this unfortunate family. Gently knocking on the moldy wooden door, Mark waited quietly. After a long time, Only then did the sounds of movemente from inside, slow and heavy, like an elderly person on the verge of death. "Creak."the door slowly opened, and a suffocating stench hit Mark''s face, causing him to instinctively take a step back. He wrinkled his nose and said to the limping man in front of him: "I have to say, you really let things go. Thest time I was here, your house was fairly clean. What happened this time..." Before he could finish his sentence, he sensed something was off. Amid the pungent odor, there was a hidden scent of decay. Mark had encountered this smell more than once on Crossroads Street. It was the stench of a decaying corpse! Mark''s pupils constricted sharply as he fixed his gaze on the limping man, who had been staring down at the ground. He quickly asked: "What happened? Thest time I came a few days ago, everything was fine. I even brought some medicine." The limping man slowly raised his head, his eyes devoid of life, resembling the moldy filth on the wall beside him. "They''re dead. Theymitted suicide while I was out working." The limping man''s response was eerily calm, as if he were merely stating that autumn had arrived and two leaves had fallen from the sycamore tree in front of the house. "They?" Mark felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and the items he was holding fell to the ground. "Yes, they''re all dead."the limping man repeated, still maintaining the same calmness. Mark took a few deep breaths and stepped forward, wanting to go inside and see for himself. To his surprise, the limping man stood like a piece of wood, unresponsive in ce. With a firm push, Mark moved the limping man aside. Due to his unsteady bnce and difficulty with his legs, the man fell to the ground. Yet he showed no signs of struggle, lying there at the entrance, staring up at the sycamore leaves slowly drifting down, repeatedly murmuring, "They''re dead, they''re dead, all dead. Do you think if I died too, our family would reunite in hell?" Mark had no time to respond, he rushed into the house, and two already decaying corpses came into view. "Why? Mr. Charles extended a helping hand to you. You could have survived, yet still..." Mark''s breath became rapid. Deep down, he understood that the old woman and the limping man''s wife had been tormented by their emotional pain, keeping them in a state of suffering. Yet, he still couldn''t ept it because Charles had promised he would provide an answer, one that would ensure the guilty would pay! Why couldn''t they just wait a little longer? After a long while, Mark slowly walked out of the room, looking at the man whoy on the ground, having lost his daughter, wife, and mother. There was no sign of a will to live in his eyes. "s... my condolences. Everything will..." Theforting words reached only halfway before Mark swallowed them back, he couldn''t bring himself to say them. He simply could not imagine how the limping man had endured these past few days, watching the corpses of his wife and mother while reflecting on his missing daughter. He still hadn''t broken down, struggling to hold on. "Are you waiting for the truth of the matter?" Mark couldn''t help but ask. The limping man''s eyes moved slightly as he replied, "Will the guilty die? Will they go to hell too?" "Yes, they will, definitely!" Mark nodded vigorously. "When the poor die, they go to hell too. What if theye back to bully us again?" The lifeless voice spoke slowly. Mark was taken aback. He looked down at the limping man lying on the ground, then nced up at the pure white sky. He didn''t know how to answer that question, he wanted to know the answer himself. Chapter 291 Action! The next morning, while Charles was having breakfast in the cafeteria, he suddenly felt his phone vibrate. When he opened it, he saw a message from Jamie: [Waiting for you in the office.] It was a simple and straightforward message. Charles understood its meaning. Was it time to prepare to take action against the Taylor family and the Constetion organization? Without a moment''s hesitation, Charles activated the Darkness Cloak and made his way to the dean''s office. Inside, several people had already gathered. Most of them were familiar faces to Charles, including Ethan, Ruby, and some other Level 7 Beast Master instructors. It seemed that all the high-endbat forces that Cyber Academy could mobilize were gathered here. Upon seeing Charles arrive, Ruby discreetly licked her lips at him. "Now that everyone is here, I''ve brought you together for a very important matter. It concerns the entire Genosha and the security of Cyber Academy. We will reveal the specific detailster. Let''s go."Jamie said directly. Upon hearing this, Charles immediately understood. This was for the sake of confidentiality, to prevent anyone from notifying the Taylor family or the Constetion organization. They hadn''t disclosed the specifics to the teachers at Cyber Academy! It appeared that the infiltration by the Constetion organization was even more frightening than he had imagined. Even the dean was worried that there might be members of the Constetion organization among the teachers. Charles nced at the teachers he wasn''t very familiar with, confusion was evident on their faces. Ethan and Ruby, however, showed little emotion. They both understood that Jamie''s actions were meant to maintain secrecy. Everyone followed Jamie as they slowly walked to the square of Cyber Academy, waiting in silence. After about ten seconds, Jamie''s phone vibrated. He pulled it out and immediately said, "Follow me! We need to be quick!" In the next moment, a green vine extended from Jamie''s body, tightly binding Charles. Then Jamie''s body shot into the air like a cannonball. Charles was forced to follow alongside. Due to the rapid speed, the wind around them felt like sharp knives. Thankfully, a faint green barrier formed in front of Charles from Jamie''s wood attribute energy. At that moment, Charles looked back and saw that the teachers from Cyber Academy were all using various methods to keep up. Some teachers summoned massive flying mystical beasts that soared through the sky, while others moved with ghost-like speed, traversing the high-rise buildings of Genosha as if they were on t ground. Soon, this spectacr sight drew the attention of many people. More and more individuals looked up at the sky, wondering what had happened in Genosha to mobilize so many powerful Beast Masters! It wasn''t just the Cyber Academy, there were also figures quickly leaving the royal pce, heading toward their target location. In just a few breaths, the scene before Charles changed, and they had already arrived near the Taylor family! This was the first time he had seen the situation of the Taylor family. In a vast area, only the Taylor family resided there. This was a good thing, there was no need to worry about the aftermath of the battle harming innocent civilians. Only the Taylor family and those associated with them lived here. If they could block a few key roads, the entire area would be the Taylor family''s grave! At that moment, inside the Taylor family''s study, Benson was staring at the gray miracle drug in his hand with an obsessed look. He slowly said, "I''ve finally waited for this. With it, I can be an Level 8 Beast Master!" "There will be another Level 8 Beast Master in the Taylor family. With two Level 8 Beast Masters and your help, we can surely pull Miles down from the emperor''s position!" "I can''t wait to see that scene!" "Hahahahaha!" Without any hesitation, Benson downed the miracle drug in his hand in one gulp. This is not the forbidden favor miracle drug, but rather a simplified version of it. Given Benson''s talent, he was not yet qualified to gain the recognition of the forbidden favor. Naturally, he could not use the forbidden favor. However, the Constetion organization had other methods, such as the gray miracle drug from earlier. That was not an ordinary Tone Reproduction miracle drug, it was very difficult to manufacture. If it weren''t for the need to keep the Taylor family working, it wouldn''t be handed out so easily. "We have done what you asked. Now it''s time for the Taylor family to act."said the mysterious voice. He continued: "ording to our previous agreement, the Taylor family will be responsible for quietly administering the red taboo miracle drug to the students within the three academies." Benson carefully felt the changes in his body and nodded in satisfaction, saying, "No problem, everything has been arranged. All this preparation has been for tomorrow! Rest assured, there will absolutely be no idents!" Benson was full of confidence. His deal with the Constetion organization was not something that had started recently, he had been preparing for the n for several years. He had arranged for members of the Taylor family, along with some secret assassins, to infiltrate the three academies for a long-nned scheme. At that time, these so-called geniuses would subtly change and be synonymous with madness and chaos! Those with high spiritual sensitivity would be taken by the Constetion organization amidst the chaos, bing their members! By then, the Taylor family could take advantage of the turmoil, alongside a few high-level Beast Masters from the Constetion organization, to be the new rulers of Genosha! For that day, Benson had already prepared a set of royal attire, stored in a secret room within his study. Now that everything was ready, they were just waiting for tomorrow to unfold the chaos! However, in the next moment, the mysterious person''s expression suddenly changed dramatically, as if he had sensed something extremely dangerous. He shouted frantically at Benson: "Are you crazy to dare betray the Constetion?" Hearing this, Benson was stunned. He couldn''t grasp the meaning of the words. What did it mean that he was crazy and wanted to betray the Constetion? Wasn''t the Taylor family on the same side as the Constetion organization? How could there be talk of betrayal? Soon enough, Benson understood what it all meant. In the middle of the area where the Taylor family was located, a massive vine suddenly burst from the ground and began to grow rapidly. In just a few breaths, it had grown into a gigantic vine nearly a hundred meters tall! Countless tiny vine branches shot out like bullets, quickly reaching the edges of the Taylor family''s territory. Then, they intertwined with each other, weaving a massive vine thatpletely sealed off the entire Taylor family! Only a passage was left behind for Jamie and a few others to enter and exit. "Dean, your Wild Vine has gotten a lot stronger! It''s so powerful now that a typical Level 7 Beast Master can''t escape, and even a Level 8 Beast Master would struggle!" Ethan said enviously. Jamie merely nodded, directing his gaze toward the Taylor family''s vi, where Benson was now rushing out in a panic. When he saw Jamie and the teachers from Cyber Academy, he immediately shouted, "Jamie, what are you doing? How dare you summon a mystical beast in the Taylor family? Do you want to be an enemy of the Taylor family?" Jamie did not respond, remaining expressionless. Seeing this situation, Benson felt an overwhelming sense of panic. He had an inkling of what was happening, but he still didn''t give up and continued to shout: "What you''re doing won''t be epted by all of Genosha! The Taylor family hasn''tmitted any unforgivable mistakes!" Chapter Find: In the face of Benson''s shouting, Jamie didn''t even nce at him. He simply spoke to the shadow behind Benson, saying calmly: "Come out, rat of the Constetion organization!" In an instant, Benson''s face turned ashen, his body trembling as he kept muttering: "How is this possible? Why was it discovered? How could this happen? Who leaked the information?!" "Just as expected from the dean of Cyber Academy, your perception is indeed sharp, you managed to detect my presence." A voice emerged from the shadows. A mysterious figure cloaked in ck slowly stepped out from Benson''s shadow. More and more Beast Masters from the Taylor family, armed with various weapons, red angrily at the people from Cyber Academy, shouting: "How dare you do this! You have no respect for the Taylor family! The Taylor family is not to be trifled with!" Those who still didn''t understand the situation had no idea what the Taylor family had done, while the higher-ranking Beast Masters from the Taylor family looked pale and trembled in fear. Benson took deep breaths, he had just consumed the miracle drug that would elevate him to Level 8 Beast Master, and before he could wait for its effects to fully manifest, he was confronted by the attack from Cyber Academy! All his dreams had shattered, forget about bing the new emperor of Genoshaif he could just survive today, he''d be grateful! "What do we do? Jamie is a Level 8 Beast Master, and the others are also quite strong, we stand no chance."Benson gritted his teeth and whispered to the mysterious person beside him. He asked the mysterious person because he knew the other side had means to contact the Constetion organization. If they could get support from the Constetion forces in Genosha, there might still be a way out! Just as Benson held onto this glimmer of hope, the desperate voice of the mysterious figure nearly made him faint. "It''s over, I can''t contact anyone else! The base is under attack!" the mysterious person said, shaking uncontrobly. "What? How could this happen?" Benson stammered slowly. With news like this, barring any unforeseen circumstances, his death was inevitable! Chapter 292 Disgusting Beyond Measure "I don''t know either, damn it! We inside Genosha have no clue about their actions!" the mysterious person said slowly. Benson turned to look at the members of the Taylor family who stood around him. With determination in his heart, he gritted his teeth and shouted loudly: "Cyber Academy is deliberately plotting a rebellion, aiming to eliminate the Taylor family first! As members of the Taylor family, we cannot give up resistance, we must fight with our lives on the line!" "For every enemy killed, a reward of thirty gold coins, with no upper limit! The one who kills the most enemies will be given the position of head of the family!" Hearing this, the members of the Taylor family, unaware of the full situation, became excited and fervently shouted: "We vow to defend the Taylor family! Defend Genosha!" "The Taylor family members are not cowards! Kill the enemies!" Meanwhile, those higher-ranking Beast Masters who were aware of the situation quietly began to retreat, hoping to escape amidst the chaos. Benson''s gaze darkened as he watched them, and he shouted sternly: "Anyone who dares to retreat will be fair game for the Taylor family members! We do not allow deserters in the Taylor family!" "Those who retreat will be killed without mercy!" Thismand instantly made those who wanted to back away stop in their tracks. Faced with Benson''s twisted logic and his continued call for resistance, Jamie didn''t say much, he simply remarked: "Benson, you truly are despicable, even betraying your own family." "Jamie! What nonsense are you spouting? It was you who invaded the Taylor family''s territory!" Benson shouted, fearing that Jamie would continue talking or produce any evidence. Benson immediately summoned his mystical beast, preparing tounch a preemptive attack! Seeing the actions of the family head, the other members of the Taylor family also sprang into action. In an instant, the entire Taylor family was illuminated by hexagram arrays, and various mystical beasts appeared. "Stubborn and foolish! If you surrender, I can make your death a bit more merciful! Everyone, prepare for battle!" Jamie shouted. The teachers of Cyber Academy summoned their mystical beasts one after another. Compared to the Beast Masters from the Taylor family, the mystical beasts they summoned were of higher quality and level! The battle between both sides was about to erupt! At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared in the Taylor family vi, radiating a powerful aura that drew everyone''s attention! "What''s happening? Benson, how could the Taylor family have so many enemies?" A figure stood atop the house, looking bewildered at the unfolding scene. "Father! Genosha is about to strike against the Taylor family!" Benson replied. Jamie looked at the figure with uncertainty and said, "Shawn? I thought you were dead?" "Hmph! Who said I was dead? Jamie, you have some nerve! How dare you lead people into my Taylor family!" The former head of the Taylor family, Shawn, shouted. The outside world believed he was dead, but that wasn''t the case. Unable to break through to the ninth-level Beast Master and with little time left, Shawn chose a special method. He put his body into a long sleep, intending to awaken only when the family was in danger to fulfill his final value for the family! "You, the Taylor family, colluded with dark forces and caused the deaths of hundreds of children and others. Even a beast wouldn''t do such a thing!" Charles slowly shouted. Shawn nced at Charles, frowning as he said, "You, a mere fourth-level Beast Master, dare to speak?" "You, an old man teetering on the brink of the grave, can still spout nonsense, yet you care so much!" Jamie retorted. He continued: "The one who discovered the clues first was Charles. If it weren''t for him, you wouldn''t have been exposed so quickly for what the Taylor family has done!" Hearing this, Benson suddenly looked up, staring at Charles beside Jamie, gritting his teeth as he said: "Charles! It''s all because of you! Damn it, if I had known, I would have sent someone to kill you!" After saying that, he turned to the mysterious figure beside him and shouted, "It''s all your fault for not letting the Taylor family deal with him directly. Now look, it''s all toote!" Jamie furrowed his brow, lost in thought. Even Charles appeared confused, the mysterious figure clearly belonged to the Constetion organization, making him an enemy. Was Benson implying that the enemy was actually helping him? What was going on? The eighth-level Beast Master from Constetion hadn''t killed him back then, and now Constetion was preventing the Taylor family from attacking him. While Charles was still pondering this, Jamie shouted loudly, "The Taylor family is colluding with Constetion, and the evidence is undeniable. I suggest you all give up this pointless resistance!" After hearing Jamie''s words, many people showed hesitance on their faces, contemtingying down their weapons. Benson directlymanded his mystical beast to kill several people who wanted to surrender. "Anyone who dares to hesitate will meet this fate! Charge at them!" Benson yelled. In the next instant, the battle erupted! The cries of despair, pleas for mercy, and sounds of pain echoed throughout the Taylor family estate. This family, once a top family in Genosha, was now facing unprecedented disaster. One body after another fell, against the teachers from Cyber Academy, they were simply no match! Some members of the Taylor family, witnessing the gruesome deaths of theirrades, wanted to surrender, but they were torn to shreds by Benson''s mystical beast from behind! "Wow, there are quite a few Taylor family members dying at Benson''s hands."Ruby remarked, standing next to Charles, tasked with his protection. The fiercest among them was Teacher Ethan, no wonder he was called the Tiger of Cyber Academy. Every attack he made targeted the enemy''s weaknesses. None of the Taylor family''s Beast Masters couldst five seconds against Teacher Ethan! These Beast Masters from prominent families could handle regr Beast Master foes, but facing the teachers from Cyber Academy was like a mouse encountering a cat. There was absolutely no ability to resist! Benson watched as the Beast Masters of the Taylor family continued to fall, trembling all over. In the air, Jamie and Shawn were locked in an ongoing battle. The mysterious figure didn''t stand idly by either, choosing to confront Ethan, and the two became embroiled in fiercebat. Just moments ago, Benson had been in his study, waiting for his ns toe to fruition. He thought he would be an eighth-level Beast Master! He would be the emperor of Genosha and make everyone in Genosha obey hismands. However, in such a short period, everything had fallen apart. Escape! He had to get out alive! Without a thought for his son Zane, who had not shown up, Benson gritted his teeth and ran toward the back in the chaos! "Tsk, tsk, here we have the esteemed head of the Taylor family, urging his kin to their deaths while trying to escape himself. Shawn, you truly raised a fine son!" Jamie taunted while continuing to fight. Shawn, in mid-air, sensed Benson''s movements but said nothing. He was doing everything he could to fend off Jamie''s attacks. In his heart, he thought, "Benson, run! I''ll hold him off!" However, the other Beast Masters from Cyber Academy were not going to let Benson off so easily, and Jamie''s vine was not easily destroyed either! "Damn it! Damn it! It''s all that Charles''s fault! Why are these vines so tough?!" Benson frantically tried to tear through the vines before him. Seeing the Beast Masters from Cyber Academy closing in behind him, Benson didn''t hesitate and issued an order to his mystical beast: "Go! Hold them off! Even if it costs you your lives, just hold them back!" Seven mystical beasts charged fearlessly toward the pursuing teachers from Cyber Academy, protecting their master without a hint of retreat. Yet against the teachers from Cyber Academy, they couldn''t hold out for long. Soon, one mystical beast was severely injured and let out a pained howl. Benson continued to struggle against the vine without pausing, ignoring the anguished cries of his mystical beast as if he hadn''t heard them at all. The wails echoed again and again but could not deter his desire to escape. Such ruthlessness and cold-bloodedness made the teachers from Cyber Academy frown and scold him: "Benson, you are truly a beast! Not only do you treat your kin this way, but you also do the same to your mystical beasts. You''re hardly human!" "Damn it! They are my mystical beasts! I can do whatever I want with them! I can kill them or even eat them if I please!" Benson shouted back frantically. His heart was filled with despair! The cursed vines could not be destroyed in such a short time. His father, Shawn, was an eighth-level Beast Master and could surely break these vines. But right now, he was locked in battle with Jamie and couldn''t spare a hand to help. "After living so long, I still can''t defeat Jamie, I''m such a waste! Otherwise, I would have escaped by now!" Benson continued to curse, the despair in his heart had driven him to madness. There was no hope left, seeing the Beast Masters from Cyber Academy closing in, Benson simply gave up the struggle. "I surrender! I surrender! I can disclose all the intel, all the secrets. You can still use me to threaten Shawn, I''m still useful, just don''t kill me!" Benson shouted, trembling all over. Someone could no longer hold back and kicked him hard, saying disdainfully: "You can betray your own father? To call you a beast is an understatement!" "Please don''t kill me! I just want to live! I''ll soon be an eighth-level Beast Master, I''m very valuable!" Benson dared not resist, only shouting endlessly. "Who would have thought that the head of the Taylor family would turn out like this? You''re not even worth as much as a dog!" the teachers from Cyber Academymented. What happened today truly showed them how low a person could sink. Colluding with dark forces, harming children, manipting his kin to their deaths, indifferent to the lives of his mystical beasts, and betraying his own family... It was all utterly revolting! Chapter 293 It’s All My Father’s Doing Benson listened to the disdain directed at him by others and felt absolutely no concern, it meant nothing to him. As long as he could survive, any sacrifice was worth it! At that moment, the battle between the two eighth-level Beast Masters in mid-air wasing to an end. As the dean of Cyber Academy, Jamie faced Shawn, the once-mighty eighth-level Beast Master who was now on the verge of death, with little pressure and maintained the upper hand throughout the fight! Looking at his son kneeling on the ground, begging for mercy, Shawn gritted his teeth in frustration. How could he have given rise to such a cowardly fool, so afraid of death andcking any backbone? And he had led the Taylor family down the path of destruction! Feeling the injuries all over his body and looking at the countless members of the Taylor family lying motionless on the ground, Shawn let out a heavy sigh and gave up the fight. He turned to Jamie and said: "I wonder if His Majesty could consider the many contributions the Taylor family has made and allow for a trace of our bloodline to remain, so that we are notpletely extinguished." "It''s highly unlikely. The things the Taylor family has done, His Majesty will not easily forgive you for."Jamie replied, remaining vignt. "But only the upper echelons of the Taylor family are at fault, the ordinary members are not involved!" Shawn insisted, unwilling to ept the Taylor family''s demise. Jamie smirked slightly and replied disdainfully, "They were born into the Taylor family and enjoyed privileges and status that ordinary people could never dream of. Now, faced with danger and punishment, they im to be innocent?" "That''s utterly ridiculous. If the Taylor family truly seeded in their ns and became the new rulers of Genosha, would you leave any royal bloodline intact?" Jamie asked simply, and Shawn immediately fell into silence. Silence itself was an answer. If the Taylor family really achieved their ambitions, they would certainly not spare any royal bloodline. "Even so, I have to try and see if I can fight for a glimmer of hope for them to survive."Shawn took a deep breath, his energy surging as he prepared to fight to the death. However, in the next moment, a sharp vine burst forth from the ground beneath him, piercing through his body like lightning and creating a massive, gaping wound! "What, when did this happen!" Shawn spat blood as he struggled to speak. Jamie spread his hands, a mocking smile on his face, and slowly said, "Old man, you must have been asleep for far too long. Thinking you could explode all your energy to break through my vine is rather underestimating me, don''t you think?" It turned out Jamie had never let his guard down, he knew that a dying eighth-level Beast Master wouldn''t give up resistance so easily. While they were speaking just now, he had quietly set up his deadly trap! "You actually figured it out! The heavens want to doom the Taylor family!" As Shawn finished speaking, Jamie seized the opportunity of his serious injury to deliver a fatal blow! It was all over! Charles watched as Benson and Zane were brought in, both pale and trembling, begging for mercy,pletely different from their previous arrogant and disdainful selves. Now, they looked like beggars on the street! "Charles, please, let me go! I don''t know anything, it was all my father''s doing! I didn''t do anything!" Zane shouted desperately. No wonder they were father and son, their instinct to betray their kin was just the same! "Shut up! Zane, I am your father! For you to say such things to beg for mercy, I''ll kill you!" Benson, as if struck by lightning, froze for a moment, then he began to berate, desperately trying to break free and attack Zane! "Who else could it be? If it weren''t for you, would the Taylor family be facing such an end? It''s all your fault!" Zane shouted madly. Watching the farce before him, Charles''s eyes were filled with disgust and revulsion. Is this what it means to be a ruler of a so-called great family? After losing their power and status, all that''s left is the instinct to survive, with no morality or emotion as human beings, behaving like beasts! "Take them away, stop disgusting people here."Jamie said as he walked over and waved his hand. Several Beast Masters from the Cyber Academy restrained the arguing father and son, Zane and Benson. The operation against the Taylor family hade to an end. Teacher Ruby and the other instructors were busy with their tasks. Only Jamie and Charles remained standing here, with Jamie looking at Charles with aplex expression, slowly saying: "That rat from the Constetion organization refused to be captured alive by Ethan and chose tomit suicide." Charles immediately understood Jamie''s words, he realized that Jamie wasn''t talking about the mysterious person''s death but was referring to what Benson had said: the Constetion organization prohibited the Taylor family from acting against him. "Dean, I don''t know why."Charles said slowly. Jamie nodded, he was just a bit puzzled and wanted to ask. If Charles really had any connection to the Constetion organization, why would he help them gather intelligence? "Benson should be executed immediately, the other members of the Taylor family will have to wait a bit longer, and their oue won''t be good."Jamie said slowly, indicating to Charles that the Taylor family waspletely finished and there was no need to worry anymore! "The Taylor family must know some information about Uncle Ezra. Dean, you need to ask them thoroughly."Charles urged. ... Soon, the news of the Cyber Academy''s attack on the Taylor family spread throughout Genosha Calivia. When the prominent families received the news, they frantically sought information, trying to understand the ins and outs of the situation, especially Charles''s role. The Robinson family, Lance looked at his younger brother with a face full of fear and said, "Thank goodness Charles disrupted our attempts to curry favor with the Taylor family at the banquet, otherwise, the Robinson family would also be punished by His Majesty!" Shane nodded frantically, "The Taylor family has really messed with the wrong person this time. Who would have thought that the mighty Taylor family would end up like this because of Charles!" "Brother, should we send some gifts to Charlester to show our appreciation?" Lance thought for a moment, he knew they had to curry favor with Charles, but it wasn''t the right time. In light of the Taylor family''s betrayal, things were surely tense over at the pce. The best choice for the Robinson family right now was for all members to stay home and quietly wait for the storm to pass! Not just the Robinson family was doing this. In General Mason''s study, Zachary looked at his father with a puzzled expression and slowly asked, "Father, don''t you have any information about what''s going on?" Mason nodded and replied, "The emperor''s wariness of the Constetion organization is unimaginable. The Allen family is also an outsider, so there''s always a possibility of betrayal." "But, father, you''ve made so many contributions to Genosha..." Zachary continued. General Mason sighed, slowly stood up, and stared intently at his son, answering: "The fact that you can say such things shows you haven''t grown up yet. In the future, make sure to seize opportunities and stay close to Charles to learn more." "A significant part of the Taylor family''s downfall is because of Charles! The Cyber Academy has always maintained neutrality, so why are they making such an effort this time?" Zachary''s eyes widened in surprise as he said, "Does that mean the dean never got involved in such matters before?" "Yes, the internal conflicts of Genosha are not something the Cyber Academy would interfere with. Even with the appearance of the Constetion organization, they wouldn''t deploy all their personnel. Everything they are doing now is solely to help Charles and eliminate as many dangers as possible." Upon hearing this, Zachary nodded seriously and said, "Father, I understand. I will make sure to stay close to Charles!" The news spread quickly, and some ordinary citizens also began to learn about what happened today. However, the information they received was not asprehensive as that of the prominent families. They only knew that the Taylor family was involved in a child abduction case and had intentions of treason, which had been discovered in time. Mark sat in a tavern, looking at the rumors popping up on his phone, and he began to tremblenot from fear, but from excitement! "The Taylor family? It''s actually the Taylor family! They could do something like this?" "Charles''s name is mentioned in this too, it must be Mr. Charles''s doing, just as he said!" Mark''s voice grew louder, and the tavern became increasingly quiet. Seeing the bewildered people around him, Mark didn''t have time for lengthy exnations and directly instructed the person next to him: "Send everyone out to find out exactly what happened to the Taylor family today, and gather all the parents who have lost children at the tavern!" "Oh, and bring Sam over too!" The patrons of the tavern dispersed, leaving only Mark and the bartender who had previously served Lucas. The bartender looked at the unusually excited Mark with curiosity and asked, "Dude, what''s going on? You seem so worked up!" "How can I not be excited? Those damned people are finally going to get what they deserve!" Mark took a deep breath and downed his drink in one go! "What damned people?" the bartender continued to inquire. Mark nced at Charles''s name on his phone, lost in memories of his first encounter with Charles and everything that had happened since. "There was someone who once told me to let the damned ones die" Mark slowly began to recount his experiences with Charles. More and more people filled the tavern, and no one interrupted, they all listened quietly. "News just in, from official sources: the Taylor family members will be publicly executed tomorrow!" someone rushed in, shouting. Suddenly, the entire tavern erupted, with cheers and cries of anguish mingling and filling the air. Chapter 294 Heroes The next morning, in thergest square of Genosha. Countless people had gathered early, all eager to witness how the once powerful Taylor family would be executed one by one! Some people looked at the crowd filling the square and couldn''t help butin: "Why are there so many people? I got here at eight this morning, and I still couldn''t grab a spot inside." "Right? Today isn''t even a weekend, there shouldn''t be this many people." "You don''t know, but there were people waiting herest night, I heard they were mostly from the slums." "People from the slums? What do they have against the Taylor family? They came all this way just to see them executed?" "I''ve heard that the Taylor family was heavily involved in the child abduction cases, it just wasn''t reported." "These Taylor family members are absolutely despicable! I know some of the things they''ve done, let me tell you" Various voices of discussion emerged from the crowd, and in the middle of the square, Mark, Sam, and a few others from the slums were intently watching the procession of the Taylor family members. Under the gaze of the crowd, the Taylor family members kept their heads down, kneeling on the hard ground. Many emotionally charged onlookers began to throw trash at them, such as rotting vegetable leaves and rotten eggs. "Damn it! How dare you do this, you filthy peasants! You''re all just a bunch of scum!" Zane roared madly! He was the only one who continued to struggle wildly at this point. "I''m not wrong! You''re all just scum, and you deserve to be bullied, it''s what you all deserve!" Zane knelt on the ground, his back straight. There was no way he would bow down and admit his mistakes in front of these peasants! Not only that, but Zane also shouted at the nearby Taylor family members, "Get up, what are you doing? The Taylor family shouldn''t be so humble! Stand up!" At that moment, a figure appeared in front of Zane, Charles walked over. The instant Zane saw Charles, he desperately wanted to get up from the ground, but unfortunately, the guards nearby immediately kicked him in the knee. The intense pain made him cry out, and with a pained hiss, Zane stared at Charles like a vengeful spirit and said: "It''s all your fault! Damn you, Charles! If it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t have fallen to this point!" Charles remained expressionless, his gaze slightly lowered as he looked at Zane''s miserable state, and calmly said, "me me? The things you and the Taylor family did, wanting benefits without facing the consequences, is just naive." "Zane, your family hasmitted countless atrocities! This oue is your own doing, and it has nothing to do with Charles."someone from the crowd immediately chimed in. Zane desperately lifted his head, ring fiercely at the person who spoke up for Charles. This was someone he knew, not just knew, but someone he had once tried hard to please. Now, seeing the entire Taylor family imprisoned and this person turning to speak for their enemy, Charles, was utterly disgusting! "Charles, I swear I won''t let you get away with this!" Zane continued to shout madly. Many people from the slums, upon hearing this, immediately threw the trash they had prepared at Zane. In just a matter of seconds, Zane was covered in garbage, including dead fish and rotten shrimp, surrounding himpletely. Even the guards responsible for overseeing the execution couldn''t help but take a step back, holding their breath. "Damn it! Damn it! You filthy peasants, I will not let you go!" Zane could no longer contain himself. His madness and defiance were merely a facade before death. In the past, he was the son of the head of the Taylor family, the future heir, and he could have anything he wanted, no one dared to insult him in front of his face. There were countless people wanting to curry favor with him, and wherever he went, as soon as he revealed his identity, arge crowd would gather around him in no time. And now, his father, Benson, was dead, and he had be a prisoner kneeling on the ground, waiting for death toe. Not only that, but he also had to endure the insults of the poor! Zane gritted his teeth, trying to appear more indifferent, but as the time drew closer to his execution, his body began to tremble uncontrobly. Soon, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the time hade! "No, I don''t want to die, I was wrong, I was really wrong!" One after another, voices cried out, those were thest words of the outermost Taylor family members before their heads were chopped off. Listening to the screams not far away, Zane trembled even more, carefully stealing nces to the side. Leo, someone he had been familiar with, the one who used to teach at Cyber Academy, now had his bloody head on the floor, staring wide-eyed at Zane. "Ahhhhh! No, Charles, I was wrong, I know I was wrong, please let me go just this once, I beg you!" Zane instinctively kept bowing down to the ground, his face filled with fear and regret as he kept saying, "I''m sorry, I was wrong, I shouldn''t have gone against you. I apologize, I''ll make amends, please, help me." "You haven''t realized your mistakes, you just know you''re about to die."Charles said, looking expressionlessly at Zane, who was bowing and pleading for forgiveness. He felt no sympathy in his heart, let alone any desire to help Zane. Just a couple of days ago, Jamie had told him quite a bit about the Taylor family. As Benson''s son, Zane hadmitted numerous misdeeds, coercing others and casually murdering many. Moreover, the infamous Level Four Beast Master from the underground world, Chad, had taken the forbidden miracle drug given by the Taylor family. He nearly posed a threat to Charles, not to mention that afterward, the Taylor family had directly silenced Chad''s mother and sister. Such actions made it truly hard to feel any sympathy. As time passed slowly, the executioner responsible for the beheading approached Zane. At this moment, Zane seemed oblivious, still bowing down to Charles in a frenzy, begging for forgiveness. Or perhaps he sensed death approaching and was unwilling to face it. Regardless, as therge de fell, Zane''s head waspletely severed from his body. Warm blood sprayed everywhere, but Charles had already prepared himself and dodged, not getting a single drop of blood on him. Zane''s head rolled on the ground, still bearing an expressionCharles nced at it and noticed the look of regret. "I can''t tell if you regret doing bad things or if you regret being caught and ending up like this. I presume it''s thetter."Charles said softly. At that moment, the crowd behind them suddenly stirred, someone crossed the boundary like a wild beast, limping toward Zane''s corpse. A nearby soldier was about to stop him but was halted by Charles, for this was someone he recognizedthe cripple he encountered that night at Cross Street, who had also lost his daughter. More and more people surged forward like a tide, their faces twisted with wild anger and grief. Charles could hardly fathom how two extreme expressions could coexist on human facesirrational rage and the sorrow of losing loved ones, constantly alternating and ultimately merging. Facing the already lifeless Zane, these people did not spare him, instead, they took various objects and began to smash and hit Zane''s corpse. The first one to reach Zane was the cripple, who shockingly picked up Zane''s head and opened his mouth, biting down frantically. Tears streamed down his face, and blood and flesh filled his mouth, on that ordinary face, pain and confusion flickered constantly. "Ahhhh! Daughter, mother, wife, I''ve waited for this day!" Such a scene made it hard for people to watch, many closed their eyes, and some soldiers bent over, gagging repeatedly. Charles''s gaze did not waver at all, he looked at the cripple before him, unsure of what to say. At that moment, the cripple, who had been frantically gnawing on Zane''s flesh, slowly pulled a towel from his pocket and carefully wiped the blood off his face and hands. Once he had cleaned himself up, he knelt on the ground and began to bow toward Charles repeatedly. "Thank you, Mr. Charles, thank you..." Charles was about to intervene when he noticed something was wrong with the cripple, blood began to flow from his eyes, nose, and mouth. In an instant, Charles appeared by his side, urgently asking: "What''s wrong? Did you poison yourself?" "Mr. Charles, there''s no need to save me, I no longer have the will to live. My family is waiting for me."the cripple replied, spitting out blood. Some of the blood and flesh he had just consumed were now being vomited out, he immediately covered his mouth, waiting for death toe. "Your family is waiting for you? What about your mother? Don''t you have a wife?" Charles asked, but he received no answer. The cripple closed his eyes. At that moment, Mark walked over and exined, "His mother and wife have alreadymitted suicide." Upon hearing this, Charles was taken aback and slowly turned to look at Mark. Mark stared at Zane''s head, which was unrecognizable from being gnawed on, and continued, "He asked me a question that I didn''t know the answer to. Now it seems he has found his answer." "What do you mean?" Charles asked, his mouth opening stiffly as he spoke. Mark didn''t borate much, he slowly knelt down. This action caused the frenzied crowd, which had been smashing Zane''s corpse into a pulp, to gradually calm down. They wiped their blood-soaked faces and, following Mark''s lead, knelt down as well. Hundreds of people knelt before Charles on the blood-soaked square, surrounded by corpses. "Mr. Charles, thank you!" "No one speaks up for us, only you!" "You are our hero!" Charles was at a loss for words, he could only clench his fists tightly. Chapter 295 The Need for Release Back at Cyber Academy, Charlesy on his dormitory bed, processing the events of the morning. The image of that crippled man''s death kept reying in his mind. Sometimes, even if he could take revenge, what would it matter to see his enemy dead? After all, the loved ones he had lost would never return. So he needed to possess great strength to protect those he cared about! Charles felt an indescribable sensation within him, a mix of the fulfillment from being appreciated and the difort of not being able to do more. This emotional turmoil made it difficult for him to maintain a bnced mindset. Just then, his phone vibrated suddenly, a message came through: [Make sure toe to ssroom 306 this afternoon for extra lessons.] Charles took a deep breath and replied, he needed to vent his emotions. In ssroom 306, Ruby is wearing ck suspender stockings and a pair of Valentino high heels, making her legs appear more straight and slender. A plump body, every move is filled with deadly temptation. Under the red sses, there were a pair of very charming eyes, looking at Charles with endless ambiguity in their gaze. "Long time no see, Charles. Have you missed your teacher."Ruby licked her rosy lips and asked slowly. Charles scratched his head, his gaze fixed on the other person''s deliberately exposed legs. Seemingly sensing Charles'' gaze, Ruby casually extended a leg and ced it in Charles'' arms. Charles trembled all over and involuntarily reached out his hand, gently caressing Ruby''s outstretched beautiful leg. As Charles'' hands gradually rose, Ruby trembled all over and couldn''t help but let out a muffled gasp in her mouth. "Charles, let''s start ss quickly, "Ruby clenched her legs, feeling a kind of magic in Charles'' hands. Extremely warm, the touched ce was veryfortable, almost making her scream. Teacher, you can teach me now. "Charles didn''t let go of his hands and continued to wander, Ruby clenched her legs, trembling all over, opened theputer on the table, and began ss with a heavy tone. Charles looked at the screen in front of him while listening to the almost panting sound, He continued to raise his hand and slowly extended it onto Ruby''s thigh, unbuttoning the suspender stockings, and then continued to reach up to his waist. With a nimble movement of the fingers, slowly remove the other person''s innerpartment. Feeling a chill in her lower body, Ruby instinctively felt like reaching out to cover up, but when she wanted to make a move. Two fingers have already entered the already moist area. "Well, Charles, you"Ruby''s words turned into moans halfway through. Her hands were tightly gripping Charles'' shoulders, almost unable to stand steadily. The feeling that came from below, especially Charles'' hot hands, made her lose her sanity and control over her body. Ruby copsed on Charles'' body, letting Charles'' fingers move back and forth. She suddenly tightened Charles'' arm and rubbed it back and forth, causing her body to slowly spasm and twitch. Teacher Ruby, what''s wrong with you? "Charles asked knowingly. Ruby copsed on Charles, her eyes hazy, her rosy mouth slightly open, and she said with a tone almost pleading: "Charles, I need it, help me quickly." Charles adjusted his posture and ced Ruby on his legs, facing him. Before Charles could take any action, Ruby reached out her hands and untied his belt. Then his whole body slid down, and Charles saw this and opened his legs. Immediately, his lower body was tightly wrapped by Ruby''s warm little mouth. Charles took a deep breath and reached out to gently stroke Ruby''s head. After a while, Until Ruby''s mouth went numb, she slowly stood up and sat on Charles'' legs again, extending her arm to press Charles'' head against his breast. Feeling the tactile sensation, Ruby reached out a hand and guided the already hard, steel like part, slowly sitting on it. Her legs stood on the ground, twisting back and forth up, down, left, and right, and Charles'' breathing gradually became heavy. After a while, Charles picked up Ruby directly, ced her on the table, and raised one leg high, starting a rhythmic back and forth movement. ... Cyber Academy Academy, Dormitory, After a simple wash, Charlesy down on the bed. He recalled the events of the afternoon, especially the lingering look in Teacher Ruby''s eyes after it was all over, which stirred something in him. Good times always seem to pass quickly. Tomorrow, he needed to visit the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, because Yana mentioned a shipment of rare metals had arrived. He also nned to sell all the useless items from his "Storage Space" at that time. With enough food, Little Gold''s promotion should happen either tomorrow or the day after, he''d need to prepare the materials for that. Not to mention, he needed to focus on leveling up Max, Mia, and Mousie as well. It seemed that Teacher Colton had some miracle drugs that could be used on mystical beasts to speed up their level progression. He could ask him about itter to see if he could get some, allowing Mia, Mousie, and Max to level up quickly. There shouldn''t be any issues with the inter-academypetition, but he wondered what the Genosha secret realm would be like. Charles kept thinking about these matters, bing a powerful Beast Master wasn''t easy, and there were many challenges and dangers ahead. Having just finished the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge, he faced the uing inter-academypetition. There were also battle exchanges between Genosha and Kingston, as well as tasks from the Dawn organization and assessments from the Cyber Academy''s main campus. "Take it slow, one step at a time, and you can go further."Charles sighed and said softly. A night passed. The next morning, during lunch break. Charles arrived at the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association building. Before he even entered, he spotted Yana waiting for him. Today, Yana was dressed in a ck uniform, her short form-fitting skirt hugging her curves tightly, making her especially eye-catching. "Mr. Charles, you''re here! Let''s go in and talk."Yana said with a smile, addressing him with great respect. Inside the private room of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association, Charles watched Yana as she moved back and forth, constantly serving tea and water. Especially her tightly wrapped hips, the subtle sway was like jelly, making it hard for him to look away. "Mr. Charles, some of the items you''re selling are quite valuable and will need to be auctioned off, so the settlement might take a few extra days."Yana said as she approached him. She slightly bent down, revealing a generous expanse of white skin, and Charles nced at it before waving his hand dismissively, replying: "It''s fine. Just settle all the gold with me after everything has been auctioned off." The Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association was quite reputable, and the total value of these items would only be around a hundred gold coins at most. Charles wasn''t worried about any unexpected issues, the events from the previous afternoon in ssroom 306 were still fresh in his mind. Ruby had always been too sensitive, which led to her being unable to take it when Charles hadn''t fully satisfied his desires. Now, looking at the alluring Yana before him, Charles felt a slight stir of interest and took a deep breath, trying to control the desires swelling within him. However, the next moment, Yana turned to grab something, but it seemed her shoes caused her to lose her bnce. Her body fell directly into Charles''s arms. "Ouch, that hurts."Yana eximed, a pained expression on her face as shended in his embrace. Charles asked with concern, "Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?" "I''m fine, Mr. Charles. It''s just that my ankle seems to be injured and it hurts a bit."Yana struggled to stand, moving to a nearby chair. She slowly took off her shoes, revealing her delicate, fair feet. Charles crouched down, reaching out to examine Yana''s small foot closely, and found that there didn''t appear to be any serious injury, it was likely just a sprain. At this moment, Charles was about to raise his head and speak, but his gaze stopped halfway. Underneath that buttock skirt, there''s actually a vacuum! Well, you should just rest for two days. If it doesn''t work out, you can buy some miracle drugs to make it faster, "Charles said slowly. He was about to stand up when he noticed that Yana had made other movements, She slowly extended her foot and rubbed it gently between Charles'' legs. Mr. Charles, my feet are itching a bit. Is it getting worse? "Yana stared straight at Charles. Charles slowly reached out his hand and held onto the restless little foot of the other person, saying slowly, "There shouldn''t be anything wrong. Just take a little rest At this moment of hatred, Yana gritted her teeth and fell directly into Charles'' arms. She reached out and tightly hugged Charles'' waist, asking with a hint of resentment, "Mr. Charles, don''t you have feelings for me Charles quickly shook his head. Just as he was about to exin something, a pair of soft lips kissed him directly. Feeling the softness and tenderness emanating from his lips, Charles couldn''t hold back any longer. He directly reached into the other person''s pants and began to vigorously rub their tempting buttocks. Continuously squeezing and rubbing back and forth, Charles could clearly feel that Yana on his body was constantly rubbing his legs and falling into lust. Mr. Charles, what is this? It''s so big, "Yana put her hand into Charles'' crotch and asked knowingly. Charles didn''te back, so he quickly untied his belt and freed the thing as hard as steel. "Crack crack." The sound of torn fabric echoed as Charles aimed at his target and without hesitation, straightened his waist. Soon, uncontroble moans could be heard in the private room! Chapter 296 [Golden Stone] Charles walked to the entrance with the rare metals prepared by the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. Yana, with a rosyplexion and a satisfied expression, called out to Charles''s back, "Mr. Charles, if you need anything, feel free toe find me!" As Charles made his way toward Cyber Academy, he pondered the events that had just taken ce, feeling much calmer now that his emotions had been released. By the time he returned to Cyber Academy, it was almost time for ss. "Charles, what''s wrong? You seem a bit tired." Jace remarked as he looked at Charles. Charles, with a nk expression, replied, "It''s nothing. I had a dream during the lunch break, and I''m a bit tired." In front of him, Cami immediately lowered her head and said softly, "Charles, I have some energy-restoring miracle drug here. Would you like to give it a try?" Charles quickly declined. He only looked a bit tired, in reality, he was perfectly fine. After the afternoon sses ended, Charles eagerly made his way to the training room and took out the rare metals he had just purchased. [ckrock Sand [orange-quality]: A mixture of various rare metals, ckrock Sand is a special metallic material with a wide range of uses.] Using orange-quality metal as food for Little Gold felt a bit wasteful, but he hadn''t found any other rare metal materials, and since Little Gold was about to undergo an upgrade, this was the only option. A hexagram array lit up, and Little Gold''s figure appeared in the training room. Now, it had grown to about one and a half meters in length and looked quite fierce. Its sharp ws, the metallic sheen of its scales, and its golden pupils added an indescribable aura. Little Gold looked truly extraordinary! As soon as Little Gold emerged, its gaze briefly lingered on Charles before quickly shifting to the [ckrock Sand] ced nearby. Without Charles needing to say anything, it swiftly climbed over and began to devour it eagerly. [Ding! Little Gold has devoured orange-quality metal. It is very happy, loyalty +5.] Watching Little Gold eat, Charles shifted his attention to the information prompt in front of him. [Savage Gold-Eater Beast] [Attributes]: Gold [Level]: Lv18 [Quality]: Diamond [Skills]: [Metal Devour], [Body Enhancement], [Rapid Recovery] [Weakness]: Abdomen / Wood Attribute [Hobby]: High-quality rare metals [Emotion]: Good [Health]: Good [Loyalty]: 78 [Evolution]: 5 routes [Description]: This is a very rare Gold-Eater Beast that has awakened its savage bloodline. It can continually enhance its defense, physical strength, and recovery abilities through Metal Devour. As Little Gold finished eating, suddenly another information prompt appeared. [Ding! Your mystical beast Little Gold has gained 30 experience points through Metal Devour. Level up!] Charles looked at Little Gold''s information, and indeed, there was a change. [Level]: LV19 [View Promotion Materials]. Promotion Materials: Gold attribute beast core [Second Tier] 6, orange-quality rare metal materials 10kg, Golden Stone 1. Gold attribute beast cores are very easy to find, and I should be able to purchase them directly from the Alchemy Guild or the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association. As for orange-quality rare metal materials, that will take more time. Ten kilograms is not a small amount, and it cannot be prepared in a short time, it will require some time to collect. Thinking of this, Charles immediately made a move and quickly picked up Little Gold, who was still eating. "Stop eating! You need to save this for your promotion! We''ll find moreter." Charles hurriedly put away the remaining [ckrock Sand], but his speed was a bit slow. There was only about a kilogram of [ckrock Sand] left, which meant he still needed to find nearly 9 kg of orange-quality metal materials. As for thest item, the [Golden Stone], Charles hadn''t heard of it before. He took out his phone to search for information and found that there was nothing rted online, indicating it was another hard-to-find item! After thinking it over, he decided to send a message to Teacher Colton, carefully asking about the information on the [Golden Stone]. Soon, Teacher Colton replied to the message. It turned out that the [Golden Stone] was not of high quality, it was merely a purple-quality item. However, due to its scarcity, it was harder to obtain than typical orange-quality alchemy materials. There was a ce near Genosha Calivia called theGolden Mountain Range, which was rich in various ores, gold attribute alchemy materials, and a special mineral known as the [Golden Stone]! Aside from being mined manually, it could only be obtained from the [Giant Armored Pangolin]. As for manual mining, that route was no longer viable. A year ago, a massive earthquake struck the entire Golden Mountain Range, causing the mine tunnels to copse. No one could enter the underground depths to mine for [Golden Stone] anymore. Charles sighed. It seemed the only option left was to obtain it from the [Giant Armored Pangolin]. He perked up and carefully examined the information that Teacher Colton had sent. The [Giant Armored Pangolin] was a fifth-tier ferocious beast that liked to burrow in the mountains. They had a peculiar habit of collecting various ores and carrying them on their backs. Not every [Giant Armored Pangolin] had [Golden Stone] on them, so Charles would have to rely on luck. If he was fortunate, defeating a few [Giant Armored Pangolins] might yield a [Golden Stone]. If he was unlucky, he might scour the entire Golden Mountain Range and find nothing! "There''s nothing we can do, Little Gold. Your promotion materials are really hard toe by!" Charles sighed as he looked at the somewhat confused Little Gold, then quietly returned it to the Beast Mastery space. He also sent messages to Owen, the president of the Alchemist Guild, and Danel, the president of the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association''s Genosha branch. He asked both of them to help him look for orange-quality metal materials, and he was willing to ept a premium! Next, he needed to find a time to leave Genosha Calivia and head to the Golden Mountain Range to search for that [Golden Stone]. "By the way, there''s also a mission from the [Dawn] organization. I heard it''s near Genosha Calivia. I should ask about it, it might be on the way." Charles thought of something and quickly sent Cecilia a message to inquire about the specific mission details. Soon, Cecilia sent him a file. When he opened it, he found that the mission location was right near the Golden Mountain Range! However, it was strange that the file didn''t specify the exact task, it simply mentioned finding someone named "Drake." Completing the other party''s challenge and obtaining an item would count as sessfullypleting the mission! "Drake? A challenge?" Charles noted the information in his mind. In the dean''s office of Cyber Academy, Lost in thought, Charles arrived at Dean Jamie''s office and knocked on the door. "Come in!" Jamie''s voice called from inside. Charles walked in and noticed that, besides Jamie, Teacher Hale was also present. Hale seemed like a different person now, the most noticeable change was in his eyes. They were no longer dull and lifeless but instead filled with hope and motivation. It seemed that the lifting of the curse had rekindled his hope of bing a powerful Beast Master. Charles shared with Jamie his ns to go to the Golden Mountain Range in a couple of days, as well as the task from the [Dawn] organization. "Drake? I think I have a vague impression of him. He''s a rather entric person who lives alone near the Golden Mountain Range." Jamie frowned, as if he recalled something. It turned out that Jamie had encountered this Drake before, and they had even fought against each other. As an eighth-level Beast Master from the Cyber Academy, Jamie had gone all out but still couldn''t match Drake! What''s more critical is that the other party didn''t summon any mystical beasts throughout the fight! "He didn''t summon any mystical beasts? Dean, is this person really that powerful? I wonder who''s stronger, him or Teacher Ezra?" Charles asked. Without a moment''s hesitation, Jamie replied, "That''s a no-brainer. Your teacher can summon divine beasts and would wrap up the fight in no time!" At that moment, Hale let out a sigh and said slowly, "Dean, I n to go out for some training in a couple of days and look for Uncle Ezra''s whereabouts." It had been a few days since they discovered that Ezra was in trouble. The [Dawn] organization imed to have information about Ezra, but no matter how much Charles inquired, they wouldn''t say anything. They only stated that while Ezra was facing some issues, he was not in any life-threatening danger, so there was no need to worry. "Are you nning to head to the Golden Mountain Range? How about this: I''ll arrange for a seventh-level Beast Master to protect you in secret, so you''ll have some ability to defend yourself in case of danger."Jamie said slowly. His primary concern now was Charles''s safety. After all, the [Constetion] organization had suffered a heavy blow, and they might seek revenge, necessitating his presence at the Cyber Academy to handle various matters. Jamie even thought about personally escorting Charles to the Golden Mountain Range to search for the [Golden Stone]. Charles scratched his head, having a high-level Beast Master providing protection was definitely better. Although the Taylor family had been wiped out, it was still wise to remain vignt. Ensuring safety was always a priority. "I wonder which teacher it would be?" Charles asked. Jamie pondered for a moment before replying, "Teacher Ruby is earth-elemental and can provide strong protection. How about her?" "Of course, that sounds great. I''ll get in touch with Teacher Rubyter."Charles nodded. Compared to the other teachers, the mature and experienced Teacher Ruby was certainly more suitable, and they had had several in-depth exchanges, making their cooperation more seamless! "Once I finish dealing with the Taylor family and the [Constetion] organization, I''ll head over immediately."Jamie added. Chapter 297 The Tavern If the teachers at the academy found out about this, they would surely be taken aback. ording to the regtions of the Cyber Academy, the dean is not allowed to leave unless it''s a matter of extreme urgency. However, if the teachers knew it was to ensure Charles''s safety, they would definitely understand. After all, a talent like Charles represents the future of the entire academy and also the future of Genosha! After leaving the dean''s office, Charles still had afternoon sses to attend. Before ss, he received two pieces of not-so-good news. The orange-quality metal materials on Genosha were running low, and even the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association wouldn''t be able to gather that much in a short time. The Forging Masters Guild and the Alchemist Guild were in the same situation. Charles furrowed his brow, lost in thought. Finding the [Golden Stone] would already take a considerable amount of time, and if he had to wait a long time for the collection of orange-quality metal materials, it would dy everything. At that moment, Cami, who had been secretly observing Charles, suddenly whispered: "Charles, is something bothering you? You seem to be spaced out." "Yeah, Charles, if there''s something on your mind, feel free to share. Maybe we can help in some way."Zachary chimed in. Cami was the second princess of Genosha, and Zachary was the son of the General, both had powerful backgrounds. The royal family and the Allen family should have a considerable amount of orange-quality metal materials, so they might be able to gather the quantity needed for Little Gold''s promotion! It was only then that Charles realized he had people around him who could help. Perhaps it was his subconscious desire not to trouble Zachary and Cami that had kept him from considering this situation earlier. In order to gather the materials as quickly as possible, Charles didn''t hesitate and directly mentioned that Little Gold needed arge amount of orange-quality metal materials for its promotion. "No problem, I''ll ask my father and see what we can do."Cami replied with a nod. It was hardly a difficult task, as long as it was something Charles needed, her father would surely send someone to prepare it. Zachary was the same, he took out his phone and started sending text messages, so it seemed like there wouldn''t be any issues. Ever since the incident with the Taylor family, all the top powers in Genosha wanted to win Charles over! At this moment, countless people envied those who could help Charles! Take Jace, for instance, he got seriously injured fighting a Level Four Beast Master on Charles''s behalf, and in return, Charles gave him a bottle of orange-quality miracle drug. If someone helped Charles, they would surely receive appropriate rewards. Now, if others found out that Charles needed orange-quality metal materials, it wouldn''t take long before those who wanted to win him over would gather what he needed. Seeing Cami and Zachary, both with their heads down, busy sending messages, Charles felt a warmth in his heart. Before the ss ended, two unfamiliar students were already waiting at the door. As soon as Charles walked out of the ssroom, he received tworge packages, and upon opening them, he found the orange-quality metal materials needed for Little Gold''s promotion! Moreover, the two packages together weighed over 10 kg, nearly 12 kg. Now, he didn''t have to worry about the orange-quality metal materials. However, when it came to giving Cami and Zachary gold coins, they absolutely refused. There was no choice but to consider it a favor owed to the two of them. After cing the 12 kg of orange-quality metal materials into the Storage Space, Charles carefully counted them. [Storage Space]: [Weapons]:ck Gold Long Knife (Orange) [Equipment]: Overlord Heavy Armor (Orange), Mysterious Fragment (Orange), Nine Netherworld Armband (Purple), ... [Daily Use]: Tent, Bed, Bedding, Camping Lamp, shlight, ... [Alchemy Miracle Drug]: High-level Auxiliary Training Miracle Drug (Orange), Body Limitation Release Miracle Drug (Orange), ... [Special]: Map Fragment [2/3], and also the 10 kg of orange-quality metal materials prepared for Little Gold. Looking at everything in the Storage Space, Charles''s first reaction was satisfaction, but then he thought of Max, Mousie''s level was also approaching promotion, and it would surely cost a lot. "These are just preliminary investments, spending more is worth it."Charles silentlyforted himself. Early the next morning, after arranging everything, Charles went directly to the ce he had agreed upon with Teacher Ruby. Soon, Ruby appeared before Charles, dressed in casual attire. Unlike her usual outfits, today Ruby wasn''t wearing a dress or ck stockings, instead, she had on regr sports boots and cargo pants, with a sturdy jacket on top, giving her a different vibe. "I heard that Zane begged for mercy like crazy before he died, and his end was particrly tragic? How do you feel about that?" Ruby asked with a smile. Charles shook his head and replied slowly, "I don''t have any special feelings, when someone dies, they''re just gone." Upon hearing this, Ruby was filled with surprise. For a teenager, this was the time of youthful vigor and ambition. Zane had caused Charles a lot of trouble in the past, and now that Zane had met such a grim fate, most people would feel joy in seeing their enemy suffer. Ruby didn''t feel that way at all, and she couldn''t help but notice that Charles''s mood seemed somewhat heavy. "What''s wrong? You can talk to your sister about it, now that we''re outside, you don''t need to call me Teacher, just call me Sister."Ruby inquired with concern. Charles thought for a moment and answered, "When I see those who have lost children, venting their hatred and pain, I feel a bit scared. I''m afraid that one day I won''t be able to protect the people I care about." Ruby fell silent. Even though she had some understanding of Charles''s character, she didn''t know what to say after hearing his response. Charles''s perspective on issues seemed a bit different, perhaps it was because he valued emotions more? "Alright, don''t think too much. Let''s set off, it will take us two days to reach the adventure town near the Golden Mountain Range."Ruby said gently. The two of them got into the nearby off-road vehicle and set off toward the Golden Mountain Range! Somewhere in Genosha, inside the secret base of the Constetion organization. Several people were discussing what had happened in Genosha. "Damn it, we''ve lost quite a few people this time, and the key point is that an elder has also fallen. We still need to wait for Ezra''s side." "How did the information leak out? It shouldn''t have been discovered so quickly!" "Send someone to investigate Genosha thoroughly. Everyone else should try to stay low-key for now, that''s all we can do." The discussion quickly came to an end, leaving only a higher-ranking Beast Master from the Constetion organization behind. He took out a specially made candle and ced it on the floor, forming a bizarre pattern. Then he knelt down, pressed his forehead to the ground, and sincerely performed some kind of ritual. In fact, he was aware of more detailed information, such as the organization behind the underground octagonal cage in Genosha, Dawn might also be involved. Moreover, the person who caused this significant loss was none other than Charles! When it came to matters involving Charles, he found it difficult to make a decision and could only report to his superiors. Soon, the "Messenger" who had appeared during the summoning ceremony in Genosha showed up again. After listening to the report, the Messenger said: "Let''s keep a low profile in Genosha for now. After the situation in other countries is resolved, someone wille to support you." "Do not make contact with Dawn for the time being, those people are quite troublesome." "As for Charles, just wait a bit longer. I will soon find time to meet him in person, and then we''ll decide whether to kill him directly or to keep him alive." The Beast Master kneeling on the ground humbly replied, "Understood, Messenger." ... Two dayster, in the adventure town near the Golden Mountain Range. Charles slowly got out of the off-road vehicle, and Ruby was no longer inside. ording to what she had said, this operation in the Golden Mountain Range could serve as a kind of training for Charles. She wouldn''t intervene unless it was absolutely necessary, she would only observe from the shadows and step in when there was a significant danger. Charles agreed, he felt the same way. In the Golden Mountain Range, based on his strength, as long as nothing unexpected happened, he would be fine! The off-road vehicle was parked in the hotel parking lot, and Charles didn''t rush to set off. He still needed to gather more information, especially about a person named Drake! ording to what Jamie Dean had mentioned, he had encountered Drake in the Golden Mountain Range, and they had even fought, with Jamie Dean not being a match for him. A strong individual like Drake would surely leave behind some clues in the Golden Mountain Range. Before long, Charles arrived at thergest tavern in the town. The tavern looked small from the outside, but inside it was surprisingly spacious. Many Beast Masters were either joyfully drinking, showing off their gains, or talking loudly about the dangers they faced in the Golden Mountain Range with heavy expressions. Charles calmly walked up to the bar, ordered a cocktail, and began to observe quietly. The reason he came here was that he had done some research online beforehand, this tavern was not just a ce to drink, but also a spot for recruiting temporary teammates and guides. There were many types of metal materials in the Golden Mountain Range, some of which had strong maic properties that could interfere with various advanced equipment. Entering recklessly could easily lead to losing one''s way. Charles didn''t want to get lost in the Golden Mountain Range before finding the whereabouts of the Golden Stone and Drake. Chapter 298 Recruiting Team Members Soon, Charles, who was drinking alone, attracted quite a bit of attention. A clean and elegantly dressed man approached him and politely asked, "Hello, sir. You seem to be a new face. Is this your first time in the Golden Mountain Range?" Charles nodded, he knew that this person was either looking to recruit temporary teammates or offering his services as a guide. "Let me introduce myself. I''m a local from the Golden Mountain Range, and I''m very familiar with this area. I can definitely help you navigate through the Golden Mountain Range with ease."the man said slowly. Charles maintained a neutral expression and replied calmly, "I''m sorry, but I''m not looking for a guide at the moment." "Alright, sir, if you n to enter the Golden Mountain Range, remember to find me. Here''s my business card."the man said as he handed over a card. "Within the Golden Mountain Range, there are asionally five-tier and even six-tier ferocious beasts. Regr three-tier Beast Masters often don''t even have a chance to escape. There are very few professional guides like me in the entire town." "Spending a little money can ensure you avoid the areas where those ferocious beasts frequently appear. It''s a good deal." Charles still showed no interest, he simply nodded and remained silent. The man took the hint and left directly. "Another Bloody Mary."Charles said, tapping the bar as he addressed the bartender. The bartender nodded in agreement, mixing the drink while saying, "Sir, your rejection earlier was quite right. That guy is a scammer, many neers to the Golden Mountain Range have been duped by him." Charles showed no surprise and calmly replied, "I know, I figured it out." Hearing this, the bartender paused his mixing, looking surprised as he said, "How did you see through him? This is your first time here, isn''t it?" Charles nodded and responded, "It is indeed my first time, but by observing that man''s gait, his attire, and the skin on his exposed hands, he didn''t seem like a guide at all, he looked more like a businessman." "Impressive! I wouldn''t have thought of that if you hadn''t mentioned it."the bartender said, bringing over the prepared Bloody Mary and giving a thumbs up. In the tavern of the adventurer''s town, he had seen many people, but those with sharp observation skills and urate deductions like Charles were rare. People like him usually came for something special and were unlikely to just be gathering metal materials. "Sir, if you have any information you''d like to inquire about, I can try to help."the bartender said with a smile. Charles nodded, he knew there must be relevant information here. After thinking for a moment, Charles slowly spoke, "I''ve heard there''s a hidden eight-tier Beast Master in the Golden Mountain Range. Do you have any rted news?" As soon as he said this, the bartender''s expression instantly froze. He hadn''t expected that Charles''s purpose foring to the Golden Mountain Range was rted to the eight-tier Beast Master. "I need to check on that. Sir, please wait a moment."the bartender said before quickly turning and walking deeper into the establishment. Charles understood he was going to ask others, and it seemed this tavern knew some information about Drake. Otherwise, the bartender wouldn''t have reacted that way. However, it appeared there were other matters that Charles was unaware of. Before too long, the bartender returned with a file folder, cing it on the bar and looking into Charles''s eyes as he said: "Sir, this is the information you wanted, and it''s the mostprehensive in the entire adventurer''s town." Charles looked at the bartender with interest and slowly said, "The mostprehensive in the entire adventurer''s town? So, that means more than just you know something about the eight-tier Beast Master?" The bartender''s expression went nk again. He hadn''t expected that a single statement would lead Charles to make so many connections. It seemed this young man was truly exceptional! "Yes, I must admit, it''s not just us who have relevant information. However, ours is definitely the mostprehensive and thetest. Additionally, let me share another piece of news, for free." The bartender paused before continuing: "Before you, two other people inquired about rted information. They formed a team and, under the guidance of the best guide in town, are entering the Golden Mountain Range tomorrow." "Oh? Others have also asked about rted information?" Charles said, somewhat surprised. He fell into deep thought. Besides himself, were there others looking for Drake''s whereabouts? Could it be that the Dawn organization found other people, and this task involved many participants? But Cecilia didn''t mention that, could this be the action of another organization? Charles didn''t have time to ponder further. He asked about the price of the information, pulled out three gold coins, and ced them on the bar. Seeing Charles being so generous and not bargaining, the bartender''s impression of him improved even more. He kindly said, "Sir, if you''re not in a hurry, you might want to wait a bit. Their team isn''t fully staffed yet and needs one four-tier Beast Master. If that''s not possible, a strong three-tier Beast Master would also do." Hearing this information, Charles fell into thought again. They needed a four-tier Beast Master or a powerful three-tier Beast Master? This wasn''t the action of a major force or organization. How could they be short-handed when it involved an eight-tier Beast Master? For a moment, a great curiosity arose in Charles''s heart. He couldn''t quite understand their intentions. Since there was nothing else to do right now, it would be wise to wait, to see their strength, and gather more information. Thinking of this, Charles pulled out another gold coin and ced it in front of the bartender, slowly saying: "This gold coin is for my information. Please don''t tell anyone else about my involvement for now." The bartender''s eyes widened in shock, he hadn''t expected Charles to know so much. If Charles hadn''t made that request, he could have sold the information about Charles seeking news on the eight-tier Beast Master. Now that Charles had paid and made a request, ording to the rules, he could not immediately sell information regarding Charles. They had to wait for a while, otherwise, if word got out, they would face rejection from their peers and distrust from other customers. In this line of work, one had to ensure a high level of credibility and a good reputation. Thinking of this, the bartender had to nod in agreement, saying, "Rest assured, I understand the rules. Within three days, I won''t disclose any information about you." Charles nodded, picked up the Bloody Mary from the bar, and started sipping it slowly. It wasn''t untilte afternoon, as the sun began to set, that four figures walked into the tavern. "Quick, get me a Bloody Mary! I''m dying of thirst!" shouted a boy dressed very casually, looking dirty and with dark skin. The bartender shot him a nce but didn''t respond, instead picking up the mixing tools to start making the drink. Charles noticed the bartender''s gaze linger on him for a moment, and he immediately understood. The boy who had just spoken was likely the best guide in town. If that was the case, the other three people behind him must be the ones who had inquired about information earlier. It was also possible that there were others who hadn''t shown up. Charles used his peripheral vision to keep observing the three individuals behind the boy. There were two men and one woman, the woman looked quite ordinary, her facial expression very stiff, even while drinking. Charles could roughly determine that the woman was likely wearing a mask to conceal her identity. As for the other two men, one wasn''t eating or drinking and was instead scanning the surroundings with sharp eyes, showing high vignce. He also exuded a faint sense of danger, while thest man was gorging himself without a care in the world. "By the way, how''s the search for teammates going? We still need two more."the stiff-faced woman asked slowly. The man who had been observing the surroundings replied, "I''ll go ask." He then stood up and walked over to the bar, inquiring with the bartender, "Hello, how''s it going with the recruitment of teammates that I asked you about earlier?" The bartender opened his phone and checked the information, replying, "Three people have already signed up. ording to the agreed time, they should being for interviews soon." "Very good."the highly alert man said slowly. Charles pretended to be curious and asked, "Are you also nning to enter the Golden Mountain Range? From what you said earlier, it seems you''re still short a teammate?" The man nced at Charles, carefully observing him, and a hint of wariness appeared in his eyes. Charles feigned ignorance, but inside, he was contemting what had triggered the man''s caution. Soon, he realized it must be his attire, he had no other belongings on him. Adventurer Beast Masters in the tavern typically carried many items, such as weapons, medical kits, and so on. After all, storage items were not easily obtainable and were quite expensive! "This is my first time at the Golden Mountain Range. I just left the hotel and happened to find out you were short a team member. What luck! I''m curious, what kind of teammate do you need?" Charles said slowly, a hint of anticipation on his face. As soon as he said this, the man''s wariness lessened slightly, perhaps thinking that Charles must have left his belongings at the hotel. He scrutinized Charles again, noting his somewhat youthful face, and replied: "Sorry, you probably don''t meet our requirements." Charles immediately felt a bit offended, as if he had been looked down upon, and said: "Wait, you didn''t even ask me about my abilities, and you''re rejecting me like that!" "Alright, we only need a strong three-tier Beast Master, and the mystical beasts must all be of Gold quality or higher. Can you meet that?" the man said slowly. Chapter 299 Just Bait Before Charles could respond, the man who had been eating and drinking walked over slowly, casually wiping his greasy hands on his pants. He said: "Kid, you might as well take a shower and go home to sleep. The ce we''re headed to isn''t the outskirts of the Golden Mountain Range. It''d be a shame for a young pretty boy like you to die." "Captain, he looks like he''s only about seventeen or eighteen, and he''s dressed so inly. There''s no way he has three Gold quality mystical beasts. Don''t waste your time on him." the man continued. The captain of the team nodded, agreeing that it was a bit of a waste of time. After all, an ordinary civilian would never be able to contract three Gold quality mystical beasts. The boy before them looked like just an average person, and it was uncertain whether he even had the level of a three-tier Beast Master. Even the people in the tavern, noticing themotion and understanding the situation, began to whisper among themselves: "Three Gold quality mystical beasts? This team''s requirements for recruiting teammates are really high!" "Look at that guy''s clothes, they''re all very in. He doesn''t seem like someone with a background. Even if he is a three-tier Beast Master, he probably wouldn''t meet their requirements." "Exactly! It seems like the inner Golden Mountain Range has been a bit unsettledtely. Many adventurers have encountered fifth-tier and even sixth-tier ferocious beasts." "Not just that, I heard someone imed to have seen a seventh-tier ferocious beast from a distance!" ... Charles listened quietly to the murmurs around him and slowly spoke up, "Three Gold quality mystical beasts? I should have no problem with that." Hearing the voice behind him, the man who had suggested not to waste time came to a slow stop and turned around. A look of disdain crossed his face, as if he had heard something ridiculous. "Young man, what do you mean by ''shouldn''t be a problem''? Don''t think that what I just said was harsh. Sometimes, admitting your own weakness is not something to be ashamed of." The man slightly raised his hand, and a hexagram array lit up. In the next moment, a massive figure appeared in the tavern, standing three meters tall, with bulging muscles all over, and red hair exuding a wild aura. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Dante, I''m twenty years old, and I''m a Level 4 Beast Master. This is my mystical beast, the Violent Fire Ape, which has a tinum quality!" Dante proudly dered. After summoning his mystical beast, he first nced around, carefully appreciating the expressions of surprise on the faces of the other patrons in the tavern, and finally looked contentedly at Charles. However, to his surprise, Charles showed no expression at all while facing the imposing Violent Fire Ape, there was neither the astonishment nor the fear that Dante wanted to see! Dante furrowed his brows, coughing in dissatisfaction. The Violent Fire Ape seemed to receive some sort ofmand, pounding its hard chest, opening its massive jaws to reveal sharp teeth, and roaring at Charles! In the face of such a scene, Charles remained calm. He appeared somewhat disdainful as he brushed off his clothes and slowly said: "The reason I said it shouldn''t be a problem is that I don''t have a Gold quality mystical beast." Dante looked at the rxed and nonchnt Charles. He turned back and nced at the woman behind him, whose face was stiff and frowning. Immediately, Dante said: "You don''t even have a Gold quality mystical beast. Shouldn''t you take the hint and quietly leave? You''re wasting our time here, kid. Don''t be so ungrateful." Charles shrugged his shoulders and spread his arms in a resigned manner, exining: "I don''t have a Gold quality mystical beast, but I don''t know if a tinum quality mystical beast will do. After all, a Gold quality mystical beast is a bit too low." In the next moment, a hexagram array appeared on the ground in front of Charles, and Max, with its dual attributes of ice and fire, made its entrance! Its enormous sizepletely overshadowed the Violent Fire Ape, and the aura it emanated actually forced the Violent Fire Ape to take two steps back! Although both mystical beasts were of tinum quality, Max was a nine-tailed demon wolf, which had triggered a critical evolution and awakened the bloodline of ancient mythical beasts! In front of Max, ordinary mystical beasts simply couldn''t show their ferocity. The previously quiet tavern suddenly erupted with excitement. Many people began to discuss, "tinum quality? This is really a tinum quality! Where did this young mastere from, able to contract a tinum quality mystical beast? His background must be impressive!" "Why does he look so familiar? I feel like I''ve seen him somewhere before." "You''ve seen him? No way! He must be from some big family or major power, how could you possibly have met him?" "I think I''ve seen him online, but I can''t quite remember where." Even the squad leader who had made the request earlier now had a serious expression. He didn''t expect that a random young man would possess a tinum quality mystical beast! Moreover, it looked quite formidable. Dante was well aware of the strength of the Violent Fire Ape. A mystical beast that could make the Violent Fire Ape retreat was definitely not simple! At that moment, Dante couldn''t contain his surprise any longer and quickly nced back, noticing that the woman who had been frowning earlier now had her brow rxed and was nodding. She clearly believed that Charles had met the requirements and could be recruited as a temporary team member. Dante felt somewhat resentful. After saying so much earlier, he now felt like a clown, hopping around here, especially since the opponent had also summoned a tinum quality mystical beast. His mystical beast had actually taken two steps back! "Damn it, once this is all over, just wait until I can properly punish you for embarrassing me!" Dante thought to himself, nning to give the Violent Fire Ape a good scolding when he got back! But the matter wasn''t finished yet. Before the captain nodded, Dante quickly said to Charles: "So what if you have a tinum quality mystical beast? We require three mystical beasts, all Gold quality! What if your other two mystical beasts are all Bronze Division quality?" "Also, having a mystical beast of a certain quality doesn''t necessarily represent theirbat ability. What we need is a powerful Level 3 Beast Master, someone who won''t hold us back!" Hearing Dante''s words, the captain hesitated slightly, and even the woman who had nodded earlier fell into deep thought. "Listen to my advice, kid. You clearlye from a big family and want to gain some experience, but you have no realbat experience. You''re not suited to follow us." Dante continued to press on. Seeing that Dante was about to keep talking, Charles quickly raised his hand to interrupt, saying: "I never said I only have one tinum quality mystical beast." As soon as those words were spoken, the tavern fell silent. Dante stood frozen in ce, uncertainly asking, "What do you mean by that? Are you saying all three of your mystical beasts are tinum quality?" "That''s impossible. A person can go their whole life without contracting a single tinum quality mystical beast, let alone three of them!" "Kid, are you just trying to show off? Right?" Many people in the tavern shared Dante''s sentiments and nodded in agreement. At that moment, the woman who had been sitting quietly at the table approached and asked: "Young man, is everything you just said true?" In contrast to her somewhat stiff features, her voice was incredibly pleasant and filled with allure. Charles nodded and replied, "What''s there to lie about? I don''t just have one tinum quality mystical beast." "I don''t believe it! Prove it to me!" When Dante saw the woman personally asking, he became even more agitated, desperately wanting to make his presence known. "Shut up!" The woman shot a sharp nce at Dante, her demeanor fierce! Then, she turned back to Charles and said, "No need to prove it. I believe you. You''re now a member of our team. Let me introduce myself, my name is Alyssa." "Hello, I''m Charles." Charles introduced himself simply as well. "This is the team leader, Asher, and this is team member, Level 4 Beast Master Dante."Alyssa introduced the other two individuals. The group agreed on a time to meet tomorrow and then left directly. In another hotel in the small town. Dante looked at Alyssa with a mournful expression and asked, "Sister Alyssa, that Charles might just be putting on an act. He got lucky and contracted a tinum-quality mystical beast, that''s all." "Are you questioning my decision?" Alyssa replied expressionlessly. Dante instantly shut his mouth, not daring to say anything further. Only the team leader, Asher, pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "This kid is not simple, he must have some hidden means. Otherwise, he wouldn''t dare toe to the Golden Mountain Range alone." "There''s no need to worry. Both you and Dante are Level 4 Beast Masters, and I''m a Level 5 Beast Master. Are we really worried about a teenage boy?" "So what if he is a Level 4 Beast Master? In the end, he''ll be just like the others, a bait to attract the [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants]."Alyssa said confidently. Asher sighed and still suggested, "Just to be safe, let''s find an opportunity to test him tomorrow. We can''t afford any mistakes on this mission." After hearing this, Alyssa nodded in agreement with Asher''s thoughts. After all, this mission involves the crown prince of the Ster Empire, and every detail must be foolproof! "Then when we reach the outskirts of the Golden Mountain Range tomorrow, let''s attract some ferocious beasts and see how they react."Alyssa said slowly. Chapter 300 Why Arent You Taking Action! Just as the three were about to disperse, Alyssa seemed to think of something and quickly said to Asher: "By the way, tonight you should go investigate and see if there are others looking into information about Drake." As soon as she said this, both Asher and Dante immediately thought of something and spoke up: "Alyssa, are you worried that there might be others from the Ster Empirepeting with us?" Alyssa nodded and replied, "Aside from the Ster Empire, I''m concerned about the people from Genosha. After all, we''re not far from their Calivia. It''s better to be cautious." After the three of them went their separate ways, Asher went off alone to gather intelligence. Meanwhile, Charles was lying on the hotel bed, deep in thought: "A level four Beast Master. The captain seems to only have the strength of a level four Beast Master as well. As for Alyssa, I''m not quite sure." To be honest, Charles couldn''t see through that woman. Asher and Dante both thought he was just a level three Beast Master. They had never considered that Charles was a level four Beast Master! Moreover, he had contracted Mia, a mystical beast of emerald quality, and Little Gold, a mystical beast of diamond quality. Combined with Charles''s physical prowess andbat awareness, as long as Alyssa wasn''t a level six Beast Master, he was confident he could retreat unscathed. Even if Alyssa was a level six Beast Master, he had Ruby, a level seven Beast Master, backing him up for protection! This was also why he chose to follow them. Charles''s intuition told him that this group was investigating information about Drake, and their goals might be the same as his. Thinking of this, Charles recalled the information he had just seen, which contained some details about high-level Beast Masters appearing in the Golden Mountain Range. One particr piece caught Charles''s attention: someone had once seen a humanoid creature fighting a level seven ferocious beast deep within the Golden Mountain Range! This instantly reminded Charles of what Jamie Dean had saidDrake possessed incredibly strong physicalbat abilities. "Is there hidden information in the Reaper''s Scythe challenge from the [Dawn] organization, where Drake could defeat Dean with just his physical strength?" Charles fell into deep contemtion. In this world of Beast Masters, the importance of mystical beasts was undeniable. Any powerful Beast Master would certainly focus on the mystical beasts they had contracted. However, the [Dawn] organization is quite strange in their selection process. They don''t summon mystical beasts, nor do they use skills or equipment. They rely solely on the physical prowess,bat awareness, andbat techniques of the Beast Master! This approach is very different from the mainstream path of Beast Masters. [Dawn], [Constetion], and the [Suspended Mountain] mentioned by Lucas, as well as the [Beast Sect]. What exactly lies behind these organizations or factions? What are their goals? Charles felt a vague sense of tension rising within him, apanied by a greater sense of uncertainty. He was just a level four Beast Master at the moment, and his knowledge and intelligence were limited. He couldn''t make more judgments and would have to wait for future developments. Early the next morning, In the town square, Asher was giving a report. He quietly said to Alyssa: "I investigated yesterday, and aside from us, there are currently no others looking into information about Drake." Alyssa let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this, it would ease their pressure significantly. As long as they could sessfully pass Drake''s test and obtain that item, they could present it to the crown prince of the Ster Empire andplete his mission. At that point, the fate of their entire family would change! Dante and Asher were the key yers in this. ording to the intelligence, only level four Beast Masters could ept the challenges set by Drake. Her task was to safely escort the two of them to the depths of the Golden Mountain Range. Soon, Charles''s figure appeared in the three''s line of sight. "Good morning, Charles! How did you rest yesterday? Today, we''re heading deep into the Golden Mountain Range, so we need to stay alert."Alyssa said, her face showing no emotion. Her tone was surprisingly gentle, as if she were speaking while wearing a mask, creating a very eerie feeling. To avoid raising suspicion from the three, Charles deliberately carried a backpack containing clean drinking water andpressed biscuits. In addition, he also took out the [ck gold long knife] from his [storage space] for easier esster. Dante observed the scene before him and became even more certain of his suspicions, Charles was just pretending yesterday! He was merely lucky to have contracted a tinum-quality mystical beast. He didn''t even have an item for storage, making it obvious that he had no background or origin, and he was most likely just amoner. "Good morning, Miss Alyssa. I''m ready."Charles replied slowly. At that moment, three more people appeared. The one at the front was someone Charles had met in the tavern, he was the guide for this trip. As for the other two, a man and a woman, their walking distance and expressions indicated that they knew each other and had a close rtionship. Once everyone had gathered, Alyssa gave a brief introduction. The new girl was named Fiona, the man was called Oliver, and the guide only had a nickname, which was Mountain Rabbit. As soon as Fiona arrived, her big eyes started to scan Charles up and down. When she saw Charles''s face, her eyes lit up, and she took a couple of steps forward. However, when she noticed that Charles was dressed quite ordinarily, Fiona stopped in her tracks and began to observe the others. Once the group was ready, they headed straight into the Golden Mountain Range. As soon as they entered, Charles took out thepass he had prepared earlier. After fiddling with it for a moment, he noticed that the needle kept spinning and he couldn''t determine the direction at all. "Don''t bother trying, this is just the outskirts of the Golden Mountain Range. Once you get inside, people will lose their sense of direction. Only guides like me can lead you to your destination."Mountain Rabbit said as he approached Charles. Charles put away thepass in his hand and nodded in agreement. In fact, just now, using thepass was not only for determining direction. In a special ce like the Golden Mountain Range, the maic field can affect thepass, the stronger the maic field, the more thepass needle shakes. The locations where the [Golden Stone] appears are usually within strong maic fields, so using apass can give a rough estimate of the maic field''s strength. After all, other equipment and instruments cannot be used inside the Golden Mountain Range. Under Mountain Rabbit''s guidance, the group slowly made their way deeper into the mountains. The morning passed quickly, and just as everyone was resting and eating, Charles keenly detected a strange smell, seemingly emanating from Dante. Mountain Rabbit, the guide, was resting near Charles. He noticed Charles slightly twitching his nose and immediately realized something was off. He began to sniff the air. Soon, Mountain Rabbit suddenly stood up, about to say something, when numerous figures appeared around them. "It''s ferocious beasts! Prepare for battle!" Dante shouted. Alyssa and Asher carefully observed the expressions and actions of the others. The neers, Fiona and Oliver, looked a bit panicked, but they still drew their weapons and summoned their mystical beasts. Only Charles remained seated on the ground, as if just realizing what was happening. He slowly stood up, preparing to fight. In the next moment, a few ferocious beasts charged out, ws bared, targeting Dante in the crowd. Facing the ferocious beasts, Dante deliberately edged closer to Charles. "Miss Alyssa, don''t be afraid, I''ming to help you!" A barely noticeable smile appeared on Charles''s lips, but his expression was extremely serious and focused. "No, no need, Charles, just take care of yourself..." Before Alyssa could refuse, Charles had already appeared next to her. "Miss Alyssa, rest assured, I will protect you."Charles said loudly, patting his chest. Mountain Rabbit looked at Charles with an odd expression, his eyes darting slightly, and he moved closer to Alyssa as well. Dante, looking confused, stared at the ferocious beast charging toward him, feeling somewhat at a loss. This was nothing like the n! At that moment, Asher, the team leader, stepped forward and shouted, "There aren''t many ferocious beasts! If we all attack together, we can take them down quickly!" After saying that, he summoned his four mystical beasts and engaged in battle! Under Asher''s leadership, Fiona and Oliver, both Level 3 Beast Masters, joined the fight as well. Only Charles, Alyssa, and the guide Mountain Rabbit remained in ce, motionless. "Charles, aren''t you going to fight?" Alyssa fixed her gaze on Charles, urging him. Charles shook his head firmly and replied, "The captain and the others can handle these ferocious beasts. I believe in the captain''s strength, and there might be other ferocious beasts suddenly appearing. I''ll stay here to protect Miss Alyssa." Alyssa opened her mouth, wanting to say that she was a Level 6 Beast Master and didn''t need protection at all! But that would seem a bit oddhow could a team with a Level 6 Beast Master still need a Level 3 Beast Master? To avoid raising unnecessary suspicions, Alyssa decided to remain silent. Mountain Rabbit silently touched Charles''s shoulder while watching the others fight. Charles kept a straight face and nodded slightly, they exchanged a nce but said nothing. The battle soon came to an end, and Dante, unable to gather the useful materials from the defeated ferocious beasts, rushed over, pushing Charles aside and saying with righteous indignation, "Charles, everyone is fighting! Why aren''t you joining in?" As soon as he said this, Fiona and Oliver turned their gazes toward Charles. Chapter 301 [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] Charles rubbed his nose and awkwardly said, "Just now, I was only thinking about protecting Miss Alyssa, so I didn''t have time to join the fight before you all finished." Upon hearing this, Dante''s eyes widened as he stared intently at Charles, almost as if he were looking at a romantic rival. Asher furrowed his brow and gave Charles a couple of extra nces, but said nothing. The other two neers, Oliver was too preupied to care about anything else, his gaze was fixed on the carcass of the ferocious beast on the ground, eager to move. Fiona, on the other hand, was secretly observing Asher, who had been the first to act, and subtly leaned closer to him while keeping a straight face. "Alyssa needs you to protect her? You, a Level 3 Beast Master, can protect..." Dante''s words were left unfinished. Alyssa interrupted directly, saying, "Enough, the ferocious beast has been dealt with. Charles, go clean up the battlefield and cut up the ferocious beast''s carcass." Charles naturally nodded, after all, he hadn''t done anything earlier, so this arrangement made sense. However, he quietly nced at Asher, and seeing no reaction from him, Charles immediately understood. In this team, the nominal leader was Asher, but the one who could truly issue orders was Alyssa. This woman''s strength was at least that of a Level 5 Beast Master! As Charles began to cut apart the useful parts of the ferocious beast, he pondered. Before he could finish processing one carcass, Oliver rushed over eagerly to help without taking a break. Charles watched as Oliver discreetly hid the valuable parts of the ferocious beast and then nced at Fiona, who was chatting warmly with Asher. He couldn''t help but think, "These two, one greedy and the other enamored with strength, really do make a fitting pair." With someone helping, the pace of cleaning up the battlefield picked up. It didn''t take long for all the useful parts and materials from the ferocious beasts to be collected, except for those that Oliver had secretly hidden away. "Alright, let''s leave quickly. The smell of blood will attract unnecessary trouble. Put the loot in my storage item for now, and we''ll distribute it evenly once we''re outside."Alyssa stated directly. No one voiced any objections, and Oliver''s eyes widened as he watched Alyssa take the spoils. The group continued deeper into the Golden Mountain Range. Under the guidance of Mountain Rabbit, they sessfully dodged wave after wave of ferocious beasts, avoiding a lot of trouble! As the sky gradually darkened, the team found a t area to prepare for the night. While the others were busy, Mountain Rabbit quietly approached Charles and said softly, "Brother, you''ve noticed something off too, right? That pack of ferocious beasts was drawn here by them." Charles nced at Mountain Rabbit, the guide was quite clever, quickly picking up on the key issue and discerning who to coborate with and who to avoid. However, Charles didn''t intend to trust Mountain Rabbit. He stopped fiddling with the campfire in front of him and looked at Mountain Rabbit with a confused expression, perplexedly asking: "Weren''t the ferocious beasts just appearing out of nowhere? The captain was the first to fight, what''s so strange about that?" Mountain Rabbit was momentarily at a loss for words. He looked at Charles''s bewildered expression, unsure whether he was pretending or genuinely confused. After thinking for a moment, Mountain Rabbit slowly said, "Tomorrow morning, we will officially enter the depths of the Golden Mountain Range. ording to the original route, we have to pass through a territory of the [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] to reach our destination." "They promised they have a way to get through that area, but you should still be cautious." Mountain Rabbit''s tone was filled with concern and hesitation. The terror of the [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] was unimaginable. Individually, they were not formidable. However, when their numbers reached hundreds or thousands, even a Level 6 ferocious beast would have to flee! If the entire area of [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] became agitated, even a Level 7 ferocious beast would not be able to escape! They are not veryrge, only about the size of a basketball, but they possess a high level of group consciousness, allowing them to form into massive swarms. The flying [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] are among the most terrifying creatures in the Golden Mountain Range. Charles nced at Mountain Rabbit but still didn''t respond. "By the way, the [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] are not only interested in consuming various metals but are also particrly attracted to the blood of Beast Masters."Mountain Rabbit said before walking away. Charles watched Mountain Rabbit''s departing figure, feeling somewhat uncertain. He wasn''t sure if this guide was in cahoots with those people. However, being able to provide this kind of information should indicate he was trustworthy. "Interested in the blood of Beast Masters?" Charles looked at the two neers nearby and sighed silently. His mind was very sharp, and he quickly deduced that the method Alyssa mentioned for safely passing through the territory of the [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] likely involved their three temporarypanions. "Well, I might as well find an opportunity to give them a little warning. After all, there''s no grudge between us, if I can save one, that''s a plus."Charles thought to himself. Unfortunately, faced with such spection, he could only hint at the danger, unable to directly exin everything. The neer Fiona had her thoughts solely on Asher,pletely oblivious to the situation. As for Oliver, he was fixated on his share of the spoils, his eyes darting around. Even when Charles hinted that danger was ahead, he didn''t pay it any mind. "Everyone has their fate, some people are just foolish and don''t think at all."Charles gave up. He was now just waiting for the developments of the next day. Alyssa and herpanions had a clear goal, and following them would surely lead to finding Drake! At that point, he would assess whether there were any dangers and decide what to do if necessary. When he spoke with Cecilia initially, it had already been made clear that if they encountered danger on the second floor, they could abandon the mission. However, Charles still wanted to gather information about Teacher Ezra and more details about the Constetion organization. He didn''t want to give up so easily. The next morning, Before dawn, the group had already packed up their things and was ready to set off. Charles had not slept all night, he remained vignt, contemting their next course of action. Soon enough, after a journey filled with tension but no real danger, they arrived at a deste canyon. The golden sandy ground was littered with the bleached bones of creatures, all picked clean. Charles could see a few massive skeletons, towering three to four meters high! "We''ve arrived, this is the territory of the [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants]. From here on, it''s up to you."Mountain Rabbit said, pointing to a location ahead. Alyssa nced at him and asked, "Are you sure you know how to proceed from here?" Mountain Rabbit swallowed hard and replied, "I''m sure. The territory of the [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] isn''t fixed. They''ll slowly move on once the food in this area is depleted. I''ve been through here before, I know the way." Alyssa nodded and kept a straight face as she looked at Asher and Dante. The two immediately understood and moved behind Fiona and Oliver. "What''s going on? Is there something you need us to do next?" Oliver finally remembered Charles''s hint, his body trembling slightly as he spoke. "You don''t need to do anything, the next part of the journey is a bit dangerous. Just stay close and don''t wander off."Alyssa said gently. She turned her gaze to Charles and added, "Charles, you too. Don''t you like following me to protect me? Make sure not to stray too far." Charles didn''t respond. He nced at Fiona, who was nestled close to Asher, lookingpletely satisfied, and then at Oliver, who was nervously clutching his bag, fearing that someone would discover the loot hidden inside. "What''s wrong? Are you unwilling? If you go back alone, you definitely won''t be safe."Alyssa said, appearing to remind him but actually warning him. As a Level 6 Beast Master, she could easily bind Charles with her brute strength and force him to keep moving forward! "Miss Alyssa, I trust you, and you should trust me. I will protect you well!" Charles patted his chest, continuing to act as if he knew nothing. Upon hearing this, Alsyssa was taken aback for a moment, but quickly regained herposure. Only Dante remained, gritting his teeth at Charles, wishing he could take action right now and deal with him directly! "Let''s go, pay attention to mymands."Alyssa said, starting off first, with the others following behind. Since they were too close together, Mountain Rabbit couldn''t talk to Charles quietly and could only keep signaling with his eyes. "By the way, Mountain Rabbit, why did youe to such a dangerous ce?" Charles suddenly asked. Mountain Rabbit was taken aback for a moment and instinctively replied, "Of course, it''s for the reward. I have a sister who is seriously ill..." Before he could finish, Alyssa''s voice rang out, "Quiet! It seems there''s some movement ahead!" The group quickly turned their gaze forward and saw basketball-sized ants, glimmering with a metallic sheen, scurrying back and forth as if they were on patrol. "Be extra cautious and try not to make any loud noises. These ants have a keen sense of perception! Otherwise, the consequences could be dire!" Alyssa''s tone shifted, bing sharp and ruthless. Fiona listened, nervously clutching Asher''s shirt, trying to spark his protective instincts. However, Asher looked at Fiona with apletely emotionless gaze, as if he were staring at a corpse! Just as the group cautiously moved forward, the ground suddenly started to tremble! Chapter 302 Crisis! At first, there was a slight tremor of the surrounding sand and stones. Then, in a very short time, some fist-sized rocks began to shake, and a few smaller stones even lifted off the ground! Among the group, Mountain Rabbit, Alyssa, and Charles reacted the fastest. They immediately looked in the direction of the tremor. In the distance, a wave of ckness appeared, ominous and carrying a devastating force! It was a massive swarm of [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants]slowly making their way toward them. From afar, the sight was terrifying, this countless horde of [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants]left nothing alive in their wake, only dust swirling in the air! "We''re done for, what a coincidence to encounter the migration of [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants]!" Mountain Rabbit copsed to the ground, shocked at how unfortunate his luck was to face such a situation! "What? Migration! Didn''t you say the [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] would migrate in two months?" Alyssa''s expression remained stiff, but her tone was frantic. "How would I know? Logically, their migration should still be two months away. I never expected to encounter this today. We''re all going to die!" Mountain Rabbit panted heavily, despair radiating from him. Charles looked confused. They hadn''t been discovered yet, and if they left quietly, they should be fine. "Calm down! This swarm of [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] hasn''t noticed us yet, there''s still a chance!" Charles''s calm voice snapped Mountain Rabbit back to reality. He took a few deep breaths and quietly climbed up to a higher vantage point to observe the surroundings. Soon, the despondent Mountain Rabbit climbed back down and, with a heavy heart, said, "It''s over, there are ant swarms in every direction. We can''t escape." Upon hearing this, Fiona and Oliver copsed onto the ground, trembling and holding their heads, repeatedly whispering, "No, I don''t want to die!" Even Dante and Asher''s faces began to turn pale, unsure of what to do next. Only Alyssa remained rtively calm, perhaps due to the disguise on her face, which concealed any signs of panic. Among everyone present, Charles was the mostposed. He shook the dazed Mountain Rabbit vigorously and asked quickly and clearly, "Every direction? Are these ants gathering together to migrate as one?" Mountain Rabbit nodded nkly and slowly replied, "Yes, our position will definitely be discovered. When that happens, no one will make it out alive! We''ll all turn into skeletons!" Charles''s mind raced, and before he could think of a way to resolve the current crisis, Alyssa reacted first. She nodded towards Dante and Asher, and they immediately subdued the two despairing neers. Charles''s eyes turned cold, and without any emotion, he said to Alyssa, "What, are you nning to take action now?" Mountain Rabbit reacted quickly, he nced at Charles and immediately hid behind him. Only Fiona and Oliver remained, looking around in confusion at what was happening. "Asher, what''s going on? Why are we doing this?" Fiona asked, her eyes wide, trying to make herself appear more charming while attempting to please Asher. "Don''t bother, soon you two will be the bait to attract that swarm of [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants]." Alyssa''s cold voice rang out. Her gaze shifted to the still-calm Charles as she slowly said: "You do have some guts, you can stay calm at a time like this, unlike a third-level Beast Master who hasn''t been through any trials." Charles looked at the slowly approaching [Bloodthirsty Army Ants] and replied leisurely: "I never said I was a third-level Beast Master, the reason you haven''t acted directly is that you''re unsure of my strength." Upon hearing this, everyone turned their attention to Charles, especially Dante, who eximed in surprise, "What do you mean? You''re not a third-level Beast Master? Are you a fourth-level Beast Master instead? Are you a genius?" Asher remained vignt, his eyes fixed on Charles''s hands, fearing that Charles might suddenlyunch an attack. Alyssa''s tone showed little fluctuation as she waved her hand dismissively and said: "So what if you''re a fourth-level Beast Master? Given the current situation, even if you''re a fifth-level Beast Master, you won''t escape." "I forgot to mention, I''m a sixth-level Beast Master." Alyssa revealed her strength, not feeling that Charles, a teenager, posed any real danger to her. What she needed to do now was use these people''s flesh and blood to attract the attention of the Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants, allowing them to escape danger sessfully. However, what happened next left everyone wide-eyed in shock. The hexagram array gathered together and silently lit up, one, two... five mystical beasts appeared beside Charles. "Five! What? You''re actually a fifth-level Beast Master!" The usually quiet Asher was startled, his mouth agape. Faced with the five mystical beasts beside Charles, even Alyssa, a sixth-level Beast Master, had to take it seriously, as she could sense that all five mystical beasts were of Gold quality or above! "Charles, you really are hiding something. A fifth-level Beast Master under twenty years old is rare in all of Genosha. Who exactly are you?" Alyssa''s eyes filled with caution. Bing a fifth-level Beast Master at such a young age meant that he must have an extraordinary background! Charles sensed the emotions of those around him. He had actually yed a little trick earlier, gathering the hexagram array to make it unclear how many mystical beasts he had summoned. Among the five mystical beasts, one was the tinum-quality mystical beast projected by Mousie. The purpose of doing all this was to gain a certain level of initiative for what was toe! Not using the orange-quality miracle drug given by Teacher Colton or letting Ruby take action was undoubtedly the best way to bluff. "Even if you''re a sixth-level Beast Master, you might not be able to take me down quickly. If it makes too much noise, it could provoke the surrounding ant swarms, and no one will get away." Charles said slowly. This statement instantly made Alyssa and the others realize the situation they were facing! Countless Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants were slowly gathering towards their position. Once aplete encirclement was formed, no one would be able to escape! "Charles, if that''s the case, you won''t escape either! You''ll die too!" Alyssa retorted. Charles smiled, seemingly unfazed by the imminent life-and-death crisis, showing no signs of worry as he said mockingly: "I might not die, why don''t you try and see?" "You!" Alyssa was momentarily at a loss for words, unable to believe that the third-level Beast Master she had always thought Charles to be was hiding so much power! Who would have thought that a seemingly harmless teenager under twenty could actually be a fifth-level Beast Master! If this were in the Ster Empire, such a genius would definitely be well protected and would never be allowed to take risks in the Golden Mountain Range. Looking at Charles''s calm demeanor, Alyssa had a vague suspicion that he must possess some hidden means to survive! Thinking this way also exined why a true genius would dare to venture alone into the Golden Mountain Range. "Charles, what do you want? If we dy any longer, when the ant swarm gathers, there will really be no chance of survival!" Alyssa said with aplex tone. Behind Charles, Mountain Rabbit was nodding furiously, wholeheartedly agreeing, "Charles, two third-level Beast Masters should be able to attract the ant swarm''s attention. When that happens, we can seize the opportunity to escape." Charles looked at the pale-faced Fiona and Oliver, who were shaking their heads frantically. These weak and foolish Beast Masters had no chance of controlling their own fate! "Please, Charles, I don''t want to die. Help us!" Fiona trembled as she pleaded pitifully. Charles''s gaze showed no signs of emotion as he slowly said to Alyssa, "Your idea is good, but you''ve overlooked one thing. If blood is sensed here, the consequences might be something you can''t bear!" Alyssa was filled with confusion, as she had no idea what Charles was talking about. Dante could no longer hold back and spoke directly, "At this point, is there really any other way? So what if you''re a fifth-level Beast Master? We might as well all die together!" Charles sighed and pointed at the sand beneath their feet. The others looked on in confusion, but only Alyssa and Mountain Rabbit realized something, and they immediately froze in ce! "Alyssa, what''s going on?" Feeling the shift in atmosphere, Dante''s voice dropped significantly, and if one wasn''t paying attention, they wouldn''t hear him at all. Alyssa swallowed hard. As a sixth-level Beast Master, she was also quite tense at this moment, trying to control her tone as she replied: "This gathering of Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants is not coincidental, Charles means there''s something beneath our feet." "What is it, could it be...?" Dante suddenly thought of something, his pupils dting as he instinctively licked his dry lips. Among these Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants, there was only one existence that could cause them to gather here: the most important creature in the ant swarm, the alloy ant queen! The Bloodthirsty Alloy Ant queen was right beneath their feet! Chapter 303 Excitement! "We''re done for, we''re really going to die here." Mountain Rabbit said with trembling lips, having given up struggling and sitting down directly on the ground. He slowly extended his stiff arm and pointed at the two neers who had already been subdued. In despair, Mountain Rabbit continued, "Even if we use those two to attract the ant swarm''s attention, we still won''t escape. The alloy ant queen is here, and those [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] will tear us to shreds!" Upon hearing this, the two neers, who were already trembling with fear, instantly copsed to the ground as if all their bones had been pulled out. A faint smell of urine started to emanate from between Oliver''s legs, and when Charles turned to look, he realized that Oliver had been so scared he wet his pants. Slightly disgusted, Charles stepped aside a couple of paces. He nced at the highest-ranked Beast Master in the group and noticed that her legs were also trembling slightly, clearly frightened. Slightly disgusted, Charles stepped aside a couple of paces. He looked at the highest-ranked Beast Master in the group and noticed that her legs were also trembling slightly, clearly frightened. At the same time, from somewhere behind Charles, among a pile of rocks, the highest point had arge stone that looked perfectly normal suddenly move. "This guy doesn''t seem worried at all. This situation won''t get any easier if we keep dragging it out."Ruby''s voice slowly emerged. This was her earth attribute camouge skill, which allowed her to blend in with the surrounding environment, concealing her movements and scent. As long as no one was bored enough to attack therge stone, they generally wouldn''t discover her presence. "I wonder if he realizes that the alloy ant queen of this Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants is right beneath his feet. With Charles''s keen observation skills, he should have noticed by now."Ruby pondered continuously in her mind. She couldn''t determine whether Charles had a way to resolve the crisis. Faced with so many Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants, even she, a level seven Beast Master, would be in considerable danger. If they dyed any longer, the risks would only increase. "Despite the current situation, Charles remains calm. No wonder the level nine Beast Master Lucas thinks so highly of hima genius who stands firm even when mountains are copsing before him!" Ruby''s admiration for Charles grew even stronger. She wasn''t the only one thinking like this. In the face of the fear and despair of those around them, Charles''s calm demeanor soon caught the attention of others. Alyssa quietly moved a step forward, which Charles keenly noticed. "What''s up? In this situation, do you still want to make a move?" Charles said, his eyes lowered but shining like torches. Suppressing her surprise, Alyssa swallowed hard and urgently asked, "Charles, given the circumstances, just tell us what you n to do. Only by working together can we survive!" Dante spoke in a dismissive tone, "Alyssa, in a situation like this, what can he do? I think we should let those four go out and attract the ant swarm''s attention, making it easier for us to break out!" The four people included the guide Mountain Rabbit, Charles, and the two neers who were of no use at all. As soon as those words were spoken, Alyssa took a deep breath and shot a cold nce at Dante, scolding him, "Can''t you think for once? The alloy ant queen is right here, and the smell of blood will make ite out early!" "This... I just don''t believe this guy has any good ideas!" Dante shot a nce at Charles. Even now, facing danger, his attention was focused on Alyssa, not wanting Charles to steal the spotlight. In his mind, even if Charles was a level five Beast Master, so what? Perhaps he had spent all his time on training and had no realbat experience! "Stop thinking about it. The number of these ants is beyond what a few bait can escape from. There''s only one method now."Charles spoke up. All eyes turned to him, and even Dante, who didn''t acknowledge Charles, perked up his ears, eager to hear what solution he had for the current crisis. Amidst the hopeful and expectant gazes of everyone, Charles directly articted his thoughts: "You should know the importance of the alloy ant queen, right? Without the alloy ant queen, no matter how strong the ant swarm is, they will face extinction." Alyssa''s eyes widened, as if she realized something uneptable, almost crying out. Fortunately, she knew the current situation couldn''t allow for too much noise, so she whispered: "Charles, are you crazy? That''s the alloy ant queen! You n to control the alloy ant queen to threaten the [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] outside, right?" "What! That''s insane, the alloy ant queen is so easy to control? I told you he wouldn''te up with anything useful!" Dante immediately disparaged Charles. Only Mountain Rabbit began to show a glimmer of hope in his eyes. He nodded and said: "I know some information. The alloy ant queen usually has only four or five guards around her, and their levels should be in the fifties." As the shock in Alyssa faded, she calmed down and began to contemte the likelihood of sess with this n. "What about the strength of the alloy ant queen? As the most important entity among the Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants, its strength shouldn''t be low."Alyssa asked slowly. Mountain Rabbit shook his head and replied, "I don''t know about that. No one has ever been able to break through the swarm to take action against the alloy ant queen, so its strength remains a mystery." "What can we do? At most, we can only hold off the guards around the alloy ant queen. Charles, can you control the alloy ant queen?" Asher remained rtively calm and analyzed the situation carefully. With Alyssa, a level six Beast Master, there should be no problem facing the four or five guards at level fifty. However, as the Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants outside gradually approached, she had to shoulder the task of holding off the ant swarm as well. "If they notice something unusual, those ants outside wille rushing over like crazy. We don''t have much time left and no room for error!" Alyssa took a deep breath. Her statement meant she had already acknowledged Charles''s idea. This crazy yet potentially viable thought was something not just anyone coulde up with! Thinking of this, Alyssa fixed her gaze on Charles and asked with curiosity, "Who exactly are you? So young yet possessing the strength of a level five Beast Master, and you remain calm enough to think of such a wild n. You''re quite remarkable." Hearing this, Charles rubbed his nose and replied, "Let''s not worry about that now. Get ready to take action, we don''t have much time left." "Alright, tell us what to do, and we''ll follow your lead!" Alyssa made her stance clear. Faced with a life-and-death crisis, Charles''s performance had temporarily impressed her, a level six Beast Master. "Wait, Alyssa, are you really going to listen to him? Isn''t this just asking for death?" Dante was unwilling in his heart. Asher patted his shoulder and advised, "If we wait any longer, we will definitely die. I think Charles''s n has potential." "Fine, I hope it truly is useful then."Dante said, not wanting to die, and nodded heavily. Soon, Charles arranged everything, and everyone was ready. Under the tense gazes of the crowd, Charles pulled out the [ck gold long knife] he carried with him and forcefully stabbed it into the ground. As he infused multi-attribute energy into the [ck gold long knife], Charlesmunicated with Mousie in his mind: "Mousie, are you really sure that Little Gold meant that?" Mousie confidently replied, "Absolutely, Master. All the ants around here can be consumed by Little Gold. Even that big guy underground can be devoured slowly!" "And Little Gold is a natural enemy to these ants! It can control that big guy underground!" Upon receiving the answer, Charles hesitated not for a second and directly unleashed the multi-attribute [ck gold knife] glow on the ground beneath him! He was not someone who would act recklessly, he would only take such risks when he had a high degree of certainty. Because of loyalty reasons, Little Gold couldn''tmunicate directly with him, but thankfully, with Mousie''s presence, he could understand Little Gold''s intentions and ry them. Otherwise, Charles would have left long ago! The [ck gold knife] glow, infused with ice, fire, and dark energy, surged with immense destructive power as it prated the earth. In the next moment, The once calm and peaceful ground suddenly trembled! Then, as if an earthquake had erupted, the ground beneath Charles began to shake violently, and a deep, booming sound echoed from underground, resembling a bull''s roar! At the same time, feeling themotion and soundsing from ahead, The [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants], originally advancing in an orderly fashion, began to panic and rushed frantically toward the ce where Charles and the others were. Even if some slowerpanions were trampled underfoot, they wouldn''t slow down in the slightest! The dark mass of ants surged like monstrous waves in the ocean, rapidly closing the distance between them and Charles and his group. Fiona and Oliver, who had broken free from control, looked at the scene before them and instantly copsed,cking even a shred of courage to resist, and turned to flee! "Damn it! I gave you a chance, and you don''t care at all!" Alyssa gritted her teeth and said. She had thought that having more people would mean more strength, but she never expected these two to just nce at the situation and immediately want to run! "Running away in this situation will only lead to a quicker death!" Alyssa looked at Charles, who was relentlessly attacking the ground. A thought formed in her mind: why, as a fellow human, did this young boy show no signs of fear or retreat? The reason Alyssa chose to trust Charles was that she could vaguely sense another kind of emotion from him. It wasn''t fear, nor was it retreat. It was excitement! Chapter 304 Confronting the Alloy Ant Queen! Charles was genuinely excited now because he had caught sight of a massive figure emerging from the ground beneath him. Unlike the other [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants], which gleamed with a metallic sheen, the Alloy Ant Queen was pure white, resembling jade, and looked like arge cargo truck! Golden liquid continuously dripped from its body, solidifying into metal in the air! This was caused by the earlier [ck gold knife glow], and Charles noticed it immediately. This also meant that the Alloy Ant Queen''s defense was not very high, and Charles could inflict lethal damage on her! However, the troublesome part was that there were other ants surrounding the Alloy Ant Queen, these must be the "guards" that Mountain Rabbit had mentioned. There were a total of six, and each "guard" was asrge as a tiger! They were on apletely different levelpared to the [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] outside, which were the size of basketballs. Information prompts appeared in Charles''s vision, revealing details about these "guards": [Alloy Giant Ant] [Quality]: Gold [Skills]: Metallic Body, Giant Jaw Bite, Move Quickly. [Weakness]: Fire Attribute ... There was also information about the Alloy Ant Queen: [Alloy Ant Queen] [Attribute]: Gold [Level]: 50 [Quality]: Emerald [Skills]: Rapid Digestion, Fast Egg Laying, High-Speed Regeneration, Queen''s Command. [Weakness]: Fire Attribute ... "Queen''s Command?" Charles''s attention was quickly drawn to the Alloy Ant Queen''s skill. [Queen''s Command]: When the Alloy Ant Queen faces a life-and-death crisis, she will issue her finalmand before dying. All members of her species will lose their sanity and attack relentlessly until the enemy is dead. "This is a mutually destructive skill! It looks like I need to be careful with my attacks, otherwise, if I identally kill the Alloy Ant Queen, it would be a huge problem."Charles thought to himself. Soon, as soon as Alyssa spotted the Alloy Giant Ant, she summoned her mystical beasts, and six mystical beastsunched a frenzied attack on the "guards." Because the bodies of the Alloy Giant Ants were as hard as metal andpletely impervious to pain, Alyssa''s mystical beasts couldn''t finish the battle quickly. At the same time, the Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants outside had alreadye close, and Mountain Rabbit, Dante, and Asher couldn''t hold them back at all! Alyssa had no choice but to turn to Charles and shout, "Charles! Our lives depend on you now! Do you have any tricks left? Hurry up and use them!" Charles looked at the current situation, a slight smile curling at the corners of his mouth. He directly addressed Little Gold behind him, saying: "Little Gold, it''s time for you to make your entrance! Show us what you can do!" In the next instant, Little Gold, which had been standing behind Charles, darted forward like a bolt of lightning,unching an attack at the Alloy Ant Queen! This was Little Gold''s first battle, and Charles was eager to see itsbat abilities. Little Gold unleashed its skill, [Body Enhancement]! In the next moment, a dazzling golden light erupted, and an aura of authority and madness enveloped Little Gold! The surrounding Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants, which had been charging toward Alyssa and the others, suddenly halted in their tracks, with many weaker Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants instinctively trying to retreat! Even the Alloy Ant Queen began to tremble, as if it had encountered a natural enemy! "It seems Mousie''s message was indeed correct, Little Gold is a predator to these ants! Although it''s currently weak, the bloodline aura within it is suppressing this group of ants."Charles thought, feeling a sense of relief. It wasn''t that he didn''t trust Mousie or Little Gold, but many times, things don''t unfold perfectly ording to script, there are always unexpected events in this world. At that moment, the [Alloy Ant Queen] raised its massive head and let out a frenzied hiss-roar! That deep, resonant sound carried fear and unease as itmanded the surrounding [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] toe protect it! However, at that moment, Little Gold had already reached the side of the [Alloy Ant Queen], taking advantage of the wound Charles had inflicted, and burrowed directly inside! "Little Gold, be careful! Don''t kill it!" Charles shouted urgently at the unfolding scene! He knew that the Alloy Ant Queen possessed the [Queen''s Command] skill. If it activated that, even if Little Gold was their natural enemy, it wouldn''t be able to withstand so many [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants]! "What''s happening? Did Charles really just tell his mystical beast to be careful not to kill it?" Dante was extremely skeptical of his own ears! He turned his head in disbelief towards Alyssa, looking for something to calm him down. To his surprise, Alyssa''s mouth was agape, her eyes wide as she stared at Charles. An unimaginable scene unfolded before them, the massive [Alloy Ant Queen], asrge as a truck, slowly wriggled its body and lowered its head toe to Charles''s feet! Without a moment''s hesitation, Charles walked right up and stood on top of the [Alloy Ant Queen''s] head! In the dazed gazes of everyone present, the [Alloy Ant Queen] opened its mouth and let out a great roar! In an instant, all the [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] halted their attacks,ying t on the ground in submission to Charles, who hovered above them! Even the six [Alloy Giant Ants] were now lying on the ground, not daring to move! "Am I dreaming? How on earth did Charles pull that off?" Dante''s mouth hung open as he reached down and pinched the flesh on his thigh hard. "Ouch, that hurts! Guess I''m not dreaming!" Dante gasped. He looked over at Alyssa, who was wide-eyed, staring intently at Charles, and thought to himself, "Damn it, I''d rather this be a dream! Is Alyssa falling for Charles? What just happened was truly shocking!" On top of the [Alloy Ant Queen''s] head, Charles stood calmly, surveying everything around him. Countless terrifying [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants], like soldiers before a king, not only retracted their sharp mandibles but alsoy t on the ground,pletely motionless! It''s important to note that when gathered, these [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] could overpower even a seventh-tier ferocious beast! Charles felt the vibrations beneath his feet, he knew that Little Gold was moving through the [Alloy Ant Queen''s] body, feeding. The reason the [Alloy Ant Queen] had temporarily submitted was that Little Gold could drill into its brain at any moment, and the only oue then would be death! Not everyone has the courage to face death, and even the [Alloy Ant Queen], whomands tens of thousands of Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants, does not wish for death! "Human, I havemanded them to stop attacking, you should let that thing out now!" A voice echoed in Charles''s mind. He wasn''t surprised at all, as he had heard the [Alloy Ant Queen''s] plea for mercy in his mind during its earlier movements. "We''re notpletely out of danger yet. Don''t worry, Little Gold is very well-behaved. It won''t kill you."Charles replied in his heart. Upon hearing the phrase "Little Gold is very well-behaved."the Alloy Ant Queen fell silent, feeling the pain radiating from its body and wanting to curse! This crazy mystical beast, unafraid of the metallic fluids within it and continuously devouring those fluids, had nothing to do with being "well-behaved"! As the absolute leader of the ant colony, the [Alloy Ant Queen] was different from ordinary mystical beasts, it possessed a certain level of intelligence. "Human, I promise that my subjects will not attack you. Rest assured, we are not as hypocritical and changeable as you humans."the Alloy Ant Queen''s voice rang out again. Charles was slightly surprised, he hadn''t expected the Alloy Ant Queen to recognize human hypocrisy and fickleness. It seemed it had encountered strong humans before. Could it have been Drake from the Golden Mountain Range? Charles had questions swirling in his mind, but now was not the time to address them. "By the way, have those ants surround the others. Don''t let any of them escape."Charles instructed in his mind. The Alloy Ant Queen asked curiously: "Surround them? Aren''t they yourpanions?" "No, no, no, you misunderstand. They are notpanions. Just do as I say."Charles exined. Though it did not understand this behavior, the Alloy Ant Queen, in order to save its life,plied with Charles''s orders. In the next moment, another deep call echoed, and the [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] that had previously been lying t on the ground all stood up and surrounded Alyssa and the others. The group, still in shock from Charles controlling the [Alloy Ant Queen], had no time to react. Even if they did react, they had no way to deal with this swarm of [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants]! "Charles, what do you mean by this? Why are these ants moving again?" Alyssa said, her tone strained, her already rigid face bing even stiffer! "Charles, you''re not nning to burn bridges, are you?" Dante''s tone was much softer now, filled with fear rather than hostility. Asher, who hadn''t spoken, gripped his weapon tightly, his gaze fixed on Charles atop the [Alloy Ant Queen''s] head. Mountain Rabbit was bouncing around frantically, shouting, "Bro! My dear brother, I haven''t targeted you at all! I haven''t done anything!" In just a short time, Charles had already gained control over the lives and deaths of these individuals! Chapter 305 Bored to Death? In the long and wide canyon, a strong wind swept through, raising clouds of dust. The dark mass of [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants] stood like soldiers, countless pairs of eyes fixed intently on Alyssa, Dante, and the others, who were surrounded. Silence hung in the air. In response to Mountain Rabbit and Dante''s questions, Charles remained silent, for him, the time was not right. To learn their destination, which was also where Drake was located, he needed to apply sufficient pressure on them. Alyssa gazed up at Charles, who stood on the head of the [[Alloy Ant Queen]], towering over everyone. Her eyes were somewhat blurred by the swirling sand and dust, making it difficult to see Charles''s expression clearly. Amidst the howling wind, Alyssa slowly spoke to Charles, saying, "We actually have no enmity between us. Now that we''re out of danger, why not let us go?" Charles still did not respond. Dante, Asher, and Mountain Rabbit nervously stared at the [[Alloy Ant Queen]] beneath Charles, fearing that it might suddenly let out a roar andmand the surrounding ant swarm to attack them. Finally, just as their anxiety reached a peak, Charles''s calm voice broke through the swirling dust and wind, reaching their ears. "No enmity? Your initial n was to use me as bait to increase your chances of breaking through." Alyssa furrowed her brow, a twinge of regret washing over her. If she had known that Charles could reach this level of power, she would have sought out other teammates back in the tavern in the small town. If that had been the case, they wouldn''t have found themselves in this predicament. Quickly, Alyssa realized that if it weren''t for Charles, they would likely have already be food in the bellies of the [Bloodthirsty Alloy Ants]. Sighing, Alyssa looked toward the end of the canyon, then withdrew her gaze and replied in a very low tone: "Charles, I admit that I had such ns, but nothing ever came of it. If it weren''t for our help, you wouldn''t have been able to control the [[Alloy Ant Queen]] so easily." Dante watched Alyssa''s subdued demeanor and quietly clenched his fists. He shifted his gaze to the towering Charles and spoke up: "Charles, you''ve been hiding your strength from the very beginning. You''re a Level 5 Beast Master pretending to be a Level 3 Beast Master! You''ve been deceiving us all along!" Charles''s gaze was sharp. He shook his head and said in a low voice: "I never imed to be a Level 3 Beast Master, and I am not a Level 5 Beast Master either. All of this is your own assumption." "Not a Level 3 Beast Master, nor a Level 5 Beast Master. Could you be a Level 4 Beast Master? Or are you actually a Level 6 Beast Master, just one mystical beast short of summoning?" Dante shouted, his fists tightening. Faced with such a question, Charles nodded and replied, "That''s right, I am a Level 4 Beast Master." "Charles, our lives are in your hands. At this point, don''t you want to share some truths? You''ve summoned five mystical beasts! And your name could very well be fake!" Dante expressed his disbelief. Whether Charles was a Level 4 or a Level 6 Beast Master, he couldn''t ept it! The former meant that Charles was at the same level of power as he was but had managed to control the Alloy Ant Queen. If thetter possibility were true, that Charles was indeed a Level 6 Beast Master, that would be utterly surreal. A Level 6 Beast Master at just eighteen years old? No one would believe it! "Wait a minute, Charles, a Level 4 Beast Master? I think I''ve heard of that!" Mountain Rabbit seemed to recall something, his eyes widening in shock as he continued: "There''s someone named Charles in Genosha Calivia, also a Level 4 Beast Master, who has contracted two tinum-quality mystical beasts, one emerald-quality mystical beast, and one diamond-quality mystical beast! Could it be that you are really that Charles?" Upon hearing Mountain Rabbit''s words, Dante and Asher hurriedly looked at him, both asking in unison, "A Level 4 Beast Master? A diamond-quality mystical beast? Is that for real?" Only Alyssa remained rtively calm. What had just happened had confirmed that Charles''s mystical beasts were anything but ordinary. If Charles was indeed a Level 4 Beast Master, then one of the five mystical beasts he initially summoned must have been a fake, a clever ruse! Moreover, thest mystical beast, radiating golden light, had actually burrowed into the [[Alloy Ant Queen]]''s body and sessfully made her obey Charles''smands! Such a thing, let alone having seen it, would be too far-fetched even for a movie. "That''s right, I am Charles. I didn''t expect you to have heard of my name."Charles nodded, ncing at Mountain Rabbit with some surprise. He truly hadn''t anticipated that someone in the Golden Mountain Range would know of his existence. "Emerald-quality and diamond-quality mystical beasts? Impossible! How could a Level 4 Beast Master contract such high-quality mystical beasts? Even a typical Level 6 Beast Master would find it impressive to contract an emerald-quality mystical beast."Dante muttered, as if struck by a blow. Mountain Rabbitpletely ignored him and continued to look at Charles, saying, "I remembered! There were reports online saying that you created your ownbat techniques, which caused quite a stir throughout Genosha Calivia!" "What! Createdbat techniques?" Asher, who had been mostly silent, couldn''t hold back any longer. He momentarily forgot the current dangerous situation and shouted out! "You must have seen some fake news! The difficulty of creating your ownbat techniques is far higher than contracting emerald-quality or diamond-quality mystical beasts! High-quality mystical beasts can be contracted through family influence, but creating your ownbat techniques relies solely on personal insight. There are hardly any people in the Abyssal Depths who can aplish that!" "Mountain Rabbit, do you just believe anything you see online?" Asher, who had been quiet throughout their journey, suddenly vented a lot of frustration. He fixed his gaze on Mountain Rabbit, his face filled with skepticism! If Charles had a powerful background in Genosha, perhaps as an apprentice to a high-level Beast Master, then it would be possible for him to contract high-quality mystical beasts! Such things were not umon in the Ster Empire, some youths with less talent often managed to contract high-quality mystical beasts due to their family influence. However, emerald and diamond-quality mystical beasts are exceedingly rare, and when he heard Mountain Rabbit''s words, he felt genuinely shocked. Yet the idea of creatingbat techniques was simply impossible! An eighteen-year-old Level 4 Beast Master must have spent a significant amount of time practicing Beast Mastery. For an ordinary person to create their ownbat techniques, the time and effort required are unimaginable! "Right! It must all be fake. Perhaps the mystical beasts he contracted are just some rare ones mistakenly identified as emerald-quality or diamond-quality beasts."Dante hurriedly said. Alyssa also felt a bit skeptical. Mainly because it was hard to believe that such a young person could have created his ownbat techniques, the likelihood was just too low. Even the crown prince of the Ster Empire, who had incredible talent and was now twenty years old, was still trying to create his ownbat techniques without sess. How could a boy they randomly met in a tavern in a small town possibly be more talented than the crown prince of the Ster Empire? "It''s not fake. There were many discussions online about it. Charles had even killed a Level 5 Beast Master when he was still a Level 3 Beast Master, and he sessfully challenged the Reaper''s Scythe!" Mountain Rabbit recalled more information about Charles. Silence fell. Alyssa, Dante, and Asher were plunged intoplete silence. The things Mountain Rabbit had just mentioned had a sliver of believability, but now he was talking utter nonsense! A Level 3 Beast Master killing a Level 5 Beast Master? Was he dreaming? Sessfully challenging the Reaper''s Scythe? In the underground world of the Ster Empire, no one had been able toplete that challenge for many years. One had to defeat seven ace Beast Masters from the underground world over seven consecutive days, without summoning mystical beasts and only using skills and equipment. Alyssa was the first to disbelieve. She turned to look at Asher and Dante, both of whom were carefully selected Level 4 Beast Masters. Their mystical beasts might not be of high quality, but their physical abilities were even stronger than those of an average Level 5 Beast Master! It was precisely for this reason that the crown prince had instructed her to escort these two to the Golden Mountain Range to find Drake andplete his trial. Faced with a Level 4 ace Beast Master from the Ster Empire, Asher and Dante would undoubtedly secure a solid victory! However, even so, they would be unable toplete the "Reaper''s Scythe" challenge, as the difficulty was simply too high. Seven consecutive days of intense battles were something that ordinary people could not aplish! "Alyssa, do you think Charles knows this Mountain Rabbit? Maybe they''re in cahoots, trying to make us believe everything they just said."Dante quietly voiced his thoughts. "What would be the point of that?" Alyssa furrowed her brow, lost in thought. "Is it possible that Charles and Mountain Rabbit are actually Drake''s subordinates, testing our mentality?" Dante continued. Upon hearing this, Alyssa was momentarily taken aback. Rather than believing Mountain Rabbit''s ims, she found this suspicion to be more credible. After all, the information about Charles was so shocking that it was hard to believe! Soon, Alyssa dismissed this line of thought and replied, "How could Drake, an Level 8 Beast Master, possibly make all these preparations just for us? Is he that bored?" While Alyssa and the others were deep in thought, in a shadowy spot above the canyon, a magnificent figure stood silently, barely noticeable. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!