The school always tried to choose an unfamiliar entrance, preventing students from repeatedly entering a familiar environment and subconsciously relaxing, which would defeat the purpose of the training.

Some top students had written up training guides and shared their experiences, but these were of limited use. Resources required multiple conditions to spawn and their locations were relatively random, making it impossible to master the process with a single guide.

At the same time, passing through certain areas meant an almost guaranteed encounter with a dangerous wild Exotic Beast. There was no way around it—being weak was the original sin.

To have a good haul during field training, one needed opportunity, courage, and skill in equal measure.

The gap between the top students and the weaker ones was forged through the accumulation of countless small differences like these...

Before entering the activity zone, Su Zhi noticed some students camping right at the entrance, using tents that were obviously expensive.

These students were usually from wealthy families and couldn’t care less about the bi-weekly, Schrodinger-esque resources. They were too lazy to bother exploring; they just came here to vacation for a couple of days and call it done.

In contrast, kids from ordinary families and their Pet Beasts would struggle and search for a full day and night, only to most likely return empty-handed.

On the surface, everyone had the same opportunities. In reality, from the moment they chose the path of Beast Taming, countless invisible chasms had already divided Beast Tamers into various ranks and classes.

"What are you thinking about?" the white-haired, blue-eyed girl asked, turning her head as they walked.

Su Zhi shook his head. "Nothing."

"This is the wild, you can’t get distracted! Got it?" the girl chided, remaining vigilant.

Su Zhi smiled and refocused his attention on the search.

In truth, it was unlikely they would run into any real danger now.

Yu Bao’s and Xiaoyue’s Real-time Energy Values had both surpassed a thousand, meaning they weren’t far from reaching One-star.

—For wild Exotic Beasts, which couldn’t rely on a Beast Taming Space for growth bonuses, One-star was already incredibly formidable. Most Exotic Beasts wouldn’t consider a creature of this strength as prey.

When an ordinary wild Exotic Beast sensed Yu Bao and Xiaoyue’s auras, it would be scrambling to get away. How could it possibly have any ill intentions?

Of course, in the field, wild Exotic Beasts weren’t the only obstacles one might face...

·

"This is the place!"

After carefully observing the patterns on the surface of a stone cliff, Su Zhi gave Yu Bao a thumbs-up.

These kinds of patterns didn’t form naturally; they only appeared when a Tier One Earth Element resource, an Earth Condensing Stone, was embedded inside.

Yu Bao nodded, then effortlessly shattered the rock face with a Furious Sand Blade.

The rock crumbled away, revealing the Earth Condensing Stone—jet-black with patterns of faint yellow light.

"Woof!"

Yu Bao padded forward and gently picked it up in his mouth. He had controlled his power perfectly, shattering the cliff face without damaging the resource inside.

"Well done!"

Su Zhi bent down to pat Yu Bao’s head. "Shao Ya and Xiaoyue should be done soon, too. Let’s go meet up with them."

"Woof~"

However, just as the two were about to leave, several blinding flashlight beams cut through the darkness.

Immediately after, a sharp whistling sound split the air—

"CLANG!" "CLANG!"

Yu Bao summoned a Yellow Earth Wall just in time, blocking the incoming Wind Blades for Su Zhi.

"GRRR-WOOF!"

Yu Bao glared in the direction of the ambushers, his brown eyes turning fierce. Though he still looked like a young, innocent puppy, he now radiated the aura of a savage beast.

"To what do we owe the pleasure, fellow students?"

Su Zhi said calmly, sizing up the figures emerging from the darkness as he quickly scanned them with his phone.

[Pet Beast: Da Fei (Cyan Feathered Falcon)... Real-time Energy Value: 750]

[Pet Beast: Ah Huang (Yu Dian Dog)... Real-time Energy Value: 697]

[...]

There were five of them in total. The Real-time Energy Values of their five Pet Beasts were between 600 and 800, slightly below the year’s average.

"Stop fucking playing dumb."

The Beast Tamer of the opposing Yu Dian Dog said bluntly.

"I’ll give you two choices: leave the resource, or get a beating from us and *then* leave the resource."

Su Zhi sized up the group with a complicated expression.

To maximize search efficiency, students usually worked alone or in pairs.

However, some of the less skilled students who couldn’t find anything would get other ideas, ganging up to rob those who had been successful.

Su Zhi had only heard rumors of this sort of thing; he never thought he’d run into it himself.

"Holy crap! His Yu Dian Dog’s Energy Value is insane!" someone exclaimed after scanning Yu Bao with their phone.

The five of them exchanged glances. Their leader raised an eyebrow. "You’re... Su Zhi? The champion of the city league tournament?"

Su Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. "I am. Can I go now?"

’Looks like having a reputation is useful after all,’ he thought. ’At least it can help avoid some unnecessary conflicts.’

"In your dreams!"

Su Zhi: "..."

The leader tilted his chin up. "This isn’t a tournament ring. Don’t think you’re all that just because you’re some champion.

"Even if your Pet Beast is a little stronger, the five of us can still overwhelm you. Got it?"

Su Zhi and Yu Bao exchanged a look.

Then, Yu Bao looked at the students before him. Letting bygones be bygones, he gave them a graceful and dignified smile: ⌓‿⌓

’Oh, yeah, you’re totally right~’

The leader’s mouth twitched.

"Get him! Beat him up, then we’ll take his stuff!"

"CAW!" "WOOF!" "CHIRP!"

Several Pet Beasts of various shapes and colors unleashed their Skills, pouncing on Yu Bao in unison.

Facing the ferocious group attack, Yu Bao didn’t even budge. He even let out a yawn...

"WHOOSH!"

A sky full of sand and dust surged up without warning, engulfing everything in sight.

The pained cries of several Pet Beasts echoed from within the Sandstorm. Despite wearing Special Training Suits, the students were instantly knocked off their feet by the terrifying force of the Sandstorm.

The leader reacted a bit faster, lowering his center of gravity just in time to avoid being blown away.

As the swirling sand settled, he opened his eyes in terror.

All five Pet Beasts had been thrown to the ground. Yu Bao was strolling toward him, that trademark smile on his face.

’So, I hear you’re pretty tough?’

"Holy crap!" The leader fell on his backside and scrambled backward.

The others who were quick on their feet hastily recalled their Pet Beasts and scattered in an instant.

"Looks like you didn’t pay much attention in your Introduction to Beast Taming class. A Pet Beast’s combat power doesn’t increase linearly.

"If superior numbers could make up for a disadvantage in power, what would be the point of Beast Tamers in the first place?"

Su Zhi’s lazy voice drifted over from nearby. He strode through the dissipating sand, his gaze suddenly turning cold and sinister.

The leader’s tongue felt twisted. "Wh-what do you want...?"

"I’m thinking... since I’m the city league champion, even if I were to... dispose of you right here, someone would probably clean up the mess for me back at school. And even if they didn’t, who cares? Worst case, I’ll just drop out of this damn school..."

"Sp-spare me!"

"Get lost. Next time we meet, you won’t know what hit you."

The leader knocked his head on the ground a few times with loud thuds and then gratefully scrambled away.

Su Zhi watched the boy’s figure disappear into the twilight forest. His cold gaze softened, and he turned to look up—

High up in a broad-leaved tree, the girl was watching him with great interest, her azure eyes blinking. A Huajing Cat sat beside her, its light-green pupils exceptionally bright in the darkness.

With a soft whoosh, Shao Ya jumped down from the tree.

"So badass, Su Baby!" the girl said, covering her mouth as she giggled.

Su Zhi curled his lip. "They were blatantly trying to mess with us, so I couldn’t just let them walk all over us. Who does that kind of trash think they are, trying to target us."

"Woof," Yu Bao added, raising a paw in agreement.

’Strike first to avoid a hundred return blows!’

"Aha, whatever you say, Su Baby~"

Shao Ya patted Su Zhi’s head placatingly, changing the subject. "It’s getting late. Let’s find a place to camp. The weather forecast says there’s a high chance of rain tonight."

Su Zhi nodded. Even though the Special Training Suits were insulated and waterproof, sleeping through a night of heavy rain would still be miserable.

Just as they were about to leave, a sudden rustling sound came from up ahead.

The two Tamer-Pet pairs immediately stopped, on high alert.

Seeing that it was the same students who had just tried to rob them, Su Zhi frowned.

’They dare to come back?’

However, Su Zhi quickly realized their faces were all masks of pure terror.

An uncountable, oppressive mass of black shadows was following close behind them...

·

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