Chapter 41: Chapter 41: This Lad is Terrifyingly Formidable

...

Sunday.

Six kilometers from Wudu New Village, at the Huai City Pet Beast Fighting Arena.

The arena was empty, steeped in darkness. A single spotlight shone down on Ring No. 6, illuminating the azure-blue stage.

Fang Yuan stood on the left side of the stage, his gaze as steady as a quietly burning flame. Before him floated a Pet Beast resembling a ball of white fire, its form shimmering in and out of existence.

On the other side of the stage, a uniformed sparring partner stared intently at Fang Yuan. His Pet Beast was a Hao Waterfowl.

"DING—"

The sparring partner was both referee and opponent. The battle began the moment he rang the Race Bell.

"SWOOSH—"

A sharp sound cut through the air as Fang Yuan’s Pet Beast streaked across the sky in a blurry afterimage, vanishing in an instant.

"White Mist! Flowing Shield!"

At the sparring partner’s command, a white mist rapidly materialized around the Hao Waterfowl’s body.

Simultaneously, a three-meter-wide Flowing Shield appeared between them, blocking the path.

The sparring partner was a Third-Rank Apprentice Beast Tamer with a Tier Three Beast Taming Space. The Hao Waterfowl was his Sub-Pet.

He was also well aware of Fang Yuan’s Pet Beast—

The White Flame Battle Spirit. A Low Level Elite Race with Fire, Telekinesis, and Fighting Elements—a rare Three-attribute Pet Beast.

But since it was a Fire Element, it would be countered by the Water Element!

"WHOOSH"

The White Flame Battle Spirit’s figure had vanished, but a pocket of turbulence did indeed stir within the White Mist.

The Hao Waterfowl quickly locked onto the White Flame Battle Spirit’s position, and the Flowing Shield changed direction and shot forward.

Boosted by the White Mist, the Flowing Shield was not only significantly more powerful, but its casting speed was also much faster!

"SMACK!"

Hearing the sound of a direct hit, a look of delight spread across the sparring partner’s face.

"Cover it with Towering Waves! Follow up with High-pressure Water Gun!"

"Quack!"

With the first strike landed, the Hao Waterfowl immediately launched a continuous, torrential assault.

As a Water Element, Strong Attack Type Pet Beast, the Hao Waterfowl could dish out massive amounts of damage as long as it had an opening.

The Hao Waterfowl was excited, too.

It had been sparring with the White Flame Battle Spirit recently. Fang Yuan’s Pet Beast was very strong, and the Hao Waterfowl had never won.

The time it took for the White Flame Battle Spirit to defeat the Hao Waterfowl was even shrinking, dropping to just thirty-two seconds yesterday.

Today, the Hao Waterfowl finally had a chance to win for on—

"SWISH! SWISH!"

The sound of something slicing through the air came from behind. Before the sparring partner’s shocked eyes, his little ducky was knocked out by a single punch from the White Flame Battle Spirit, unable to get back up.

In the blink of an eye, the White Flame Battle Spirit flew back to Fang Yuan’s side, once again waiting on standby like a silent flame.

Fang Yuan nodded slightly. "Thank you for the lesson."

Then, he scanned the White Flame Battle Spirit with his phone—

[Pet Beast: 004 (White Flame Battle Spirit)

Attribute: Fire, Telekinesis, Fighting

Race: Low Level Elite Race

Real-time Energy Value: 746]

Confirming it had risen by another five points since yesterday, Fang Yuan pocketed his phone.

Pet Beasts with the Fighting Attribute need frequent real-world combat to increase their Energy Value.

The sparring partner’s voice was tinged with unwillingness. "Only thirty-one seconds..."

’I thought I had the upper hand, but I got wiped out even faster than last time...’

"After you used White Mist, I had 004 use a Telekinesis Wave to disturb the mist and mislead the Hao Waterfowl’s judgment."

"Once the Hao Waterfowl started attacking, the waves disrupted the White Mist. I then had the waiting 004 use the waves as cover to launch its own attack and end the fight."

Fang Yuan said calmly, then paused.

"Finally, don’t lose heart... this isn’t the first time you’ve lost."

’Thanks for the encouragement. I’d probably feel better if you hadn’t said anything...’ The sparring partner sighed, nodded in acknowledgment, and left.

Fang Yuan recalled his Pet Beast, his gaze falling on a portly, middle-aged man who had been waiting at the arena entrance.

·

"You’re right on time today."

Fang Yuan got into the car. He glanced at the middle-aged man’s eyes in the rearview mirror before turning his gaze to the dark window.

"School let out early today."

Fang Lihua turned the steering wheel, driving away from the arena. "How did training go today?"

"It’s going according to plan," Fang Yuan said succinctly.

"The city league tournament is in a little over ten days, at the end of the month. If you need anything at all, just ask. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll make it happen."

Fang Lihua’s tone grew more serious. "You must win the championship. That’s the only way you’ll get into the summer camp. And only then can you get placed in the Elite class when you go back to Shanda University Affiliated School."

Fang Yuan gave a quiet "mm."

Fang Lihua then sent a file to Fang Yuan’s phone.

"This is a list of the more outstanding students from our school recently. I managed to get their Pet Beast data for you. Take a look beforehand and get familiar with your opponents for the city league."

Fang Yuan raised an eyebrow and opened it, scrolling down one by one, starting from the top-ranked student in the grade.

They were all powerful opponents, but they were the steady, predictable type.

If he had to face them, it would be troublesome, but not to the point where the outcome would be uncertain.

When he saw the tenth-ranked girl, named Shao Ya, Fang Yuan stopped scrolling.

Her Pet Beast didn’t seem like it should only be ranked tenth. Plus, her Beast Taming Talent wasn’t publicly listed...

’She might be hiding her true strength. I should pay close attention to her.’

The others seemed rather unremarkable.

After the top ten, there weren’t really any opponents who could cause him trouble. Fang Yuan was just scrolling out of habit.

When he scrolled to the 56th-ranked Yu Dian Dog, Fang Yuan’s finger paused again.

’Is this the Su Zhi I ran into the other day?’

His rate of improvement was practically a quantum leap. ’He must have acquired some powerful talent or obtained a rare resource. The former is more likely.’

Training attendance rate... 0%?

’He doesn’t train but still improves at lightning speed?’

Fang Yuan’s brow gradually furrowed. He moved Su Zhi into his "threat list."

...

Sunday night—

The rhythmic sound of typing echoed from the room.

Su Mao and Wang Sujuan were each pressing a cup to the door, eavesdropping. They looked at each other, baffled.

"What’s Xiaoshu up to? He’s just been writing and writing all day lately..."

Su Mao muttered, his eyes suddenly widening. "He’s not writing a web novel, is he? Should I secretly give him a Chapter promotion? What if his book flops..."

"Web novel, my ass."

Wang Sujuan shot him a look, then propped her chin in her hand, thinking. "It’s probably homework from his teacher. He’s so focused on his writing every day. I’ve never seen you that dedicated to your own writing."

"Why are you always calling me out..." Su Mao sighed, his voice slightly aggrieved.

"But he can’t just skip sleeping. How can his body take it?"

"Xiaoshu is preparing for the city league, you know! Of course he has to take a high-level competition like this seriously!"

"That may be true, but his health is the most important thing. Health is wealth, you know."

"Give me a break. You write four thousand words and then slack off for the rest of the day, and you’re telling Xiaoshu not to be ambitious?"

"? Why are you so hung up on me being a slacker..."

The couple bickered back and forth, the topic quickly derailing completely. Finally, seeming to remember they shouldn’t disturb their son’s studies, they both clapped their hands over their mouths.

"But you do have a point. This must be taking a huge toll on Xiaoshu."

Summing up their argument, Wang Sujuan nodded in agreement.

"I’ll go prepare a late-night snack and leave it in the kitchen. If he gets hungry, he’ll find it. Worst case, Yu Bao is smarter than he is."

"Okay~ When we get back to bed, I’ll give my dear wife a ma~ssa~ge~"

"Get off, get off, stop pawing at me... You’re a grown man, but you act like a child..."

·

·