Chapter 528: Passerby in the Beast Taming World (6)

The longer she stayed in the mission world, the lower Shen Yao's so-called bottom line became.

This wasn't her fault; no single thing could guarantee absolute safety. Shen Yao felt that as long as her conscience was clear and her conduct upright, not excessively vile, it was acceptable.

Having been in the Beast Taming world for a while, Shen Yao thought it over and decided that creating her own force was the most cost-effective approach for the mission.

After all, this was yet a society where might makes right; a Beast Tamer's status rose with their pet beast's tier. As long as your contracted pet beast was powerful enough, the entire Blue Star would be at your disposal (provided you didn't violate Alliance laws, or could single-handedly withstand the Alliance).

Upon receiving Shen Yao's orders, the System began working diligently and tirelessly.

As more and more students returned to campus, Shen Yao's dormitory filled up. Teachers began appearing at the sealed-off school building nearby. Everyone rested for a holiday, then donned their university student identities once more.

General education classes, history classes, cultivation classes, practical training classes...

Shen Yao ran back and forth every day, living a full and satisfying life; even Xiao Guai shed his former laziness and became self-disciplined and serious.

Finding time, she went to the School Infirmary, bringing Xiao Guai for a comprehensive re-examination.

Zhou Yun smiled and said Xiao Guai was in good health, with obvious changes compared to his previous physique. "Keep it up. In as short as three to five months, or as long as a year, Xiao Guai will enter the Development Period."

Cultivation during a pet beast's Development Period is crucial. Zhou Yun suggested Shen Yao take advantage of the time to learn relevant knowledge and stockpile materials in advance. Even if the Xuanbai Swift Shadow Cat remained at Yellow Tier Level Three in the future, it would still be an extraordinary type among Yellow Tier pet beasts.

The Beast Taming world is not peaceful; becoming a Beast Tamer means facing various dangers. Zhou Yun raised a hand to stroke Xiao Guai's smooth, fine, soft fur, and with a few swift strokes wrote down many materials, some precious, some cheap. Without exception, all were supplies Xiao Guai needed.

Shen Yao thanked Zhou Yun for the help. Although Zhou Yun was a doctor at the School Infirmary, she had no obligation to speak without reserve.

Shen Yao accepted this kindness in her heart. At the same time, she directly replenished most of the needed materials at the School Infirmary. Of course, the most expensive ones — like the Century Hidden Shadow Flower, Millennium Swift Wind Stone, Xuanling Fruit, the heart of a feline Yellow Tier pet beast... — definitely required another solution.

Returning to the Host in the evening, Shen Yao poured out the Energy Ration and let Xiao Guai eat.

She took out the laptop she had brought for the Registration Website, and seriously entered the materials she needed, repeatedly confirming the relevant production locations and acquisition methods.

Plants and flowers could be bought with money. The Beast Heart of a feline Yellow Tier pet beast required personally hunting in the wild or posting a mission at the Beast Taming Center under the Alliance Government.

The former means doing it yourself, saving money but costing effort — the first choice of ordinary people. The latter guarantees safety, costs money but saves effort — the playstyle of those not short on cash.

Although Shen Yao had family support and official subsidies, this amount of money struggled to buy other materials, let alone the most expensive pet beast heart.

Forget it!

Xiao Guai's breakthrough was still a ways off anyway. She'd think of other methods later. Perhaps sudden wealth would fall from the sky, and she'd become a Rich Woman holding massive assets.

Shen Yao amused herself in her hardship, until she heard Xiao Guai crying "meow meow meow."

Oh, finished eating already.

Shen Yao closed the laptop in her hand, bent down to rub Xiao Guai's cat head. "Can't eat more. Wait until tomorrow morning to go to the cafeteria."

"Meow."

Okay okay, then go to sleep.

Xiao Guai swished his tail and ran to the cat bed to lie down. The cat bed, even larger than her own bunk, occupied nearly half the dorm room's area, making the space feel even more cramped.

But pet beasts have always been rather large; smaller ones are few. Shen Yao rubbed her cheeks, finished washing up, and lay back on her bunk to sleep.

The following time passed with Shen Yao attending classes and researching data.

Occasionally leaving campus was also for transactions. She was determined to fully prepare Xiao Guai's advancement materials before the practical training started.

Phew—

"Finally, only the Millennium Swift Wind Stone and the pet beast's heart are missing.

The Millennium Swift Wind Stone can be pre-ordered for purchase, available in a month. The pet beast's heart," Shen Yao said while stroking Xiao Guai, "can be observed more during practical training. If a feline Yellow Tier pet beast is discovered, collect it while completing the mission."

Beast Taming University's practical training is wilderness exploration. Led by teachers, they enter Secret Realms or Dense Forests. As long as they smoothly obtain the practical target and come out alive, they can participate in the subsequent six-month internship, and finally obtain the Beast Taming University Graduation Certificate.

By now Shen Yao had been back for about a month and a half. In less than half a month, the entire junior class would undergo relevant arrangements.

It is said the teachers have already manually drawn this year's practical training topics.

"Wonder what type it will be?" Finding objects or finding beasts? Long duration or short? Solo combat or squad cooperation?

"Meow meow."

Xiao Guai swished his tail, rubbing his cat head back and forth against Shen Yao's body.

Whatever it is, just solve it all.

"You, small in stature but big in tone." Who knows who she takes after — unafraid of heaven or earth, yet sporting a cute round cat face that makes one want to rub it.

"Meow."

I'm not small. Every part of me is big.

The little kitty kept meowing until Shen Yao had other things to attend to. Only then did she coax Xiao Guai back to the cat bed to sleep, while she herself ran off to the Study.

The Study at night was quiet and cold. Shen Yao sat behind the desk and summoned the System.

"Such a long time. Tell me the situation of the entire university."

She didn't believe the System hadn't finished investigating the personnel backgrounds she had assigned.

"Host, per your requirements, Beast Taming University has over ten thousand faculty and students total. Those with potential number no more than a thousand.

Excluding same-sex faculty and students, there are still several hundred.

Further comparing family background, conduct, personality, age, and so on, only a few dozen count as pretty good."

Of course, these few dozen are not the final candidates; a second or even third round of screening is still needed.

What the Host wants is naturally the best of the best. No reason to go through all that trouble and end up picking a Chinese cabbage. That would be a pure waste of time.

Shen Yao folded her hands and rested them on her chin, signaling the System to continue.

"... Six people total. Two are currently in the Year Two Beast Taming classes. The other four are in the same year as the Host."

"Let's talk about the same-year ones first. Beast Tamers of different years are hard to contact; even daily classes have no overlap."

With a whoosh, a semi-transparent Screen appeared before Shen Yao.

"Meng Ting Yi, a local of Yang City. Family industry integrates breeding, cultivation, and capture. This person is the eldest son, extremely likely to inherit the family business. Currently a student of Beast Taming Class One. Contracted pet beast: Yellow Tier Green Wood Mang."

"Chen Shengan, a local of Yang City. Family has no industry, but both his grandfather and father hold important posts in the Patrol Team under the Alliance Government. His grandfather is also a Di Rank Beast Tamer. Currently a student of Beast Taming Class Three. Contracted pet beast: Xuan Rank Flying Sky Tiger."

"Cui Hengxin, from Jing City. Comes from the renowned Jing City Cui Family. However, he himself appears to be of Branch Family origin."

"The Cui Family has a Heaven Tier Beast Tamer, currently holding a high position in the Alliance, with numerous diverse subordinate industries, wealthier than a small country. Currently a student of Beast Taming Class Two. Contracted pet beast: Xuan Rank Explosion Rhinoceros."

Yang Wenxian, a native of Jing Shi, cannot compare to the Cui Family's wealth, but his family also has a Di Rank Beast Tamer, with abundant resources; he is currently a student of Beast Taming Class Two, and his contracted pet beast is a Xuan Rank Flower Spirit Crystal Person.

Judging from the system's written description, the first one definitely has to be eliminated first, then consider among the remaining three people.

In reality, the system's description is incomplete; there is also hidden information within, all of which require Shen Yao to seriously consider and ponder.

"Meng Ting Yi, the reason he is unsuitable is very simple: Yu Province is too small, Yang City is too small; the Meng Family having a foothold in Yang City does not mean they can break out. Moreover, the burdens on him are too heavy," a typical case of lots of money, lots of trouble, and too tiring.

"Chen Shengan, you only say his grandfather is a Di Rank Beast Tamer, but don't mention his grandfather's physical condition; severe injuries that have gone untreated for a long time are extremely difficult to improve. Now he is barely holding on by sheer force to find a new backing for the Chen Family.

Once this old man falls, the Chen Family will rapidly sink into silence," because Chen Shengan and his father do not have particularly outstanding talent; the current situation can only be said to be the result of pulling up seedlings to help them grow.

"Cui Hengxin comes from the Cui Family, but has no great connection to the Heaven Tier Beast Tamer lineage; however, a dead camel is bigger than a horse. He also comes from Jing Shi, his family's deep foundation is enough for him to squander. Although his personal character is somewhat lacking, he happens to be easy to handle.

As for the last one, Yang Wenxian, he has a younger sister who is the School Flower Yang Hui Hui; this person has some connection with Cheng Dong, and cannot shake off the troublesome Cui Hengxin. Recently, many of the incidents stirred up at school are related to her."

After commenting on the four people one by one, Shen Yao finally locked her target onto Cui Hengxin.

This person is a typical rich family's silk-pants young master; he has a bit of a bottom line but not much. He has many lackeys around him who will always take it upon themselves to do some annoying, rotten things on his behalf.

Of course, Cui Hengxin himself doesn't object either; a stinking pot matches a rotten lid — neither should despise the other.

"Host, none of them feel quite right," the system hadn't expected the quality to be this poor; it thought it could easily manipulate them.

"No one is perfect; if I really picked out someone good in every way, I wouldn't have the fortune to enjoy them," who knows if my hard-earned gains would end up making wedding clothes for others.

Shen Yao stroked her chin with one hand, letting the system keep a tight watch on Cui Hengxin first, "As for the others, let's leave it at that."

…………

The system began its twenty-four-hour uninterrupted surveillance behavior on Cui Hengxin.

From Cui Hengxin training his pet beast down to Cui Hengxin eating and sleeping, the system strove not to miss a single point.

The benefits of doing this naturally exist; from analyzing a large volume of samples, this person Cui Hengxin's character shortcomings are clear and distinct.

Including this person being unreliable, playing with cats and teasing dogs while simultaneously pursuing Yang Hui Hui relentlessly, and even retaliating against Cheng Dong is an everyday occurrence. The system clicked its tongue in wonder, "A villain's character setting."

A person like this most likely won't live long; Cheng Dong is truly a bit evil; it has verified this!

Shen Yao attended classes as usual, trained Xiao Guai, preparing for the upcoming practical exercise.

Regarding Cui Hengxin, "No rush, the timing isn't right yet."

System: ……

The system didn't know what specific node the host's awaited timing was, but it firmly remembered the host's instruction: every day, monitor Cui Hengxin from all directions.

Finally, effort was rewarded; after the teacher announced this practical exercise's time and method, Shen Yao waited for this timing.

"A gathering and forming alliances, is it reliable?"

Shen Yao opened her pair of beautiful eyes, both tempted and afraid.

Zhou Lan patted her chest and guaranteed, "Reliable, this matter is absolutely reliable."

Because the previous several practical exercises were all done this way; who let this time be Beast Taming Class Two, Beast Taming Class Four, and Beast Taming Class Seven acting together? It is only right and proper that they meet privately beforehand to understand each other and form a squad, to ensure safety inside the Secret Realm.

That's right; this time's practical exercise method is squad-type, time unlimited (just come out before the Secret Realm closes), entering a Crack Secret Realm said to be not very peaceful, with all kinds of wild pet beasts running rampant inside. They only need to gather the corresponding portion of herbs to count as completing the mission.

So the choice of squad members is extremely important; having such an opportunity before entering the Secret Realm, many people will clutch it tightly.

Shen Yao's displayed behavior was also the same; after agreeing to Zhou Lan's invitation to go together, she stood up and patted Xiao Guai's head, "This time I can't bring you along; you must behave and stay in the dormitory."

Xiao Guai's build is not small, and recently it has been preparing for advancement; once it goes out, the pressure it gives people is full.

For an ordinary gathering and exchange like this now, there is no need for Xiao Guai to follow along.

"Meow"

Owner, pay attention to safety.

"Rest assured, nothing will happen."

The one who needs attention is someone else; she just happens to borrow this opportunity to achieve her wish.

"But what if it fails?" The system always carries a bit of pessimistic emotion.

"Then just find someone else," this is merely an attempt of hers before graduation; failing doesn't lose anything.

This gathering is in two days; after the gathering ends, rest one day, then need to go with the teachers to the Secret Realm for the practical exercise.

Shen Yao wore a set of simple-style clothes and went with Zhou Lan to the street behind the school; there are various snacks and goods there, also a place students like to come to on weekdays.

Beast Taming University's location is special; entering the city once is very difficult. Usually they don't have many places to play; the street behind the school is the first choice.

"Front, front, that's the one."

Zhou Lan pointed her finger at the magnificent, gold-and-jade-splendid building, her whole person excited beyond measure.

This is the most expensive and most face-giving venue on the whole street; eating, drinking, and entertainment all-in-one; the minimum consumption is even so expensive it makes one's eyes go dizzy.

Anyway, Zhou Lan doesn't dare come here; one expense would make her heart ache terribly. Shen Yao raised her head to look at this place, her expression calm as she walked in with Zhou Lan.

Their reserved spot was on the Third Floor; following the instructions up and then winding past a long corridor, Shen Yao and Zhou Lan could be considered to have opened their eyes.

Mm, even more wealthy and luxurious than outside; the master's house here has quite the face.

"Supposedly funded jointly by those few families in Yang City," Zhou Lan finished speaking softly and blinked her eyes.

"Let's form the squad first, then talk about other things," Shen Yao reminded the other party not to forget the main business; a squad has a minimum of four people, at most no more than seven.

They need to select at least one each from Class Two and Class Four at minimum; and Shen Yao's Xiao Guai focuses on speed and stealth, Zhou Lan's Red Pink Rabbit leans toward healing; the two of them are in great need of teammates with attack and protection means.