Chapter 458: Trial Ground

Qingyun Domain.

Nanhuang Realm.

On the wide bed, the young girl curled her body; her stunningly beautiful face revealed a pained expression, as if she were enduring something.

"No!"

The young girl was drenched in sweat.

In her dream, she saw the winding and twisting Imperial Heaven Staircase.

A young man was holding her, slowly climbing toward the Imperial Heaven Staircase.

Wind and rain poured down upon the young man's body, and ice and snow eroded his skin and bones.

The young man climbed toward the heavens, step by step.

The young girl desperately wanted to see the young man's face clearly, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not see it.

Finally, the young man held the young girl as he stepped over the Imperial Heaven Staircase and plummeted straight down from the Heavenly Vault.

Only then did the young girl let out a pained cry and wake up from her dream in a start.

The young girl woke up, sweat on her forehead, her lips somewhat pale and devoid of any color.

She wore black lace pajamas, her dark, beautiful hair hanging down. The young girl sat on the bed, her faintly visible body curves outlining a perfect arc.

Her face was clear and fair, exquisite and beautiful like a doll.

"Yaonu, did you have a nightmare again?"

Outside the door, the voice of a middle-aged woman came.

"Yes, Yu Aunt, it's nothing," Yu Yaonu replied, casting aside that feeling of sorrow.

Nine years ago, Yu Yaonu arrived in the Nanhuang Realm and was adopted by Yu Aunt.

Nine years had passed, and Yu Yaonu had grown into a graceful young woman.

After dressing and washing up.

Yu Yaonu came to the living room.

A sumptuous breakfast was laid out on the dining table, making one's appetite soar.

Yu Aunt looked to be in her thirties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, appearing intellectual and elegant.

"Yaonu, today is a special day, you must eat more.

Also, after entering the Trial Ground, you must be careful.

If you encounter difficult fierce beasts, prioritize saving your own life," Yu Aunt said in a gentle voice; ever since she picked Yu Yaonu up, she had always treated Yu Yaonu like her own daughter.

"Mm," Yu Yaonu nodded.

"Yaonu..." Yu Aunt hesitated, "You still have a chance, do you want to change... your Contracted Beast?"

In Yu Aunt's view, Yu Yaonu had a very strong Beast Tamer Talent.

If it weren't for the fact that... Yu Yaonu's Pet Beast had always been in a state of suspended animation.

It could not be summoned, nor could it protect Yu Yaonu.

Naturally, it could not grow either.

The current Yu Yaonu would not be in a position where she wasn't even a formal Beast Master.

Therefore, Yu Aunt had always been thinking about having Yu Yaonu change her Pet Beast.

"No," Yu Yaonu's reaction was intense, and she refused directly.

Seeing this, Yu Aunt only felt pity and said nothing more.

"Without a Pet Beast for protection, this time entering the Trial Ground, you... be extremely careful!" Yu Aunt instructed.

"Don't worry, Yu Aunt, I will protect myself well and will absolutely not get hurt!"

Absolutely.

Yu Yaonu emphasized this in her heart.

She thought of that young man!

She would not let herself get hurt.

She knew he was bearing it for her.

Fei Bird Academy was located in the sky above the southern part of Raven City; Yu Yaonu took the Sky Elevator, transferred twice, and arrived at Fei Bird Academy.

Which was the premier academy of Raven City.

After entering the academy, Yu Yaonu did not go to her classroom, but instead came to the Storage Room.

In the Storage Room, the items she had been accumulating were kept.

For this trial, she had prepared for a long time.

"Moving Pearl."

"Defense Feather."

"Life Potion."

"Invisibility Scale Powder."

"Boots of Speed."

In the Storage Room, Yu Yaonu had stored twelve items.

The levels of these items were not high; only the "Defense Feather" had reached the Elite level one.

In this world, a Beast Master relied on two things: one was their Pet Beast, and the other was their items.

Items could be crafted by powerful Beast Masters, or they could originate from some powerful Pet Beasts or fierce beasts.

The levels of items, the levels of Pet Beast eggs, the strength of Pet Beasts, and the levels of Beast Masters all followed the same system.

Awakening, Elite, Commander, King Level, Overlord, Heavenly Absolute, Mythical.

Elite is further divided into one-star, two-star, up to five-star.

Commander is further divided into General Grade, Marshal Grade, and Overlord.

A Commander Level Beast Master can be considered a well-deserved powerhouse in Raven City.

The dean of Fei Bird Academy is a Commander Level Beast Master.

At this moment, Yu Yaonu is still an Awakening Level Beast Master.

Taking a step further would make one an Elite Level Beast Master, which is also a formal Beast Master.

"I must not get hurt!" Yu Yaonu's gaze was firm.

After leaving the Lost Zone and arriving in the Nanhuang Realm, a change occurred in Yu Yaonu's body.

The biggest change among them was... she would not get hurt.

Or rather, the injuries she sustained would heal rapidly, to the point that she appeared to have no injuries.

This was a good thing.

She knew this might be a benefit brought to her by the traits of the Pet Beast she had contracted.

Regarding that contracted Pet Beast, her emotions were complex.

She often dreamed of that young man on the Imperial Heaven Staircase.

Therefore, Yu Yaonu always protected herself, almost never letting herself get hurt.

After getting her equipment ready, Yu Yaonu arrived at the Academy's assembly point.

Many Beast Tamer Apprentices had already arrived at the assembly point.

"Yaonu, come over here." Liu Fang waved, signaling for Yu Yaonu to come over.

Yu Yaonu took a glance and walked over slowly.

"Yaonu, we are going to enter the Zhu Deer Trial Ground in a moment; let's go together and look out for each other."

Liu Fang is Yu Yaonu's desk mate and is a very warm-hearted person.

"Mm." Yu Yaonu nodded, her reaction relatively cold.

Seeing this, Liu Fang did not find it strange.

She knew that this desk mate was an orphan and had a rather cold temperament.

"Yaonu, look quickly, Senior Zhu Sword is also going to the Zhu Deer Trial Ground with us this time.

If he could form a team with us, we would definitely gain a lot." Liu Fang looked at the young man not far away, a lovestruck expression on her face.

Yu Yaonu did not say anything.

She did not like talking to other people.

But when she was alone, she was exceptionally talkative, talking to herself.

Perhaps this was loneliness, or perhaps, she was burdened by worries.

Not long after, the principal appeared; he looked at the students at the assembly point, impassioned and with an excited gaze.

Yu Yaonu listened attentively.

Even though she had already heard these words many times.

A Trial Ground is a special place that forms its own space.

In the Nanhuang Realm, there are tens of thousands of Trial Grounds.

The history of the Trial Grounds is long, spanning a full ten thousand years.

For a Beast Master, a Trial Ground is both a risk and an opportunity.

In the Trial Ground, there are many fierce beasts; slaying them can yield many materials and treasures, and can also allow one's contracted Pet Beast to advance.

Moreover, slaying fierce beasts can sometimes yield Pet Beast eggs.

Of course, a Trial Ground is not that simple; it is not just a place to farm fierce beasts.

If a Trial Ground is not suppressed well and the fierce beasts inside escape, it will cause a Beast Tide, leading to the fall of thousands of Commoners, or even causing cities to turn into ruins.

An even more serious consequence is... all the Trial Grounds falling, and the entire world becoming a paradise for fierce beasts.

The tentacles of Red Pupil would also come to this world.

By then, the Imperial Palace would only be able to abandon this world.

This world would also turn into a Lost Zone.

Yu Yaonu was born in a Lost Zone, so she naturally knew the terror of the Lost Zones.

Especially... the fact that a Lost Zone will eventually become a true ruin, swallowed by Red Pupil.

Therefore, they enter the Trial Grounds, firstly to improve their strength, and secondly to slay fierce beasts and reduce the pressure on the Nanhuang Realm.

"The fierce beasts in the Zhu Deer Trial Ground are not very strong; it seems there is only one Commander Level one.

Yaonu, don't go into the depths later.

You don't have a Pet Beast, so just slay one casually and advance to the Elite Level.

It's a pity, though, that you might not be able to obtain many contribution points that way." Liu Fang sighed.

Every Beast Master is registered within the Three Palaces and wears a bracelet from the Three Palaces.

By slaying fierce beasts, one can obtain contribution points based on the strength of the beast; contribution points can be used to exchange for various materials and treasures, subsequently improving one's strength.

Contribution points can be used as money, and can also be used to... purchase positions.

Therefore, every Beast Master is extremely eager for contribution points.

Yu Yaonu glanced at her own bracelet.

【Name: Yu Yaonu. (Hidden.)

Beast Master Level: Not uploaded.

Contracted Beast: Not uploaded.

Contribution Points: 0.

Contribution Ranking: Approximately 12.5 billion. (Nanhuang Realm)】

The entire Beast Master World is ruled by the Three Palaces.

The Beast Master World is extremely vast, and Beast Masters from different regions can also communicate via wristbands.

Yu Yaonu's wristband only has one friend, and that is Yu Aunt.

However, after entering the Trial Ground, the wristband loses its communication function and can only be used to record Contribution Points.

A quarter of an hour later, the dean's impassioned speech concluded.

The students present, totaling over three thousand seven hundred people, stepped into the Zhu Deer Trial Ground.

The Zhu Deer Trial Ground is very large, as big as a city.

For these students, as long as they do not enter the depths, it is considered safe.

Liu Fang stood beside Yu Yaonu, her face beaming with joy; she looked up at the towering tree nearby and exclaimed, "This tree... is so big!"

Her home is on the 178th floor of a high-rise building.

The height of this tree is even taller than the building where her home is located.

Yu Yaonu reminded her from the side, "Summon your Pet Beast."

Liu Fang was slightly stunned, only then realizing she had been a bit careless.

The Trial Ground is full of threats; fragile Beast Masters like them need to summon their Pet Beasts to protect them at all times.

Only then did Liu Fang stop admiring the scenery and summon her Pet Beast.

Yao Ye.

This is Liu Fang's Pet Beast, a combination of a rooster and a bat.

This type of Pet Beast also has vision at night.

After contracting it, Liu Fang gained Yao Ye's night vision ability.

However, it is currently daytime in the Trial Ground, so for Liu Fang, this ability is of no use.

Liu Fang summoned her Pet Beast, glanced at Yu Yaonu, and whispered, "Yaonu, what did Zhuo Physician say?"

Zhuo Physician is a moderately famous Pet Beast doctor.

Some time ago, she recommended that Yu Yaonu go see Zhuo Physician to resolve the issue of her Pet Beast's feigned death.

Upon hearing this, Yu Yaonu's eyes revealed a look of disappointment: "Zhuo Physician said... there is no way."

"Even Zhuo Physician has no way?" The look of regret in Liu Fang's eyes deepened, "Yaonu, I know that the Pet Beast you contracted might have helped you in the past and provided you with great assistance.

But... it cannot help you anymore now, and it will even become a burden.

I advise you to change to another Pet Beast."

Liu Fang was advising her sincerely.

The number of Pet Beasts a Beast Master can contract is limited; being short one combat-capable Pet Beast has a huge impact on a Beast Master.

"No." Yu Yaonu's voice was firm.

Seeing this, Liu Fang said nothing more.

She had already advised Yu Yaonu many times.

Unfortunately, Yu Yaonu has a very stubborn personality.

She still remembers that three years ago, a big figure came to Raven City wanting to take Yu Yaonu as a disciple.

The condition proposed was for Yu Yaonu to replace her feigned-death Pet Beast, but Yu Yaonu's personality is very stubborn and she was unwilling to change it at all.

To Liu Fang, this desk-mate missed a huge opportunity.

The two walked in the Trial Ground, extremely careful.

Especially Yu Yaonu; without a Pet Beast for protection, she was exceptionally cautious on her own.

Because she did not want to let herself get hurt.

She did not want that Pet Beast that descended from the sky to bear injuries and pain for her again.

The two walked in the Trial Ground, very carefully.

Even though they had already learned about the Trial Ground through videos and other means, and had even entered holographic simulations, actually stepping into the Trial Ground was still different.

"Look quickly, there is a Zhu Deer, its strength isn't high!" At this moment, Liu Fang's spirit was exceptionally invigorated.

Slaying the Zhu Deer here and obtaining the Zhu Deer's Life Core could help them cross the Awakening and become Elite Level Beast Masters.

"Yaonu, be careful here by yourself, I'm going to deal with that Zhu Deer!" Liu Fang said, charging straight over with Yao Ye.

That Zhu Deer was not large in size and was bright red all over.

Facing Yao Ye's attack, it was completely at a disadvantage.

Liu Fang was very excited; although her combat was visibly inexperienced, she grew braver as she fought.

Yu Yaonu watched the battle on the field, staying vigilant of the surroundings at all times.

After about three minutes, Liu Fang slew that Zhu Deer.

Her face still carried a look of joy: "Yaonu, look quickly, I actually dropped a Pet Beast egg, and it's even of Commander Level potential!"

Liu Fang's face carried a look of joy.

Slaying fierce beasts in the Trial Ground has a probability of dropping Pet Beast eggs.

Although this situation seems absurd, like a game.

However, some powerful Beast Masters once said that before a fierce beast dies, in order to continue its lineage, it is possible for it to condense a Pet Beast egg.

Although it sounds absurd that even male fierce beasts can condense Pet Beast eggs.

But after ten thousand years, Beast Masters have slowly accepted this setting.

The drop rate for a Zhu Deer Pet Beast egg with Commander Level potential is extremely low.

Nearly five thousand students enter the Zhu Deer Trial Ground each time, but fewer than fifty obtain a Zhu Deer Pet Beast egg with Commander Level potential.

Liu Fang was naturally excited.

This meant that as long as she followed the steps and no accidents occurred, she had a very high probability of becoming a Commander Level Beast Master in the future.

Liu Fang had consumed a fierce beast's Life Core; she had already been only one step away from being an Elite Level Beast Master, so she quickly stepped into the Elite Level Beast Master rank and contracted this Zhu Deer Pet Beast egg.

Liu Fang's face was still brimming with joy, but thinking of something, it turned to disappointment: "Sigh, Yu Yaonu, if you had taken that lord as your master, you wouldn't have to follow us commoners into this trial ground.

Perhaps you would have obtained a King Level potential Pet Beast egg!"

Liu Fang sighed.

Beast Masters also have different levels of talent.

The level of talent depends on mental power.

An Ordinary person might only be able to contract an Elite potential Pet Beast egg, while those with high talent can contract a Commander potential Pet Beast egg.

As a Beast Master grows stronger, their mental power also increases, allowing them to support higher-level Pet Beasts.

Therefore, for an Ordinary person, it is not the case that a higher-level Pet Beast egg is always better; geniuses are, of course, an exception.

Yu Yaonu smiled.

"Let's go, I'll take you to Slay Zhu Deer; from now on, big sister has got you covered!" Liu Fang said.

After leveling up, Liu Fang was extremely puffed up.

The two of them hunted Zhu Deer everywhere in the trial ground.

Yu Yaonu had many treasures on her, so she also had the ability to fight against Zhu Deer.

An hour passed, and Yu Yaonu used "Storm Thunder" to Slay a Zhu Deer, finally causing a Pet Beast egg to drop.

"It's only Elite?" Liu Fang was somewhat disappointed.

Of course, the probability of a Pet Beast egg dropping is extremely low.

Being able to have one drop meant their luck was actually not bad.

Yu Yaonu looked at this Pet Beast egg and, without hesitation, contracted it directly.

For her, it was better to improve her strength first.

Only with great strength could she resolve the fake-dead Pet Beast inside her body.

However, at the moment of the contract, a dim light flashed.

"Contract failed?" Liu Fang widened her eyes.

Yu Yaonu had actually failed the contract!

Yu Yaonu's talent was definitely stronger than hers.

And the contracting of a Pet Beast actually depends on the affinity between the Beast Master and the Pet Beast egg, as well as the Beast Master's mental power.

For a Pet Beast egg like the Zhu Deer, the issue of affinity almost does not exist; anyone can succeed in contracting it.

Then... it must be a problem with her mental power!

But Yu Yaonu's mental power was definitely not weak; how could the contract fail?

"Yaonu, that Pet Beast you contracted, it wouldn't be King Level, would it? And not just an ordinary King Level one?" Liu Fang couldn't help but ask.

Liu Fang guessed that the Pet Beast Yu Yaonu had contracted while she was an Awakening Beast Master had very high potential, so it occupied much of her mental power.

Therefore, she had no spare mental power to contract other Pet Beasts!

Thinking of this, Liu Fang felt a complex mix of emotions.

King Level potential Pet Beast eggs were extremely rare for them.

Yu Yaonu had actually contracted one while she was still a Commoner.

The pity was that the Pet Beast egg was likely a dead egg, so even if the contract succeeded, it could not be summoned.

"Yaonu, why don't you just dissolve the contract with that Pet Beast?" Liu Fang suggested again.

(End of this chapter)