Threat

Zhang Dashan's gaze fell on Ye Bai. He studied him for a long time, his wrinkled face breaking into a satisfied smile. "You're Ye Bai. You acted bravely yesterday."

"Li Weiyang sent word that she voluntarily gives up her selection from Sacred Mountain Middle School and gifts this opportunity to you."

"Are you willing to accept?"

Zhang Dashan asked the question as a formality.

There was such a good thing?

Ye Bai raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

Although Li Weiyang wouldn't lack resources after entering the Supreme Academy, Sacred Mountain Middle School's resources were still considerable. The materials in the resource chest could at least boost a pet beast's strength, raising it by several levels.

Whether it could break through to Second Order depended on how effective the resources inside were.

He hadn't expected Li Weiyang to give it up so easily. This forced Ye Bai to admire her courage and resolve.

Only a fool would turn down a bargain. Something delivered to your doorstep—why refuse?

Ye Bai immediately nodded, signaling his agreement.

"So, Ye Bai, this time you can choose two resource chests."

Hearing this news, the students were stunned. Murmurs broke out across the playground.

"This Ye Bai is way too lucky. He just saved Li Weiyang, and now he gets a resource chest as a gift."

"Right? Sacred Mountain Middle School's resource chests are blind boxes, but the stuff inside isn't bad. That means Ye Bai gets two sets of resources. I'm really jealous."

"Tch, if I'd known, I would've saved Li Weiyang myself. I could've blocked a bullet with my bare hands and shown off a bit."

"I heard that bullet's power was really weak. Ye Bai's Chameleon Silkworm blocked it easily—didn't even break the skin."

Many students had no idea that Ye Bai had taken a huge risk back then. They all thought it was just an ordinary bullet block.

The fact that the Chameleon Silkworm stopped the bullet without a scratch only deepened their misunderstanding.

Their gazes at Ye Bai were filled with envy and jealousy.

Those who had fled in panic back then were probably kicking themselves now.

A few students' eyes flickered with a sharp glint. They looked at Ye Bai like he was a fat piece of meat, secretly sending out a message.

"Please state your choice." Principal Zhang asked kindly. He had looked into Ye Bai's record—first in the entire school for all two years of high school.

It was just that his awakened talent was rather ordinary: D-Rank Eidetic Memory.

But that didn't matter. With two resource chests, Ye Bai's strength should skyrocket in a short time.

"Then thirty-eight and thirty-nine."

Ye Bai gave his answer.

Zhang Dashan chuckled. The flames on the resource chests corresponding to Ye Bai's chosen numbers scattered, and the chests slowly descended to the ground.

Each chest was a meter in length, width, and height. Ye Bai waved his hand and stored both chests into his Pet Beast Space.

He could sense surging Life Energy pouring from one chest—it should be the Life Spirit Seed mentioned in the intel. The other chest contained a trace of thunderous aura.

Ye Bai smiled. This was an unexpected gain.

"Damn, Ye Bai's been hiding his strength. His awakened Pet Beast Space is pretty big. I feel like mine can barely squeeze in one resource chest."

"I heard his awakened talent is really ordinary—destined to be a research type. Why would he awaken such a big Pet Beast Space?" said a sour-grapes student.

"Ah, I'm so jealous."

Ye Bai hadn't expected his simple action to stir up such a buzz among his classmates.

After all the students had received their resources, Zhang Dashan nodded at Principal Liu Hang.

The wind was strong on the playground. Liu Hang pressed down on his hair, afraid his toupee might blow off and make him the biggest joke at Sacred Mountain Middle School.

"Thank you, Principal Zhang, for distributing the resources."

"And thank you to all the students for your continued hard work. Sacred Mountain Middle School will only get better."

"In the coming days, everyone should get familiar with their pet beasts. The Phoenix Fledgling Cup and Young Scale Cup will start soon."

"Please sign up enthusiastically."

The Phoenix Fledgling Cup and Young Scale Cup were similar to the Olympiad competitions in the Real World. Only seniors could register, and each person could only sign up once in their lifetime, with strict review procedures.

These competitions were divided into city-level, provincial, and national tournaments.

The school also had to hold preliminaries before students could enter the city-level competition.

The Phoenix Fledgling Cup was a battle competition, while the Young Scale Cup was a pet beast research competition—something like a pet beast knowledge contest, but with a practical component.

Ye Bai's original goal was the Young Scale Cup. As long as he got third prize or above in the national tournament, at least a top-tier university in the Yan Country Alliance was guaranteed.

The College Entrance Examination mainly tested written exams and practical skills.

Practical skills were assessed through talent tests and actual combat.

Ye Bai's talent wasn't advantageous. He couldn't expose his Eye of Insight or Information System, or he'd definitely be targeted.

But with this Information System, Ye Bai planned to sign up for both competitions.

This way, he could maximize the benefits.

After the other students had all left, He Qingyuan came over.

"Homeroom Teacher, Ye Bai and I are going to have a duel."

"If I lose, my resource box and Insect Stone go to Ye Bai."

"If Ye Bai loses, he has to give up the seat next to Li Weiyang and hand over his resource box to me."

He Qingyuan had clearly set his sights on Ye Bai's resource box—after all, resources were king.

Hearing the terms of the duel proposed by He Qingyuan, Ye Bai gave a cold smile: "Do you think I'm stupid? Why would I agree to your request?"

Ye Bai also silently mouthed the word "run" with his lips, and He Qingyuan's face turned ashen—this was a lifelong disgrace.

"Ye Bai, you will agree to duel me. Take a look at what this is."

He Qingyuan pulled out a slip of paper and handed it to Ye Bai.

Ye Bai opened it and his pupils contracted sharply.

[Rectification Notice]

[Fang Yuan Pet Store is involved in illegally and improperly collecting pet beasts.]

[Per notification from the Street Management Office, Fang Yuan Pet Store will be suspended for one month for rectification.]

[All pet beasts from Fang Yuan Pet Store will be temporarily sent to the Street Management Office's Shelter for one month.]

"Ye Bai."

He Qingyuan leaned in quietly.

"Say, if something unexpected happened to your pet beast at the Shelter, there wouldn't be much you could do about it, right?"

Ye Bai felt a surge of nameless anger rising from his chest.

A flicker of rage passed through his eyes.

In all this time, this was the first time he had been threatened.

His fingertips trembled slightly.

"Haha, Ye Bai, you're angry. That's your weak spot."

"Don't think I'm despicable or shameless. It's just that you, one person taking two resource boxes—that's a bit too conspicuous, you know."

"Even if I didn't make a move, someone else would."

"Blame it on not having good parents to watch your back."

At that moment, He Qingyuan felt immensely pleased; the depression in his heart was swept away in an instant.

"Do you accept my duel request?"

He Qingyuan pushed up his Gold-Rimmed Glasses, looking every bit the refined scoundrel, and cast a mocking glance at Ye Bai.

After learning that Ye Bai had claimed two resource boxes, his family had directly set their sights on them, pulling strings and playing dirty tricks.

But it was limited to underhanded tactics. If they openly seized Ye Bai's pet beast to threaten him and the Pet Beast Guild investigated, they wouldn't be able to handle the consequences—after all, the laws of the Yan Country Alliance were no joke.