First Battle

Huang Zhicheng hurried over to Chen Wei and said, "Wei, summon your pet beast and let everyone take a look. There's no reason for me to lie about something like this."

Chen Wei nodded helplessly. Amid a flicker of azure light, Little Color Spirit appeared in the palm of his hand.

Its tiny, jade-white body shimmered with a faint seven-colored glow. It had large, limpid eyes, two translucent ice crystals growing from its head, and an eye-catching aura of charm radiating from its body.

Little Color Spirit's appearance drew cries of surprise from many of the girls in the classroom. As though enchanted, their eyes shone with adoration as they gathered around Chen Wei.

Even Xu Shijing, the renowned beauty of Beastmaster Class 2, set down the Lightning Marten in her hands and stared at Little Color Spirit and Chen Wei in astonishment. She seemed unable to believe that someone in Class 2 had actually cultivated their source star to the second rank and even contracted a Cold Jade Snake.

"A second-rank source star?"

"How did he cultivate it? I've been at it for two years, and even the edges of my source star still haven't filled with blue light."

"What an adorable little snake! Ah, how can it be this cute?!"

"So this is a Cold Jade Snake? If I'd known, I would've tried yesterday too. It's so adorable!"

"Classmate, can I add you on QChat? I want to ask you for advice on beastmastering."

"Can I pet it?"

Old Huang, who had just been standing beside Chen Wei, was instantly squeezed aside by the other students. Looking at Chen Wei surrounded by girls, Old Huang turned to Wang Hongshuo with a disdainful look. "Believe it now? I told you my buddy's a beastmastering genius—a second-rank source star, next year's top scorer on Water Mountain City's college entrance exam!"

Wang Hongshuo said dismissively, "Not bad. He just cultivates a little faster. When it comes to an actual pet beast battle, it's still hard to say who'll win and who'll lose."

"Forget it. I can't be bothered talking to you." Feeling thoroughly vindicated, Huang Zhicheng had no interest in paying Wang Hongshuo any mind. He sat down in his chair and watched Chen Wei, surrounded by girls, with a face full of envy.

As a brother, of course he wanted his brother to have a better life. But seeing Chen Wei so popular with the girls now, for some reason, made his heart ache a little.

Chen Wei had no idea how Huang Zhicheng was feeling. At the moment, he himself was a little uncomfortable being surrounded by girls.

Although Chen Wei dreamed of becoming a powerful beastmaster and enjoying people's cheers and admiration, he was somewhat socially anxious. This was the first time he had received so much attention, and he was at a bit of a loss.

Little Color Spirit, the center of everyone's attention, felt nothing at all. It even looked arrogantly and disdainfully over the crowd gathered around it.

"It's rather dangerous. It refuses to let anyone but me touch it, and it might give you a blast of cold breath." Chen Wei hurriedly stopped a female student who was trying to reach out.

"Ah, what a pity!" The girls around Chen Wei immediately let out disappointed cries.

"Students, please return to your seats." Their homeroom teacher, Teacher Zhou, suddenly spoke sternly from the podium.

Before long, the students who had been watching the excitement found their own seats and sat down.

"I understand your excitement at having just contracted pet beasts. Your teacher was your age once too. But class should have the atmosphere of a class. What kind of behavior is all this noise and commotion?"

"Now that you're in your final year, there will be no more teaching—only practical training. Those who want to train under me may come sign up. As for those with other plans, you must also come to me and sign an individual declaration of intent. Understood?"

"Understood," the students answered.

After Chen Wei and Huang Zhicheng signed their declarations, they decided to head to the Beastmaster Association together while there was still time and practice their pet beasts' skills.

A slender arm suddenly blocked Chen Wei's path.

Wang Hongshuo stood at the classroom door with his lackeys, chin raised and chest puffed out. Chen Wei turned to look at him, somewhat surprised.

"I've been curious about Cold Jade Snakes for a long time. Interested in having a battle with my Flying Cloud Eagle?"

"I'll put up these two Level 1 healing potions from the Southern Dipper Chamber of Commerce as the wager. Whether you win or lose, the potions are yours."

It had to be said that Wang Hongshuo looked somewhat handsome standing there so confidently with the healing potions in hand. Unfortunately, compared to him, he was still just that little bit lacking.

"Sure. I've been wanting to have a pet beast battle too." Looking at Wang Hongshuo, who seemed to have victory in the bag, Chen Wei also felt the urge to fight. It had absolutely nothing to do with those two potions worth 5,000 star coins.

The crowd blocking the doorway caught the attention of quite a few students in the classroom. Hearing there would be a pet beast battle, they all voiced their desire to watch the duel.

Teacher Zhou had been about to reprimand Wang Hongshuo for blocking the doorway, but hearing that there would be a pet beast battle made her even more displeased. She said sharply, "Wang Hongshuo, were you daydreaming in class earlier? Don't you know that newly contracted pet beast hatchlings aren't suited for pet beast battles?"

"It'll just be a simple pet beast battle, and we have healing potions as insurance. If you're worried, Teacher, you can act as our referee," Wang Hongshuo replied.

Perhaps it would be good to teach them a lesson. Teacher Zhou put on a stern expression and said, "Then we'll all go to the battle arena. There are school doctors stationed nearby, so remember to stop while you're ahead."

Before long, Chen Wei and Wang Hongshuo arrived at the school's No. 3 battle arena.

The first thing that came into Chen Wei's view was the spacious, imposing square arena.

It was said that protective source-force glass could be raised around the arena. This source-force glass could effectively isolate energy and prevent the aftershocks from pet beast battles from affecting the spectator stands.

Of course, raising the protective barrier consumed a considerable amount of source force. The school only activated it during competitions; it was unnecessary for rookie pecking matches between Chen Wei and his classmates.

Teacher Zhou looked at the students around her, all brimming with anticipation, then strode to the center of the arena and said loudly, "You two pick your sides first. Since this is a spar between pet beasts, you may not attack the beastmasters, nor may you attack the pet beasts' vital points. You may summon your pet beasts now and prepare in advance."

Chen Wei and Wang Hongshuo nodded and summoned their respective pet beasts.

Under the thin sunlight, Color Spirit glittered with seven-colored radiance, immediately drawing cheers and debate from many of the watching students.

"Flying Cloud Eagle versus Cold Jade Snake—which one do you think has the better chance of winning?"

"I think it's the Flying Cloud Eagle. The advantage of being able to fly in the early stages is just too great, and it has elemental restraint too. Feels like the Cold Jade Snake can only take a beating and can't fight back."

"Chen Wei will definitely win. Every rank is a world apart—the difference between earth rank and yellow rank isn't small!" Huang Zhicheng immediately retorted.

Chen Wei looked at the Flying Cloud Eagle circling above Wang Hongshuo, then used [Appraisal]. Its information immediately surfaced in his mind.

[Pet Beast Name]: Flying Cloud Eagle

[Pet Beast Attribute]: Wind

[Race Level]: Yellow Rank High Extraordinary

[Strength Level]: Level 6 Juvenile

[Species Skills]: Wind Peck, Wind Blade, Gale Claw, High-Speed Flight

[Description]: A small eagle species clad in broad blackish-brown feathers, with lance-shaped, sword-like plumage growing from its head and neck. Extremely fast, it excels at catching prey with its Gale Claws.

"Chirp." Cailing looked at the Flying Cloud Eagle in the sky. She felt not the slightest fear—only curiosity. It was her first time seeing a pet beast flying through the air.

"Go for it. This is our first battle," Chen Wei encouraged Cailing.

Then Chen Wei swiftly reminded Cailing through their contract with his thoughts: "It's very fast. Be careful to dodge its ranged attacks. If it comes close, use telekinesis to restrain it."

At the same time, across from Chen Wei, Wang Hongshuo stood with his arms folded, as if he had already won. He thought confidently, Air force versus infantry, long reach versus short reach—how could I possibly lose with an advantage like this?

"Both sides, prepare. Battle begin." Teacher Zhou blew the whistle.

"Chirp!"