Exam rewards, the first lesson of the school year

Envious as they were, everyone soon accepted reality.

Quite a few students sighed over it. They had intended to open the boxes and look inside right from the start, only to hesitate when they saw the locks.

Just like that, everyone formed their first impression of their teacher, Zhu Neng—he set traps for people!

After Zhu Neng briefly explained his assessment standards and scoring criteria, Zhao Liang, who had been standing beside him, stepped up to the podium.

"My assessment standards are actually very simple, but there are over a dozen specific scoring criteria. If I explained them now, you probably wouldn't fully understand."

"As our lessons progress, I'll gradually explain the standards used to assess this subject in the college entrance exam."

"I'd like to commend three students: Lin Yuan, Liu Mintian, and Huang Zixuan."

"To score over ninety with me on your very first day of school puts you among the cream of the crop across every class I've taught."

"And today, at last, someone scored over ninety-five. Lin Yuan, very well done."

As he spoke, he looked at Lin Yuan and gave a slight nod.

"Of course, a Beast Tamer's personal development is a field of study whose depths can never be fully explored. Increasing your mental power affects both your rank and the number of beasts you can contract."

"[Beast-Taming Art] and [Nourishment Art], in particular, are subjects every Beast Tamer must devote themselves to studying throughout their lives."

"Getting full marks is difficult."

"Lin Yuan, as the top scorer in this assessment, you can learn an additional art from me this month. I'll also set aside extra time to teach you."

"We'll decide within the next two weeks whether that will be a [Beast-Taming Art] or a [Nourishment Art]."

His announcement inevitably prompted another wave of envious murmurs from the students.

Most of them had ways to obtain a [Beast-Taming Art] or [Nourishment Art], but one-on-one instruction from a teacher was a rare opportunity.

Not only the students, but even the teachers at the front gave Zhao Liang surprised looks.

Chen Xuanbai, especially, had previously discussed the rewards for placing first with the other teachers. What Zhao Liang had originally planned fell far short of his current promise.

Zhao Liang was the youngest of the four teachers, but the strongest Beast Tamer.

His mastery of [arts] placed him among the very best in the school.

Earning his recognition was no small feat.

Lin Yuan was a little overwhelmed by the favor, too. He had assumed that failing to score a hundred meant he hadn't performed well enough in some area.

He had guessed that his current mental power might not meet Zhao Liang's standard for full marks.

Now, though, it seemed his scoring criteria weren't so simple.

Lin Yuan was quite curious about where he had lost those three points.

Regardless, he very much looked forward to this reward.

Sun Xingtian spoke next.

"Summon all your beasts. Since they were the ones being assessed, they should naturally be here while I explain the scoring criteria," he said. "From now on, you aren't the only ones who are classmates. Your beasts are classmates, too."

This time, summoning their beasts didn't plunge the classroom into the same chaos as that morning.

Clearly, the elites in this class had spent a good deal of their three-hour lunch break working with their beasts.

With the uncontrolled outpouring of energy and auras gone, the atmosphere was no longer so full of drawn swords and taut bowstrings, and all the beasts relaxed further.

They even began looking one another over.

Sun Xingtian nodded. This year's batch of beasts adapted well.

"The practical assessment for Beast Tamers is also divided into several sections in the college entrance exam, and it carries the greatest weight of the four subjects."

"At the heart of that entire assessment are your beasts."

"My assessment today covered only a very small part of it—your beasts' ability to withstand pressure and their instinctive ability to use their traits."

"I didn't tell you before the exam, but whenever I met a beast's eyes, I used [Pressure Art], which puts direct mental pressure on a beast."

"So fear and fright were perfectly normal."

"Your beasts performed quite well. Many instinctively used their traits to mount a basic defense."

"The better ones could even draw out their potential under that pressure."

"And this year, for the first time, I encountered one exceptionally outstanding beast."

"Lin Yuan's [Still Spirit Cat] not only withstood the pressure, but rose to meet the challenge, unleashing his own imposing presence and maintaining it until the exam ended."

"He earned every one of those hundred points."

At that moment, Baishi puffed out his chest, his face full of pride.

Ever since he had met his Beast Tamer, the people he encountered seemed to have become nicer.

This burly man looked fierce, but he was praising him!

Praising him in front of so many people and so many beasts!

The experience added another splash of beautiful color to his life as a cat.

Still, Baishi was a little confused. Why had the man said he had risen to meet a challenge?

He had only felt a little pressure. It hadn't seemed difficult.

Hadn't he only unleashed his imposing presence because he wanted to help his Beast Tamer place first?

Could it be that the other beasts didn't want to help their Beast Tamers place first? Was it because they didn't like doing that?

Whatever! This kitty came first, and so did my Beast Tamer! So happy! Meow-hoo!

Lin Yuan couldn't help smiling as he watched the text in Baishi's [Status] field change.

Sun Xingtian probably never imagined that Baishi had unleashed that presence and vigor not because the pressure was strong enough, but because he had fired himself up.

Painful as Baishi's past had been, it had tempered him into someone extraordinarily resistant to pressure, something even he didn't realize.

"My reward for first place in this assessment is to spend the next month designing a combat approach tailored specifically to the winning beast."

At that, the students could no longer contain themselves. Some even sucked in sharp breaths.

This reward was no worse than Zhao Liang's, and perhaps even better.

After all, it was a personalized approach designed by a teacher with years of teaching experience. That was far better than fumbling through it themselves.

Lin Yuan froze for a moment when he heard it.

Just last night, he had been wondering how to account for Baishi's personality and traits so that he could fight freely in the way that suited him best.

In that area, he had only studied some literature and had no practical experience.

So Sun Xingtian's reward was a gift for Baishi, and an excellent learning opportunity for Lin Yuan as well.

Lin Yuan stroked Baishi's head to let him know he had done well.

Baishi's eyes narrowed contentedly.

This kitty is finally a useful cat, too!

Sooo happy!

Chen Xuanbai couldn't help smiling either.

He knew that, like Zhao Liang, Sun Xingtian had changed his reward on the spot.

He knew this teacher well. Sun Xingtian was extremely accurate at judging a beast's potential, and only offered this kind of personalized instruction when a beast had truly earned his approval.

For some reason, he felt a little proud as well. After all, he had been the one to recommend a [Still Spirit Cat] to Lin Yuan.

At the same time, he wondered whether he should make his own reward for Lin Yuan a little more targeted.

Once the three teachers had finished explaining their assessment standards, Chen Xuanbai was the only one who had yet to speak.

He walked up to the podium and said, "General knowledge covered the largest share of what you studied in your first year."

"But there is no end to this field of knowledge. Over the next two years, you'll still spend a great deal of time studying, building your understanding, and even conducting research yourselves."

"I don't need to say much about the assessment standards. This time, I included a relatively open-ended question on your paper."

"Theory is the foundation. How to apply theory in practice through your own framework of knowledge will be a key focus of your studies from now on."

"And congratulations to Lin Yuan for taking first place in this assessment. You did as well as you always do."

"I've also decided on your reward."

"Our Chenlong Kingdom holds the High School Student Research Competition every year. Its central task is to analyze a category of beasts of your choice and propose new perspectives."

"Normally, only third-year students would have a chance to participate, but I've approved your participation early. In the coming days, I'll also set aside extra time to guide you."

At the announcement of this reward...

The class fell silent for the first time.

Apart from Huang Zixuan, whose eyes filled with envy, everyone else remained completely unmoved.

Their regular general knowledge studies were already more than enough. Who had the energy to research extra topics?

Only a walking encyclopedia like Lin Yuan could stomach a reward like that.

Chen Xuanbai was a little disappointed by the lukewarm reaction. This year's students weren't thirsty enough for knowledge!

It seemed he would have to properly cultivate their attitude toward learning over the next two years.

He glanced at Lin Yuan's radiant smile and nodded. Lin Yuan really did know what mattered.

Lin Yuan was genuinely happy.

To be honest, of all four rewards for placing first, this was his favorite.

This reward was right in his field of expertise.

Liu Xing had mentioned it to him a few days ago, suggesting that he approach Chen Xuanbai early to discuss it. He had already been tempted then.

Now that the opportunity had knocked on his door, he would definitely seize it.

"Oh, and there's a surprise reward for the student with the highest total score. Lin Yuan, come see me after class to collect it."

Although the entire exam review had felt like an awards ceremony for Lin Yuan...

As second-year high school students, they were still brimming with curiosity about rewards.

Why was he keeping them in suspense now?

After a brief discussion at the front, Sun Xingtian, Zhu Neng, and Zhao Liang soon left one after another.

Chen Xuanbai remained at the podium, cleared his throat, and said, "Your final lesson of first year ended with general knowledge."

"Your first lesson of second year will begin with general knowledge."

"Today, we'll go through this exam paper."

Although the first lesson had only just officially begun...

Lin Yuan had already learned quite a lot from today's exam.

That left him full of anticipation for the days ahead.

At the same time, he couldn't help wondering what the reward for the highest overall score would be...