Pet beast battles, Zhou Shuchen's challenge!

Before this, Su Ping really couldn't say whether the Cloudsky Pet Beast Battle Resort could turn a profit.

But when he saw all the Beast Tamers coming and going from the enormous arena, he realized his horizons had been too narrow.

Every business involving pet beasts was extremely expensive.

Paid pet beast battles were no exception.

Battling friends naturally required no extra spending. Yuntian even waived the fees for using these basic arenas, provided they didn't cause too much damage.

But after a battle, they would still need healing and to replenish their stamina and energy, wouldn't they?

Otherwise, how could they enjoy themselves to the fullest?

That alone was a huge expense. And if they chose to practice against pet beasts supplied by Yuntian, they had to pay even more.

Even just for battles, spending several thousand or even tens of thousands a day was perfectly normal if they wanted to fight to their hearts' content.

Pet beasts were the biggest source of consumer spending in this world.

But that was only natural. Beast Tamers relied on their pet beasts for most of their combat power. The beasts they commanded were the key to gaining extraordinary strength and climbing the social ladder.

If those were easy to obtain, that would have made no sense.

And this enormous arena was only one of the battle training facilities at Yuntian's resort.

Even so, this facility alone offered arena battles, virtual simulated battles, open-air battles, and combat across all kinds of simulated terrain.

No wonder business was so good. Yuntian had truly poured money into this place.

Taking it all in, Su Ping's interest soared.

Still, he followed the others to a separate training ground.

This was where the open-air training grounds were located, and also where Su Ping would house his Forest Wolves.

Even if he rented them out, there was no way every one of his Forest Wolves would be selected. With a space of his own, he could train them here while waiting for battles.

Qin Xiaoxue also watched Su Ping standing before the Forest Wolves with keen interest. She really was interested in him, and even more curious about exactly how he trained pet beasts.

Just then, however, her phone rang.

Qin Xiaoxue immediately frowned. A short while later, she called out to Su Ping.

"Su Ping, I have something to take care of in Linzhou City. I'll be back in a bit!"

Su Ping thought nothing of it and nodded.

Beside him, Li Shu finally breathed a sigh of relief after watching Qin Xiaoxue turn and leave. Then he hurried over to Su Ping, waggling his eyebrows.

"Brother Ping, Lord Ping, godfather, when are you going to teach me your peerless art?"

"What peerless art?"

"Your supreme girl-chasing technique!"

Li Shu practically jumped up. "No wonder you weren't interested even when our school beauty Yin showed interest in you. You already knew a top-tier beauty like her!"

Su Ping gave him a dubious look. All he could say was that Li Shu hadn't spent enough time around her, or that what had happened just now hadn't been directed at him.

Otherwise,

Zhou Shuchen and that Sun Chaoju from earlier were perfect examples.

"Besides, when has Yin Yin ever been interested in me? Stop spouting all this nonsense..."

Su Ping had barely finished speaking when a voice sounded behind him.

"Exactly! Li Shu, stop making things up!"

Li Shu turned around. Sure enough, Zhou Shuchen and the other classmates who had gone to pay the deposit had arrived.

Among them was Yin Yin, whose face seemed a little flushed, evidently having just heard their exchange.

Clearly, though, the scene earlier had dampened the swagger of Class President Zhou, who had grown increasingly arrogant over the past month. Not seeing Qin Xiaoxue, however, he visibly relaxed.

Zhou Shuchen glared bitterly at Su Ping.

Although he had never particularly liked Su Ping, he hadn't caused any open conflict between them before.

After graduation, however, he and Su Ping had been the only two in the class whom Zhang Guowei had approached, believing they had considerable potential.

He had gladly accepted Zhang Guowei's recommendation and persuaded his parents to take out the little money they had saved over the years to make a down payment on a Commander Rank pet beast, a Red Fang Tiger.

Although he had also signed a contract with the Fire King Company and taken on several million in loans, he believed it was worth it.

To stand above others someday, to become a powerful Beast Tamer, to make his parents proud and give them a good life-all of it was worth it.

What did a little hardship now matter?

Yet this fellow had actually rejected Director Zhang's kindness?

Wasn't he just relying on his family having a bit of money?

What was so great about Su Ping?

He had merely contracted a Forest Wolf as his first pet beast. Although Forest Wolves were peak elite-rank pet beasts, they still fell far short of a Red Fang Tiger.

With a better option clearly available, he had chosen to contract a Forest Wolf instead. What was that if not willingly sinking into mediocrity?

He had even chosen to give up Linzhou City, with its better prospects, and come out to the suburbs to inherit a Beast Tamer base like this.

In Zhou Shuchen's eyes, he was a degenerate who didn't want to work hard, who only wanted to lie flat and live off his parents!

How could someone like that compare to a person like him, fighting so hard against fate? Sometimes, imagining his future rise, Zhou Shuchen was so moved by his own determination that he nearly cried.

And Su Ping? Compared to him, who was destined to become a powerful Beast Tamer, what did Su Ping amount to? What was so great about him?

Aside from the deed to the Woodheart Forest Wolf Breeding Base, facilities and resources worth ten million at the base, and these dozens of Forest Wolves likewise worth over ten million, what else did he have!?

He could only spend the rest of his life in boredom, with its endpoint already in sight.

And he, Zhou Shuchen?

Aside from several million in loans, he had a bright future, grand prospects, and the heart of a powerful Beast Tamer!

That was enough.

And yet,

The strong drew their swords against those stronger than themselves; the weak swung their fists at those weaker.

Thus, Zhou Shuchen hadn't dared bare his teeth at Qin Xiaoxue, who could summon a Life Ancient Tree. After she left, however, the look he gave Su Ping became even more resentful.

Su Ping truly couldn't be bothered with him. After a glance, he looked toward Yin Yin in the crowd and smiled openly.

"Yin Yin, sorry about that. That's just how Li Shu is-he has no filter. Don't take it to heart."

As the girl voted the school beauty of Sixth Middle School, Yin Yin's looks naturally needed no explanation. The only slight pity was that her figure was as flat as an open plain.

Meeting Su Ping's smile, Yin Yin smiled faintly as well.

"I won't. Besides, he wasn't wrong."

"Ooooh..."

As soon as she said that, Yin Yin's face reddened slightly, while the classmates around them erupted in teasing cheers.

Li Shu let out several exaggerated whoops himself.

That was pretty much how teenagers were.

But Su Ping knew that what Yin Yin truly thought was another question altogether.

Having been classmates for years, Su Ping knew this school beauty Yin well. She was mature-minded, unlike the other young girls, and had always known exactly what she wanted.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have become Sixth Middle School's universally acknowledged "school beauty."

She was much like Zhou Shuchen, unwilling to remain bound to the mundane world, only her thoughts ran deeper. She wouldn't lose her head over a little success the way Zhou Shuchen did, either.

But Su Ping didn't care. As he had said, after graduation they belonged to two different worlds. Though, in truth, he did rather admire this school beauty.

Yet while Su Ping didn't care, someone else clearly cared a great deal.

What young man wasn't drawn to a pretty girl? Yin Yin's looks went without saying, and the title of school beauty was all the more enticing to the boys.

Previously, Zhou Shuchen hadn't entertained such thoughts. But now, he was clearly different.

Listening to the teasing around him, Zhou Shuchen clenched his fists.

He had taken it for granted that he should have been the center of attention on this outing!

Now this fellow had stolen all his limelight, just as he had back at school.

This time, however, he finally had the means to fight back.

And so, Zhou Shuchen leaped straight into the center of the open-air training arena and called out sharply.

"We came here to train our pet beasts in battle, not to flirt! Never mind our own time-don't waste Director Zhang's and Brother Jin's!"

Sure enough, everyone turned to look at him.

Meeting everyone's gazes, he in turn fixed his eyes on Su Ping.

"Su Ping, how about we give it a go?"