"Your lesson today is a fight to the death with this beastman!"
"Let me explain the conditions. Everyone must sign a life-and-death waiver, because this training carries a certain risk to your lives!"
"Of course, you can choose not to sign! But the special class has no room for anyone who makes that choice. You'll be sent back to an ordinary class! Humanity's resources aren't for beast tamers who don't dare fight other races!"
Teacher Li Qingcheng's words contained a great deal of information. Only now did she announce what they would be facing.
Sure enough, Teacher Li wasn't going to make things easy for them!
From his parents' conversations, Jiang Ziliu already knew that Teacher Li Qingcheng was undoubtedly the most terrifying practical combat teacher among the base's nine middle schools.
The practical combat teachers at other schools would never put their students through so much suffering.
Yet the parents supported Teacher Li Qingcheng's methods.
Her training was simply grueling and looked dangerous, but in reality, it wasn't that dangerous. Instead, it improved the students' ability to survive and save their own lives.
These parents, who had experience as beast tamers themselves, were best equipped to judge its merits and drawbacks.
The special-class students were all somewhat frightened!
The fellow before them stood nearly two and a half meters tall. Even without considering tamed beasts, its own sharp fangs and claws could inflict terrifying damage.
Moreover, everyone knew that werewolves possessed terrifying strength-twice that of humans at the same level!
Their sense of smell and intuition were exceptionally keen, and they were extremely fast.
Furthermore, the werewolf before them was a Bronze Rank werewolf, with even greater combat strength of its own.
Faced with such a savage, terrifying opponent, the students began to hesitate and think.
But they also understood that unless they wanted to leave the special class, they had no choice at all.
Some weren't afraid in the slightest and were already brimming with eagerness to try!
No one chose to withdraw. Almost none of them wanted to leave the special class.
They feared this werewolf, a branch of the beastman race, but they feared losing their special-class status and resources even more.
"Does anyone choose to back out?" Teacher Li Qingcheng asked.
No one made a sound. Seeing this, she knew everyone had made their choice. They were willing to face this terrifying member of another race.
But just then, someone stepped forward, contrary to everyone's expectations.
"Teacher! I'll withdraw!"
When they saw who it was, ninety percent of the class wasn't surprised.
"Book Maniac is just a bookworm. Sure enough, he got scared!"
Many mocked him with a great sense of superiority.
"He comes from an ordinary family, and he's only at four-star Gray Rock Grade even now. Withdrawing is the right choice. After all, not everyone has the potential to keep growing. Given Teacher Li's methods, we'll only face more and more dangers later. Withdrawing is his only hope of staying alive!"
A small number offered rational analyses, believing that his choice to withdraw wasn't shameful, but very wise instead.
People always differed in wisdom and character, and this also determined that the heights they reached in the future were bound to differ.
Unlike ninety percent of the class, Tang Yunu, Li Wanqiu, Fatty Chen Zheng, and Hu Yifei all found it unbelievable.
Because the one who had made this choice was Jiang Ziliu!
He had now become the only person in the entire class who had chosen to "not dare face another race."
But how was that possible? How could Jiang Ziliu make such a choice? Doing this would get him sent back to an ordinary class.
They had all experienced Jiang Ziliu's quick wits, ruthlessness, and tenacity firsthand.
Back when they had all followed Jiang Ziliu into the mud pit, the terrible stench had nearly broken them the moment they jumped in.
Yet Jiang Ziliu had remained motionless, enduring it as steadily as Mount Tai.
That had given them a point of comparison: if someone else could hold on, why couldn't they?
Young people had powerful competitive instincts and a strong desire to outdo others.
Precisely because of this mindset, the four of them had endured, holding on until the end and becoming part of the group that passed that test.
After that, the resources they received had risen by a tier.
It was precisely because they had personally shared that experience that they had gained some understanding of the true nature of Jiang Ziliu, this "Book Maniac."
How could someone who wasn't afraid of a mud pit be afraid of a beastman?
They didn't believe it. After a moment of puzzlement, they formed a guess: perhaps Jiang Ziliu had already made another choice.
And that choice seemed closely connected to the beastman's appearance!
With their knowledge and intelligence, Tang Yunu and the others worked out a few things, but they still couldn't understand why Jiang Ziliu would "bravely retreat from the raging current" at this moment!
Practical combat teacher Li Qingcheng was also very surprised as she watched Jiang Ziliu, who looked composed yet seemed a little "afraid."
After several months together, she knew the people in her class fairly well.
Jiang Ziliu was quick-witted, tenacious, possessed Wisdom, and decisive, but more importantly, this fellow was extremely mysterious!
When Jiang Ziliu had headed into the wilderness some time ago, she had noticed him while she happened to be outside the city investigating beastmen.
This living werewolf was the fruit of that trip outside the city!
She had also discovered the truth that beastmen had already appeared, and had issued a warning to all of Base No. 12 and the other nearby bases.
Without a powerful expert accompanying them, the others in the class didn't dare enter the wilderness with its uncertain dangers. They merely went on adventures in Dungeon Spaces.
Yet Jiang Ziliu's demeanor at the time had clearly shown great familiarity with the wilderness, without the slightest fear or worry.
He had headed into the wilderness as confidently as someone taking an outing in his own garden.
If someone like that would back down because of a beastman, she, Li Qingcheng, would write her name backward.
The fear on his face was rather poorly acted, too!
Li Qingcheng's beautiful eyes gave Jiang Ziliu a long look, and she finally made her choice.
"Since you've made your choice, go back! From now on, you're a member of an ordinary class. The school will make the arrangements!"
Jiang Ziliu nodded, bowed respectfully to Li Qingcheng, then bowed to the other teachers present before heading toward his dormitory to pack his things and leave.
The entire class fell silent. Most were preparing to deal with the beastman in the cage.
But just then, someone timidly raised a hand.
The person raising her hand was Tang Yunu!
"What is it?" Li Qingcheng asked.
"Teacher, may I take half an hour off?" Tang Yunu asked very quietly.
Li Qingcheng gave Tang Yunu a long look. A trace of teasing flashed through her eyes, and she actually agreed.
Tang Yunu immediately hurried toward her dormitory with quick little steps.
Watching Tang Yunu's reaction, Li Wanqiu hesitated for a while before finally making some sort of decision and raising her hand as well.
"Teacher, I have something to do too. I'd like to take half an hour off!"
Looking slightly surprised, Li Qingcheng nodded her agreement.
Like Tang Yunu, Li Wanqiu ran off with quick little steps.
Everyone in the class was dumbfounded. Some of the more perceptive students quickly realized what the girls were going to do.
Some of the boys looked extremely gloomy.
But the next moment, Chen Zheng and Hu Yifeng exchanged a glance and raised their hands together. "Teacher, we have something to do too. We'd like to take half an hour off!"
Li Qingcheng agreed again, then announced, "Everyone, rest here for an hour. The practical battle with the beastman will begin in one hour! You can discuss your tactics first!"
At those words, the students abruptly came back to their senses. They had better think about how to deal with this werewolf.
One misstep this time could cost them their lives!
Having said that, Li Qingcheng left as well.
A trace of apprehension immediately flashed through the eyes of those students who had looked gloomy and those boys harboring petty schemes!
Meanwhile, after returning to his dormitory, Jiang Ziliu quickly packed his belongings and prepared to leave the camp.
But before he could step through the dormitory door, he saw someone waiting for him.
It was none other than his good deskmate, Tang Yunu.
"I don't know what you're planning or why you made this choice, but I feel you may be going far away from us. So please keep this safe. My contact details are on it. If you reach another place and see a Tang Trading Company branch, you can get some help with this business card!"
Tang Yunu had already guessed Jiang Ziliu's true choice.
So she gave Jiang Ziliu a black metal business card bearing her information, with a telephone number and her Tang Yunu insignia.
Ordinary people in Base No. 12 couldn't use tools like telephones, but certain things weren't restricted in high-level bases.
This sort of Tang member's insignia could also secure certain conveniences at the Tang Trading Company.
"Thank you! I'll remember!"
Jiang Ziliu didn't stand on ceremony and accepted the card directly.
He also knew what it meant. It counted as friendship, and also as an intangible investment from Tang Yunu.
Tang Yunu then gave him a long look before leaving.
Jiang Ziliu put away the business card and headed out of the camp.
When he reached the camp entrance, however, he found three unexpected people waiting for him.
Li Wanqiu, Chen Zheng, and Hu Yifei!
Li Wanqiu handed him a thick notebook. "This is a set of beast-taming notes I obtained. It records a lot of obscure information. I hope it'll be useful to you. I believe that the next time we meet, you'll definitely give me a huge surprise!"
She had come to see him off because of her father's earlier assessment, and also because of something her father had once told her.
On the road of life, one more reliable friend meant one more path!
"Thank you! I'll remember this kindness!"
Jiang Ziliu said little, but Li Wanqiu understood that he had acknowledged her.
People with SS Grade talents didn't only excel at beast taming. They had advantages in other areas as well.
And her SS Grade contract talent made her feel that Jiang Ziliu was extraordinary.
That was why she had made this choice.
The little fatty Chen Zheng came over with Chen Yifeng and handed him a bank card. "This is a small token from the two of us brothers. If you achieve something in the future, we hope you won't forget us!"
This type of card was anonymous, similar in nature to a check issued by a bank.
"Thank you. I'll never forget this support!"
Jiang Ziliu accepted the bank card. He understood that this was their investment, and also a symbol of their desire to build a friendship.
This money meant little to them, but if Jiang Ziliu truly grew powerful one day, they could gain the friendship of a powerful expert.
That sort of return would be a true windfall.
But it would be a mistake to think they would invest in just anyone. If not for Tang Yunu's and Li Wanqiu's actions, even if they acknowledged that Jiang Ziliu was extraordinary, they wouldn't have directly invested money in him.
But Tang Yunu came from the Tang Family, an aristocratic family far above theirs, while Li Wanqiu, despite having severed ties with the great Li Family, was still an SS Grade genius.
Combined with Teacher Li Qingcheng's strange reaction, that was what had prompted their gesture.
When faced with Jiang Ziliu's choice, Li Qingcheng had merely been surprised, not angry. She had even shown a faint willingness to let him proceed and support his choice, with no intention of trying to dissuade him at all.
They knew very well that Li Qingcheng's background reached all the way to the heavens.
All these factors had led them to make this choice too.
Jiang Ziliu put away the bank card, accepting their goodwill. Had he refused, that would have been a slap in their faces, even creating some degree of enmity between them.
With his rather "cautious survivalist" disposition, he naturally wouldn't make a foolish choice.
After all, this was their goodwill, with no conditions attached.
Afterward, Jiang Ziliu simply left the camp and bade the three farewell.
"If this fellow doesn't die, he may very well shock all of us in the future!" Fatty Chen Zheng suddenly remarked as he watched Jiang Ziliu's unhurried departing figure.
When Jiang Ziliu reached a spot three hundred meters away from the camp, where those inside could no longer see what happened, he stopped.
Because someone descended from the sky!
It was actually Teacher Li Qingcheng. Without using any tamed beast, she had flown over through the sky.
A beast tamer's ability to fly on their own signified great strength.
"Teacher Li! May I ask what brings you here?" Jiang Ziliu was a little nervous.
Li Qingcheng looked at him and said, "You chose to leave the special class because it's no longer of any use to you. For you, the most useful thing in the special class was the knowledge in the library. But by now, you must have finished learning it all!"
As though she had laid bare Jiang Ziliu's heart and lungs, she calmly described his circumstances.
"You don't want the special class's resources, nor do you need them! So you aren't leaving the special class, but leaving this student life behind! And you must have hidden your strength-strength that's considerable compared with your peers!"
"Rational, tenacious, decisive, and unwilling to follow convention! Student Jiang Ziliu, to be honest, I think very highly of you!"
"Since you've already made your choice, I won't oppose it!"
"But I need a promise here!"
Li Qingcheng spoke each word distinctly, but Jiang Ziliu didn't refute her. He knew some things couldn't escape this teacher's eyes.
He truly didn't dare openly display his abilities and obtain the special class's resource support.
Because his talent was only B-minus grade, he couldn't afford to defy common sense with his performance.
Only a thin line separated genius from madness, depending on how others saw it, but that meant entrusting himself to other people's judgment.
The special class truly no longer had anything that met his needs.
Exceptional performance that set him apart from ordinary people meant special secrets, which would attract the covetous attention of many beast tamers who likewise lacked talent but came from good aristocratic families.
Keeping a low profile was the guiding marker on his path of growth.
Given his circumstances, he was destined to be suited to becoming a lone wanderer like Old Devil Han. An environment like a university wouldn't suit him either.
That was why he had seized the earlier opportunity to leave the special class, but this was also his choice to leave No. 9 Middle School.
Adventuring as a lone wanderer was the best way for him to survive while using his greatest advantageous skill, Probability Judgment!
"What promise?"
Jiang Ziliu was very cautious about this request.
"No matter what circumstances you face in the future, I hope you won't betray humanity!"
Hearing this, Jiang Ziliu understood that Teacher Li Qingcheng truly was special. Her standing, background, and even identity were all extremely unusual.
He naturally agreed to this promise.
"Please rest assured, Teacher. I will never betray humanity!"
Hearing those words, Li Qingcheng neither agreed nor disagreed, but took out a chain and handed it to Jiang Ziliu.
A gray-black bead was set into the end of the metal chain.
"This is a spatial treasure bead. It contains about twenty cubic meters of space and can store supplies. I think very highly of you, and I hope you'll become an important member of humanity in the future!"
Jiang Ziliu stood on no ceremony and accepted the spatial treasure.
He knew it was extremely valuable, and it was precisely what he needed most. He did not stand on ceremony with Li Qingcheng; there was no need.
Once he grew stronger in the future, he would simply repay her properly.
Besides, Teacher Li Qingcheng was investing in him with the bigger picture of the entire human race in mind.
Had it been anyone else, Teacher Li Qingcheng would not have spared them a glance.
For someone from among the common people to perform so exceptionally while also knowing full well to conceal himself, Li Qingcheng's confidence in Jiang Ziliu's future was no less than her confidence in Li Wanqiu, who had SS Grade talent.
"I hope your journey is safe and you grow strong!"
After offering this blessing, Teacher Li Qingcheng rose and flew away without hesitation, leaving Jiang Ziliu alone where he stood.
He sighed and carefully put the chain around his neck.
Then he bowed once more in the direction of the training camp to pay his respects, before leaving with firm resolve.