45: I want to be a salted fish
Although Jianghuai City is a third-tier city, due to its large population, there are more than a hundred high schools in the entire city.
Even though all schools didn't have a unified schedule for wilderness practical training, the differences were insignificant.
So.
During these days, Qing Shan District welcomed a large number of schools every day, sometimes as many as seven or eight schools in one day.
A group of students gathered in front of the residential area registration station, sparks flying! It seemed like everyone was a competitor!
Not in the same group? Competitors!
Not in the same class? Competitors!
Not from the same school? My goodness! Not only competitors but also enemies!
Almost everyone looked at other students around them with a natural wariness.
All the news on the teacher-parent forum had indoctrinated everyone to be cautious. Anything outrageous could happen once inside the wilderness and the secret realm!
For all anyone knew, they might end up fighting each other for a pricey spirit plant!
Therefore, in such an intense environment.
By the time Song Yu had been queuing for a while, she had already witnessed several conflicts.
"Ugh..."
Song Yu blinked, turned slowly, and glanced at a few boys behind her with wet eyes. She didn't take this provocation to heart.
As a mature adult, she had long learned to automatically filter out these harmless provocations.
In the entertainment industry, she had heard even more offensive words...
Initially, she was quite angry, but after hearing it repeatedly, she couldn't be bothered to get angry anymore.
Getting angry is harmful to health, and for a salted fish like her... not good.
She had decided to live to 120 years old, not a year less.
Song Yu didn't even take off her earphones, turned her head, and continued to watch the TV series with her head down, completely ignoring the laughter and comments from the boys behind her.
However...
While Song Yu had no reaction, Xu Hongbin and others were extremely disappointed.
Even the initially provocative expression on their faces darkened.
As the only provincial key high school in Jianghuai City, One High had always been the target for other high schools to surpass.
Three High was one of those schools!
As the second-tier high school in Jianghuai City, Three High had always wanted to catch up with One High.
To seize the title of the best high school in Jianghuai City! Take away the current provincial key title from One High!
Especially this year.
Three High had produced two dark horses in a row. Their contracted beasts evolved to the second stage just three months after the initial beast distribution day. How could this not boost the confidence of Three High students?
Under this intense atmosphere of internal competition.
Xu Hongbin and others were influenced by the school and almost immediately, upon seeing the first bus from One High, their hearts were stirred to challenge the One High students!
This was it —
Seeing a good opportunity right before them, Xu Hongbin and others couldn't let it pass. They couldn't resist provoking again.
"Hehehe, this girl with thin arms and legs wants to become a Beast Tamer? I bet she'll probably become a meal for wilderness beasts before becoming a professional Beast Tamer. Didn't expect One High to accept such a person as a student." A tall boy in black outdoor protective clothing sneered at Song Yu, glancing at her while gesturing at the thickness of Song Yu's arms.
"Hahaha, indeed, such a weak guy, doesn't even consider her own capabilities."
"Instead of dreaming of becoming a professional Beast Tamer, it's better to honestly find a man to marry after reaching adulthood, stay in the city and take a clerical job. It's better than coming out here to embarrass yourself and risking your life! After all, being able to read doesn't necessarily mean good at nurturing contracted beasts."
"These One High people... why are they so lacking in self-awareness?"
Five or six boys bantered one after another, their eyes focusing on Song Yu, laughing and joking.
Although they didn't explicitly name names, with phrases like 'weak guy,' 'meal for beasts,' and 'embarrassing,' the implication was clear that Song Yu was too weak, not worthy of being a Beast Tamer, only fit to be food for wilderness beasts, and One High students were just good at studying and nothing else.
Many One High students in the queue frowned and turned to look at Xu Hongbin and others, their expressions unfriendly.
Everyone hasn't even entered the wilderness yet!
Are these students from Three High already cursing their schoolgirls?! Isn't that too malicious?!
Their school excelled in academic performance, but in physical battles and practical Beast Tamer training, they were no less capable than students from other schools!
Especially using 'One High' on the left and 'One High' on the right made the surrounding One High students feel even more disgusted.
Xu Hongbin and others' voices were too loud, buzzing like annoying mosquitoes.
"Ah..." Song Yu sighed and turned her head again to look at the boys behind her.
Seeing a pretty girl in the front row looking at her, the One High students around had unpleasant expressions, and some even looked ready to fight.
Xu Hongbin and others not only showed no fear or remorse but even revealed a hint of excitement.
"What? Why are you looking? Haven't seen a handsome guy?" Xu Hongbin raised his eyebrows, looking arrogantly at Song Yu, his face almost saying, 'If you have the guts, come and fight me.'
With mocking looks, the boys behind Xu Hongbin also looked at Song Yu and the other One High students, displaying a particularly irritating expression.
Song Yu's eyes widened a bit.
She raised her head, and her long eyelashes fluttered lightly.
If she didn't know by now that these people wanted to strike her down, publicly humiliating One High students, she would be a fool.
"Ah..." Song Yu's face drooped, so this was one of the reasons she hated becoming a professional Beast Tamer...
It was fine to be immersed in studies during normal days, but people were always picking fights for fame and profit, inexplicably coming to cause trouble. The overall environment pushed people forward whether they liked it or not.
Not wanting people to continue wasting her time watching TV shows...
Song Yu deliberately blinked, tilting her head innocently. "Eh? How did you know? I've really never seen anyone call themselves handsome while looking so ugly."
Xu Hongbin: "???"
Xu Hongbin's teammates: "???"
Why was this scene different from what they imagined?
Where was the scenario of a delicate young girl being bullied into crying?
"Why are you looking at me like that? Have you seen me before?" Song Yu pretended to be surprised, her unbelieving eyes wide open. "I've only seen others call someone handsome before, never seen someone call themselves handsome..."
The girl's small face was as fair as jade, with a slightly upturned delicate chin, drawing a beautiful curve. Coupled with her innocent and surprised eyes and constantly changing astonished glances, it was almost as if she had 'you're shameless' written on her face.
"You...," Xu Hongbin was infuriated, almost spitting blood on the spot.
Wasn't he handsome too?!
What kind of look was this woman giving him!
"Let me tell you..." Xu Hongbin opened his mouth to argue with Song Yu.
Xu Hongbin's companions beside him couldn't bear it. Seeing Xu Hongbin almost quarreling with the opposite girl, they immediately forget their original intention of teasing and provocation. One of them reached out and bumped into Xu Hongbin's arm. The tall boy in black protective clothing beside them even laughed and put his arm around Xu Hongbin's shoulder, looking down at Song Yu. "Sometimes you have to be careful about what you say. Do you know the level of our Brother Xu's contracted beast? In case you get beaten up in the Qing Shan Wilderness... don't blame me for not warning you."
This year, Three High's senior class had produced two dark horses. Normally, in the three months from the initial distribution of contracted beasts to practical training in the wilderness, it was considered good for Three High to have one contracted beast evolve to the second stage. However, this year, Two individuals from Three High had their contracted beasts evolve to the second stage, and Xu Hongbin was one of them.
Otherwise, Xu Hongbin and others wouldn't have come to pick a fight with One High students for no reason.
According to Xu Hongbin's thinking, even if One High was strong, at most, one or two students might have their contracted beasts evolve to the second stage.
With the entire residential area having five registration points and such long queues, not to mention that they were almost impossible to encounter top One High students, even if they did, Xu Hongbin's contracted beast was a powerful bear-type, completely unafraid of other students' second-stage contracted beasts!
Thinking of this, the tall boy in black protective clothing became even more arrogant.
He stared at Song Yu, his eyes fierce, looked at other One High students around, provocative gaze, and sneered, "Our Brother Xu's contracted beast has evolved to the mid-second stage! Anyone who wants to challenge can come and compare... Ah, disgusting! Where did these white feathers come from... ugh, ugh, ugh!"
Before the tall boy could finish his words, he suddenly felt that there seemed to be something extra behind him.
But before he could turn around to look, he had already inhaled several white feathers into his mouth. Immediately forgetting the strangeness just now, he started spitting and coughing to quickly get rid of the feathers in his mouth.
However, before the tall boy could spit a few times, he suddenly found that the gazes of the people around him had changed!
From the originally angry crowd, it turned into friendly smiles, then to watching a good show...
Tall Boy: "???"
Xu Hongbin, still spitting out feathers, frowned: "???"
"Xu, Xu, Brother Xu..." A slim boy beside them suddenly widened his eyes, tilting his head backward, stuttering. He desperately tugged at Xu Hongbin's sleeve, trying to get him to look back.
"What are you doing? Hands off," Xu Hongbin, who just spat out some white feathers, was already irritated. He immediately swatted away the slim boy's arm.
Xu Hongbin frowned, "If you have something to say, say it directly. What's with the stuttering? Is this how you represent us and Three High in front of One High students?"
The slim boy, anxious and impatient, wanted to grab Xu Hongbin's head to check if there was water inside.
Fortunately, he regained his sanity at the last moment, stopped his actions, took a deep breath, and pointed loudly behind them, saying, "Brother Xu, look behind!"
Xu Hongbin: "???"
Tall Boy: "???"
Without saying a word, both of them subconsciously followed the direction pointed by the slim boy...
Xu Hongbin: "!!!!"
Tall Boy: "!!!!"
Behind them, where there was an empty space, a giant white three-tailed cat, about four or five meters tall, was now lowering its head to observe them.
Its bright golden cat pupils were sharp and piercing, making people feel palpitations with just a glance!
The large cat pupils were like powerful searchlights, and the sunlight reflected off them, creating a cold white light. Combined with the vertical and sharp terrifying pupils, the gaze of the big white cat towards them seemed as if it were looking at a few little mice, almost suffocating Xu Hongbin and his companions on the spot!
When Qiuqiu appeared, Xu Hongbin and the others were completely unprepared.
Xu Hongbin, turning his head suddenly, was almost scared out of his wits!
Especially considering Qiuqiu's huge size and the imposing aura emanating from its entire body, it was evident that its level exceeded the second stage!
Xu Hongbin's scalp tingled, his pupils shook, and his eyelids twitched frantically.
Damn it! They had kicked an iron board!
"Ah...? What were you guys saying just now? I couldn't hear clearly," Song Yu deliberately took off her headphones slowly, rubbed her ears, and looked at Xu Hongbin and the others with an innocent face. "Should you repeat it?"
Xu Hongbin remained silent like a chicken.
The tall boy and his friends shrank their necks.
"Ah, speaking of which, from this morning until now, my cat hasn't had anything to eat..." Song Yu scratched her chin, took a small step forward, imitating the appearance of Xu Hongbin and others from before, thoroughly scrutinizing them like goods. She smiled ambiguously, "I wonder if cat food is delicious, or fresh meat is better... How about... when we enter the Wilderness Forest later and give it a try?"
After saying that, Song Yu revealed a kind but blood-sucking vampire-like smile towards them.
Xu Hongbin: "!!!!"
Tall Boy and friends: "!!!!"
Ah, no, don't come over! Don't come over!!!
At this moment, Xu Hongbin and his companions were full of fear, their faces turning pale, then green, then purple, then black, and finally, they could only leave the queue, looking for other registration queues to continue lining up.
*****
Qiuqiu's size was indeed too large, towering over the bus that carried Song Yu and the others from the city to the Wilderness area.
It was like a giant suddenly appearing in the world of tiny people, making it difficult for others to ignore.
Therefore, Qiuqiu's appearance not only shocked the students in the queue but also caught the attention of many teachers from other schools.
"Is this... a third-stage contracted beast?" The teacher from Three High was astonished, finding it hard to believe.
"It looks like a Snow Civet Cat...? But why does the third-stage Snow Civet Cat have such a large size? And... it even grew three tails?" The teacher from Five High was bewildered, taking a sharp breath.
"It's quite surprising, but it does look like a Snow Civet Cat. I guess it's a variant. The evolution of variants and normal contracted beasts does have some differences in appearance." In addition to the shocked teachers, a calm analysis followed, "Judging by the direction of the queue, it seems to be from One High. This student is likely the ace of One High this year."
Jianghuai City is not a mega city with a population exceeding 500 million, nor is it a super first-tier city with excellent resources. Therefore, it's not easy for a student's contracted beast to evolve to the third stage before high school graduation in Jianghuai City.
Sometimes, it takes several years for a third-stage evolution to occur...
"I didn't expect a student's contracted beast to evolve to the third stage so early this year. Truly gifted. I wonder what kind of Beastmaster University this student can get into after the college entrance exam."
"The national key universities are a sure thing... but I wonder if they qualify for the top six international institutions."
Someone in the crowd uttered these words, causing a widespread silence among the teachers who were previously engaged in lively discussions.
After a while, someone finally spoke with a dry throat, saying, "Although this student is talented, it's still difficult to get into the top six universities, right?"
"At the very least, the first point is: the requirement is to contract three variant beasts, each with a level of at least the third stage... Such admission conditions are at the level of excellent graduates in other prestigious Beastmaster schools..."
"Moreover, the minimum requirement for the Beastmaster Space level is S, and it seems that One High doesn't have an S-level Beastmaster Space this year."
"But a student who can cultivate a third-stage contracted beast so quickly should have a decent Beastmaster Space level, right? Maybe there's a chance to enter the top six prestigious universities..."
Unlike regular schools, the top six international Beastmaster universities are not affiliated with any single country; they are directly established within the Rift Wilderness!
The school environment is extremely dangerous, and the requirements for students are the most stringent. They even demand a certain level of Beastmaster Space!
However, they are recognized as the most formidable Beastmaster universities globally!
Unlike other comprehensive Beastmaster universities that enroll majors related to Beastmastery, these six top institutions exclusively focus on Beastmasters.
And each year, the global enrollment quota for each school is only around a hundred, preferring quality over quantity.
For cities like theirs, which are third-tier and small, such things were unimaginable in previous years!
"Forget it... it's useless to think so much. Let's see how the student's situation unfolds."
After all, last year, out of nearly 15 billion people nationwide and a couple hundred million candidates, only 37 students were admitted to the six schools.
Such a low ratio makes it incredibly challenging!
But no matter what, with such an outstanding student at One High in Jianghuai City, the teachers and principals from various schools were extremely envious, even the glances towards Song Yu were filled with admiration.
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