Back at home, Chen Hu had already prepared a pot of fish.
"Brother, the mutant beast you're raising eats more than I do, and it keeps getting bigger. Could it be ruining our family?" Chen Hu expressed his concern.
He had noticed a decline in the quantity of food available recently, and he suspected that his brother's mutant beast might be the cause. While they used to enjoy meaty meals, over the past half-month, the meat portions seemed to vanish in just a few bites, leaving only vegetables on their plates.
During this period, he had managed to satisfy his appetite by cooking for himself, which was why he was eager to return home every day to prepare meals.
Considering this, Chen Hu suggested a solution for his growling stomach, "Brother, what if we eat the mutant beast? I've heard that mutant beast meat is incredibly nourishing."
Chen Chu cast a sidelong glance at him with an amused look, "That sounds like an interesting proposal. What do you think would be a delicious way to prepare it?"
Chen Hu's eyes lit up, believing there was something exciting afoot. He enthusiastically shared his thoughts, "Brother, I think barbecue with garlic would be heavenly. Spicy could work too!"
"Brother, hold on a moment; I'll grab the knife right away." Chen Hu dashed back to the kitchen, grabbed a kitchen knife, and prepared to go upstairs to deal with the hexagonal salamander.
However, Chen Chu's reaction was far from what he expected. He furrowed his brows and scolded, "Are you serious? Put that knife down!"
"Huh? We're not eating it?" Chen Hu was somewhat disappointed.
Chen Chu waved his hand, explaining, "I know you're always hungry, but this mutant beast was raised by me."
"Nonetheless, your concern isn't entirely misplaced. Lately, it has been eating more and more. I plan to release it in a couple of days."
"Release it?" Chen Hu couldn't help but feel regretful.
What a waste; mutant beast meat would have been a treat...
"Alright, don't be disappointed," Chen Chu comforted him, patting his shoulder. "You're still young, and there are some things you don't understand. Just trust me and go prepare dinner."
"Okay."
Although he didn't quite understand why his brother had decided to release it, Chen Hu didn't dwell on it. He had always trusted his brother's judgment since childhood.
Ignoring the slightly conflicted Chen Hu, Chen Chu carried the basin of fish upstairs.
In the room, the hexagonal salamander had grown to 68 centimeters in length. Its physique had become more robust, especially with its three pairs of red feathers spreading on both sides.
Whether it had undergone an evolution or was simply growing up, the hexagonal salamander's vision had improved significantly.
Through its low perspective, Chen Chu could clearly observe his own appearance and the room's furnishings. However, everything appeared vast and imposing from this viewpoint.
Having fed and watered the avatar sufficiently, Chen Chu continued his practice that night before finally resting.
...
The following day, the presence of law enforcement officers continued to be noticeable on the way to school. It seemed that the two cultists had not been apprehended yet, Chen Chu mused.
As he entered the classroom, he realized that the atmosphere was livelier than usual, with everyone discussing the upcoming ranking competition.
Several students who had recently established their foundations expressed frustration about the perceived unfairness. They had only reached the first layer a few days ago, while many others had been training for half a month. They felt disadvantaged in terms of basic physique and proficiency in combat techniques, making it difficult to compete.
In contrast, the students who had broken through for half a month were excited, viewing this competition as an opportunity to make a name for themselves on campus.
With everyone striving to reach the top, they believed that participating might secure them a spot in the top 50.
For the students yet to establish their foundations, all they could do was look on with envy.
"I think the class monitor will easily make it to the top ten this time," one student remarked.
"You're underestimating the squad leader. I think she has a shot at the top five. In yesterday's battle training, she managed to defeat Zhang Gang and two others," another student chimed in.
"Yeah, I agree. The squad leader could easily secure a spot in the top five. Her swordsmanship is simply formidable," a third student added.
In the front row, Lin Xue was surrounded by classmates, who marveled at how she had forced three classmates to team up during a battle training session the previous afternoon.
Following the skirmish between Chen Chu and Xia Youhui the previous day, Lin Xue and others had come to recognize the importance of practical combat experience.
So yesterday afternoon, acting as the class monitor, she gathered all the Foundation Establishment students in the class.
The purpose was to enhance the class's overall strength, ensuring everyone had a good shot at achieving a high ranking in the upcoming competition through organized practical training.
Most students welcomed this proposal enthusiastically. After so much theoretical training, they were itching for some hands-on experience, making the afternoon practice session vibrant and engaging.
"I think Yi Rui has a good chance of making it to the top ten this time. He's a genius, just like our squad leader, achieving Foundation Establishment in just three or four days."
"Absolutely, Commissioner Yi Rui is formidable. He easily bested Xia Youhui in yesterday's training. He's likely to secure a spot on the ranking list with ease."
"Haha... You're all too kind with your praise. My strength is quite average, and my win yesterday was just a stroke of luck."
"Besides, we're all students. In this competition, fostering friendships takes precedence. It doesn't matter where you rank; the important thing is to learn from each other and make progress."
Chen Chu took his seat and glanced curiously at Xia Youhui in front of him. "What happened? Did you lose to the class monitor yesterday?"
Xia Youhui seemed a bit disgruntled. "It wasn't a loss; it was just a sparring session. Besides, I was still recovering from our fight, so I let my guard down and lost two rounds."
"Really?" Chen Chu found his explanation somewhat dubious.
After his bout with Xia Youhui yesterday, he had retreated to a private practice room to refine his Dragon Elephant Kung Fu, skipping out on group training.
Curious, Chen Chu probed further. "Lao Xia, what's your take on the class monitor and class leader's strength?"
Xia Youhui hesitated briefly. "...Very strong. I haven't sparred with the class monitor, but I sense that I wouldn't stand a chance against her. Her fierce and powerful swordsmanship surpasses mine."
"As for Yi Rui, he's decent—slightly better than me."
"I see," Chen Chu nodded in understanding.
Although Xia Youhui's words seemed contradictory, it was clear that the new genius who had recently achieved Foundation Establishment was genuinely strong. In terms of raw power, he could outmatch classmates like Xia Youhui, who also practiced advanced techniques.
A low sobbing sound suddenly emanated from the front of the classroom.
Xia Youhui quickly turned around to console the distraught student. "Ah Yue, it's okay. If you can't excel in martial arts, you can still attend a prestigious university."
"Look at General Luo Wuyue; he never practiced martial arts. Yet, at the age of thirty, he became a major general in the Federation. Let me tell you..."
However, it wasn't just Xia Youhui's neighbor who felt disheartened. Among the students in the class who had practiced for nearly a month and were still at levels six or seven, a sense of disappointment lingered.
Chen Chu observed these varied reactions, realizing that talent couldn't be changed simply by reluctance or frustration. Despite their struggles, they were fortunate to receive a structured education in martial arts during high school.
It was worth noting that in some allied countries, access to martial arts and cultivation resources was tightly controlled by high-ranking officials, leaving ordinary citizens with no opportunity for engagement. This was why certain smaller nations had descended into chaos in recent years.
After all, not everyone was content to remain at the bottom of the social hierarchy.
At four o'clock, as the school bell rang for dismissal, Chen Chu slowly opened his eyes, preparing to head home.
Since he had begun practicing martial arts, this marked the first time he was leaving school so early to return home. The reason was simple: his avatar was about to undergo its second evolution.