Gu Tian gazed at the white-haired woman before him and smirked slightly. This was Lan Sirong, the headmaster of Imperial Beast University. She was recognized as one of the top ten most powerful beast tamers in the world. Her expression was emotionless, yet the sheer aura of authority radiating from her was so overwhelming that even Mu Kangyuan was forced into silence.
[Name: Lan Sirong]
[Talent: SSS Lord of Death]
[Beast Tamer Rank: Emperor Peak]
[Spirit Domain: SSS Realm of Death]
[Controlled Beasts:]
[1. Undead Slayer Deity: Emperor Peak (Beast Potential: Emperor Peak) (Evolution Path: 0)]
[2. Eternal Graveyard: Emperor Peak (Beast Potential: Emperor Peak) (Evolution Path: 0)]
[3. Grim Reaper: Emperor Peak (Beast Potential: Emperor Peak) (Evolution Path: 0)]
[4. Demon Minotaur God: Emperor Peak (Beast Potential: Emperor Peak) (Evolution Path: 0)]
[5. King of Plague: Emperor Peak (Beast Potential: Emperor Peak) (Evolution Path: 0)]
[6. King of War: Emperor Peak (Beast Potential: Emperor Peak) (Evolution Path: 0)]
[7. King of Famine: Emperor Peak (Beast Potential: Emperor Peak) (Evolution Path: 0)]
[8. King of Death: Emperor Peak (Beast Potential: Emperor Peak) (Evolution Path: 0)]
[9. Guardian of the River of Death: Emperor Peak (Beast Potential: Emperor Peak) (Evolution Path: 0)]
[10. Faceless Demon God: Emperor Peak (Beast Potential: Emperor Peak) (Evolution Path: 0)]
Lan Sirong spoke in an icy tone, her voice devoid of any emotion.
"All faculty members here will have their monthly resources cut by 90%. Student Wu Shuang will be deducted 5 million points, while student Gu Tian will be deducted 3 million points, as both are the instigators of this incident. All points will be transferred to Han Tian."
Gu Tian tilted his head slightly, his voice carrying a hint of mockery.
"I already knew Imperial Beast University's internal system was rotten, but I didn't expect it to be so disgustingly corrupt that you'd blatantly twist black into white like this."
Lan Sirong swept her gaze across the crowd before continuing.
"That is all. Dismissed."
Mu Kangyuan clenched his fists, his face dark with frustration, before speaking up.
"Headmaster..."
Before he could finish, Lan Sirong unleashed a crushing pressure directly at him—a silent warning.
Mu Kangyuan gritted his teeth but did not back down. His voice was laced with disdain.
"Utterly rotten… From the inside out. A complete joke."
The tension in the air thickened once more.
Mu Kangyuan glanced to his left—Lan Hua avoided his gaze. He looked to his right—the Vice Headmaster did the same.
He scoffed under his breath.
"Licking boots so hard they're drenched, huh…?"
Boom!
Suddenly, two Emperor-level auras erupted and surged toward Mu Kangyuan.
But before anything could escalate further, Lan Sirong's voice cut through the air, sharp and cold.
"Enough. Stop this nonsense. Vice Headmaster Mu, mind your words next time."
With that, she turned and left, and the oppressive atmosphere dissipated almost instantly.
Once things settled, Lan Hua composed herself before addressing the students.
"Alright, students. Your first morning class is a compulsory session on selecting your future beasts. We will assist in analyzing and optimizing your choices. Do not skip it."
After her announcement, she immediately escorted Han Tian and Luo Qingyao, both severely injured, to receive treatment.
Wu Shuang strode up to Gu Tian, scowling in irritation.
"Tch! That damn hag docked so many of my points. Looks like the bastard ranked first has some serious backing. Whatever. So, what's your next move?"
Gu Tian smirked slightly before responding.
"I'm heading to the Secret Realm of the Immortal Tree, and after that, I'll enter the university's secret realm."
Wu Shuang chuckled and asked, "You're skipping class?"
Gu Tian simply shrugged. "Yeah. It's useless for me."
Wu Shuang grinned widely. "Then I'm coming with you."
Gu Tian nodded casually. "Suit yourself."
Gu Tian left alongside Wu Shuang, with Liang Yufeng and Su Meilin following behind. The four of them made their way toward a massive tower, the location of the Secret Realm of the Immortal Tree.
As they walked, Liang Yufeng hesitantly asked, "Uh… where exactly are we going? Aren't we supposed to attend the first mandatory class?"
Wu Shuang chuckled before replying, "Nope. We're about to gamble with our futures. Hehe."
Upon entering the tower, they were greeted by an elderly man. Gu Tian stepped forward, presented his student ID, and spoke calmly.
"I'm a first-year student. Under the headmaster's policy, I'm here to choose a beast in the Secret Realm of the Immortal Tree."
The old man scoffed before muttering, "Tch, another poor brat, huh? Follow me."
Gu Tian merely smiled, unfazed by the remark, and followed the man. However, the other three did not enter since they either had no available contracts or had already chosen their beasts beforehand.
Deeper within the hidden chamber inside the tower, a massive portal stood, glowing with an eerie radiance. Aside from Gu Tian and the elderly man, there was no one else in the room. Typically, students rarely used this place since most who gained admission into Imperial Beast University already came from powerful families, meaning their beasts had been pre-selected for them. The old man, now sitting in front of the portal, glanced at Gu Tian before speaking in a bored tone.
"You have exactly one hour to choose a beast. If you don't return within that time, then just stay in there because I'm closing the portal right on schedule."
Gu Tian politely nodded, then stepped through without hesitation.
The moment Gu Tian entered the Secret Realm, he was met with the majestic sight of an ancient forest bathed in sacred energy. Towering trees radiated a luminous aura, their deep green leaves shimmering with an otherworldly glow. Their vast roots spread across the ground like the lifeblood of this hidden world.
His eyes scanned the surroundings, and as soon as he focused on certain trees, detailed information appeared before him.
[Name: Sacred Dragon Tree]
[Power Level: Silver Peak]
[Species: Dragon Tree]
[Elements: Wood, Light, Earth]
[Special Abilities: Dragon Root (S), Dragon Spirit (S), Roar (S), Tree Domain (A), Botanical Breath (A)]
[Potential: King Peak]
[Evolution Paths: 1]
[Evaluation Compared to Silver Beasts: A]
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.....
[Name: Holy Tree]
[Power Level: Gold Low]
[Species: Holy Tree]
[Elements: Wood, Light, Spirit]
[Special Abilities: Holy Leaves (S), Healing Beam (S), Domain of Life (S), Light Ring (A), Mystic Bond (A), Leaf Regeneration (A)]
[Potential: Epic Peak]
[Evolution Paths: 9]
[Evaluation Compared to Epic Beasts: A]
.....
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[Name: Hundred-Year Oak]
[Power Level: Silver Mid]
[Species: Oak]
[Elements: Wood, Light, Life]
[Special Abilities: Light Root (A), Regeneration (A), Resin Bullet (A), Guardian Nature (A), Vine Curse (A), Wooden Wall (A)]
[Potential: Epic Peak]
[Evolution Paths: 5]
[Evaluation Compared to Silver Beasts: B]
Gu Tian glanced at each tree with indifference. None of them interested him, despite their high potential. He hadn't come for any of these ordinary choices.
Without hesitation, Gu Tian activated his spatial ring and retrieved a detection device. The device buzzed to life, emitting a faint signal before an arrow appeared on the screen, pointing eastward.
"That way, huh?"
Without wasting any time, Gu Tian summoned his Undead Wind Wyvern. The skeletal wyvern spread its wings, soaring into the air before swiftly darting toward the direction indicated by the device.