After lunch, Evan returned to his dorm with a satisfied smile.
John's interference had actually been an unexpected blessing. Not only did it lead him to Dean, but it also allowed him to uncover critical information about the Empire Restoration Organization.
With Ice Rain now under his control, it wouldn't be long before he could learn about the organization's operations in Blue River City. When the time came, he would be able to wipe them out in one fell swoop.
"But for now, my main priority is to grow stronger myself."
Evan murmured to himself, glancing at the Time-Space Dragon mark on his wrist. With a flash, he entered his Beast Space.
Although only an afternoon had passed in the real world, more than ten days had gone by in the Beast Space. As soon as he entered, Fire Hound bounded over excitedly.
The past days had seen Fire Hound grow noticeably larger, and his strength had reached the level of Black Iron two stars.
In addition to differences in species, a beast's power level was crucial. At the Black Iron and Bronze levels, each rank made only a minor difference. However, as they progressed, the gaps between levels widened. Once a beast reached Eternal rank or higher, each rank represented a significant leap in power.
"Time to test the growth potential here." After playing with Fire Hound for a bit, Evan took out the Firefruit root, moved to a spot beside the small house, dug a hole, and planted it carefully in the soil, filling the earth back in.
"With the accelerated time flow in this Beast Space, the Firefruit should mature fairly quickly…" Evan thought, glancing at Fire Hound nearby.
The Firefruit was ideal for young Fire Hounds—it was gentle but packed with nutrients. With it, Fire Hound would soon break through to the Bronze level.
Fire Hound's abilities really began to shine at the Bronze level, where he would gain the ability to launch fire-based attacks. With enough Firefruit, Fire Hound's performance at Bronze level would be outstanding, rivaling beasts with superior natural talents.
"Fire Hound," Evan looked at him intently, "you're not to touch it. Even if it bears fruit, don't go near it without my permission."
"Woof woof!" Fire Hound barked back, understanding perfectly.
Seeing this, Evan smiled and patted Fire Hound's head. Then he looked off to the side, his eyes gleaming with resolve.
In his last life, despite everyone's doubts, he had become a King-level Beastmaster through sheer effort. This time, with the incredible advantages of his Beast Space, an advanced Breath Technique, and his memories from the past, his potential would reach far beyond that.
After a moment, Evan took a deep breath, then flipped his hand to produce a chicken leg he'd brought back from the cafeteria. Since Fire Hound was part canine, he absolutely loved treats like this.
"Fire Hound, come eat your snack!"
"Woof!" Fire Hound barked happily, clamping his jaws around the chicken leg. He was about to devour it, but then he paused, looked up at Evan, and nudged the chicken leg toward him as if to offer him a share.
Clearly, he was checking to see if Evan wanted some.
"I don't want it; it's all yours." Evan chuckled, watching as Fire Hound happily devoured the chicken. "Eat well, buddy. We've got a long, long road ahead together."
---
The next morning, someone knocked on Evan's door bright and early.
Evan had just exited the Beast Space and was stretching by the window, practicing a series of unusual movements. Sometimes, his stances were fierce like a tiger; at other times, he was as light as a deer, flowing through the shapes of various animals.
This was a technique he had developed himself, drawing inspiration from ancient forms called the *Ten Thousand Forms Technique*. When practiced alongside his Breath Technique, it improved physical strength and health. At its peak, it even provided immunity to toxins and reduced the need for food—a highly beneficial morning routine under the sun's first light.
Hearing the knock, Evan stopped and went to open the door.
There stood Yates, looking distressed. "Evan, you've got to help me!"
"What's going on?" Evan frowned slightly, "Are John and his group giving you trouble again?"
"No," Yates shook his head quickly, but he looked embarrassed, struggling to explain.
Noting his friend's discomfort, Evan thought for a moment, then his expression softened. "Let me guess—you practiced the Devouring Technique and ate a ton, but now you're struggling to… relieve yourself? Your stomach is probably bloated and painful, right?"
"Yes, exactly!" Yates exclaimed with relief, grabbing Evan's arm. "Do you have any way to fix this? It's killing me! I feel like my stomach is going to explode!"
"That's normal." Evan shook his head, chuckling. "If I'm not mistaken, after I taught you the Devouring Technique yesterday, you just ate a ton, then went straight to your dorm to lie down, right?"
"Er…" Yates hesitated, then nodded. "Evan, you're a genius."
"It's not genius; I just know the Devouring Technique well," Evan explained, his tone serious. "It's called the Devouring Technique for a reason—it draws from the characteristics of the mythical glutton, Taotie. If you don't practice it to digest what you eat, you'll just end up with an overloaded stomach. A normal person's digestion can't handle such a massive intake without processing it properly."
"I told you this yesterday, but clearly you weren't paying attention!"
Yates looked embarrassed, scratching his head before quickly thanking Evan and heading back to his dorm.
Shaking his head with an amused smile, Evan made his way to the classroom.
After all, as a student, he still had to attend classes each day.
Once Evan settled in his seat, it wasn't long before John entered the room.
As soon as he spotted Evan, John froze, almost stumbling backward in fear. The day before, Ice Rain and his group had gotten a severe beating from Evan, but he had no idea what had happened after that. His cousin had even called him the previous night, telling him not to mess with Evan for now.
If his cousin was cautious of Evan, John certainly wouldn't dare provoke him. He and his followers kept their heads down as they slipped quietly to a corner, hoping to avoid Evan's notice.
Evan observed John's reaction with a slight shake of his head.
These small-time bullies—if they didn't actively provoke him, they weren't even worth his time.
After all, a roc soaring through the skies wouldn't concern itself with ants on the ground.
---
Soon, the bell rang, and Yates took his seat beside Evan, exhaling in relief.
"Feeling 'clear' now?" Evan teased.
"Very clear," Yates replied, laughing sheepishly. He was about to say more when a man with a stern expression and perfect posture walked into the room.
"Silence!" His voice was firm, and the room fell quiet instantly. Yates' face changed, and he muttered under his breath, "It's the demon instructor, Zachary. Why him?"
Evan, meanwhile, simply looked up at Zachary, his gaze carrying a hint of complexity.
Zachary was well-known in Blue River City—a famously strict teacher who often took students on challenging training missions.
Thanks to his guidance, many of his students went on to become powerful figures. Evan himself had once gained a fateful opportunity in a secret realm under Zachary's leadership, marking the start of his legendary rise. To be fair, Zachary was something of a mentor to him.
But in Evan's previous life, Zachary hadn't ended up well. Due to his straightforward nature, he'd been sidelined by the academy's higher-ups. That was why a renowned teacher like him was now stuck teaching ordinary classes.
He'd never gotten a chance to fully demonstrate his abilities. His one shining moment came during the beast tide, where he led the defense—ultimately sacrificing his life in the struggle.
"A teacher like him should be respected everywhere, so why was he suppressed?" Watching Zachary at the front of the classroom, Evan thought to himself. "Or… could someone have wanted him suppressed on purpose?"