After resting for a while, Yán Shèngxīn asked Teacher Fēi Hǔ for his recommendation letter and headed to Dà Tián Yùshòu Yuán, the beast breeding ground, with about five classmates.
In his Summoning Space, the ghosts and beasts he had tamed questioned why he sought more creatures. Four was already an impressive number for a second-year student, especially since most had just one.
Unlike others, Shèngxīn lacked a Summoning Space container like a ring or necklace. His mother stored his first three ghosts in a jade necklace, but now he had nothing. His grandfather, strict yet generous to others, had even bought a necklace for Mei Líng, the chef's daughter, but ignored Shèngxīn.
Shèngxīn's isolation was nothing new. Orphaned and neglected by the Yán family, he grew up enduring punishments from his aunt, Lín Míngyún, over baseless accusations by his cousin, Yán Ruòzhēn. Only his best friend, Tí Lóng, treated him with kindness, sharing toy and food when Shèngxīn had none.
Now, as Shèngxīn approached the breeding ground, the air felt thick with tension. His four beasts stirred uneasily within the Summoning Space, sensing an ominous presence.
Dà Tián Yùshòu Yuán, the beast breeding ground behind the school, wasn't a permanent facility. It served as a temporary holding area for unsold beasts from the auction market. These beasts, if not sold, were typically released back into Shòutián Forest, often during school-organized beast hunting events.
However, since today's event was short, Teacher Fēi Hǔ didn't bring any beasts for release.
This was why Shèngxīn requested a stop at Dà Tián Yùshòu Yuán—he knew some beasts from the auction hadn't yet been returned to the wild.
Out of 20 classmates, only five joined Shèngxīn. Most students preferred the high-level beasts in the forest, dismissing unsold beasts as weak and undesirable.
Four classmates whispered among themselves, puzzled by Shèngxīn's decision.
"Why would the top student fight over low-level beasts?"
"Maybe he plans to evolve a weak beast into a god-level one?"
"Yeah, if he's that skilled, he'd be in demand everywhere!"
"Shh! Don't forget Teacher Fēi Hǔ's recommendation letter. Without it, we wouldn't even be here."
Shèngxīn overheard but stayed silent—they weren't entirely wrong. He wasn't looking for a strong beast but a low-level one to disguise his Fox Beast and ghost creatures. The unsold beasts were perfect for his plan.
The breeding ground was nearly empty due to the holiday season. Most students, not in dormitories, had returned home. Normally, Dà Tián Yùshòu Yuán was busy during lessons on taming or studying wild beasts, with teachers often organizing field trips.
At the entrance, a guard sipping tea noticed the group.
"What are you kids doing here? The breeding ground's on holiday, like you," he said, clearly annoyed at having his break interrupted.
Shèngxīn stepped forward and presented a letter.
"Teacher, we have a recommendation from Teacher Fēi Hǔ to select a beast intended for release into the wild."
The guard, whose surname was Lín, glanced at the letter, frowning slightly as his tea time was cut short. His name was Lín Zhàoyáng, a distant relative of Lín Míngyún, Shèngxīn's first aunt.
"What's your name? Are you the second-grade class leader?" he asked, preparing the guestbook.
"I'm Yán Shèngxīn, not the class leader. Since they're absent, Teacher Fēi entrusted me with the letter."
The guard paused, raising an eyebrow. "Are you surnamed Yán?"
"Yes. Do you know my family?"
A sly smirk crossed Teacher Lín Zhàoyáng's face.
Lín Míngyún, Shèngxīn's first aunt, had once helped him. Helping her nephew would be a hard slap to her face and a huge disregard to his savior.
"Ah, yes, your cousin is quite famous," Lín Zhàoyáng said vaguely, hiding his connection to Míngyún. "Sister Míngyún will owe me if I make this brat's day difficult. I'll give him the most unsellable beast, or maybe even an injured one," he thought to himself, already devising his plan.
"Come closer. Each of you, fill out the guest form." Teacher Lín Zhàoyáng gestured for the six teenagers to step inside. He was wary that more students might show up once word spread that the Dà Tiān Yùshòu Yuán was open.
He often grumbled about students who came just to look around. "Do they think this is a zoo?" He sighed, recalling the many he had turned away for lacking recommendation letters or giving flimsy excuses.
Inside, the first room showcased small beast cages. These housed weaker beasts—plants, reptiles, insects, birds, and other creatures no larger than a dog. Most students barely spared them a glance, aiming instead for the rarer Class A or S beasts.
Only Yán Shèngxīn lingered, carefully inspecting each cage. Quietly, he activated his Cheat Skill, a hidden ability that let him assess a beast's level and stats without relying on the posted descriptions.
"Insect type. Black Rock Mantis. Level F. Skills: Shadow Slicing, Quick Jump, Rock Body, Hundred Eye Views. Speed: 20/100. Agility: 20/100. Power: 40/100."
"Bird type. Ice Lovebird. Level F. Skills: Singing Charm, Quick Fly. Speed: 60/100. Agility: 20/100. Power: 20/100."
"Brother Shèngxīn, how much longer?" Wáng Xīn's impatient voice broke the silence.
"Yeah, what's taking so long? Does he think this is a zoo?" Chén Hào quipped, chuckling.
"All right, I'm coming," Shèngxīn muttered, reluctantly moving on.
The group entered the second room, which housed Class B and A beasts. Unlike the first room, the beasts here were larger and more imposing. A Flying Monkey Beast and a Steel Boar Beast immediately caught their attention.
"Whoa, these are decent. Why aren't they at the auction?" asked Lǐ Jié, a quiet boy who now spoke up.
"Flying monkey are tricky," Chén Hào explained. "He's hard to control. Tell him to do one thing, and he'll do another."
"But it's still Class B," Lǐ Jié argued. "And if it can fly, why isn't it Class A?"
"Forget the monkey. Look at this Steel Boar," said Sūn Míng, another student. "It's strong, but why isn't it popular? Let me check." He read the cage's description aloud. "Lazy and cowardly. Needs food to fight. Runs away from tough opponents." He scoffed. "Useless! I'm not rich enough to keep feeding it."
"I'll take the Flying Monkey," Zhào Fēng, the last student, declared. "Monkeys are perfect for market tricks. My dad sells fruit, so we have plenty of food for it."
Zhào Fēng approached Teacher Lín for a compatibility test. The teacher nodded, allowing him into the cage. Zhào pulled out a bunch of horn bananas from his storage ring, originally packed for his lunch.
The Flying Monkey sniffed the air, leaped toward Zhào, and grabbed the bananas eagerly. Within moments, the taming was complete.
"Taming successful," Teacher Lín announced. "Congratulations. You can register your beast at the front desk. The system here syncs directly with the main office."
Zhào Fēng beamed and exited, leaving the remaining five students to continue their search.
"All right," Teacher Lín said, stepping forward, "who's next? Let's see if anything suits you."
The group of five—Shèng Xīn, Lǐ Jié, Chén Hào, Wáng Xīn, the only female among them, and Sūn Míng—followed Teacher Lín into the third room. This room held rare S-level beasts, though most had suffered injuries during capture.
"These three were injured during taming battles six months or a year ago," Teacher Lín explained. "They refused to submit, forcing intense fights that left them scarred but alive."
He gestured to the first cage. "This is a Woolly Ice Rhinoceros. It has thick, weapon-resistant skin and fur for surviving snowy battles. In its humanoid form, it looks almost human, except for its horn, rhino ears, and woolly texture."
He moved to the second. "Here's a Poison-Feathered Eagle, a blend of Martial Eagle and venomous fowl. Its brown and purple feathers hint at its poison. In its humanoid form, it resembles a hawkman with wings and fur-covered ears."
Finally, he pointed to the third. "This is a Blakiston's Fish Owl, the largest owl species in the world. Now in humanoid form, it stands nearly three meters tall, with wings and a human-like face, though its ears remain thickly furred."
As Teacher Lín finished, the students started to argue.
"I'll take the Poison-Feathered Eagle," Chén Hào declared. "Its strength matches my family's tradition in medicine. It's perfect for me, and no one else seems interested."
Wáng Xīn stepped forward. "I want the Woolly Ice Rhinoceros. I've trained in martial arts since childhood, and I love its fluffy fur."
Lǐ Jié frowned. "Rhinos are masculine beasts. They suit men better. You should pick something delicate, like a butterfly or horse. Rhinos are for fighters like me!"
Wáng Xīn glared at him. "Say that again, and I'll punch you! I hate being treated like some fragile woman destined for marriage. I'm a fighter, and I'll prove it."
Lǐ Jié smirked. "Go ahead. I'm not afraid of you!"
Teacher Lín sighed, rubbing his temples. "Enough! Both of you, quiet. Let's handle this one at a time."
He turned to Chén Hào. "You want the eagle? Fine. Try taming it first."
Chén Hào nodded and retrieved a small package from his bag. He carefully poured some kind like black noodles onto a plate, preparing to approach the cage.
Chén Hào stepped into the cage, drawing the attention of everyone, even Lǐ Jié and Wáng Xīn, who paused their argument.
Inside, the humanoid eagle spread its wings, its sharp gaze fixed on Chén Hào as if warning him to stay back. Undeterred, Chén Hào carefully placed the plate of that thing like black noodles on the ground and nudged it toward the beast.
The eagle flinched, its instincts triggered by the unfamiliar object, but soon its nose twitched. It sniffed the powder before picking up the plate and devouring its contents.
"What is that? Noodle?" someone whispered.
"It's not noodle! Eagle does not eat noodle," another replied.
Shèng Xīn answered calmly, "It's a dried ground hammerhead worm. Birds naturally love worms, but hammerhead worms are poisonous. Only a poison-resistant beast would eat it. Usually, a traditional drug store use it as the poison healer. His father might ask Chén Hào to bring it, in case he would encounter any poisonous creatures inside the forest this morning."
Teacher Lín nodded with approval. "Impressive. For a second-year student, his knowledge is exceptional. No wonder Sister Lín sees him as a threat to her son's position in the Yán clan."
Moments later, the eagle submitted to Chén Hào, confirming his success. "Teacher, I'll register and head home now," he said, leading the humanoid eagle out.
Teacher Lín waved dismissively, not even turning back.
With the eagle tamed, Teacher Lín turned to the rest. "Now, what about the owl? Or are you all still fixated on the Woolly Ice Rhinoceros?"
Sun Míng glanced at Shèng Xīn. "Are you taking it?"
"No, Sun Míng. He is yours," Shèng Xīn replied calmly.
Sun Míng approached the owl's cage. The beast, a massive nocturnal creature, was lethargic and docile. Within minutes, Sun Míng successfully tamed it and left after registering.
That left the Woolly Ice Rhinoceros.
While the others debated over it, Shèng Xīn's attention shifted to an empty cage holding only old wood. He stepped closer, a strange feeling pulling him toward it.
"Teacher, what was kept here?" he asked, his eyes fixed on the cage.
Teacher Lín glanced over. "That was a flexible-tailed snake capable of stretching up to 20 meters. It was injured and sold at auction after its tail was severed. Why?"
"What's with the old wood?" Shèng Xīn asked, still studying the cage.
"The snake liked coiling around it or hiding in its hollow," Teacher Lín said, his curiosity piqued.
Before Shèng Xīn could reply, Teacher Lín clapped his hands. "Enough distractions! Let's settle the Woolly Ice Rhinoceros dispute. There's a match arena beside this building. I'll referee."
He turned to the Yán clan student. "You're staying back? Not interested in watching?"
"I'll finish choosing my beast once they're done, Teacher," the boy replied with a grin. Then, glancing at the cage, he added, "But… may I open this one first?"
"Do as you like!" Teacher Lín waved him off, muttering, "Strange kid." He stepped outside toward the arena, his excitement growing at the prospect of a student match.
Shèngxīn unlocked the cage of the Poisonous Eagle and retrieved the plate of dried hammerhead worm it had eaten earlier.
"Thankfully, eagles aren't neat eaters. They never clean their plates like humans," he muttered, inspecting the crumbs left behind.
After locking the eagle's cage, he stepped into the empty adjacent one, carrying the plate. Inside, he grabbed the old wooden perch hanging at the center and tilted it slightly. Carefully, he scattered a few crumbs of the eagle's leftovers—some inside the hollow wood, others on the plate nearby. Crouching low, he prepared to catch whatever emerged.
Moments later, a small creature crept out, drawn by the scent of the dried worm. It moved cautiously toward the plate, its tiny legs skittering across the surface. Shèngxīn's eyes lit up as he watched.
"You hid well, little Gǔ!" he said, lifting the plate to trap the creature in place.
It was a Gǔ larva, the juvenile form of the legendary Golden Silkworm, or Jīn Cán. Although it looked ordinary, this was no common insect. In the wild, Gǔ larvae fed on the corpses of poisonous creatures—frogs, scorpions, centipedes, snakes—and even toxic plants. When raised by Gǔ Masters, they were fed on the remains of creatures that had fought to the death, absorbing their toxins. Few ever survived to evolve into the Golden Silkworm, but even in this larval stage, they were incredibly dangerous.
The Gǔ could already infiltrate an opponent's body, acting as a parasite and releasing poison that could kill slowly or instantly, depending on the dose. Its presence here was astounding.
"Could it have been the reason the Poisonous Stretch Snake lost its battle? There was no time to dwell on theories." His Cheat System had already assigned him a mission: tame the Gǔ larva.
Shèngxīn also needed to do it fast. "This has to stay a secret," he muttered under his breath. "No one can know."
He turned his attention to the larva, speaking softly. "Hungry? Want more of this? Be my beast, and I'll give you all the poisonous food you can dream of."
The Gǔ, initially wary and trembling with fear, hesitated. Then, as though tempted by the promise of endless food, it gave the faintest nod.
"Good choice," Shèngxīn said with a smirk. He bit his thumb to draw blood and began chanting the taming spell. His voice remained steady, though his excitement was mounting. He had tamed four creatures before, but this one was in a league of its own.
Inside his Summoning Space, his ghostly beasts reacted with panic. Gēn Dé Rú Wǎng, Tú Yòu, and Gǔ Tiān Ān'nà shrank back, their translucent forms trembling. Even Gēn Dé Rú Wǎng, the strongest among them, looked visibly shaken.
"Kill us?!" Gēn Dé Rú Wǎng stammered, his voice unsteady.
Tú Yòu pleaded desperately, "Young Master, I swear I'll behave! No more laziness—I'll find gold, diamonds, anything for you!"
Gǔ Tiān Ān'nà chimed in, her voice trembling. "Master, I'll stop bothering handsome men! Only you, Master!"
Their fear wasn't baseless. Once the Gǔ evolved into a Golden Silkworm, it would make its master immune to all poisons and capable of consuming venomous creatures without harm. More terrifyingly, it could devour supernatural beings like them.
Shèngxīn ignored their pleas, keeping his focus on the larva. With one final chant, the spell completed. A surge of energy rippled through him as the taming succeeded.
The Cheat System's voice echoed in his mind, announcing his triumph.
"Taming successful. Congratulations! Insect-type Beast: Golden Silkworm. Current status: Gǔ larva form (70% completed). Hell Level (SSSS). Host gaining new profession: Poison Master."
Shèngxīn grinned, his excitement barely contained. This was only the beginning.
Shèngxīn set the plate of dried martial head worm crumbs back on the floor, letting the Gǔ larva finish its meal. Once it had eaten its fill, he spoke softly to it. "Stay on the plate." When the larva complied, he carefully moved it into his sea of consciousness, the temporary Summoning Place.
Inside, he was greeted by an amusing sight. His vast mental space felt oddly cramped, with the three ghostly beasts huddled together in one corner, while the three-tailed fox clung to the opposite side like it was glued there.
Unable to contain his laughter, Shèngxīn chuckled. "What's with you all? Why are you acting like this?"
SìSì, who had been unusually quiet, finally broke her silence. "Are you trying to kill us and replace us with that... that monster?" Her voice trembled, betraying her fear.
"Relax," Shèngxīn said with a grin. "This is your new little brother. You're going to take care of him. Feed him regularly, and he'll come to see you as his Second Masters. That way, he won't even think of eating you."
He placed the plate with the Gǔ larva on the ground. The tiny creature surveyed its surroundings, its gaze flicking between the four beings nearby.
"Master!" Tú Yòu's voice cracked with panic. "It's already sizing us up as prey! It's only a matter of time before it devours us."
Ignoring Tú Yòu's dramatics, Shèngxīn addressed the larva firmly. "Gǔ, this is your home for now. Those four over there are your siblings. You're not allowed to harm or eat them. If you disobey me, I'll punish you severely. No food for the rest of your life."
Tú Yòu, still trembling, muttered, "Master, does it even understand human language? If it doesn't, we're all doomed. Especially me…" He glanced nervously at the others. "Sister Ān'nà can fly, and Gēn Dé Rú Wǎng seems strong enough to escape. Only SìSì and I are doomed."
Feigning confusion, Shèngxīn scratched the back of his head. "I think it understands."
Tú Yòu burst into exaggerated tears. "Young Master, be serious! There's nowhere to hide here. If it gets hungry, I'll be its first snack!"
Shèngxīn smirked. "Then you'd better make sure it's well-fed, Tú Yòu. If its food runs out, you'll be next on the menu. Isn't that right, GǔGǔ?"
The larva bared its tiny fangs in what looked like a grin. Tú Yòu's face went pale before he promptly fainted.
"Ghosts can faint? That's new," Shèngxīn remarked innocently, bursting into laughter. Then his tone shifted, becoming serious. "I was joking, GǔGǔ. Remember my punishment if you break the rules. And from now on, your name is GǔGǔ. Don't forget it. You must come out when I call."
Turning to the others, Shèngxīn continued, "You'll need to help your new brother settle in. Ān'nà, make sure Tú Yòu understands the tasks. Every night, SìSì take Tú Yòu into the forest since she knows the terrain best."
He paused before giving further instructions. "However, for tonight, all of you except Ān'nà will leave this Summoning Place. Go to the forest and collect unclaimed animal and beast carcasses. Find live poisonous creatures, mushrooms, fruits, and plants. Also make sure to bring back some old wood for GǔGǔ to rest on. And, Wǎng, help gather enough tree trunks for everyone to build their own shelter. Meanwhile, Ān'nà, tonight you will accompany GǔGǔ here since he is still new and he is still considered a baby."
The group perked up at the clarity of their tasks, their earlier fear replaced with determination. "Yes, Young Master!" they chorused.
Satisfied, Shèngxīn nodded. "Good. I need to step out now. It looks like Wáng Xīn and Lǐ Jié are done and heading back to the third room." With that, he turned and left.
Back in the real world, Shèngxīn smacked his forehead. "Ah, I forgot the plate. Oh well, doesn't matter now."
He quickly climbed out of the empty cage, grabbing a piece of old wood, then casually sat in a chair, fiddling with it.
Moments later, Teacher Lin entered, dragging a bloodied Lǐ Jié by the arm. Blood from Lǐ Jié's broken nose stained his clothes.
"You fool!" Teacher Lin scolded. "Big mouth, no skills. Trying to fight Wáng Xīn? She's a martial prodigy and a dual-talent at that! You've embarrassed me!"
Lin's voice echoed in the third room, startling Shèngxīn , who sat quietly.
"Hey, Yan surname. Did you tame a beast yet?" Teacher Lin barked.
Feigning sadness, Shèngxīn replied, "Not yet, Teacher. I've been waiting for you."
Lin hesitated, his lips curling into a smirk. "Perfect."
"You had a shot at an A-class beast earlier," Lin said smugly. "But since you sat idle, your friends decided for you. Wáng Xīn defeated Lǐ Jié, and now the Steel Boar goes to him. That leaves you with an F-class beast."
Shèngxīn 's face fell, still acting. "F-class? I'll be humiliated in class matches!"
Lin pretended to sympathize. "Too bad. If you'd been in the arena, you could've protested—or fought Lǐ Jié. But now? Too late."
Shèngxīn kept up his act. "What should I do, Teacher?"
Lin waved him off. "Take Lǐ Jié to the clinic. And don't come back. If anything goes missing, the Master Breeder will have my head."
"I'll take him," Shèngxīn offered, "but I'll return later to pick a beast. Even if it's just Level F."
Lin scoffed. "Level F? You're a top-ranked student—go find one in the forest! Now get out. I need sleep. With the Master Breeder away, I've had enough trouble today."
Lin shoved them both out and slammed the door shut.
Shèngxīn turned to Lǐ Jié, who looked defeated. "You're not coming back tonight. Rest up and heal. I'll report to Master Fei Hǔ that you've claimed the Steel Boar. Sleep in tomorrow."
Lǐ Jié nodded weakly, too drained to argue.
Walking away, Shèngxīn kicked a pebble in mock frustration. "Great, I planned this taming trip, and now I've got nothing! Guess I'm off to the forest again tomorrow. Curse my luck!"