That afternoon, on the cliffside, three schools gathered, their students animatedly discussing strategy. They had just learned to fly their bird beasts and were now deciding who would compete and in what order.
The host school, Dà Huáng Shā Shòuyì, had no such debate. With only three students, four assistants, and their instructor, Zhào Wéiguāng, the order was set: Hù Yàoyuán first, followed by Liáng Fēngzhàn, and finally Zhào Róngtiān.
The other schools soon finalized their selections. Jiàn Yú Gǎng Shòuyì sent Sòng Yǔqiáng, Lín Ruòzhōu, and Zhì Jiéyuán, arranging them by skill level—weakest first, strongest last. Bǎi Wàn Shòuyì did the same with Chén Lìqiù, Hán Xiǎoyún, and Jiàn Ruòxī.
Dà Tián Shòuyì, the home team, chose Méi Líng, the Unicorn Beast Tamer, to go first, despite her being the best among them. Her placement stemmed from old biases—she was a girl, and the school had never ranked students by beast mastery. Sūn Míng, the Blakiston's Fish Owl Tamer, followed, while Chén Hào, with his Poison-Feathered Eagle, took the final spot.
The school's lack of ranking had led to the creation of the beast bazaar, helping students without tamed beasts or enough money, especially since the Shòutián forest was still closed due to an ongoing investigation into mass beast deaths and illegal hunting.
Yán Shèngxīn, despite being the top flyer in training, was overlooked entirely. He had no beast—or so they thought.
A sharp whistle cut through the chatter. Zhào Wéiguāng stepped forward.
"We begin now! Participants, line up by school. The rest, take your seats in the viewing area." He gestured to his right, where rows of benches awaited the spectators.
Sòng Yǔqiáng, Chén Lìqiù, Méi Líng, and Hù Yàoyuán stood at the edge of the cliff, waiting for the signal. Their bird beasts shuffled restlessly beside them, but they weren't allowed to mount just yet. Riding was part of the test.
"One last rule," Teacher Zhào Wéiguāng announced. "To avoid unfair advantages, the last-place contestant must take off separately. Hù Yàoyuán, you'll start flying only after reaching halfway to the river." He turned to the rest. "For clarity, I'll blow a different whistle when she's allowed to take off."
Hù Yàoyuán raised an eyebrow. "And if not all the schools have taken off by then?"
"Good question. Once any contestant reaches the halfway mark, you may fly," the teacher clarified.
Méi Líng, already poised to leap onto her beast, muttered under her breath, "Young Master Shèngxīn's warning wasn't just a hunch… This Hù Yàoyuán shouldn't be underestimated."
She recalled Yán Shèngxīn's quiet words of caution earlier. Hù Yàoyuán wasn't just a skilled beastmaster—she was the only female in the top three of Dà Huáng Shā Shòuyì, a school dominated by male students. That alone said enough.
While other contestants chatted and waved to their fans, Méi Líng focused. She had no time for distractions.
From the audience area, Ān'nà whispered to Shèngxīn, "Master, something is off. The bird beasts aren't the same across schools."
Shèngxīn frowned. Ān'nà was right. "Bǎi Wàn Shòuyì uses Common Swift, Jiàn Yú Gǎng Shòuyì has White-throated Needletail—both are high-speed aerial hunters. The Needletail, in particular, is one of the fastest birds alive, built for sharp dives and unmatched manoeuvrability."
His eyes shifted to Dà Huáng Shā Shòuyì's bird—Turkey Vulture. Strange. "Why didn't they protest? They know their vulture can't outpace those birds. Vulture are masters of soaring, not diving. They ride thermal currents, energy-efficient but slow compared to Needletails. Then there's Dà Tián Shòuyì with pigeons—fast, sure, but why pick birds attuned to low frequencies? This choice isn't random."
Shèngxīn exhaled, deep in thought. He was too far from Méi Líng to help now. If Ān'nà could possess a bird directly, she could assist, but she needed a living intermediary—like when he'd touched the Peregrine Falcon before.
Before he could think further, the sharp sound of a whistle cut through the air.
"Start!"
The contestants sprang into action. Méi Líng, practiced and efficient, mounted in one smooth motion. Sòng Yǔqiáng followed with little trouble. But Chén Lìqiù—
The moment the whistle blew, Chén Lìqiù took a deep breath, steeled herself, and grabbed onto the Common Swift's back. The bird, clearly unimpressed with its new passenger, flapped its wings impatiently. She swung her leg over, trying to mount smoothly—only for the swift to jerk forward.
"Aaah!" she shrieked as she slid off, barely catching onto its feathers before hitting the ground. The bird gave an annoyed squawk, hopping a few steps away as if contemplating an escape.
Méi Líng, already airborne, groaned. "She's never ridden a bird beast before, has she?"
Meanwhile, Sòng Yǔqiáng, Bǎi Wàn Shòuyì's other contestant, wasn't faring much better. His White-throated Needletail, built for speed, was more interested in taking off than waiting for its rider to settle. He managed to climb on but was gripping its neck like a lifeline, his knuckles white with terror.
The audience erupted in mixed reactions.
Jiàn Yú Gǎng Shòuyì students, seeing their own representative struggling just as much, showed no mockery—only sympathy. "Hang in there, Chén Lìqiù!" one called out encouragingly. "Don't force it—find the rhythm!" another added. Many of them, mostly male students, watched with concern. After all, Chén Lìqiù wasn't just one of the smartest students in Bǎi Wàn Shòuyì—she was also one of the prettiest.
Dà Tián Shòuyì students, despite being the event hosts, couldn't help chuckling. Some covered their mouths to hide their laughter, whispering to each other. "Should we be laughing? She's a guest..." one muttered. "But it's hilarious," another replied, failing to suppress a grin. Still, a few of them clapped politely, pretending to show support.
Dà Huáng Shā Shòuyì, however, had no such restraint. Their three representative students burst out in open laughter, jeering at both Chén Lìqiù and Bǎi Wàn Shòuyì. "Is this your elite school?!" one shouted. "Even a small bird would throw her off!" Another cackled, pointing at her struggle.
Chén Lìqiù finally got one foot on the bird, just as it gave a powerful flap. She wobbled dangerously, flailing her arms. "W-wait—!"
Too late. The swift flapped again, sending her somersaulting backward, landing flat on her back with a thud.
The crowd gasped—then burst into fresh laughter.
Face burning, Chén Lìqiù lay still for a moment, staring up at the sky. Then, without moving, she muttered, "I hate this bird."
Méi Líng shouted from above. "Lìqiù, get up and try to make friend with him!"
Yán Shèngxīn stifled a chuckle as Ān'nà nudged him. "Young Master, should we help her?" she whispered.
He smirked. "Why? She's our rival, and she's not in danger. If Méi Líng struggles, then we'll step in."
Just then, Sòng Yǔqiáng's panicked screams pierced the air. Clutching the neck of his White-throated Needletail, he howled, "Somebody slow this thing down!"
Zhì Jiéyuán, clearly irritated, snapped, "Shut up! It's barely faster than your Swordfish!"
Sòng Yǔqiáng shouted back, his face twisted in terror. "Barely? This thing is twice as fast!"
Laughter faded into gasps as the bird beast plunged lower, hurtling toward the ground. If it crashed at that speed, the impact would be disastrous.
Hù Yàoyuán leaped onto her Turkey Vulture, ready to intervene. But before she could take off, a swarm of Jiàn Yú Gǎng Shòuyì girls rushed toward her, pleading frantically.
"Sister Yàoyuán, save Brother Sòng! His face—his beautiful face—it'll be ruined if he crashes! We'd rather die than see that happen!"
They clung to her, pulling at her arms. Annoyed, Hù Yàoyuán huffed. "Ladies, get a grip! Have some dignity!"
Yán Shèngxīn seized the moment, sending Ān'nà to possess her. Within seconds, Hù Yàoyuán snapped into focus, sprang onto her vulture, and soared into the sky. With Ān'nà's power, her beast surged forward, swiftly closing the gap between them and the plummeting Needletail.
Then, in one daring move, Hù Yàoyuán launched herself off her vulture and landed squarely on the Needletail's back. As Ān'nà transferred into the panicked bird, its wild flight steadied.
Sòng Yǔqiáng, who had been screaming moments ago, sagged in relief. "Oh, thank the heavens…" He managed a smoother dive, grabbing six fruits before returning to the hilltop.
On the ground, Ān'nà further calmed the beast, allowing Lín Ruòzhōu to mount it with ease. Unlike Sòng Yǔqiáng, he took off effortlessly, gliding toward the basket.
Meanwhile, Yán Shèngxīn hurried over with Lǐ Wěi and Zhào Qīng, pretending to assist as the event organizers. Unnoticed, Ān'nà slipped back into his body.
The crowd's mood shifted again when laughter erupted. This time, the spectacle was Hù Yàoyuán, still hovering absentmindedly above the fruit basket. Having just been possessed, she hadn't fully regained her senses. She circled aimlessly, oblivious to Chén Lìqiù awkwardly approaching on her own bird.
It wasn't until Zhào Róngtiān's Sand Basilisk let out a sharp cry that Hù Yàoyuán snapped out of it.
What she did next sent the crowd into an uproar.
Instead of diving for her own fruits, Hù Yàoyuán swooped toward Chén Lìqiù, snatched the fruits from the beast' claws, and bolted back toward the hill.
Caught off guard, Chén Lìqiù tumbled off her beast—straight into the raging river below.
Chaos erupted.
"I can't swim!" she shrieked, flailing in the water. "Help! HELP!"
The audience exploded with mixed reactions.
"Unbelievable! That was cheating!"
"Hù Yàoyuán's ruthless!"
"I can't believe we cheered for her!"
"Shhh! It's fair game, right? She got the fruits!"
"Yeah! That's twenty points, baby!"
Méi Líng barely had time to breathe. She had just grabbed 6 fruits and was about to climb back up the hill when a sharp cry split the air.
Chén Lìqiù was slipping—no, falling—into the wild river.
"Hold on!" Méi Líng urged, kicking her dove beast forward.
The bird plunged, its talons flashing. Just before the current could swallow Chén Lìqiù completely, the beast snatched her tunic, yanking her up from the foaming waters. However, due to this action, Méi Líng had to throw 3 fruits from the left crawl's of her dove beast. Otherwise, the beast could not grab Chén Lìqiù.
Chén Lìqiù trembled violently, clutching the beast's legs, her face drained of color. "Thank you, Sister."
The referee immediately waved the white flag—elimination. Chén Lìqiù was done. Her bird dived, catching her midair and carrying her back up the hill while the Common Swift Bird returned for the next racer.
Above, the tension thickened.
Lín Ruòzhōu had already taken off. Fast. The baton had passed seamlessly from Sòng Yǔqiáng, and now he tore across the course.
Behind him, Liáng Fēngzhàn waited. He should've gone by now. But instead, he remained still, his vulture hovering ominously.
Méi Líng was already moving. She reached the checkpoint, threw the baton to Sūn Míng, and barely took a breath before the next storm of chaos hit.
A roar from the crowd.
Excitement erupted from the male students as the next competitor stepped forward.
Hán Xiǎoyún.
If Jiàn Ruòxī was fierce, Hán Xiǎoyún was irresistible. The second-best student of Bǎi Wàn Shòuyì and, more importantly, the second most beautiful girl among all four schools.
A tidal wave of boys lunged forward.
"Over here, Hán Xiǎoyún!" One stretched out his hand.
"Step on my shoulders! I'll lift you up!"
"Forget them—I'll carry you all the way there!"
Laughter rippled through the crowd. Some of the girls rolled their eyes. Others scoffed.
"Enough!" Teacher Zhào Wéiguāng's voice boomed across the arena. "You disrespectful brats, back to your seats!"
Soon after, with effortless grace, Hán Xiǎoyún swung herself onto her beast—a Common Swift, one of the fastest birds in the world.
The guilty students scattered before he could punish them.
Up in the air, Liáng Fēngzhàn finally moved. But instead of rushing ahead, his vulture circled lazily in the sky, refusing to descend toward the fruit basket.
Hán Xiǎoyún narrowed her eyes. "What is he doing?"
Something felt off.
Her fingers tightened around the reins.
And then, she saw it.
Liáng Fēngzhàn turned—straight toward Lín Ruòzhōu.
His vulture dived, claws outstretched. An ambush.
But Lín Ruòzhōu was ready. His White-throated Needletail was one of the fastest birds in the world. He veered sideways just in time, dodging the attack with a sharp twist.
Liáng Fēngzhàn cursed. His vulture flapped wildly, trying to regain speed—
And then he turned to her.
Hán Xiǎoyún barely had a second to react.
Her breath caught. "Wait, he's attacking me?!"
She thought he would only target Lín Ruòzhōu!
Before she could maneuver away, Liáng Fēngzhàn struck.
His vulture swooped down, claws swiping—
Snatching all four of her fruits.
Her heart slammed into her ribs. Too fast. Too sudden.
Her Common Swift shrieked. The impact sent it spiraling.
"No!"
She lost control.
Her beast plunged into the river.
And she went down with it.
The crowd gasped.
The referee acted instantly, sending his bird beast down to retrieve her.
Soaked and furious, Hán Xiǎoyún coughed as she clung to the referee's mount. Her own bird floundered in the water, too shaken to fly.
The referee frowned. "Do you still want to continue? Your beast is frightened. Its performance will drop."
Hán Xiǎoyún wiped her face, breathing hard. She turned to the hill, where the next racer waited.
Jiàn Ruòxī.
The fiercest, most competitive tamer in her school. If she quit now—
Jiàn Ruòxī would never let her live it down.
Hán Xiǎoyún gritted her teeth. "I'm not quitting."
A murmur rippled through the crowd, uncertainty hanging thick in the air. Students shifted anxiously, exchanging nervous glances, but no one dared to object. The final round had arrived, and hesitation had no place here.
This was the last battle.
Victory or humiliation—there would be no in-between.
The four competitors stepped forward, each standing beside their beast. Jiàn Ruòxī's hand tightened around the reins of her Common Swift, its wings flicking restlessly as if sensing the weight of the moment. Beside her, Zhì Jiéyuán whispered to her White-throated Needletail, its razor-sharp feathers gleaming under the midday sun.
Chén Hào's Black Dove stood eerily still, its dark eyes focused, waiting for its rider's command.
And then, at the very end, Zhào Róngtiān.
He stood next to his Turkey Vulture, his fingers stroking its thick, leathery neck. Unlike the other beasts, which trembled with pent-up energy, his vulture was unnervingly calm, its beady eyes scanning the competition like a predator surveying prey.
Zhào Róngtiān smirked.
His gaze slid lazily to Jiàn Ruòxī, then to Zhì Jiéyuán. Two birds that had outpaced him in the previous rounds. Two birds that wouldn't be a problem anymore.
The air was electric. Every breath felt heavier, every second stretched unbearably long.
Zhào Wéiguāng raised his hand, signaling the countdown.
"Finalists, prepare yourselves!"
Jiàn Ruòxī exhaled slowly, clearing her mind. She leaned forward slightly, fingers curling around her beast's harness. The Common Swift ruffled its feathers, sensing her readiness.
Zhì Jiéyuán whispered a final command to her Needletail, determination flashing in her eyes.
Chén Hào cracked his neck, the corner of his lips twitching in an arrogant grin.
Zhào Róngtiān? He didn't even pretend to prepare. He simply stood there, confidence dripping from his posture. His vulture shifted its talons but remained unnervingly still.
Then—
A long, piercing whistle split the air.
And everything erupted into motion.
The four bird beasts launched forward, the ground trembling beneath their powerful takeoff.
Wind roared past Jiàn Ruòxī's ears, the world blurring as her Common Swift propelled forward. She leaned into the speed, her body and beast moving as one.
Beside her, Zhì Jiéyuán's Needletail sliced through the sky like an arrow, its streamlined body making it the fastest on the field. It took the lead within seconds, wings slicing through the wind.
Chén Hào's Black Dove pushed forward, its deep, rhythmic wingbeats keeping it steady in third place.
At the very back, Zhào Róngtiān and his vulture lagged behind.
But there was no panic in his face.
No frustration.
Just that same smirk.
Jiàn Ruòxī barely had time to register the unease creeping up her spine before—
Something went terribly wrong.
Zhì Jiéyuán's Needletail suddenly jerked mid-air, twisting violently as if an unseen force had yanked it off course.
Jiàn Ruòxī's stomach clenched as, a heartbeat later, her own bird did the same.
"What—?!"
She gripped the reins tightly, pulling with all her strength, but the Common Swift didn't respond. It veered wildly to the side, its movements no longer its own.
Zhì Jiéyuán's scream rang through the stadium. "I can't control it!"
The Needletail spiraled out of formation, its wings flaring in distress, its beady eyes wide with terror.
Jiàn Ruòxī's pulse pounded in her ears. No, no, no!
She yanked the reins again, harder, her heart slamming against her ribs.
Nothing.
It was as if some invisible hand had taken over.
Her beast was no longer hers.
The crowd gasped. Students rose to their feet, eyes wide, mouths open in shock.
Two competitors had lost control.
That left only two still flying the correct path.
Chén Hào.
Zhào Róngtiān.
Jiàn Ruòxī's breath caught in her throat as her eyes darted toward Zhào Róngtiān.
He wasn't shocked.
He wasn't confused.
He was smirking.
He leaned slightly forward, whispering something inaudible to his Turkey Vulture.
And then—he shot forward.
The crowd stirred, murmuring in disbelief. No one had expected what came next.
Everyone assumed Zhào Róngtiān's turkey vulture would attack Chén Hào and his black dove, a logical move for a predator. It also fit the pattern—Zhào Róngtiān's allies had struck Jiàn Ruòxī's team twice before. And finally, it was a matter of pride. Losing to someone with a soft bird like a dove would be humiliating.
But then, in a shocking twist, the black dove turned and attacked the turkey vulture instead. The unexpected assault injured the predator, leaving Zhào Róngtiān reeling.
Jiàn Ruòxī and Zhì Jiéyuán seized the moment. With Zhào Róngtiān distracted, they regained control of their beasts and steered them back on course.
Chén Hào, however, looked confused and terrified. Why? Shouldn't he be celebrating his bold attack? Instead, his face was frozen with fear.
The truth was chilling—Chén Hào hadn't controlled the dove at all. It had acted on its own. Or rather, someone else had controlled it.
But Chén Hào was quick to recover, puffing out his chest before the two most beautiful girls in the competition. "Hahaha! That was me! How could I stand by while my dear sisters were being treated unfairly? And look, thanks to me, your beasts are back under control!"
Jiàn Ruòxī bowed in gratitude. "Thank you, Brother Chén Hào!"
Zhì Jiéyuán grinned. "Now we can compete fairly!"
The three raced toward their fruit baskets, but unlike Zhào Róngtiān earlier, they didn't steal from each other.
Yet victory was far from secured.
A shadow loomed overhead. Zhào Róngtiān was back, his turkey vulture soaring above them, ready to strike.
Yán Shèngxīn's expression darkened. Without hesitation, he ordered GǔGǔ to release a low-frequency sound—not an infrasonic one like before, but something subtler. The first time, he had controlled the dove to attack. Not Chén Hào. Chén Hào, despite his bravado, would never dare challenge a predator, let alone one controlled by Zhào Róngtiān.
Zhào Róngtiān wasn't taking chances this time. He pulled out two whistles and blew them in sequence.
The first sent Jiàn Ruòxī's and Zhì Jiéyuán's birds veering off course toward the river.
The second sent Chén Hào's dove spiraling after them.
Zhào Róngtiān's laughter rang out. "Did you really think you could defeat me so easily?"
Tension spiked. The three students yanked at their reins, but their beasts wouldn't respond. The river loomed closer. Panic set in—they would have to jump or be dragged into the water.
Unlike before, this time they saw it. Zhào Róngtiān's whistle had triggered their birds' erratic behavior. They had been manipulated, just as Chén Hào's bird had been before.
And then—
A piercing whine split the air.
Unlike the previous silent commands, this sound was loud, unnerving, and undeniable.
Everything changed.
The three birds calmed instantly, veering away from the river.
The turkey vulture, however, shrieked and dived straight down, crashing into the water.
Zhào Róngtiān, still astride it, was thrown headfirst into the river.
Zhào Róngtiān flailed in the water, his arms thrashing wildly as he struggled to stay afloat. His confident smirk had vanished, replaced by sheer panic. The moment he hit the river, he had kicked and twisted, trying to regain control, but the weight of his soaked robes dragged him under. He surfaced, gasping, only to swallow a mouthful of water.
"Help! I can't swim!" he shrieked, his voice cracking with desperation. His arms slapped against the water, but his efforts only made him sink faster.
The audience, stunned for a moment, suddenly erupted in laughter. It started as scattered chuckles, then grew into full-blown amusement. Some students doubled over, clutching their stomachs. Others pointed at him, whispering mockingly to their friends.
"Wait, wait… he can tame a beast but can't swim?" one student cackled.
Another chimed in, "And he was just bragging about how untouchable he is!"
Even some of his own schoolmates couldn't suppress their amusement. It was a sight no one had expected—Zhào Róngtiān, the self-proclaimed strongest among them, now floundering like a helpless child.
Meanwhile, his turkey vulture beast, confused and disoriented, flapped its wings uselessly above the water, unsure whether to help or flee. It had been trained for aerial combat, not river rescues.
Zhào Róngtiān gasped again, barely managing to keep his head above the surface. "Are you all just going to stand there?! Someone get me out!"
But the laughter only grew louder. No one moved. No one rushed to save him. The same students who had feared his dominance now reveled in his humiliation. The referees exchanged glances, hesitating. Technically, stepping in would go against competition rules unless his life was truly in danger.
Zhào Róngtiān's face turned red—not just from exertion, but from the unbearable embarrassment. He had imagined the crowd chanting his name in victory, not mocking him in disgrace. His earlier boasts, his underhanded tactics, his ruthless attacks—none of it mattered now. No one respected him. No one cared about his victory.
In the end, a referee finally sighed and leaped into the water, hauling the sputtering, shivering Zhào Róngtiān to the riverbank. His robes dripped, his hair stuck to his face, his entire body trembling with cold and humiliation.
The applause he had expected never came. The only sound that filled the air was laughter—laughter at him.
This humiliation would be remembered for generations.
But it wasn't just Zhào Róngtiān who had been exposed.
Chén Hào's lie crumbled. If Zhào Róngtiān's beast could be forced into the river, then that meant Chén Hào had never controlled his dove to attack the vulture earlier. Someone else had.
Jiàn Ruòxī's heart pounded. Zhì Jiéyuán's breath caught. Who was this person?
High on the hill, Han Xiǎoyún and Chén Lìqiù, the two closest to the source of the sound, locked eyes.
Han Xiǎoyún wasted no time. She summoned her chameleon beast. It had to find the source. She had failed once before—when this same sound had tamed Zhào Wéiguāng's vicious bird beast on the first day. That time, the pain had been too great to focus on the origin. This time, she wouldn't miss it.
It had to be one of the students.
Zhào Wéiguāng was the strongest person present, but why would he harm his own beast? And the referees? They were his people—none would dare cross him.
That left the students.
But that made no sense.
Every competitor here had a registered beast. If one of them had a creature powerful enough to do this, it would be known. Yet, this mysterious beast had already subdued the strongest tamer on the field twice.
A beast of this level had to be beyond SSS rank. Its master had to be at least S-level.
And yet… they were only second-year students.
A shiver ran down Han Xiǎoyún's spine. The four most beautiful girls of the competition all had the same thought.
They had to find this person.
And they had to win his favor.
Chén Lìqiù trembled with excitement. She knew this was the same person who had infused her with warmth earlier. She had felt his power. She had touched greatness.
Her cheeks burned.
Her heart raced.
"Ai…" she whispered, pressing a hand to her chest.
She turned to her chameleon. "Find him."
The beast, usually fearless, froze in place.
Then it trembled.
Then—
It peed itself.
A second later, it bolted back into its Summoning Space, refusing to obey.
She stood, dumbfounded.
Jiàn Ruòxī landed beside her, still breathless. "Chén Lìqiù, you have to find this Master and his beast. Where's your chameleon?"
Han Xiǎoyún scoffed. "That useless thing pissed itself and ran."
Jiàn Ruòxī ignored the jab. Her eyes scanned the crowd. Han Xiǎoyún and Chén Lìqiù followed suit, so did Zhì Jiéyuán.
But there was no one who fit the image in their minds.
Surely, someone this powerful had to be charismatic, well-built, masculine, an overwhelming presence.
Yet all they saw were teenage boys.
Zhào Róngtiān, dripping wet, seethed.
Zhào Wéiguāng, standing stiffly, seethed even more.
"This damn beast again?" Zhào Wéiguāng's voice was low, venomous. His eyes burned as he swept the crowd, trying to pierce through whatever illusion concealed the mysterious master.
Zhào Róngtiān wasn't as composed.
Fury twisted his soaked face.
His voice cracked with rage.
"Bastard! Coward! Show yourself! Who the hell are you? I'll kill you!"
Zhào Róngtiān wasn't the only one spiraling into rage. His uncle, Teacher Zhào Wéiguāng, felt it too. Twice now, he had been "defeated" by a beast he couldn't even visualize.
As the representative teacher of Dà Huáng Shā Shòuyì, he couldn't afford to act recklessly. He wanted to detain every student and force the beast's owner to reveal themselves. But the moment he heard that voice again, he abandoned the idea. His own summoned majestic bird had curled into a trembling heap inside its summoning space, too terrified to move. If the beast's presence alone could break a contracted summon's will, what could it do to him? He had no intention of finding out.
The tense air crackled as he snapped, "Silence! Zhào Róngtiān, you'll be punished after class for this disgraceful display." His voice carried more desperation than authority, but it worked.
The competition results were announced. Bǎi Wàn Shòuyì took first place, followed by Jiàn Yú Gǎng Shòuyì, and lastly, Dà Tián Shòuyì. The crowd cheered, except for Jiàn Ruòxī, Hán Xiǎoyún, Chén Lìqiù, and Zhì Jiéyuán. They weren't paying attention—they were busy scanning faces, their eyes darting from student to student, searching.
Zhào Róngtiān, still burning with fury, did the same. Teacher Zhào Wéiguāng, however, wasn't looking for a fight—he was searching for opportunity. If he could find the owner of that beast, his future would be set.
The six of them, each for their own reasons, fixated on the same question.
"Who the hell are you?"
Unbothered, the true owner of the terrifying beast—none other than the Golden Silkworm, GǔGǔ—mingled effortlessly among his classmates, blending in with their laughter. Not a single one of his pursuers recognized him.
The hill emptied quickly, leaving behind only silence.
But two figures lingered.
Shèn Zhēngkāi, the Monkey King Demon, and Tún Tǔyún, the Pig King Demon, prowled the abandoned grounds, sniffing out traces of the beast that had sent shivers down their spines.
"Ngruk, ngruk… Brother Monkey, didn't you hear it?" Tún Tǔyún grumbled, his plump ears still ringing. "That sound was torture!"
Shèn Zhēngkāi leapt from rock to rock, restless. "Ngik, ngik! Shut up, you lazy pig! I know it came from here. One of those students in the audience—one of them owns that thing."
"But what are we even looking for?"
"Anything," Shèn Zhēngkāi snapped, tail flicking in frustration. "And yet…" He landed heavily, rubbing his head. "There's nothing. No scent, no trace."
Tún Tǔyún gulped. "You don't think—?"
"If we can't find it, that means that beast… never left its summoning space." Shèn Zhēngkāi shuddered at the realization. If its voice alone was this powerful from another dimension, what would happen if it were summoned into this world?
Tún Tǔyún's face drained of color. "Brother… if even you would faint, I'd be in a coma for months."
Shèn Zhēngkāi grabbed him by the arm. "Come on. We're wasting time. If we want to take down that traitor, the Lion Demon King, we need this beast on our side."
Tún Tǔyún nodded hastily. "Yes, brother!"
And with that, the two vanished into the night.
-----------------------------End of Chapter 18--------------------------------------