Xue Ren walked over and extended her hand. Tianlei took it without hesitation.
She clicked her tongue and rubbed the side of her head, looking more irritated by the formality than the outcome itself.
"Congratulations."
"…Great." Tianlei exhaled slowly. "So the evaluation's done. Now what?"
Xue Ren sighed, visibly exhausted.
"Quite. Golden Earth Academy has three halls which are mainly the Beast Hall, Mage Hall, and Warrior Hall.
"Which hall do you desire?" she asked.
"Warrior Hall."
My lady clearly told me he should take Beast Hall, it seems, Xue Ren thought.
"You can't take Warrior Hall."
"Why?"
"Someone like you would be a great asset to taming powerful beasts. With your powerful monster genes, it's a great opportunity."
"An asset, huh," Tianlei muttered under his breath. So indeed, now he belonged either to Golden Earth Academy or to her. He couldn't bring himself to imagine being commanded by a woman.
He didn't have time to argue with people like her. His head still hurt for reasons he couldn't explain.
"Alright, I'll do as Your Highness wishes," Tianlei said sarcastically, turning and walking away.
"I can't believe my fate is to become an asset," Tianlei said quietly, clenching his fists.
The student whom he had shoved on the stairs bypassed him, glaring as if declaring a death sentence—but luckily, Xue Ren was behind her.
He didn't really need her. The armor's AI fed him more information than he wanted.
A soft pulse ran through his vision as names surfaced over every person he passed.
Tianlei clicked his tongue. "Already annoying."
"You'll get used to it," Xue Ren said as they exited the Evaluation Wing.
A sharp pain shot through his head, making him stagger forward. He clutched his head as his vision blurred. He didn't even have time to comprehend what just happened when something liquid ran down from his nostrils. He touched them with his fingers and saw blood.
"What the heck—"
"Are you okay?" Xue Ren asked.
Tianlei didn't seem to hear her. He just stared at the blood dripping from his nose.
"Kill them all," a rough voice echoed in his head.
Xue Ren stepped forward and touched his shoulder, making him turn.
"It seems like your asset is having a nosebleed. Mind me using my technique to stop it?"
"What technique?"
Tianlei didn't wait. He did a backflip and landed on his hands.
"This is the technique. Now give me five minutes to heal."
Xue Ren just stared at his craziness. So did everyone else emerging from the Evaluation Hall. He looked like a clown with a red nose, entertaining people.
Xue Ren raised her lips as if to say something, then slowly lowered them.
I will make sure I annoy you as much as possible, Tianlei laughed in his head.
Xue Ren didn't say anything. She just stood there like a statue. Tianlei found it annoying ,his plan was to irritate her as much as possible.
Five minutes passed, but Tianlei was still in the same position.
His elbows hurt. He clenched his jaw, trying to maintain balance, but soon his weak body gave out and he hit the ground hard. If the heavens were laughing, they chose the perfect moment . he fell right in front of a beautiful girl with feathers in her hair.
She looked at him and smiled.
"I didn't know clowns were being admitted into the academy," she said.
Surprisingly, she offered him a hand, and Tianlei took it, gripping it firmly.
"Tia—" He didn't even finish introducing himself before she walked away. For some reason, that hurt. But who would want to talk to a man with a nosebleed?
"If you're done, can we continue?"
They boarded something resembling a high-speed train. It swooshed forward at a speed comparable to Mach 0.6—fast enough to cover ten kilometers in under ten minutes but the distance they traveled was far shorter than Tianlei expected.
"This is the first-grade Beast Hall for beginners."
The building in front of them wasn't what Tianlei expected. He had imagined something grand, like a castle, but instead it was supported by massive pillars holding exposed floors and open spaces.
Here, he could smell the essence of nature, which meant a forest lay nearby. But the farther Tianlei went, the fewer people appeared.
He walked with his hands loose at his sides, shoulders slightly slouched, gaze lowered just enough to seem unimportant.
Students were scattered across the hall, each keeping distance from the others.
Among them, he noticed the girl with feathers in her hair. The humiliating moment flashed through his mind.
Tianlei took a position near the back and waited.
Everyone present radiated a powerful aura—mostly eight-star or nine-star Soldier-class levels. He, on the other hand, was only three-star, though edging close to four-star.
A man appeared without sound, emerging from a distortion of space similar to Xue Ren's.
Tall and thin, dressed in dark robes that swallowed light rather than reflected it. His hair was tied neatly back. His presence was sharp, but restrained.
"My name is Tang Zhen," he said. "You may call me Instructor Zhen. Listen carefully. I will not repeat myself."
"Beast masters are often viewed as weaklings," he continued. "Those who rely on borrowed strength instead of their own. That assumption is flawed. You are here because you passed the evaluation. I will not waste time motivating you."
His gaze swept the hall.
"A beast master may contract fewer than ten beasts in a lifetime. Through borrowed power, one may command hundreds. Beasts obey beasts more readily than humans. Today, you will be offered your first contract. That will be your ticket into the Beast Hall. Failure means you are unworthy."
A smirk appeared on Tianlei's face. If he simply didn't attempt taming, he would be deemed unworthy and his perfect chance to change halls. But that would make him look weak in front of everyone .
A voice broke the silence.
"So… we can pick any bad guy we want?"
Tianlei glanced over. The armor responded instantly, revealing the name.
Bai Kun.
By his dressing style and tone, he was likely from a major family.
The man chuckled softly. "Of course. Go ahead. See what happens if you try to tame a rebellious devil."
That was enough.
Bai Kun crossed his arms and snorted.
"The beasts provided today are below level three," the man continued. "I strongly advise choosing a level two."
Beasts ranged from level one to twelve. Anything above nine was classified as an Emperor beast , even high ranked beast masters could not easily tame them . A first contract ideally required strong soul power, something level two beasts notoriously lacked.
Tianlei raised his hand.
"Sir."
All eyes turned.
"Shouldn't a first contract beast have strong soul power?" he asked calmly. "At least level four. Why offer such pitiful creatures?"
Murmurs spread.
"Enough," the man snapped. "You're not wrong. But level four beasts are hunted at great expense. Do you think we exist to prepare everything for you?" His eyes sharpened. "With your current strength, even a level one could kill you."
He paused.
"This contract is temporary. It may be dissolved later under supervision. Understood?"
His gaze lingered on Tianlei as if he'd committed an offense.
Tianlei inclined his head.
"Beast Hall, like any other hall, runs on a set of rules mainly applying to beast taming. Rule one," the man said, raising a finger. "Do not touch a sealed beast or even approach it."
"Rule two: Do not release killing intent inside Beast Hall. If you do, the nearest beast will respond before I do. I will not save you."
Another finger.
"Rule three: Do not provoke a beast to test compatibility. This is not a market ."
A shiver passed through the hall.
"What if someone is a deviator?" a voice asked from behind.
Tianlei turned to see who wanted him dead. He hadn't expected other deviators to be present as they were rare.
Xue Ren stood with her arms crossed.
"My friend here is a deviator. Deviation Index: two."
Tianlei exhaled quietly. Thank God she didn't say the real number.
The man's eyes shifted to him.
"…Deviator."
The word carried weight.
"For those unaware," the man said evenly, "a Deviator possesses high-grade genes. To beasts, these genes are evolution nutrients."
Tianlei lowered his head slightly.
"So," the man continued, "Feng Tianlei, you will be placed under Restricted Taming Protocol."
"Restriction one: You are forbidden from approaching high-rank beasts—basically, anything above level three at this stage."
Someone chuckled.
The man looked at Tianlei. "In simpler terms , anything strong enough to grow by eating you is prohibited."
Tianlei's eyes widened slightly.
"So all these restrictions apply only to me?" he asked.
"Yes, princess," Bai Kun drawled. "Wouldn't want you ruining that delicate skin."
Xue Ren's gaze snapped toward him. Bai Kun stiffened and looked away.
The man ignored the exchange.
"Rule four applies to everyone. You may form only one contract at a time."
"Rule five: Do not ask why these rules exist."
He paused.
"And finally—rule six."
The air grew heavier.
"If you violate any restriction, punishment will be severe."
The data panels vanished. The man turned away.
"All non-restricted students will proceed."
Movement followed. Tianlei remained where he was.
No one told him to wait. He simply knew.
As others passed, some glanced at him with curiosity. Others with pity. A few with relief since a deviator would attract high-level beasts eager to contract, leaving nothing for them.
"See?" Xue Ren said quietly. "First day and they're already mocking you."
Thirty minutes passed, yet no one came to help him. Xue Ren still hadn't left.
"Don't you have anything else to do?" Tianlei asked.
"My duties come first. Personal pleasure later."
That was all. By the looks of it, she might stay for a long time.
An assistant finally approached . It was a woman with tired eyes but they simply regained their strength as soon as they landed on the figure behind Tianlei .
"You," she said. "Follow me."
He did.
They passed through a warped corridor more like a wormhole. The academy seemed built on spatial energy, allowing people to cross vast distances in seconds.
They emerged somewhere else entirely.
Tianlei stopped.
The aura here was gentle not powerful, but soothing. Pure in a way the academy above wasn't.
Small creatures wandered freely, most no more threatening than infants. Level one beasts. A four-winged sprinter bird darted past, wind-fast. By its aura, it was a peak level two nearing evolution.
"This is the lowest chamber," the assistant said. "Only level one and two beasts. I suggest a peak level two and avoid going deeper , You have twenty minutes for this activity. "
She stepped back.
To anyone watching, he looked like a boy with no idea what he was doing.