Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

"Of the 62,300 middle school graduates in Hanggang this year, only about 2% can make it into Shengshui High School, and those present here today are part of that top 2%!"

"High school marks a turning point in our lives, and the college entrance exam is a rite of passage in this growth journey. The score you achieve will determine where you spend the next few years of your life."

"I trust that everyone here, as top students from middle school, has come to Shengshui High School aiming for elite universities. However, each year, the college entrance exam is like a hellish challenge, where even a single point can mean a difference of hundreds of ranks."

"According to statistics, the number of college entrance exam candidates exceeds 10 million each year, yet there are only a handful of top universities. You can imagine how intense the competition is."

"However, today, at this opening ceremony, I present you with another opportunity to enter a top university, by defeating the new school team members!" Principal Wang Weidou declared passionately.

As soon as he said this, the entire audience erupted.

"Top universities? I think only about 26 people in our city got into them last year.

"True, but our school alone produced 21 of those 26, so the principal isn’t exaggerating."

"Why are there already freshmen on the school team? How were they chosen?"

"Hold on, I’m going up first! Don’t any of you try to stop me!"

Once everyone had quieted down, Principal Wang Weidou continued, "We will replace the school team members based on your performance. Some of you might not yet realize what being on the team means."

"Once you’re on the team, if you achieve first place in a provincial campus competition held by the government during your three years in high school and pass the D-level Beastmaster exam, you qualify for an elite university’s special admissions test, skipping the hellish college entrance exam."

"If your goal is a first-tier university and a top-three provincial ranking, you also gain this opportunity for yourself."

"Of course, this means you need a strong talent for beast-taming and will have to devote significant time to nurturing and training your beast, cutting down on study time compared to other students. I hope those who step up to challenge today can weigh these pros and cons."

"But…"

Wang Weidou paused, smiling, "If all you want is to test the school team members’ strength, we welcome that too."

"Those chosen for the school team are either special recruits with direct admissions or students with self-awakened abilities. Defeating them, even if you don’t end up joining the team, will showcase your ability in front of the entire school, proving you’re just as good!"

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"Enough talk. Now, let me introduce our current school team members." Wang Weidou turned and raised his hand.

"They are Lu You, Qiao Sang, Wang Jihang, Lu Liangye, Jin Feifan, and Jiang Nai."

The dark red curtain opened automatically, revealing the six members of the battle team to the crowd.

Principal Wang Weidou, with his skillful oratory, had the entire Shengshui Hall buzzing.

Not only the freshmen but even some upperclassmen felt a rush of excitement, recalling their early days.

Provincial first place might be a stretch, but securing a top-three spot didn’t seem entirely out of reach, especially since everyone knew Shengshui High had a legacy of being the second-best school in the province.

While the odds of getting into a top university were slim, aiming for a first-tier school was still the goal for most students.

Besides, beast battles were the kind of competition all Beastmasters found thrilling. Instead of cramming for exams, they could gain admission by competing in battles, a dream scenario for 90% of freshly minted Beastmasters.

As for the remaining 10% who might lack interest in battles, even they were eager to try after the principal’s final words.

The students who made it into Shengshui High were all top-ranked in their respective middle schools. They weren’t arrogant, but confidence was a given.

Defeating those direct-admit and self-awakened students on the team would not only let them prove their worth in front of everyone but also make them stand out, possibly gaining them some social perks for the next three years.

The entire hall’s eyes sparkled, fixed on the six school team members on stage.

Surrounded by thousands of gazes, Jin Feifan, who was socially anxious, had never experienced such a situation.

Her legs trembled, forming a stark contrast with Qiao Sang, who was gleaming with excitement as she scanned the crowd.

Amazing. The principal’s pep talk had given everyone a rush. If everyone lined up to challenge them, how many points could she earn... Qiao Sang couldn’t help but grin.

"Who’s going first?" Principal Wang Weidou asked.

Lu You, Lu Liangye, and Wang Jihang kept quiet. Like in movies, the real experts always appear last, with the first ones being cannon fodder.

They were the experts, so they’d definitely go last!

Jin Feifan, frozen in place with cold, numb hands and feet, wasn’t just unwilling to go first; she wanted to run away.

At that moment, Qiao Sang took a step forward and said, "I’ll go!"

Lu You and the others: !!!

They looked at Qiao Sang in shock.

Are you kidding? She’s our strongest member, and she wants to go first?! Isn’t the rule that experts go last?!

"Great! Do you have anything you’d like to say to everyone?" Wang Weidou handed her the microphone.

Everyone’s attention focused on Qiao Sang.

Completely unfazed, she took the microphone, turned to the principal, and asked, "If I don’t lose, will this segment just keep going?"

Principal Wang Weidou was stunned for a moment, then nodded.

"Of course, until no one challenges you."

Relieved, Qiao Sang nodded.

"I only have one thing to say." She announced, looking straight ahead with a serious expression.

"I… won’t lose."

Shengshui Hall fell silent.

The next second, the entire audience erupted, their enthusiasm surpassing even the principal’s rousing speech.

"Whoa! Who is she, so cocky!"

"I know! Have you heard of the recent Bai Xin Competition? She won several matches against intermediate beasts with her Fire Fang Dog and took the championship."

"That’s some backwater competition. Never heard of it, probably just against a bunch of weaklings."

"Her beast’s a Fire Fang Dog? My Power Claw Crab could beat that. Let me go first."

"Hey, she’s a girl, don’t be too harsh. Maybe let my Power Duck go first."

"…"

Meanwhile, in a second-year classroom.

"This freshman has no idea what the nightmare of a gauntlet match is like." One former school team member shook his head, recalling his own humiliating defeat in last year’s opening ceremony.

"I’m telling you, she’s got the guts for it. Remember the freakish freshman I mentioned in the group? That’s her." said Shi Gaofeng.

"The one you said is even freakier than Wang Yao?" A nearby boy sucked in a breath, asking.

"Not sure, haven’t fought her, but that’s my impression." Shi Gaofeng nodded.

In the seating area for Class 1, Year 2, Wang Yao clenched her fists, watching the center of the stage.

Undeniably, the past few weeks of training had put immense pressure on her, knowing that her younger peer, Qiao Sang, was already making waves.

"Please don’t embarrass us…" Wang Yao murmured.

As a worthy opponent, she hoped Qiao Sang wouldn’t be defeated by the gauntlet match.

Soon, the first challenger rose from their seat.

"Hello, I’m Zhang Jinchuan from Class 5, Year 1. Please guide me well."

With that, he summoned a little fat dove.

"Class 1, Year 1, Qiao Sang."

Qiao Sang formed a hand sign, and from a gray star array emerged a figure striped in gray and yellow.

"Xun xun~"