: Novice Trial

By the time the two completed their contract and left the Beast Taming Shop to go home, it was already dusk.

Gu Xing pushed open the door, a familiar figure made him freeze in place.

"Sis?"

Gu Qianqian turned around at the sound, her chestnut ponytail tracing a graceful arc in the air.

"Xing is back? Hurry and come eat," she waved, smiling warmly.

Since Gu Qianqian enrolled in the National Academy, the siblings hadn't seen each other for half a year.

At the dinner table.

"Sis, why did you come back suddenly?"

"I accepted a task for Lin Yuan City, and since I was passing by, I decided to drop in and see you."

Her gaze fell on Liu Li, who was sitting upright, her eyes showing a hint of curiosity, "Is this your Guardian Beast?"

The young girl straightened her spine and properly placed her hands on her knees.

Upon hearing Gu Qianqian's question, she suddenly bowed at a 90-degree angle, her forehead bumping against the table with a thud.

"Greetings to the big sister!"

Gu Qianqian was initially stunned, but quickly found herself amused by the adorable reaction, "No need to be so restrained; we are family now."

Only then did Liu Li lift her head, her face flushed red, nodding repeatedly like a little chicken pecking at rice.

As the laughter faded, Gu Qianqian's expression grew serious.

She put down her chopsticks, staring straight into Gu Xing's eyes:

"Xing, you must seize the opportunity in the Newbie Trial Space tomorrow."

"The military has cordoned off a safe zone in the Alternate Space, the highest Level magic beast is only Level 5, making it the best opportunity for newcomers."

"And the Newbie Trial can only be entered once, it's the only buffer period the military provides."

Gu Xing silently nodded.

Once you enter the real Alternate Space, even a Commander Level Beast Master could face unexpected dangers.

The levels in this world are divided into:

Awakening, Extraordinary, Commander, Monarch... each major level further divides into ten sub-levels.

Currently, he stood at the very bottom, merely at the Awakening Level, requiring utmost caution.

His primary task at present was to seize every opportunity to grow quickly.

With Gu Qianqian's instructions, the meal ended hurriedly.

With tasks at hand, Gu Qianqian didn't stay long, taking only a few hours off just to check on him.

Seeing her younger brother's well-being, she felt reassured.

...

In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived.

The entrance to the Newbie Trial Space was bustling.

Countless students gathered here, either seeking teams or looking for someone strong to latch onto.

Though it was a Newbie Trial Space, a small error could still cost one's life.

Thus, for civilians, teaming up was deemed the best choice.

"We need a Guardian Beast specializing in output, our team is four looking for one!"

"Any pros willing to take me along? I have a healing-type Guardian Beast and I'm a sweet girl with 36D, promise to obey in the Trial Space!"

"Whoa! A humanoid Guardian Beast... Where did this big shot come from? Quick, seeking team-up!"

A humanoid Guardian Beast signified formidable combat power, attracting countless gazes as Gu Xing entered with Liu Li.

But quickly, everyone understood the identity of the humanoid Guardian Beast.

"Isn't that Gu Xing? Didn't he sell the humanoid Guardian Beast he summoned to the Chen Family? Where did this humanoid Guardian Beast come from now?"

"I remember now, this Guardian Beast was summoned from the altar last year; I heard she's useless!"

"Contracting a Guardian Beast that can't level up, has he completely given up?"

Now, no one dared to team up with him, keeping their distance.

Carrying a useless Guardian Beast in the team would spell pure disaster, wouldn't it?

Now Gu Xing was actually pleased.

There were many people at the entrance of the Newbie Trial, those who arrived later had difficulty squeezing in.

But now, the crowd parted naturally, clearing his path.

Under the gaze of all, Gu Xing calmly walked to the entrance.

"He really is a strange person..."

"Looking at him, is he planning to enter the Trial Space alone, without forming a team?"

"Isn't he asking for trouble?"

Gu Xing completely disregarded these murmurs, just as he was about to register with Liu Li to enter the Trial Space.

A suddenly odd voice rang from behind:

"Yo~ isn't it you?"

Chen Ziming walked close, holding a Succubus, deliberately rubbing his temples as if pondering.

"Gu... what Gu again?"

The Succubus in his arms immediately caught on, replying in a sweet voice:

"Master, he's called Gu Xing~"

"Ah yes, right, Gu Xing!"

Chen Ziming dramatically smacked his forehead, displaying disdain in his eyes.

"I should thank you; without your 'generous offer', how would I have contracted such an outstanding Guardian Beast?" He said, pinching hard at the Succubus' waist.

"Oh... master..."

The Succubus let out a coquettish moan, although she rolled her eyes subtly, her face quickly adorned with a fawning smile.

"Only by following a genius like you can I fully realize my value."

Those around them also chimed in:

"How could a civilian compare to Young Master Chen? An Epic Level Guardian Beast surely has to be in his hands to demonstrate immense function."

"Moreover, with him now contracting a useless Guardian Beast, he is even less able to compare to Young Master Chen!"

"That's right, in this trial, Young Master Chen is sure to outshine everyone, securing the first place in this trial."

The Newbie Trial Space, backed by a significant investment by the military, held greater value than a mere upgrade ground.

All magic beasts released within were implanted with special markers, allowing points to automatically accumulate upon successful kills by a Trial Taker.

Outside the Trial Space, the military had set up a sophisticated monitoring system, tracking each Trial Taker's points in real-time.

This system not only recorded final scores but also evaluated the Trial Taker's combat talent and growth potential based on points acquisition speed.

Ultimately, all the information was recorded in the system for the final evaluation of entrance exams.

Gu Xing looked at Chen Ziming and others' antics with a calm demeanor, even flashing a slight, indistinct smile.

When one's strength far surpasses others, faced with ridicule, one remains composed.

Only the weak get angry over such mockery.

Clearly, Gu Xing, who contracted a Legendary Level Guardian Beast, was not the weak.

However.

Beside him, the little girl trembled with anger, clenched her silver teeth, and balled her fists tight enough to blanch the knuckles, ready to rush forward to argue...

"Liu Li," Gu Xing timely stretched a hand to stop her.

"What matters most now is the Newbie Trial, don't let them affect your mindset."

Liu Li gazed up at Gu Xing's calm, crystal-clear eyes; the seething anger in her chest slowly subsided.

She took a deep breath, nodding heavily.

However, deep down, she silently vowed to exert all of her strength in the coming Trial.

To ensure everyone understands that her master is the real number one.

The true number one!

...

...

: Elite Tier-2 Magic Beast, Instant Kill!

Leaving the entrance, he and Liu Li passed through a blue Light Gate, and the scene before them shifted abruptly.

At this moment, they found themselves in a vast forest, the sky a dark, misty gray, shrouded in fog, cold and desolate.

Although all the students entered the same Secret Realm, anyone who didn't enter at the same time would be randomly assigned to a different part of this space.

Gu Xing took out a timer and set it for four hours.

The Newbie Trial Space had a four-hour time limit; once time ran out, they would be teleported out.

Time is tight and the task is urgent!

They had to find a Magic Beast as quickly as possible and kill it to swiftly level up Liu Li.

At this moment, Liu Li spread her wings wide, hovering in midair, her small face full of seriousness, none of her usual unreliability in sight.

"Master, don't worry, as long as I'm here, nothing will go wrong."

Beast Masters in the Awakening Stage could be said to be no different from ordinary people.

In this space, a single misstep could mean losing your life.

This situation would only ease after reaching the Extraordinary Realm.

At that point, a Beast Master's constitution would greatly improve, and they could contract a second Guardian Beast.

Besides that, when a Beast Master breaks through to the Extraordinary Realm, they will awaken their own unique Talent Ability.

This is the true key distinguishing the strong from the weak!

Precisely because of this, the Extraordinary Realm is recognized as the most vital watershed in a Beast Master's path of cultivation.

A powerful Talent often allows a mediocre Beast Master to achieve a stunning transformation;

Unfortunately, this road of cultivation is far harsher than you'd imagine—far too many Beast Masters spend their entire lives trapped at the Awakening Stage.

Just then, a sudden "crack" of a breaking branch came from the depths of the dense mist.

"Master, be careful! A monster is coming!"

Liu Li's wings snapped open in an instant; she flashed forward and shielded Gu Xing.

The mist slowly dissipated, and a Magic Beast at least two meters tall emerged, walking slowly out.

It looked like a Barbaric Bull, yet its whole body was pitch black, beastly eyes like copper bells glowing with a bloodthirsty red light.

[Barbaric Bone Bull (Demon)]

[Talent: Elite One Star]

[Level: Tier Two]

[Power: 22]

[Constitution: 21]

[Spirit: 11]

[Speed: 17]

[Skills: Wild Bull Charge]

Seeing the Barbaric Bone Bull's Attributes, Gu Xing's brows furrowed tightly.

To encounter an Elite Tier Two Magic Beast right on entering the Newbie Trial Space—this luck couldn't be called good.

For an ordinary five-person civilian team, this would be practically catastrophic.

But with Liu Li's Legendary Level Guardian Beast strength, taking down this Magic Beast shouldn't be a problem.

"Liu Li!"

"Leave it to me, Master!"

The little girl's eyes burned with fierce fighting spirit, her small frame radiating an astonishing aura.

She had been waiting for this moment far too long.

"Judgment!"

With a clear shout, dazzling golden flames rose from Liu Li's palm, instantly condensing into a two-handed greatsword ablaze with Holy Flame.

This was the natural combat instinct of the Angel Race, a lineage etched in their blood.

The Barbaric Bone Bull was enraged by the sudden display of power.

It pawed the ground with thick hooves, snorting white vapor from its nostrils, copper bell eyes fixed on the Tier Zero little figure before it.

"Moo—!"

With a deafening roar, the Barbaric Bone Bull unleashed its signature skill [Barbaric Charge], charging like an out-of-control war machine straight at them.

Liu Li didn't move an inch, waiting until the wild bull was right in front of her—

"Swish!"

A flawless golden arc cut through the mist.

Time seemed to freeze in that moment.

The Barbaric Bone Bull stayed in its charge posture, but collapsed with a crash behind Liu Li—the massive body neatly split in two!

The [Judgment] skill deals extra damage to Demon Race creatures, and with the terrifying Attributes of a Legendary Level Guardian Beast, this battle was decided in a split second.

Right after, a deep blue light rose from the Barbaric Bone Bull's corpse and merged into the center of Liu Li's brow.

Seeing this, Gu Xing immediately checked Liu Li's information.

[Divine Angel (Liu Li)]

[Talent: Legendary One Star]

[Level: Tier One]

[Power: 35]

[Constitution: 34]

[Spirit: 34]

[Speed: 37]

[Skills: Judgment (increases damage to Demon Race creatures), Divine Protection (immune to one fatal attack), Blazing Angel Form (All Attributes +200%), Song of the End (Angel falls into slumber after use)]

[Cultivation Suggestions: Light Crystal, Holy Spirit Marrow Liquid, Angel Sacred Blood!]

Just by killing a single Tier Two Barbaric Bone Bull, Liu Li's Level directly broke through to Tier One.

At the same time, Gu Xing felt a "buzz" in his mind, Spiritual Power surging like a tide, his senses suddenly sharpening intensely.

The Beast Master's Level was determined by the Guardian Beast's Level; at that moment, his Level rose to Awakening Tier One.

Gu Xing then focused on each of Liu Li's Attributes.

And now, he realized just how terrifying a Legendary Talent Guardian Beast truly was!

Liu Li, who had just broken through to Tier One, was already dominating every Attribute compared to the Tier Two Barbaric Bone Bull.

Even more frightening, this gap would grow exponentially wider as her Level increased…

"Mas... Master..."

Gu Xing looked up at the sound to see Liu Li standing stiffly by the Barbaric Bone Bull's corpse, her slender fingers trembling slightly.

When she turned around, glistening tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Did you see that?"

Her voice was choked yet shone with a light never seen before, "I really… I'm really not useless…"

Gu Xing could understand Liu Li's feelings at this moment.

She'd spent the past year living under others' ridicule, and now she'd finally shattered all doubt with her strength.

He strode forward and gently pulled the petite figure into his arms.

"You were never useless. You're an angel soaring above the nine heavens!"

Liu Li buried her face deep in her master's chest, slender fingers clutching tightly at his shirt.

All the pent-up grievance and frustration now became scorching tears, soaking through Gu Xing's clothes.

Time slowed in that moment…

When Liu Li finally lifted her head, her crystal tears still traced her cheeks, but all the confusion and timidity in her eyes had vanished.

In their place was a steely, tempered light.

In this instant, the timid girl from before had truly transformed.

"Master, I'm fine now." Liu Li wiped away her tears. "Let's hurry and keep leveling up!"

Gu Xing nodded.

With Liu Li's current strength, ordinary Tier Three Magic Beasts could no longer withstand her.

Even Tier Four Magic Beasts could only pose a slight threat to her.

Once she broke through to Tier Two, even some Tier Five Magic Beasts would no longer be her match.

So, at this moment, what really limited their leveling speed wasn't the strength of the Magic Beasts, but…

How to quickly and accurately find traces of Magic Beasts in this mist-shrouded Trial Space!

The entire Newbie Trial Space covered dozens of square kilometers, with Magic Beasts evenly distributed throughout.

What made things harder was that those high-tier Magic Beasts, which could provide abundant experience…

Their numbers were pitifully scarce!

...

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