Blood Spirit Grass is an herbal medicine for treating external injuries and is indeed more expensive than Inferior Spirit Grass.
Lin Chen was originally an economic data analyst, so he calculates everything according to maximizing benefits.
After buying seeds, he headed straight to the Beast Tamer Guild, which was crowded with people.
Before entering, he heard a familiar advertisement sound:
"Hey, check out Beast Simulator Loan, with an annual interest rate of just 30%."
Lin Chen was embarrassed and decisively refused.
Could it be that the end of life is taking out loans?
After waiting in line for a few minutes, it was his turn. The efficiency of the Beast Tamer Guild was quite good.
"Hello, what service would you like to handle?"
"I want to register as a Beastmaster."
"Okay, fill in these fields like contract time, type, etc."
Lin Chen quickly filled it out, handed it over, and the staff quickly glanced over it, finding no issues, then asked, "Do you need to enroll in school?"
"No need."
Lin Chen truly couldn't afford school fees.
Though there are many advantages in the academy, aside from mentors' cultivation insights, the vast library, exchanges among students, and...
The only way to enter the system's work.
The various offices, large and small, in the Cangling Ancient Country only accept applications from those who graduate from the academy.
As for advancing to the Inner Courtyard to become a core student, there are even resources tilted in their favor.
The staff did not promote any further, processed Lin Chen's information, handed over three hundred bucks, and then gave Lin Chen a device akin to a mobile phone.
This device is the exclusive Guild Machine of the Beast Tamer Guild. It doesn't allow calls, but it lets one see tasks released by the Beast Tamer Guild and allows posting comments on posts, like jobs, team-ups, and task releases.
The majority of beastmasters choose to register for this reason.
In this era, there are also mechanical Spirit Beasts, so there is still technology, but it's not well-developed as growth potential must be manually controlled.
"... You still need to complete an assessment test to determine the level of tasks you can accept," the staff explained. "Only by passing the test can you unlock the task acceptance feature. Do you want to take the test now?"
Lin Chen naturally knew that the Beast Tamer Guild, to protect beastmasters, classified task difficulty levels from one to ten stars, with higher difficulties demanding greater strength.
"I'd like to give it a try," Lin Chen replied.
"Trying is not harmful, your Spirit Beast is a Plowhorn Beast, and at Level 1, the pass rate is around 30%." The staff kindly reminded, "If you fail the first time, advancing to Level 2 will greatly increase the pass rate."
Then the staff pointed in a direction and handed Lin Chen a form and the Guild Machine.
Lin Chen thanked him and, following the guided direction, turned a few doors and arrived at a small plaza where many arenas were set up.
In the world of beastmasters, there are Beast Fighting Arenas, and beast fights can be held openly, but running a beast-fighting arena requires costly certifications, with each being staggeringly expensive.
Though this basic assessment in the guild is not a beast-vs-beast duel but rather with a Puppet Wood, the essence remains similar.
One can place bets here, but the amount is limited to under 1000.
Many here were around Lin Chen's age, some joyful and others disappointed and dejected because their Spirit Beasts didn't pass.
"... Your information has been verified," the staff was nice, glanced at Xiaobai, then at the arena's fence: "If you're ready, we can start."
Lin Chen wasn't in a rush and instead asked nicely, "Could you introduce the Puppet Wood's skills to us?"
"Of course," the staff pointed to the Puppet Wood on the stage, saying:
"Its prototype is the Wild Boar, a rare Low-level Mortal Beast Combat Pet. Its skill is 'Pig King Debut,' which doubles its weight and increases defense."
"The vast majority of Spirit Beasts have only one chance against it, which is to break through its defense. If they can't break it, it'll use its weight to suppress you until you can't move."
"However, it's fake. The real controller is the Banyan Tree Spirit outside."
Lin Chen and Xiaobai followed his gaze and saw a giant banyan tree outside the plaza that looked centuries old.
Records say that if the Banyan Tree Spirit's bloodline is pure enough, it has a chance to evolve into the World Tree. It belongs to the Spiritual System and can control everything.
Xiaobai also sensed the immense power of the opponent, feeling the world's strength pressure for the first time.
It seemed it needed to train harder.
As Xiaobai thought this, Lin Chen's voice came: "Go for it, Xiaobai."
Without any special instructions, he just patted its head.
After last night's bloodline purification, Xiaobai's skills had changed somewhat. Lin Chen believed passing the test shouldn't be difficult.
"Moo~~"
Xiaobai wasn't sure, but it didn't want its first battle to end in failure, continually hypnotizing itself to do its best.
Once on stage, the staff said, "Three-minute countdown, arena bets open. Odds: win 2.3, lose 1.7."
This immediately attracted many people, betting mostly on the loss after recognizing it as a Plowhorn Beast.
Under such odds, the Beast Tamer Guild doesn't profit.
"Its horn is small, likely lacking talent, making it hard to pass," one noted.
"Even if the horn wasn't small, normal Plowhorn Beasts have a low pass rate," another added.
After two minutes, seven or eight spectators gathered around, including someone like Lin Chen who had also contracted a Plowhorn Beast, which failed the recent test, leaving its nose red.
They regretted not taking a loan to buy a Combat Pet and, feeling vulnerable, immediately bet a thousand on a loss.
He couldn't pass, so Lin Chen certainly wouldn't either.
Feeling the crowd's gaze, the Plowhorn Beast grew more anxious, and those three minutes on stage were tormenting and unsettling.
Lin Chen didn't provide comfort because the growth of Spirit Beasts involves more than just strength; mental resilience is also vital.
Many things must be experienced to achieve growth.
Lin Chen also took out a thousand bucks and, without thinking, directly bet on a win.
Seeing this, Xiaobai felt pressured but also moved.
For its purchase, Lin Chen haggled intensely, and now he straightforwardly placed a thousand bucks believing in it.
So...
It had to give it its all.
"Bets closed, match begins!"
The staff signaled with gestures, indicating the match could start on stage.
Under the Banyan Tree Spirit's control, the Wild Boar began to move, attacking right after the staff's words.
The pig-cow battle instantly ignited.
Boom~~
The Wild Boar ran its hefty body across the arena, creating tremors on the ground below.
Though its speed wasn't high, Xiaobai watched closely, recalling the staff's words.
There was only one chance!
Step~~
The Wild Boar reached its attack range, leaped, and executed its skill:
"Pig King Debut!"
Though made of wood, the Wild Boar was lifelike, its body enlarging and the pigskin forming scale-like Turtle Shell armor, pressing fiercely towards Xiaobai.
"What's that cow doing in a daze?" A voice from below chuckled.
Beasts with high pass rates often attack proactively since the Wild Boar is slow.
However, experienced staff weren't surprised, as this arena serves as a beginner's stage for many Spirit Beasts, and stage fright is usual.
After all, everyone starts as a rookie.
Yet, they misunderstood Xiaobai. While deep in its thoughts, it had always been observing.
Lin Chen had told it not to rush things; haste leads to failure.
As the Wild Boar leaped, Xiaobai's front hooves stomped down hard on the ground.
"Iron Horn Impact!"
The moment its horn turned from black to white, the whole cow charged forward vigorously!
"Hmm?"
The staff, initially watching nonchalantly, sensed something immediately.
This Plowhorn Beast's starting speed seemed quicker than usual...
As the bullhead rushed forward, the Wild Boar landed from its leap.
Thud~~~
It plunged into emptiness, stirring a cloud of dust on the arena.
The move 'Pig King Debut' truly matched its name.
"Haha, lost," laughed several onlookers betting on a loss, particularly the young man with a similar Plowhorn Beast contract.
Though Xiaobai dodged the attack, it also used a skill.
Iron Horn Impact can only go straight, and a Level 1 Spirit Beast can't use skills twice consecutively.
Lin Chen sighed internally, regretting as he'd wanted to gauge Xiaobai's skill strength through the Wild Boar.
Just as Lin Chen thought of how to console Niu Niu, an unexpected turn occurred.
In a sudden brake, Xiaobai, initially running, turned around, the white glow on its horn yet to fade.
"Can the skill turn?!"
Everyone froze in shock.