He Shenghuang slowly said, "Wang Dawei, it's just friendly interaction between classmates. I'm just too curious about what Spirit Beast Lin Guang has contracted. With his Blue Level talent, he should have contracted a Spirit Beast of a corresponding level, right? Whereas I only have Green Level talent and have only contracted a Green Excellent Level Spirit Beast. It would take at least a few more years of cultivation for it to evolve. There isn't that much of a gap between us. Moreover, opponents in the national Spirit Master League won't care if you contracted your Spirit Beast six months late."
The logic does seem sound.
It's only natural that Spirit Beasts with high potential (Blue Elite Level) can challenge Spirit Beasts with low potential (Green Excellent Level).
But He Shenghuang's words are filled with cunning. It seems like he's praising Lin Guang, but in reality, it's a poisoned compliment.
Forming a contract with a Blue Elite Level Spirit Beast on the first attempt is completely unrealistic for most people—even those with Blue Level talent. It's like in Pocket Monsters, where nobody starts with their starter Pokémon in the final stage of a three-tier evolution.
According to common sense, even if Lin Guang doesn't bow to his talent and finds a compatible Spirit Beast in a short period, it's most likely a Green Excellent Level with a clear evolution path. It wouldn't require a Miracle Master to gamble with probabilities, and could evolve to Blue following the steps.
But if everyone has Green, the difference in level and cultivation time of over half a year is absolutely insurmountable.
Wang Dawei isn't a fool either. He laughed coldly and exclaimed, "Stop with the nonsense; who doesn't know what your eternal second-place intentions are?"
"You just want to rely on your family's backing and level advantage to win once before the battle class and Spirit Pattern class start, even if you resort to unscrupulous means."
He Shenghuang's expression slightly changed, "What did you say?"
"I dare say my family gave me special treatment, do you dare say you didn't?"
Wang Dawei directly exposed himself—but his advantage is never needing to save face, whereas He Shenghuang, as the school's "young master," has to maintain some facade in front of others.
Seeing that the surrounding people were drawn over by the commotion, his mind raced and suddenly came up with an idea.
Shaking his head, He Shenghuang shrugged with feigned ease and said, "Wang Dawei, when will you change your impatience? I haven't finished speaking yet. The purpose of the competition is to satisfy my curiosity; I'm willing to let him choose the venue and will also provide some stakes. If Lin Guang's Spirit Beast can last a minute, I'll give him an Ethereal Crystal with a corresponding attribute. If it's a draw, a Tier One energy potion from Protective Umbrella Technology Company."
"What if Lin Guang wins?" Wang Dawei suddenly showed a strange smile and asked.
"Um..." He Shenghuang hesitated, obviously never considering the possibility of losing, but quickly responded, "If he can win, as long as it's something sold in the city Spirit Beast Mall that he can use, I'll pay for it immediately."
"Just waiting for you to say that!"
Wang Dawei and Lin Guang exchanged a glance, their eye communication completed in a flash.
If he couldn't understand Lin Guang's meaning, then probably no one in this world could.
That look undeniably proved that Lin Guang himself was already eager to try.
Turning around, Wang Dawei suppressed his urge to mock, afraid of alerting the adversary, and walked away, "Let's go to the battle arena."
Lin Guang smiled at He Shenghuang and also turned to leave, his posture seemingly saying one thing.
—You're the challenger!
"Will they win?"
Two subordinates watched Lin Guang's suave and confident manner, anxiously asking He Shenghuang.
"Naturally, they'll win!"
He Shenghuang raised his head, smiled, and replied.
...
The battle arena is the largest facility in every Spirit School, and the Experimental School is no exception. Pool, artificial volcano, forest... all kinds of environments are available, and even mobile plots can be combined to piece together the needed attribute venues, allowing students to adapt to the complex and changing Secret Realms in advance.
Renting the venue outside of class time requires a fee, cheaper than outside, and each semester the school deposits a certain battle-specific amount into student cards. The first battle class not only receives double the amount but also enjoys a fifty percent discount.
The only downside is that the battle arena is too popular, and the school does not allow students to use the "battle venue" as a "training venue" outside of classes.
First-year students are only allowed to use small venues, roughly the size of two basketball courts.
Currently, it's still meal time, so the battle arena is mostly empty at this time. But now, besides He Shenghuang and Lin Guang, many people unexpectedly flocked in, wanting to watch this battle during lunch break.
Lin Guang is known for his Blue Talent yet inability to contract a Spirit Beast, while He Shenghuang naturally loves to be in the limelight as the school's "young master," attracting quite a few students and even teachers willing to watch who had finished their meals.
Even a third-year senior who is a member of the school team voluntarily sat at the referee seat on the high platform, volunteering to take on the referee responsibility for this battle.
Rumble!
Under the Ether-driven mechanism, the small battlefield's platforms combined, flipped, and pieced together, ultimately forming a patch of brown earth.
The referee waved a flag drawn from somewhere and announced loudly, "This battle employs limited combat rules. Both sides' Spirit Beasts are not allowed to actively attack the Spirit Masters, and Spirit Masters are likewise not allowed to enter the arena. They can only interfere in the battle from outside."
"Please have both sides' Spirit Beasts in position!"
The command seat for the battle arena is on the two sides of the circular field, without any protective gear, merely a common area marked with white lines. Lin Guang and He Shenghuang stood in their respective command seats, facing each other from afar.
He Shenghuang focused on Lin Guang's glasses reflecting slightly due to his lowered head, realizing he couldn't make out Lin Guang's expression no matter what, his face revealing a sinister look.
Hope you can stay composed next.
"Come on!"
The next moment, He Shenghuang eagerly raised his right hand, the bull horn-shaped mark on the back of his hand emitted a faint yellow glow, and a half-human tall brown calf appeared next to him. Although still young, anyone could see its cultivation status was quite good, with fur flashing with electricity and eyes full of fighting spirit.
The calf lowered its head, affectionately nudging He Shenghuang's leg, and he casually patted its head, his eyes never leaving Lin Guang, and coldly said, "Where's your Spirit Beast?"