The next day, a girl with a killer's gaze and a cold, mocking smile approached her.Her greeting came out awkward, as if politeness itself disgusted her. Then, in a sharp tone, she said:
"I want you to be my friend. Any objections?"
Huo Feng's eyes lit up with delight. The arrogant girl's request pleased her more than she expected.She agreed immediately, casting a proud glance toward Suo— as if to show off her growing circle of friends and make him jealous.Little did she know that it was Suo himself who had pushed Yue to befriend her, hoping the two lonely hearts would find comfort in each other's company.
Yue sat beside Huo Feng, relief softening her cold demeanor.
Moments later, Assistant Teacher Li entered the room."Attention, everyone," he said calmly. "You will all proceed to the kingdom's main battle arena."
Excited murmurs broke out at once. Some students cheered, thrilled at the news. Others whispered in confusion, wondering why that place had been chosen.
Then Mei Ling spoke up in a sugary, fake-feminine tone — like a cat choking on a hairball:
"will Master Wu Xin be joining us?"
Suo immediately mimicked her voice in an exaggerated way, bowing and fluttering his hands like a fool.The class burst into laughter — everyone except Huo Feng, who watched him, mouth agape in confusion.
"What are you doing? Why is everyone laughing at you?" she asked innocently.
Unable to contain herself, Yue replied between giggles:
"He's imitating Mei Ling! Don't you get it?"
Huo Feng blinked.
"But… what she said wasn't that funny."
Suo groaned.
"Of course it is, you idiot!"
Huo Feng thought for a moment — and then suddenly laughed so hard that everyone froze.Embarrassed, the students quickly left the room to escape the awkward atmosphere.
Not knowing where the arena was, Huo Feng followed Yue happily — it was the first time since the start of the year she'd walked beside another girl as a friend.
When they arrived, Teacher Li was already waiting in the massive arena."Sit down," he ordered. "The test will begin shortly."
Then the guards rolled out cages — each containing beasts the likes of which Huo Feng had never seen before. Her naïve excitement grew; she couldn't wait to begin.
Teacher Li's voice echoed through the arena:
"Today's trial is the Legendary Beast Taming Test. Whether you choose the beast or it chooses you — that does not matter.What matters is that you subdue it... without harming it."
Huo Feng frowned, confused. She leaned toward Yue and whispered:
"What does he mean?"
Yue sighed and answered quietly, worry flickering in her eyes:
"Just pick the smallest one. It'll be easier to tame."
Without hesitation, Huo Feng shot forward toward a cage made of mulberry wood — inside it coiled a small red snake.
"I choose this one, Teacher!" she declared proudly.
Teacher Li's expression froze. Fear flashed in his eyes.Meanwhile, Mei Ling's lips curved into a smug smile — one of malice and victory.
At the same time, Suo and Yue both shouted:
"Don't do it, you fool!"
Mei Ling crossed her arms and sneered:
"She made her choice. Let her deal with it."
Huo Feng didn't understand what the fuss was about. She would soon find out.
Each student selected a beast carefully and began their taming process.Thanks to Huo Feng's choice, the others were relieved — she had unknowingly taken the most dangerous creature among them.
The students worked skillfully, their years of training paying off.Meanwhile, Huo Feng waited for her turn — the very last one.And what happened next would decide more than a simple test result…
When the guard opened the cage, the red snake didn't move.It just lay there lazily, as if nothing around it mattered.
Huo Feng waited patiently, then crouched and whispered to it in a strange, melodic tongue that no one else understood.
The snake suddenly stirred. It slithered toward her gently, coiling around her legs affectionately before returning to its cage.
Gasps echoed across the stands.Even Mei Ling was left speechless — though envy soon twisted her face into rage.
Hidden from sight, she flicked a tiny ember of spiritual flame toward the snake's cage.
In an instant, the gentle red serpent erupted into a towering, flame-wreathed dragon.Its roar shook the arena like a raging storm.
"Hide, idiot! Wait till it calms down!" Suo shouted.
But Huo Feng didn't move. She stood still, her sharp eyes locked on the dragon's burning gaze.Everyone thought she was frozen in fear.
The dragon halted before her, looming over her with its jaws open wide.Yue screamed, thinking her friend was done for, and dashed forward to protect her with a glowing spirit shield.
Teacher Li shot up in alarm — interference was forbidden in this test, no matter the danger.Even if Huo Feng succeeded now, Yue's act would disqualify her.
The dragon, enraged by Yue's intrusion, swung its tail brutally, striking her to the ground.Then it raised its claws to finish her.
That was when Huo Feng's expression changed.The warmth in her face vanished — her eyes widened, cold and lifeless, and a chilling smile spread across her lips.
She moved like lightning, ramming her shoulder into the dragon's chest.The creature crashed into the stone wall with a thunderous crack, shattering part of it.
The two glared at each other — both ready to end it.Death or death. There was no retreat.
The dragon lifted its head, ready to devour her whole.But Huo Feng was no prey.
She tore off her right glove — revealing a hand of molten steel, gleaming like living fire.With that hand, she seized the dragon's neck as easily as grabbing a dry branch.A loud crack echoed as its scales split beneath her grip.
The dragon howled in agony.A single tear — shining and crystalline — fell from its eye.But Huo Feng didn't flinch. Instead, she squeezed harder, fury burning brighter.
"No forgiveness," she whispered coldly."You hurt her… now pay the price."
The dragon, crushed and broken, finally closed its eyes in surrender.
Just then, her name boomed across the arena — shouted in a furious, familiar voice.She ignored it, defiant as ever.
The sound of a whip sliced through the air.Crack!
Teacher Wu Xin's lash struck her shoulder, ending the test by force — to spare the dragon's dignity.
Pain burned through her, but she didn't cry out.It wasn't the first time he'd hit her, and she knew… it wouldn't be the last.
The dragon dissolved into a swirl of light, swallowed by its own diamond tear — a sign of submission.It had chosen her as its master.
Huo Feng picked up the gem and smirked.
"I'll wear you as an earring, beast. From today on, you obey me."
Then she hurried to Yue, helping her to her feet, before turning toward Teacher Li and asking boldly:
"So, Teacher… did I pass the test this time? Or should I do it again?"
Teacher Li nodded silently — the trial was over.He allowed the girl to tend to her wounded friend, while the rest of the students whispered in awe of the monster tamer who had just bent a dragon to her will.