Thank You Baboun_T2 For Gifting So Many Power Stones.
Ye Fang stepped through the shimmering portal into the Secret Realm Trial, the air crackling with untamed qi as the timer on his bracelet activated: 72 hours. The entrance sealed behind him with a low hum, isolating him in this vast, primordial jungle. Towering trees loomed like colossal sentinels, their bark etched with glowing runes that pulsed faintly in the dim light. Vines twisted like living serpents, dripping with dew that sparkled like diamonds, while the ground was a treacherous maze of moss-slicked roots and hidden pitfalls. The scent of damp earth and wild flora filled his nostrils, mingled with the distant roar of unseen beasts. Drones hummed invisibly overhead, their lenses trained on every participant, broadcasting the trial to the academies' watching rooms across the human realm.
He didn't summon Yanhua. Not yet. Revealing his Crimson Dragon would disrupt the trial's fragile balance—dragons were legendary, and one as evolved as hers would draw unwanted attention, potentially alerting the Six Great Families to his true identity. Besides, Ye Fang thrived on solitude. His strength, forged in rebirth and amplified by the Dragon Taming System, was sufficient. With crimson eyes scanning the shadows, he moved forward, his white hair catching the filtered sunlight, his cold face betraying no emotion.
After a brief trek, crunching through underbrush that whispered secrets of ancient battles, he spotted his first targets: a pack of six Level 11 Fangclaw Wolves. Instinctively, he activated his system's scan feature, a holographic panel flickering in his mind's eye.
[Dragon Taming System Panel]
Beast Name: Fangclaw Wolf
Type:Warrior
Strength: 1050
Constitution: 1000
Spirit: 850
Defense: 800
These beasts prowled in a snarling formation, their fur bristled like sharpened spears, claws gleaming under the canopy's dappled light. Their eyes burned with feral hunger, low growls echoing through the trees. Ye Fang's expression remained impassive, but a subtle, grim aura began to emanate from him—the Heir of the Reaper's Gaze, a harbinger of death for those who crossed him.
The fight ignited like a storm. Ye Fang lunged, his movements a symphony of lethal grace. The lead wolf leaped, jaws gaping wide, but he sidestepped with effortless precision, his fist slamming into its flank with earth-shaking force. Bones cracked audibly, the beast howling as it crumpled, blood spraying in a crimson arc. Another wolf flanked him, claws raking the air in a blur—Ye Fang spun, his kick connecting with its skull in a resounding thud, the impact sending shockwaves through the foliage. Leaves rained down as the wolf tumbled, crashing into a tree that splintered like dry kindling.
The pack retaliated in unison, circling with predatory coordination. One darted low, aiming for his legs, while another pounced from above. Ye Fang weaved through them like a phantom, his strikes precise and merciless: a palm thrust that pulverized a wolf's spine, eliciting a guttural whimper; a knee strike to the throat that silenced another, its body convulsing before going limp. Blood painted the jungle floor, the metallic tang mixing with the earthy scent of the realm. In a crescendo of violence, Ye Fang grabbed the last wolf by the scruff, hurling it against a boulder with bone-shattering impact. The beast slumped, lifeless, as the others lay strewn around him.
He stood amidst the carnage, unscathed, his breathing steady. The drones captured every brutal second—the raw, godlike power of a man who turned beasts into mere footnotes. His bracelet chimed: 160 points. Sixteen Level 11 beasts felled in one encounter. A faint smile tugged at his lips, hidden beneath his unreadable facade. This was just the beginning; the heirs awaited.
Pressing on, Ye Fang ventured deeper, the jungle growing denser. He encountered more packs—groups of Ironhide Boars at Level 12. His system panel updated seamlessly.
[Dragon Taming System Panel]
Beast Name: Ironhide Boar
Type: Warrior
Strength: 1100
Constitution: 1050
Spirit: 900
Defense: 850
Their hides tough as steel, the boars charged with tusks lowered. He dispatched them with calculated efficiency, dodging their stampedes and countering with devastating blows that cracked their armored exteriors. One boar rammed a tree, uprooting it in a shower of dirt, but Ye Fang leaped atop it, driving a heel down to end its rampage. His score climbed: 380 points now, the bracelet's glow reflecting in his crimson eyes.
As he hunted, his mind wandered to the Ye Family's fall—betrayed by the Six Great Families five centuries ago, their dragon bloodline deemed heresy. Reborn in this world of awakeners and secret realms, Ye Fang hid his identity at Tianxuan Academy, biding his time. The Dragon Taming System pulsed within him, a secret weapon linked to the Primordial Dragon God. Missions flickered in his thoughts: *Tame a dragon, evolve it, claim dominance.* But for now, he relied on his own prowess, each kill a step toward vengeance.
Hours blurred into a relentless grind. By the third hour, he'd slain Shadow Lynxes at Level 13. The panel flashed again.
[Dragon Taming System Panel]
Beast Name: Shadow Lynx
Type: Assassin
Strength: 1100
Constitution: 1100
Spirit: 1150
Defense: 900
Their stealthy ambushes met with his unerring senses. One lynx materialized from the shadows, claws slashing—Ye Fang anticipated, grabbing its paw and twisting with a sickening snap, then finishing with a punch that caved in its skull. Mystic Owls at Level 14 swooped from the treetops. Panel update:
[Dragon Taming System Panel]
Beast Name: Mystic Owl
Type: Mage
Strength: 1150
Constitution: 1150
Spirit: 1200
Defense: 950
Their spirit-enhanced screeches disoriented lesser awakeners. Ye Fang countered with qi-infused strikes, shattering their wings mid-flight. Stonehide Bears at Level 15 lumbered forth. Panel:
[Dragon Taming System Panel]
Beast Name: Stonehide Bear
Type: Tank
Strength: 1200
Constitution:1300
Spirit: 1100
Defense: 1000
Tanks of muscle and fur, they roared challenges. He lured them into traps of their own making, using the terrain to amplify his blows—rolling one into a ravine, then leaping down to deliver the killing strike.
His score soared: 680 points after five hours. Sweat beaded on his brow, but his aura remained composed, a stark contrast to the chaos he unleashed.
Far from Ye Fang, in a sun-dappled clearing, the six heirs of the Six Great Families convened. Han Qingyu, the icy prodigy of the Han Family, crossed his arms, his breath frosting the air. "That Ye Fang is nothing but trash. He wouldn't last two minutes against any of us."
Bai Zhenyu, radiant and imposing, nodded vigorously, his holy aura shimmering. "Exactly. As long as he's unlucky enough to stumble into our paths, he's dead meat. He'll probably cower in some corner, farming points like the coward he is."
Feng Jianyu, the wind-swept swordsman, chuckled, twirling a blade of condensed air. "If we six have to track him down ourselves, it'll waste precious time—and we'll miss out on our own scores. We need a smarter plan."
Mo Cheng, the illusionist with a sly grin, leaned in, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "What if we rally our classmates? Announce a bounty: 1 million Holy Coins to whoever spots Ye Fang first. Then we swoop in and end him publicly."
Xiao Wushuang, the assassin shrouded in shadows, smirked darkly. "Imagine it—the school's so-called 'most handsome man' kneeling before us, begging for mercy. The humiliation would be delicious. And we'd showcase our strength right in front of Hei Yue. She'd have no choice but to notice us."
Zhao Wenzhou, the tactician, stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Agreed. But let's make it clear: the finder gets the coins, and we handle the kill. No loose ends. Ye Fang's arrogance will be his downfall."
The group laughed, their voices echoing through the clearing, blind to the storm approaching. They saw themselves as apex predators, unaware that Ye Fang's rebirth had forged him into something far deadlier. With his current strength, even the entire class would crumble; with Yanhua, they'd be reduced to ash in an instant.
Outside the realm, in the opulent watching rooms of the academies, screens flickered with feeds from the drones. Tianxuan Academy's Principal, a stern man in flowing robes, leaned forward, his face draining of color. "This Ye Fang fellow is impressive. In just five hours, his score's nearing 700. He's dominating the rankings."
A fellow instructor from Qingyun Academy, a burly martial expert, grunted in agreement. "Second place has only 400 points—and that's Xiao Wushuang. Third has 390, Han Qingyu. What kind of power did this kid awaken?"
The Principal hesitated, his voice shaky. "He... he awakened as a Dragon Tamer."
Gasps rippled through the room. A representative from Linghai Institute, a serene mental awakener, frowned. "Dragon Tamer? That's the most useless class! How is he scoring first? It doesn't make sense."
"Could he have bonded with a dragon already?" asked a Xuanyin Academy spy, his tone laced with suspicion. "Quick, switch to his camera feed!"
Screens zoomed in on Ye Fang. The sight stunned them: him obliterating a Level 16 Ember Serpent with a single punch, its elemental flames sputtering out as its body crumpled. He moved like a force of nature, each strike efficient and overwhelming.
"By the heavens," muttered a Zhaotian Academy healer, her eyes wide. "He's killing them like chickens. No hesitation, no wasted energy."
"Is he sure he didn't awaken as a Warrior?" challenged a Yunlei Academy elementalist, sparks dancing on his fingers. "Even top Warriors don't possess this raw strength. And I don't see a dragon anywhere. How is he this powerful?"
The Principal nodded grimly. "His points are at 800 now. No cheats—his power is genuine. He's crushing Level 16 monsters bare-handed. Call him what you will... he's a monster."
Whispers turned to debates. "Tianxuan got lucky with this one," said the Qingyun instructor. "But if he's a Dragon Tamer, imagine what he'll become with a real dragon."
"We need to recruit him," urged the Linghai representative. "Our institute could use that mental fortitude."
"No, Zhaotian's holy powers would synergize perfectly," countered the healer. "Think of the alliances!"
The room buzzed with ambition, academies plotting to poach Ye Fang, unaware of the storm his presence heralded.
Back in the realm, Ye Fang's relentless hunt continued. He pushed through a thicket, emerging into a clearing where a Level 17 Thunderclaw Tiger awaited, its stripes crackling with lightning. The system panel illuminated his mind.
[Dragon Taming System Panel]
Beast Name: Thunderclaw Tiger
Type:** Warrior
Strength: 1350
Constitution: 1300
Spirit: 1200
Defense: 1100
The beast roared, summoning a storm of claws and bolts. Ye Fang dodged the initial barrage, the air sizzling with electricity, then countered with a qi-enhanced punch that shattered its jaw. The tiger staggered, but he pressed on, weaving through its desperate swipes until a final kick sent it crashing into the underbrush.
His score hit 900. Fatigue crept in, but hunger overrode it. He accessed his inventory—a perk of the Dragon Taming System—pulling out a knife, spices, and a portable grill. Selecting a slain boar, he butchered it expertly, the blade slicing through hide with precision. Over a crackling fire, he grilled the meat, the aroma of sizzling flesh wafting through the jungle. He ate leisurely, savoring each bite, the drones capturing his nonchalant picnic amid the dangers.
A familiar voice echoed in his mind: *Gawu.* Yanhua, his Crimson Dragon, stirred in the Dragon Realm, her hunger palpable through their bond. Ye Fang smiled faintly, a rare crack in his stoic mask. "Hungry, little one?" He transferred portions of the grilled meat to the system warehouse, where she could feast in safety. Her gratitude flowed back, a warm pulse of flame essence.
Sated, Ye Fang found a sturdy tree and leaned against it, closing his eyes for a brief rest. The jungle's sounds faded—the distant howls, the rustle of leaves—as he reflected. His goals were ironclad: annihilate the six heirs, claim the top rank, and secure the SSS-Rank Dragon Egg reward. The trial was his proving ground, a step toward exposing the families' treachery. With Yanhua evolving by his side, vengeance was inevitable. The heirs thought him prey, but they were the hunted. Soon, the realm would burn.