158: Chapter 158 Beast Taming, he's familiar with it.

"The purpose of the ruin trial is to screen for a suitable successor. According to past records, the rules impose restrictions on age and level, but they have never screened based on elements."

Wu Shilan explained, "Even if there were screening, it shouldn't filter out light, fire, and life—all the attributes on the yang side."

Once these words were spoken, Li Yu also realized that something was wrong.

Judging from the attributes, it was practically screaming 'bring on the dark side,' but what was the intention behind this?

"Forget it, let's not dwell on it."

Wu Shilan waved her hand and said, "Given your situation, entering the ruins alone is a death sentence. The only way is to help you find four qualified and powerful teammates within these 14 days."

As she spoke, she stood up, swaying her hips as she walked toward the desk, then turned back halfway: "Oh, right, sit down. I don't have a custom of making guests stand."

Li Yu and Chen Qing exchanged a glance and went to the reception area to sit down.

Before long, Wu Shilan returned with a thick stack of documents and placed them on the table in front of Li Yu with a dull thud.

"These are all registered Beast Tamers under 30 years old, with Silver-rank strength, excluding fire, light, and life attributes. Take a look and see if any of them catch your eye."

Wu Shilan picked up her teacup and sipped leisurely, her high-slit skirt revealing a glimpse of her fair, plump thigh.

Li Yu picked up the stack of documents and asked, "How many people are there?"

"Excluding those who died recently, there are over thirty thousand," Wu Shilan said.

Li Yu paused.

Over thirty thousand people? How long would that take to read?

Even if it were just thirty thousand names, it would take a very long time to read them all.

"Don't worry," Wu Shilan glanced at him and said, "I've sorted them by value. You only need to look at the first one or two hundred."

Director Wang watched quietly without saying a word.

Li Yu picked up the stack of documents and began to examine them carefully.

The first page was a Beast Tamer named Qi Mao, 29 years old, whose beast was a Silver 9-rank Sandstorm Crocodile. He had an impressive track record, having participated in two ruin raids and survived. His greatest achievement was fighting a Gold 1-rank beast to a draw, which shocked Ningyang City.

A Silver 9-rank fighting a Gold 1-rank and ending in a draw?

Li Yu raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Even though he wasn't a Beast Tamer, he knew how difficult that was.

One must know that the stronger a beast is, the greater the boost from each level increase, and every major rank represents a qualitative leap.

Normally, even the weakest Gold 1-rank could easily kill a Silver 9-rank opponent in seconds.

This guy named Qi Mao could actually fight a Gold 1-rank to a draw.

Among the Silver ranks, I wouldn't dare say he's the best, but he must be at least in the top ten, or even top five, right?

Wu Shilan sipped her tea, glancing at Li Yu from the corner of her eye. Seeing him focused, a meaningful look flashed in her eyes.

Li Yu didn't notice and continued to flip through the pages.

Time passed minute by minute as he flipped through the information. Suddenly, Li Yu closed the file, placed it back on the coffee table, closed his eyes, and knitted his brows.

"You've chosen already?" Wu Shilan asked.

Director Wang also cast a curious look.

"I'm not choosing," Li Yu opened his eyes. "It's impossible to choose."

"Why?" Director Wang asked, confused.

Wu Shilan remained silent, watching Li Yu quietly, wanting to hear his explanation.

Li Yu said, "This information is excellent, but excellent combat power only proves that these people have a high chance of survival; it doesn't mean they can keep me alive."

"But since you are choosing teammates, you should give them the most basic trust, shouldn't you?" Wu Shilan retorted.

Li Yu looked at Wu Shilan, pointed to the pile of documents, and said bluntly, "I can't trust people screened by a few sheets of paper."

He then took out the first page, the file of the Beast Tamer named Qi Mao, read it through, and asked:

"May I ask, how did this person named Qi Mao survive the two ruin trials?"

Wu Shilan replied, "In the first ruin, he teamed up with other groups, killed his own teammates, and then launched a sneak attack on the others while they were weak."

"In the second ruin, he poisoned the water source, killed everyone, and claimed victory in the trial for himself."

Once these words were spoken, Director Wang gasped and said, "So vicious!"

A cold glint flashed in Chen Qing's eyes as she looked at Wu Shilan.

This person actually dared to put such a dangerous individual in the documents, and on the very first page at that—it was clearly meant for Li Yu to see.

If Li Yu really chose this villain as a teammate...

Just thinking about this, killing intent surged in Chen Qing's heart, but she held it back.

She just wondered to herself if she should sneak into the guild at night and slaughter this fat woman.

Li Yu asked again, "What about the fight that ended in a draw with the Gold 1-rank?"

Wu Shilan explained, "Also poisoning."

"The Sandstorm Crocodile's 'Sandstorm' talent?"

"Correct," Wu Shilan glanced at Li Yu with surprise, seemingly impressed by his combat analysis ability, "He took an antidote beforehand and mixed the poison powder into the Sandstorm Crocodile's sandstorm. The opponent was caught off guard and fell for it."

Li Yu leaned back against the sofa and let out a long sigh. His guess was verified, but his mood became even heavier.

Such excellent profile information—he thought it was an 'antidote,' but it turned out to be 'poison,' and highly toxic at that.

Is the world of Beast Tamers this thrilling every day?

"What are you trying to prove by doing all this?"

Li Yu spoke up abruptly, his tone somewhat cold.

The other party knew about these things but didn't mention them beforehand, letting him choose, and even put such a highly toxic guy on the first page.

To say she didn't have some ulterior motive, Li Yu wouldn't believe it even if he died.

Director Wang looked helpless.

Wu Shilan, however, sipped her tea with a calm expression. After a few sips, she said, "You are more cautious than I thought, which is good. At least it proves that, mentally, you have the potential to leave the ruins alive."

Li Yu continued to watch her.

Wu Shilan said, "Originally, I didn't want to get involved in these matters. After all, Ningyang City hasn't recovered its vitality, and I have too many messes to clean up. But Director Wang came to me, and I couldn't refuse..."

"So you gave me these documents? A test? And then what?" Li Yu retorted.

"It is a test," Wu Shilan said. "If you had foolishly chosen the toxic elements I put in there, then there would be nothing to talk about. For the dead, I would just say farewell, even if they were valuable dead people."

"But the result is that you are quite good. It's a pity you are a capable Breeder; otherwise, I would definitely have recruited you to the Beast Taming Guild."

"Ah... I seem to have digressed."

"Back to business. You passed the test. Next, I will use my greatest ability, experience, and channels to help you find four suitable teammates, doing my best to help you walk out of the ruins alive."

Hearing this, Li Yu understood.

"That's fine, but I want to choose the final list myself."

Li Yu still didn't feel at ease with others choosing for him.

For him, this ruin trial could be described as a dragon's den or a tiger's den. Excluding Bubble, he needed four teammates who wouldn't turn against him.

Although Wu Shilan was the guild leader, she knew more about Beast Tamers than he did and had a better eye for people.

But he wasn't a pushover either.

People?

Li Yu didn't understand them.

But Beast Taming, he was familiar with!