97: intelligence

After leaving Beishan City, Wang Zi headed to White Tiger Beast Taming University, just in time for their delayed Beast Taming College Entrance Examination.

Relying on his Gold-rank Spirit Beast, the Golden Scale Pig, he was admitted to White Tiger Beast Taming University without any controversy.

In the following six months, he even became the top freshman, which earned him a spectator slot for this Beast Taming Grand Competition.

Coincidentally, the principals of the two schools had booked the same hotel, allowing the three of them to meet ahead of time.

“Principal Liu Yao, I didn't expect to meet again so soon.” Xiao Xu also smiled and greeted a white-bearded old man from the other group.

The old man looked very kind, shaking hands with Xiao Xu with a smile, and then the two of them went aside to chat.

“We two Old fellows will go chat over there; you young people make yourselves at home.”

“Principal Liu, I can't really be considered old yet.”

“Right, right, right, only I am an Old fellow, haha.”

...After Wang Zi gave Su Ze a big hug, the three of them also went aside to catch up.

As for Xu Yao, there was no need for a hug; from his observation just now, Su Ze had likely already successfully won over this school beauty that countless people dreamed of day and night.

“Are you both here with spectator slots too?”

Wang Zi asked in confusion, “Strange, isn't there only one spectator slot for an outstanding student in each grade? Don't tell me you skipped a grade, kid?”

Wang Zi looked at Su Ze; only he would have the qualifications to skip a grade.

Before Su Ze could answer, Xu Yao spoke up proudly from the side, “Su Ze is different from us; he's not here to watch, he's here to compete!”

That proud look made it seem as if she was the one participating in the competition instead of Su Ze.

“Oh? You're actually a contestant?” Wang Zi's mouth hung open in surprise. One must know that the reason he could snag a spectator slot was entirely thanks to the Gold-rank Demon Beast Su Ze had given him before leaving.

Besides daily meditation to increase its strength like ordinary demon beasts, this Golden Scale Pig could also level up quickly by devouring gold, and could even feed back excess power to help its master level up.

During these six months, with his father's support, Wang Zi had gold sent over from time to time. His strength improved rapidly, and because of this, he had secured his position as the top freshman at White Tiger Beast Taming University.

However, this kid acted rather eccentrically and didn't like hiding things.

So, the fact that his strength was entirely built on gold was known to everyone.

Out of envy, jealousy, and various other emotions, Wang Zi wasn't very well-liked over there.

Even the few friends he had were only there because he had spent money to dispel his emptiness and loneliness.

“I knew you'd make something of yourself, but I didn't expect you to be this amazing!”

“The ones coming from our school to compete are all 'Old oil strips' who intentionally stayed back a year or two; there isn't even a single senior. You're only a freshman and you managed to get a slot, it's really enough to make a man die of envy!” Wang Zi lamented.

Su Ze smiled mischievously from the side, “Oh? The people from your school are all 'Old oil strips'?”

“Then that beauty you were following just now, is she also...”

Wang Zi immediately interrupted him with a red face, “No, no... she's different.”

“How is she different?”

“Xingyu... she's at most a big sister, she doesn't count as an 'Old oil strip'...”

“Pfft...” Su Ze looked at the way Wang Zi's massive frame was twisting and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

“Big sister... pfft, so you're into that type.”

Wang Zi immediately became embarrassed and angry, “What do you know? Luo Xingyu is the 'Big Sister' goddess of our school. Not only does she look good, but look at that figure—that's what you call mature!”

“It's not like those other girls who only have a face and a flat body...”

Before Wang Zi could finish his sentence, he saw Su Ze desperately winking at him.

Wang Zi himself felt a surge of murderous intent beside him.

Turning his head, he saw Xu Yao, who said murderously yet with a smile, “Wang Zi, was that sentence just now an insinuation about someone?”

Wang Zi swallowed hard and said, “No... no, Xu Yao, you've already won by too much just with your looks...”

“Meaning I lost when it comes to my figure?”

“No... that's not what I meant, ah!”

After the three finished their fooling around, Wang Zi continued with a bitter face, “Since you're the one participating in the competition, Su Ze, then I'll commit a small betrayal and give you the inside scoop.”

“Our White Tiger Beast Taming University is located in the sparsely populated West, and the overall level of beast taming isn't very high.”

“Since you have a Diamond-rank Demonic Beast, the only one of the five you really need to be careful of is Luo Xingyu.”

“She's not just our school beauty, she's also the leader of our school this time, a genius Beast Tamer!”

Then Wang Zi looked around to see that no one was paying attention before continuing, “I'm also being focused on for cultivation by the school now, and the Principal often arranges for Xingyu to spar with me.”

“So I know one of her spirit beasts is a fire-attribute Platinum-rank demon beast, with a level around fifty-one or fifty-two.”

“As for what species it is, I'm not sure, and this definitely isn't her full strength either. She can't bear to use her full strength against me, hehe...”

Su Ze looked at him and couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile.

It wasn't that she couldn't bear to use her full strength, but rather that she felt it was unnecessary.

If something were to happen to him, she probably wouldn't be able to explain it to the Principal.

After the three chatted for a few more moments, a cold female voice came from the White Tiger Beast Taming University team's side: “Wang Zi, catch up later, find your room first!”

Wang Zi immediately bid farewell to the two and ran over: “Hey, coming, coming! Xingyu, do you want me to pay to upgrade your room? How about a luxury presidential suite?”

“No need. Everyone follows the school's arrangements, don't make things special.”

“No problem, Xingyu, you really are a sensible person.”

“Call me Senior!”

“Okay, Senior Xingyu.”

...Su Ze shook his head helplessly at the sight; this was simply a textbook example of a 'simp,' the kind that could be included in a simp's manual.

“I hope that if that woman really doesn't like him, she won't string Wang Zi along.”

Wang Zi was his best friend. Su Ze naturally wouldn't stop him from chasing a girl; instead, he would help him with all his might.

But if the other party was just playing him like a simp, then don't blame Su Ze for being rude.

As his good friend, Su Ze had the confidence to forge Wang Zi into an existence that others could only look up to.

Back in his own team, Wang Zi was thinking about how to continue the conversation with Luo Xingyu when he heard her take the initiative to speak: “I remember you came from Beishan City, right? That's where Azure Dragon Beast Taming University is located. Are those two your friends?”

Hearing Luo Xingyu take the initiative to talk to him, Wang Zi answered happily, “That's right, they are my best friends, Su Ze and Xu Yao.”

“Su Ze is a genius. Don't look at him being a freshman just like me; he's participating in this Beast Taming Grand Competition because he has a...”

At this point, Wang Zi quickly shut his mouth and didn't continue.

In his excitement, he had almost blurted out key information about Su Ze. One must know that they were competitors in the Beast Taming Grand Competition.

He had already revealed some of Luo Xingyu's intel to Su Ze for the sake of his brother; he didn't want to be a double agent who lied to both sides.

Women were certainly important, but brothers came first.

Wang Zi thought to himself: 'Sigh, it seems we were never meant to be after all... It's okay, hate me if you want, but I will definitely not reveal Su Ze's intel!'

But then Luo Xingyu said herself, “I know him. He's the genius Beast Tamer who contracted a Diamond-rank Demonic Beast during the Beast Taming College Entrance Examination. I didn't expect him to be quite handsome as well as famous.”

Wang Zi was surprised: “You already knew?”

Then what was the point of his mental preparation just now?

He might as well have said it to earn some favorability points.

“Who wouldn't know about something so famous? I'm afraid it's not just me; people from the other Beast Taming Universities probably have information on Su Ze as well.”

Then she sighed again: “It's a pity his Diamond-rank Spirit Beast was ambushed and died recently. Otherwise, he would have been a decent opponent.”

“But now... he's no longer much of a threat.”

“What?!” Wang Zi's eyes widened.

Why did Luo Xingyu know about such an important matter while he didn't?

And when they were chatting just now, Su Ze hadn't mentioned it at all.

“Sigh... Brother, were you just putting on a brave face for me?” Wang Zi couldn't help but lament.