178: Chapter 178 A True Judge of Character
"This is the roster. You can take a look."
Seeing Li Yu frown, Wu Shilan guessed the reason and handed him a thin booklet.
Li Yu opened it to look.
First page: Chen Qing, age 22, Beast is a Silver Level 1 Little Sword Spirit...
Little Sword Spirit?
Li Yu looked at the sword at Chen Qing's waist in surprise. He had never used his attribute-checking ability on that sword before; he hadn't even known it was actually a Beast.
At the same time, a doubt surfaced in Li Yu's mind.
If that sword was only Silver Level 1, where did Chen Qing's strength come from? Could it be that someone could truly possess powerful combat strength without relying on a Beast?
This wasn't scientific.
What followed was some basic information. Li Yu read with interest, but unfortunately, there was no information he wanted to see, such as measurements, waistline...
*Cough, cough*, back to the point.
Li Yu didn't continue reading. He silently closed the booklet and looked at the remaining eleven people, falling into deep thought.
Was the information in the booklet useful?
Yes, but not much.
At most, he could see everyone's name, age, Beast level, and profile picture, making it easier for Li Yu to match names to faces.
Selecting team members—what was being tested?
First, trustworthiness.
Whether the members would be loyal to their roles, whether they would abandon him, backstab him, or even plot against him in a moment of crisis.
Second, combat strength.
A Beast Tamer's combat strength is multifaceted, related to quality, level, and talent, as well as the Beast Tamer's command and elemental advantages.
These two aspects couldn't be analyzed through a few simple pieces of paper. Otherwise, that fellow named Qi Mao wouldn't have appeared in this lineup.
Wu Shilan was very satisfied with Li Yu's reaction. If Li Yu had chosen his team members just from a booklet, she would have believed that this trip to the Blood Refining Ruins would essentially end in failure.
But he didn't, which instead piqued Wu Shilan's curiosity and her anticipation for the ruins.
"The relationship between a captain and team members is a process of mutual selection. If you can't choose, you can ask them to have a match, or ask them some questions and choose based on their answers," Wu Shilan said.
"Alright." Li Yu's plan was roughly the same.
"Chen Qing passes. The rest of the Beast Tamers, please conduct one-on-one duels. I need to see your strength."
Chen Qing left the formation and returned to stand behind Li Yu. Her expression was indifferent, but those who knew her well could still see her joy in the almost imperceptible upward curve of her lips.
This feeling of being treated specially.
Not bad.
The elites had no objections. After all, they had witnessed Chen Qing's strength over the past few days. If she really stepped onto the stage, who would dare to compete?
Wu Shilan had arranged for the elites to be in this massive venue precisely to prepare for combat. As she pressed a switch, the ground rumbled and vibrated, and five battle platforms rose up.
Each platform was one meter high and about fifty meters wide.
"He Long versus Wei Long."
"Qi Mao versus Feng Hou."
"Jia Renyi versus Chu Xiaolian..."
After Wu Shilan finished speaking, ten of the eleven people walked toward the five battle platforms, while the one who was left out waited for the next round.
"There will be no referee for these duels. Stop when appropriate. Anyone who maliciously kills a Beast will lose their eligibility as a team member and be held legally responsible. Do you understand?" Wu Shilan shouted.
"Understood!"
The elites shouted in unison.
Then, all ten people summoned at once. Light flashed, transforming into various Beasts with different appearances.
With a shout of "Start," the battle began.
Li Yu didn't stay where he was. He went to the edge of the battle platforms, walking around them to observe.
First, he came to the battle platform of Jia Renyi and Chu Xiaolian.
Chu Xiaolian summoned a Silver Level 8 Water Spirit Dog. It was the size of a large dog, its body shifting between semi-transparent and solid, alternating between water and flesh.
Jia Renyi's Beast was an old acquaintance of Li Yu's, a Silver Level 9 Sand Scorpion King. It was likely caught in the Thick Earth Mystic Realm, or perhaps evolved from a Sand Scorpion.
This Sand Scorpion King was even larger, covered in earthy-yellow hard armor. As soon as it landed, it launched a fierce attack on Chu Xiaolian's Water Spirit Dog.
The Water Spirit Dog quickly dodged, relying on its speed to evade the Sand Scorpion King's assault.
"Jia Renyi, the son of the director of the Jia Family Beast Taming Feed Factory. He's from the neighboring city and has good strength. In previous assessments, he achieved a record of 7 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss."
"Chu Xiaolian, a Ningyang local, a college graduate with high talent. She was once a member of the Earth Battle Group. Because she didn't like the Earth Battle Group's way of doing things, she was marginalized everywhere after leaving. It's quite a pity," Director Wang introduced to Li Yu.
For this trial, Director Wang's hair had turned white with worry. He knew every contestant like the back of his hand.
Hearing the words "Earth Battle Group," Li Yu raised an eyebrow, gave Chu Xiaolian a deep look, and asked Chen Qing, "How is the strength of both sides?"
Chen Qing said, "Within ten moves, the woman will lose."
Li Yu nodded and walked toward the next battle platform.
Director Wang hurriedly followed, casting a quick glance at Chen Qing, feeling that she was being too arbitrary.
Matters of combat change in an instant. Unless the gap is enormous, no one can guarantee what the result will be.
They arrived at the next battle platform.
This was the duel between Qi Mao and another elite.
That elite was chubby, wearing a plaid shirt and black-rimmed glasses, with a simple and honest smile on his face. He looked exactly like an otaku programmer—harmless and easily trusted.
However, when they looked at the battle on the field, Li Yu's expression froze, Director Wang's mouth twitched, and even Chen Qing couldn't help but show a flash of surprise.
The battle platform was swept by wild sand, obstructing their vision somewhat. However, everyone clearly saw that the Silver Level 9 Sandstorm Crocodile that had initiated the sandstorm was currently exasperated, roaring repeatedly.
A half-meter-tall monkey was relying on its agile positioning to constantly dodge the Sandstorm Crocodile's attacks and strike at its rear.
"Roar—"
The Sandstorm Crocodile was furious. Sand and wind swirled as it kept twisting its body, attempting to bite the little monkey. But the monkey dodged, circling to the other side and delivering a few more claw strikes.
As everyone knows, the 'chrysanthemum' is a type of flower, extremely delicate. Flower lovers must care for it carefully and cannot accept too rough a touch.
Whether it be a stick or a claw.
Li Yu exclaimed, "What a talent."
Director Wang nodded. "You can't judge a person by their appearance, just as you can't measure a fat man's depths."
Chen Qing: "Good material for an assassin."
Li Yu: "..."
What kind of train of thought was this?
Was she trying to generate revenue for that organization?
"What about the outcome?" Li Yu asked Chen Qing.
Chen Qing looked and said, "The Sandstorm Crocodile is largely unharmed. The fat assassin will lose."
"That's a fat guy, not an assassin."
"Oh."
They walked toward the next battle platform. Suddenly, hearing a "thud," they all turned their heads to look.
It turned out that the Sand Scorpion King had swatted the Water Spirit Dog away with one of its pincers, sending it crashing heavily off the battle platform.
The match was over; Jia Renyi had won.
Director Wang looked at Chen Qing in surprise.
Li Yu said, "You really have a sharp eye for people!"
An action was missing here.
If only Chen Qing would agree... but she would probably... slap me to death.