9: Chapter 9: Class assignments complete, assessments begin.

Level 25, Elite Tier.

Qin Ding was not the least bit surprised by this result. After all, if you don't have a spirit beast by your side, the Patrol Officer won't even glance at you. But if you do, you'll be subjected to this kind of surveillance.

The city has its own rules. Even if your spirit beast attacks other people or spirit beasts in public places like the streets, it basically won't survive.

The spirit beast won't survive.

Without some perks, how could the Patrol Officer be so diligent? Your offending spirit beast is just their after-dinner dessert.

However, it is worth mentioning that in Beast Taming high schools and universities, students are allowed to be combative; as long as no lives are lost, the school tends to turn a blind eye.

And this brings to mind how quickly broken limbs recover under the care of healing-type spirit beasts...

However, Dahei, being stared at by the cold gaze, not only showed no fear of the Elite Tier spirit beast, but instead glared back fiercely.

"Woof."

[Boss, why do I feel like this dead dog in front of me wants to fight me? Should I go fight it?]

Qin Ding: ...

Go fight? A dash over there, the kind of fight where you'd be three-tenths full for the Gale-Wind Mad Dog? Its size alone is double yours, it looks almost as big as a human!

The Patrol Officer saw this, a look of slight surprise and astonishment appearing on his face. He nodded slightly at Qin Ding, then nudged the Gale-Wind Mad Dog with his foot, returning it to its normal patrol state.

Dahei didn't understand, its dog eyes, which had just revealed a hint of ferocity, now showed a human-like confusion.

"Don't think about those pointless things, let's go."

Not wanting to waste time, Qin Ding gave Dahei a light kick. The man and dog then continued toward the school, and Dahei did indeed settle down.

Qin Ding didn't take it out often, only once or twice a month, so it cherished every time it got out for some fresh air.

About twenty minutes later, the man and dog arrived at the school gate, but Qin Ding didn't go to the classroom. Instead, he went straight to the playground, as the class assignment would be held there later.

Likewise, the so-called 'Class Monitor' election would also be held on the playground.

Sniff, sniff.

Dahei's nostrils twitched, as if it had captured many things, and a look of terror immediately appeared in its dog eyes.

"Woof, woof."

[Boss, so many spirit beasts, a whole bunch, hundreds of them, I can't beat them.]

"I didn't tell you to fight that many. At most, you'll fight one per match. Relax, fight with confidence, you'll definitely win."

Qin Ding dared to say this because he naturally had his confidence.

That is, Dahei is a six-year-old spirit beast. Most other students only contract spirit beasts after successfully cultivating their Mental Energy to Tier 1, which means their levels aren't high, and there basically won't be any spirit beasts over level five.

Even if there are level five ones, they are pitifully few; not every family is willing to spend tens of thousands on cultivation fluid.

As for why they don't buy spirit beasts in advance?

If your Mental Energy hasn't reached Tier 1 and you can't become a Beast Tamer, and you bought a spirit beast but can't contract it, not only would it be a wasted effort, you might also lose quite a bit of money.

"You're here?"

As soon as Qin Ding entered the playground, he saw Wang Chunfa walking toward him with a slightly dark-skinned middle-aged man, leaving Qin Ding somewhat confused.

"Teacher, Instructor Liu Jun, what's going on?"

"Nothing much. You can meet your new classmates later. Right now, prepare to participate in the Class Monitor selection. You will participate, right?"

Instructor Liu Jun's tone was extremely certain and affirmative, as if he already knew the answer. His gaze was fixed directly on Qin Ding, the meaning self-evident.

Hearing this, Qin Ding was stunned for a moment, then nodded decisively, "Yes."

"Good, come with me. I'll tell you now: your Beast Taming Class 1, along with Class 2, Class 3, and Class 4, have been combined. There are exactly one hundred Beast Tamers in total."

"And among these four classes, only seven have achieved an 'Excellent' rating in cold weapon training, and only you have an 'Outstanding' rating. Out of the eight people, you are the only one who uses a long staff."

As he spoke, Instructor Liu Jun peeked at Qin Ding's expression. Seeing that Qin Ding remained calm, he couldn't help but feel even more satisfied.

"Only those who achieved 'Excellent' can run for Class Monitor. Also, the physical test results have been released. It seems no one thinks highly of the staff?"

The final rhetorical question was Instructor Liu Jun asking for Qin Ding's opinion, and also wanting to know if Qin Ding's thoughts were the same as his own.

Qin Ding's eyes flickered, and his tone carried a hint of expected amusement.

"As expected. Swords and spears are so cool, halberds are so imposing, right? As for the staff... everyone's first thought is probably those bald monks, right?"

"Even if they choose, most would pick something like a mace, right?"

"However, I practice the staff mainly to build a foundation for practicing the spear later. In terms of force generation, footwork, distance judgment, and handling, there is no difference between a staff and a long spear."

Sure enough, after hearing the answer he wanted, Instructor Liu Jun's satisfaction was already apparent on his face.

This was the answer he wanted to hear. But young people nowadays are too impatient. He had said more than once that practicing martial arts requires a calm heart, patient thinking, and careful execution, but how many actually listened?

Someone like Qin Ding, who has ideas and plans, is the first one he has known.

"Come here."

In the time it took to exchange a few words, Qin Ding and Dahei were led by Instructor Liu Jun to a relatively spacious open area. Here, Qin Ding saw a weapon rack and the other seven people who had been rated as 'Excellent'.

Li Dong was among them, but what surprised Qin Ding was that Bai Muxue was also there. At this moment, Bai Muxue was holding a teaching spear and blinking at him.

Those eyes, which always seemed to look at people as if through a thin mist, now had that feeling faded significantly, with a bit more liveliness. It was as if she were saying, "Surprised? Unexpected?"

Li Dong stared fixedly at this scene, his hand gripping the spear tightening. Although he didn't say anything, his gaze was already locked onto Qin Ding.

The physical test results had been released. Undeniably, his body was not as strong as Qin Ding's, but if you added cold weapons into the mix, that might not be the case.

He didn't believe his long spear would lose to Qin Ding's long staff. Even if this selection involved both humans and spirit beasts fighting together, he didn't think his spirit beast would lose.

"Everyone is here, so come up and draw lots. Whoever draws the same number will be opponents. Note, injuries are allowed in this competition, but there must be no casualties. If a casualty occurs, it will be a life for a life. I hope you all understand."

After saying this, Instructor Liu Jun turned to look at the School Doctor on the side. This School Doctor was somewhat strange, because vines that writhed like veins and blood vessels were wrapped around his body.

Qin Ding just took one look, and the Life Records in his mind opened immediately, instantly flipping to the page belonging to this spirit beast's information.

[Beast: Twin Emerald Vines] [Qualification: Excellent] [Element: Wood] [Level: 33 (Commander)] [Ability: Symbiosis, Source Healing, Poison Vine Strangulation, Wood Element Control (Beginner)] [Bloodline: Vine (98%), Tree (2%)] [Evolution Direction Tree-type: (Requires tree-type bloodline purity to reach 10%)] [Evolution Direction Vine-type: 1-789] [Qualification Enhancement: ...] [Introduction: A type of vine spirit beast that lives symbiotically with other creatures and grows together with them. It takes root on the symbiotic creature in a parasitic form, which can significantly improve the symbiotic creature's physical functions while also healing the symbiotic creature faster at a lower cost.]

Seeing this record, Qin Ding's eyes lit up.

What a powerful ability.

Symbiosis increases all attributes of the Beast Tamer and can also heal the Beast Tamer faster at a lower cost. In other words, unless there is a crushing difference in strength or the mana bar is drained, isn't that practically unkillable?

The School Doctor, Liu Dong, glanced slightly at the students in front of him, made eye contact with the students who were looking him over, and then walked nonchalantly to his position on the side.

Symbiosis, after all. Having vines exposed outside his clothes, these students had only just begun to step onto the path of a Beast Tamer, so it was normal for them not to understand or recognize the value.

In the end, the drawing of lots began with Qin Ding, who had the best results, and ended with Bai Muxue.

Instructor Liu Jun looked at the lots everyone revealed, "Qin Ding, Wan Kang, bring your spirit beasts and get onto the open ground."

"One match at a time."

Instantly, upon hearing that the competition had begun, the remaining ninety-two students of Beast Taming Class 1 immediately gathered around, and the remaining two Beast Taming Classes were also conducting their own Class Monitor selections.