51: The trial in the secret realm begins.

Right after Xie Ning accepted the top-ranked mission, the internet was abuzz. A single mission and four names managed to force their way to the fifth spot on the Social Media Platform's trending search list, and the comments section below grew into a massive tower of tens of thousands of posts.

Some even went as far as doxing them, digging up the information of Xie Ning and his group. Among the findings, the photo of "Beauty and the Beast" from Exam Hall No. 4 became a hit once again.

As for the other two Yao Beasts, no one recognized them yet.

Unlike the examinees who were gloating over their misfortune, the voices online were mostly praying for Xie Ning and the others to achieve a sweeping victory.

After all, in this world full of hidden perils, humanity could never have too many powerful Demon Tamers.

Also paying close attention to this mission was Lingnan Academy, the one that had posted it.

At this moment, inside Lingnan Academy.

The crisp sound of clicking footsteps gradually approached, and then the door to the Dean's office opened as a woman with a face as cold as frost walked in.

"Dean, you were looking for me?"

The Old Dean said, "Someone has accepted the mission you submitted."

The woman was taken aback at first, then turned her head to look. On her jade-like beautiful face, the frost gradually melted, revealing a hint of surprise. However, she quickly reacted and regained her icy composure, nodding slightly as she said, "Then let's see if these people have the strength to take down that Yao Beast."

"Mhm. If they take it down, we must recruit them into the academy no matter what." The Old Dean looked deeply at the few names.

The world thought first-class academies were so prestigious, but they didn't know that there was a Grand Competition between academies every year. If an academy failed to place for four consecutive years, it would be removed from the first-class list and demoted to second-class.

For the Old Dean, who had painstakingly managed Lingnan Academy, this would be a tremendous disgrace.

The woman nodded slightly without speaking.

If Xie Ning were here, he would certainly be shocked.

Because the beautiful woman before him was none other than the person who had saved his life five years ago, the graceful figure who had appeared in his dreams countless times.

He just didn't know what kind of experiences she had gone through to become so icy and indifferent... Xie Ning naturally didn't know about Lingnan Academy's attention toward him; if he did, he would surely be very happy.

At this time, he had already put on his Recorder and was waiting for the Secret Realm to open.

Just then, three familiar figures walked over.

"Hi~ Miss Lu, Xie Ning, what a coincidence to see you here."

The newcomers were the "Shocked Trio" they had met at the gymnasium: Jin Feng, Ye Chong, and Zhan Yingying.

Jin Feng greeted the two of them and then looked at Lan Yu and Xiao Ya with a look of surprise. "No wonder Student Xiao Ya and Student Lan Yu didn't agree when I invited you earlier; it turns out you're in a group with Miss Lu."

"Of course. Bing Yun is our good friend; are you scared now? If you dare to bully us at school, watch out or Bing Yun will deal with you." Xiao Ya had a proud expression on her face, like a victorious rooster.

Jin Feng couldn't help but smile, while Ye Chong looked embarrassed. Zhan Yingying, not being from No. 2 High School, didn't know Xiao Ya or Lan Yu, but after learning they were best friends with Lu Bingyun, she didn't dare to be disrespectful.

"What a coincidence," Xie Ning replied with a smile, while Lu Bingyun nodded slightly.

Jin Feng's expression turned serious as he said to Xie Ning, "I heard you took the mission at the very top. Student Xie Ning, I suggest you choose another mission. That mission isn't simple. If you rush into it, you could easily..."

"Die a very ugly death." Before Jin Feng could finish, a voice cut in from the side.

The group looked toward the source of the voice and saw five boys walking over, dressed in exquisite and uniform attire, clearly from the same school. The leading boy had an arrogant face and sinister eyes, with a curved aquiline nose; his appearance alone made people feel he was not one to be trifled with.

As these people appeared, many students around them repeatedly moved aside, as if the five-meter radius around these five was a minefield.

"Stay further away, even further. Don't get close to these guys."

"Those people who took the first mission are in trouble. These guys aren't easy to get along with."

"These people from private schools are truly detestable. Relying on their wealth and power to act recklessly, they do nothing good but commit every kind of evil. They'll get what's coming to them sooner or later."

"Shh~ keep your voice down, or you'll be in trouble if they hear you. Don't forget, he has a Bronze Rank 8 Demon Tamers Beast. Even if it was bought temporarily, it's still stronger than us."

Xie Ning frowned as he looked at the five people approaching. From the words of the others nearby, he could roughly tell these people weren't any good.

"The leader is named Li Tianyi. He's ruthless and has harmed many people, but his family is quite wealthy and influential. Be careful..." Lan Yu leaned in close to Xie Ning, clutching her coat tighter as she spoke softly.

Xie Ning nodded after hearing this.

He also noticed that after this person appeared, Lu Bingyun, Xiao Ya, and Lan Yu all had looks of disgust on their faces, and the expressions of Jin Feng and his companions weren't good either.

As soon as Li Tianyi and his four companions arrived, they first scanned the three girls and Zhan Yingying wantonly. Then, Li Tianyi said, "I heard you took the highest difficulty mission. Why don't you just give that mission to me?"

Xie Ning inconspicuously took half a step forward, blocking their prying eyes, and narrowed his eyes. "You're dreaming."

"So you don't plan on doing as I say?" No anger or displeasure could be seen on Li Tianyi's face; instead, he had a strange smirk. "Everyone here knows what kind of person I, Li Tianyi, am. Think carefully before you refuse my request."

Xie Ning wasn't polite either. He took a step forward, his height—half a head taller than the other—blocking the light falling on Li Tianyi and creating a faint sense of pressure. His black eyes looked sharply at Li Tianyi. "If you want to die, feel free to try."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Lu Bingyun and the other two girls were already condensing their Demon Taming Formations, ready to summon their Demon Tamers Beasts at any moment.

Jin Feng followed closely, standing by Xie Ning's side. Ye Chong and Zhan Yingying hesitated for a moment before gritting their teeth and following suit.

The atmosphere grew heavy, and the surrounding students quickly retreated even further away.

No one expected a fight to break out before even entering the Secret Realm.

Li Tianyi took half a step back, stepping out of Xie Ning's shadow. An arrogant smile still hung on his face as he gave a sinister look at Xie Ning and the three girls blocked behind him.

"Very good, very good..."

After saying that, Li Tianyi turned and left, with the others following closely. One of his companions had a Demon Tamers Beast in his arms that bared its teeth and brandished its claws at Xie Ning.

The surrounding examinees hadn't expected Li Tianyi to actually back down, and they couldn't help but feel delighted in their hearts.

Jin Feng's trio, as well as Lu Bingyun and Xiao Ya, all breathed a sigh of relief.

Faced with someone with such a bad reputation who was rotten to the core, most people couldn't help but feel somewhat threatened.

However, Lan Yu, who had hidden behind Xie Ning early on and was gripping his clothes with one hand, frowned even tighter. Through her lenses, her eyes betrayed a sense of unease.

"Alright, don't mind that scum. Let's get back to what we were doing." Xie Ning patted Lan Yu's shoulder.

He naturally knew that things wouldn't end here.

It wasn't that Li Tianyi wouldn't act, but that he would act inside the Secret Realm. Moreover, his target wasn't just him, but also Lu Bingyun and the other two; this could be seen from his gaze just now.

A lecherous person wouldn't be so easily dealt with.

As for how Li Tianyi would find their group, it wouldn't be hard. That Demon Tamers Beast baring its teeth earlier had already left a mark on him.

Xie Ning knew this but didn't say anything to avoid worrying the girls. However, he actually hoped Li Tianyi would come looking for them.

Someone like this could not be allowed to remain.

Not long after Li Tianyi and his group left, Jin Feng's trio also departed. Before leaving, Jin Feng repeatedly urged Xie Ning to be wary of Li Tianyi's gang.

After this incident, everyone realized that their status as students didn't mean much. Once they reached the wilderness, anything could happen. Only strength was one's greatest guarantee.

Perhaps this was another purpose of the Monster Taming College Entrance Examination.

After a while, the Monster Taming Alliance's Examiner finished explaining the rules. Then, the rift of the Secret Realm was seen to slowly open like an eye, revealing a brilliant vortex like an eyeball, deep and colorful.

The third subject of the Monster Taming College Entrance Examination, the Secret Realm Trial, had begun.

Everyone walked toward the vortex, passing through it and vanishing.

At the same time, on the College Entrance Examination live streams on the internet and television, numerous small windows appeared, each labeled with a name.

These were the Recorders carried by every examinee. None of the examinees had expected that the Monster Taming Alliance would add a live video streaming function to the Recorders this year.