66: Chapter 66 Beginner Beast Tamer Certification Examination

Twenty-two days after defeating Zhou Ming.

The Beast Tamer Association Building in Qinglan City.

Sunlight filtered through the high glass curtain wall, making the spacious and bright first-floor lobby appear incredibly transparent.

People were coming and going in the lobby in an endless stream.

Beast Tamers of various ages and dressed in all sorts of attire shuttled between the guide signs, self-service terminals, and various service windows, either alone or in small groups.

On the display walls surrounding the lobby, the latest beast taming news, mission rankings, and important association notices were scrolling by.

Lin Chen followed the flow of people into the lobby.

The purpose of his trip was very clear—to undergo Primary Beastmaster identity certification.

As everyone knew, a Beast Tamer's identity level was not just a symbol of strength and honor, but was also directly linked to tangible social benefits and status.

For example, when purchasing pet items, the discount would jump from 5% off to 7% off.

Therefore, as long as the conditions were met, any rational Beast Tamer would seek certification at the first opportunity to enjoy the dividends brought by a level increase as soon as possible.

Hiding one's strength and playing the pig to eat the tiger were plots that only existed in novels when faced with the reality of scarce resources and fierce competition.

Lin Chen was naturally no exception.

He arrived at the reception desk, and it was soon his turn.

Lin Chen handed over his Beast Tamer identification documents.

The staff member behind the counter was a young woman with a professional and indifferent expression.

She took the ID, skillfully swiped it through the reader, and her gaze quickly scanned the information popping up on the screen.

When she saw the 'Registration Date' and 'Current Certification Status', her movements paused for half a second, and her gaze lingered slightly on Lin Chen's young face, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

Registration Time: 44 days ago.

After a slight moment of astonishment, the staff member regained her professional attitude, her fingers tapping quickly on the keyboard to bring up the certification process.

The staff member spoke at a standard pace: "Mr. Lin Chen, the basic requirements for Primary Beastmaster certification are: owning two or more contracted pets, with at least one reaching the second rank in strength. The certification method is a practical combat assessment. After passing the assessment, your information will be updated following a review, and the relevant rights and interests will be automatically activated."

Lin Chen nodded.

According to the rules he had learned beforehand, the core part of Beast Tamer level certification below the professional level was the practical combat assessment.

After all, a Beast Tamer's level represented not only the strength of their spiritual power but also their comprehensive combat capability.

The assessment format usually involved the applicant sending out their own pet to battle an examiner.

The examiner would evaluate the applicant's command, adaptability, and the degree of pet cultivation based on the battle process.

Winning, naturally, meant passing.

Even if defeated, as long as one could hold out for the specified time and demonstrate qualified strength, it would count as passing.

It sounded simple, but many people were stuck at this stage every year.

Furthermore, the higher the Beast Tamer level, the harder the certification, which was the fundamental reason why many middle-aged people remained trapped as Intermediate Beastmasters for their entire lives.

Firstly, one had to have enough contracted pets, but each additional contracted pet meant more expenses, which was difficult for ordinary Beast Tamers to bear.

Secondly, although some Beast Tamers had contracted pets, their pets might be support-oriented and not good at fighting, making it difficult to pass the combat assessment.

While he was lost in thought, the staff member's voice pulled Lin Chen's mind back: "Alright, please head to Assessment Preparation Area No. 13 on the sixth floor and wait."

The elevator rose smoothly.

The layout of the sixth floor was quite different from the first-floor lobby; it was very quiet, and on both sides of the corridor were large alloy doors marked with numbers, each with an observation window, clearly specialized assessment combat rooms.

Finding Preparation Area No. 13, Lin Chen pushed the door open to find it empty.

About five minutes later, another door was pushed open, and a man in his early thirties with a nearly rigid and serious expression walked in.

He held a thin electronic tablet in his hand, his gaze falling directly on Lin Chen. Without any pleasantries, he got straight to the point:

“I am your examiner for this Junior certification, Wu Zhen.”

His voice was like his expression, without much fluctuation.

“Hello, Examiner Wu.” Lin Chen stood up and nodded politely.

Wu Zhen nodded slightly in response.

He looked down and tapped on the tablet a few times, seemingly verifying information, then looked up at Lin Chen and said concisely:

“You should be familiar with the rules. First, summon all your contracted pets to show me. Once the assessment begins, defeat the assessment pet I send out, or hold out under attack for three minutes to pass. Any questions?”

“None.” Lin Chen shook his head.

“Good.” Wu Zhen said no more and took two steps back to clear some space. “Please summon your pets.”

With a thought, Lin Chen communicated with his Beast Taming Space, and the Flame Claw Beast and Songsong Dog appeared one after another.

Wu Zhen nodded and recorded the information: “Hmm, a Flame Claw Beast and a Songsong Dog.”

“Your pets meet the basic requirements; next is the combat assessment. I will send out an assessment pet with adapted strength. You only have one chance. Are you ready?”

“I can start anytime.” Lin Chen nodded.

The two of them went to the combat field, standing some distance apart, each making preparations.

The pet Lin Chen sent out was naturally the Flame Claw Beast.

With a thought from Wu Zhen, a brilliant summoning light emerged:

Within the light, a pet about the size of a large dog, shaped like a rat but exceptionally robust, appeared in the arena.

It was covered in short, stiff brownish-gray fur, and a pair of exaggeratedly large incisors with a cold, hard metallic luster extended from its mouth, their length almost exceeding its head.

Its four limbs were thick and powerful, its claws sharp, and its small eyes showed alertness.

[Species Name: Giant-Toothed Mountain Rat]

[Attribute: Earth]

[Species Rank: Mid-Tier Transcendent]

The Giant-Toothed Mountain Rat, a common Transcendent pet, was known for its amazing bite force and digging ability, with a direct and fierce fighting style.

“Assessment begin!” Wu Zhen didn't waste words, announcing it directly while starting the timer.

“Squeak!”

The moment the words left his mouth, the Giant-Toothed Mountain Rat let out a sharp cry, its thick hind legs kicking hard against the ground as it turned into a blurry shadow, charging fiercely toward the Flame Claw Beast at the other end of the field.

It lowered its head, aiming those cold, glinting giant teeth forward with great momentum.

The Flame Claw Beast calmly locked onto its target, its limbs slightly bent, lowering its center of gravity.

Just as the Giant-Toothed Mountain Rat charged within a few meters, the Flame Claw Beast's gaze sharpened. Its right front claw shot out like lightning, the tips of its claws suddenly blooming with sharp white light. The condensed energy made the edges of the claws seem to lengthen slightly as they carried a faint whistle that tore through the air, striking with incomparable precision against the side of the Giant-Toothed Mountain Rat's charging teeth!

Clang!

A sound like metal clashing rang out abruptly, and sparks flew where the claws and teeth collided!

The Giant-Toothed Mountain Rat's fierce forward momentum came to a sudden halt, its body swaying; with just one blow, it had suffered a heavy injury.

And the Flame Claw Beast's counterattack did not end there.

The Flame Claw Beast tightly locked onto the easily repelled Giant-Toothed Mountain Rat. Its chest quietly puffed out, and brilliant orange flames surged in its mouth as the surrounding temperature rose rapidly.

“Gagu!”

In the next instant, a thick pillar of orange fire erupted from the Flame Claw Beast's wide-open mouth, shooting straight at the swaying Giant-Toothed Mountain Rat.

Boom!

An explosion that wasn't particularly violent rang out in the combat room, but its power was extremely concentrated, and the flames instantly swallowed the Giant-Toothed Mountain Rat.

“Squeak!!!”

A shrill scream rang out!

The Giant-Toothed Mountain Rat's robust body was blown backward, tumbling and crashing heavily onto the floor.

Looking closely, large patches of the Giant-Toothed Mountain Rat's brownish-gray fur were charred and curled, and its chest was even more lacerated, its aura withered to the extreme.

It struggled to get up, but its limbs twitched, and finally, it just lay there powerlessly, letting out a weak wail, clearly having lost its ability to fight.

Wu Zhen looked at the fallen, unconscious Giant-Toothed Mountain Rat, then looked up at the clock hanging on the wall:

Just 15 seconds had passed since the start of the assessment.

In 15 seconds, it had defeated the Earth-attribute pet, the Giant-Toothed Mountain Rat, which had an attribute advantage.

He fell silent.