35: Asking for 100 million

"Mr. Bai, Tianshen Group thinks very highly of your potential."

Zhao Kuo, on the other end of the phone, spoke with a modulated, rhythmic voice.

"We are willing to offer you an S-Rank cultivation contract."

"The contract includes providing you with cultivation resources worth no less than fifty million alliance coins annually."

"We will equip you with the country's top breeders and a tactical analysis team, and we guarantee that you will become a top-tier star Beast Tamer in the country within three years."

"In addition to this, we will pay you a one-time signing bonus of twenty million alliance coins."

Zhao Kuo dropped one bombshell after another.

Even Bai Ye was slightly stunned upon hearing these conditions.

Was what he had shown on the surface really worth that much money?

And that wasn't even counting the most crucial hidden values.

An annual salary of fifty million, plus a twenty million signing bonus—this treatment was comparable to many long-established professional Beast Tamers.

Tianshen Group was truly wealthy and imposing.

"Sounds good."

Bai Ye's voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

"But I have a question."

"Please go ahead, Mr. Bai."

Zhao Kuo's tone remained as confident as ever.

He believed no Apprentice Beast Tamer could refuse such conditions.

He had previously investigated and found that Bai Ye was an orphan; the reason he chose the Ghost Orchid as his initial beast pet was likely because he had no money at home.

By offering so much money at once, the young man would surely be dazed and confused.

"What you have your eyes on—is it me? Or is it my Ghost Orchid?"

Bai Ye asked, hitting the nail on the head.

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a few seconds.

"Hehe, Mr. Bai, you are joking."

Zhao Kuo gave a dry laugh, attempting to brush it off.

"Of course we value your talent and potential. As for your beast pet, we will also provide the best cultivation plan to help it..."

"Alright, stop with the nonsense."

Bai Ye interrupted him impatiently.

"Just say it directly, what do you want to do to my Xiao Lan?"

Zhao Kuo fell silent again.

No, why don't you play by the rules?

He realized that his usual way of dealing with high school students didn't apply to this teenager.

"Fine, Mr. Bai is straightforward, so I will be direct."

Zhao Kuo finally adopted a serious attitude, no longer treating Bai Ye as an ordinary high school student.

"Our group's expert team conducted a preliminary analysis of your Ghost Orchid and unanimously agreed that it has undergone an extremely rare benign mutation, possessing both Grass and Undead System attributes."

"This kind of dual-attribute mutated beast pet has extremely high research value."

"We hope you will agree to let us use your Ghost Orchid as a core research project for our group."

"Of course, we will not harm it; we just need it to periodically provide samples within the group for analysis."

"In return, we are willing to double the contract price!"

"An annual salary of one hundred million, and a signing bonus of fifty million!"

"Furthermore, we will use all of the group's resources to find you a beast pet with Rare Aptitude no weaker than this Ghost Orchid of yours, to serve as your second beast pet."

One hundred million!

Hearing this number, Lin Anan, who was eavesdropping nearby, gasped.

Although she was a wealthy Young Miss, one hundred million was definitely not a small amount for her personally.

Tianshen Group was actually willing to invest such a huge amount just to research Xiao Lan.

Had she underestimated the value of the mutation?

Bai Ye also narrowed his eyes.

One hundred million was indeed very tempting; it was enough for him to buy over a dozen bottles of life source fluid.

But...

He looked at the Ghost Orchid by the window, which was quietly emitting a soft glow.

To a Beast Tamer, a contracted beast pet is a priceless treasure that no amount of money can measure.

If he wanted to make money, relying on his Rank 1 status and Elite Rank strength, going to any Rank 1 Secret Realm would be like bullying noobs.

He could completely earn a large sum of money through the Righteous Path.

Sell it?

Or treat it as an experimental subject and hand it over to others for research?

What kind of international joke is that?

"How about it, Mr. Bai? Are you satisfied with these conditions?"

Zhao Kuo's voice was full of a sense of certainty.

In his view, what he offered Bai Ye was already an astronomical price.

Even a Rank 3 Beast Tamer could not help but be tempted when faced with such a huge lure.

"Not good at all."

Bai Ye's voice turned cold.

"Xiao Lan is my partner, not a tool for you to research."

"If you want to set your sights on it, you aren't qualified."

"As for your contract, keep it to buy yourself a coffin."

Having said that, Bai Ye hung up the phone directly.

The whole room immediately quieted down.

Lin Anan stared at Bai Ye, dumbfounded.

One hundred million, and he refused it just like that, and even scolded the other party.

This was just too... too cool.

"Bai Ye..."

Lin Anan clenched her fists and began to punch the air repeatedly, as if that was the only way to vent the emotions in her heart.

"You looked so cool just now."

"Really?"

Bai Ye shook his head.

Come to think of it, he had only been a Beast Tamer for half a month, and he already had over forty million on hand.

That was not even counting the ten million he had already spent.

To want to buy out his time for a year with one hundred million, he felt that Tianshen Group was looking down on him too much.

"Meow-ha!!!"

The phone rang again at an inopportune moment. Bai Ye frowned, and Phantom Snow's fur stood on end.

Zhao Kuo again? He really wouldn't give up.

He answered impatiently, prepared to scold the other party again.

"Hello? Are you done yet?"

"Ah? Student Bai Ye? It's me, Teacher Zhang."

On the other end of the phone came a familiar voice, tinged with a bit of astonishment.

It was Zhang Feng, their high school homeroom teacher.

Bai Ye was stunned for a moment before he realized who it was.

"Ahem, Teacher Zhang, I'm sorry. I thought it was a scam call. Someone from a group called me earlier and wanted to harvest my Xiao Lan's kidneys."

He hurriedly explained.

"A scam call? Who is so blind to dare to harass our school's great Genius?"

Zhang Feng was just about to ask Bai Ye for Zhao Kuo's phone number to help him scold them back directly.

"Forget it, let's not talk about that for now. Bai Ye, you have really brought honor to our Luoxue City No. 2 High School!"

"I just watched the video of your match at the Sacred Dragon Cup, it was incredible!"

"The whole school is talking about it now. The principal said that when you come back, he will personally hold a commendation meeting for you and announce your praise to the whole school."

Although Bai Ye hadn't won the championship yet, he had taken down a Transcendence High-rank Ice Crystal Bird with just a Ghost Orchid.

Currently, no students from their Luoxue No. 2 High School could do that.

Oh, Lin Anan might be able to; her Wanyan Horse had quite high Aptitude.

Listening to Teacher Zhang's excited, somewhat incoherent words, Bai Ye opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

It really felt good to be recognized.

"Teacher, you are exaggerating; I was just lucky."

Bai Ye said modestly.

"What luck? This is called strength. Or do you want to be 'Lucky Bro' too?"

Zhang Feng retorted loudly; clearly, being young himself, he could fully keep up with Bai Ye's memes.

"You are in Huanglong City now, take good care of yourself alone. Don't put too much pressure on yourself during the competition; just do your best. Safety first, you know?"

"I know, thank you, Teacher."

"Good, then I won't disturb you anymore. Get some good rest. For tomorrow's match, our whole school... our class is waiting to cheer for you."

Zhang Feng also wanted to show off Bai Ye to the homeroom teachers of other classes.

Unfortunately, everyone was quite competitive; except for their class, it was impossible for other classes to broadcast Bai Ye's match during class hours.

After hanging up the phone, Bai Ye's mood, which had been somewhat soured by Zhao Kuo, improved a lot.

"Bai Ye, you're a celebrity now."

Lin Anan said with a smile.

"Maybe by the time you win the championship, the whole Luoxue City will know you soon."

"Isn't that just right."

Bai Ye shrugged:

"When I win the championship, maybe I can even get to be one of the 'Top Ten Outstanding Youths of Luoxue City' when I go back."

"Pfft."

Lin Anan was amused by him.

"Don't laugh yet. Teacher Zhang just said 'I' alone. You really did skip class to come here, didn't you?"

"I don't know what you are talking about. I'm going to sleep."

The two chatted and laughed for a while before Bai Ye's mobile terminal received a new message.

It was from the Sacred Dragon Cup officials, regarding the match schedule for the second round tomorrow.

Bai Ye clicked it open and found his name.

【Sector 7, Second Round, No. 777, Bai Ye, vs. No. 333, Zhou Yan.】

Below, there was simple information about his opponent.

【Name】: Zhou Yan

【City】: Haiyan City

【Contracted beast pet】: Magma Giant Crab

【Aptitude】: Rare Advanced

【Rank】: Transcendence High-rank

"Magma Giant Crab?"

Lin Anan also leaned over to take a look, her expression changing slightly.

"I've heard of this guy; he is the number one Genius of Haiyan City No. 1 High School. His Magma Giant Crab has dual Rock and Fire attributes, with astonishing defense and incredibly high strength. He is very difficult to deal with."

"Feels like it's not as hard to deal with as that bird today."

Bai Ye rubbed his chin. The fact that the Ice Crystal Bird could fly was enough to leave many beast pets far behind.

"Bai Ye, are you confident?" Lin Anan asked with some concern.

The Fire attribute perfectly countered Xiao Lan's Grass-attribute "Night Demon Strike".

The damage of the Grass-attribute Night Demon Strike against the Fire attribute would be greatly reduced.

Moreover, the Magma Giant Crab's defense was not something that a fragile creature like the Ice Crystal Bird could compare to.

"Don't worry."

Bai Ye gave Lin Anan a thumbs up.

"As for the Fire attribute, I have other ways to counter it."