Chapter 505 - 304: To Battle

"Yeah, Wang Haokun and I were talking about it on the way back this afternoon. Their goal this time is to secure a spot in the top eight and aim for the top four."

Su Zhi remarked with a sigh, "This is the first time Shanyou Province is hosting the national competition. The higher-ups must be putting a lot of pressure on them."

Liu Yuhang pouted. "They should put some pressure on us, too. What’s the point of only pressuring them? Or does this mean the higher-ups don’t even take us seriously..."

"Maybe they have, it’s just that not as much of it has reached you."

Shao Ya chuckled softly. "Teacher Zhou knows us well. If he thinks a certain amount of pressure would be detrimental to our preparation, he’ll act as a safety valve and shield us from the excess."

"Did someone call me? What’s up?" The door to the teachers’ room across the hall opened, and Zhou Shengfa poked his head out, looking curious.

"It’s nothing, nothing."

"Alright, alright, you guys talk amongst yourselves. Let me know if you run into any problems." Zhou Shengfa closed the door and pulled his head back in.

The group looked at each other and chuckled softly.

"Wait, secure top eight and aim for top four? Did I hear that right?"

Katie exclaimed, "The top eight finish during Beast King Peng Kai’s era was already the best result in Shanyou’s history. The top four... that’s practically impossible, isn’t it?"

"After all, those powerhouse provinces for Beast Taming are no joke."

Cao Mingyu held up his fingers. "Economically strong provinces or municipalities like Pearl Harbor, Capital City, and Hundred Rivers have basically locked up the top three spots. The remaining positions are contested by major Beast Taming provinces like Hezuo, Yu Province, and Ji Province, which are slightly weaker overall but fiercely competitive."

"Compared to them, Shanyou Province is arguably not very competitive. In fact, even making the top eight is difficult; it would require a lucky draw."

Su Zhiqui asked curiously, "Do other provinces also split into different teams like we do?"

Cao Mingyu nodded. "Yes. Although they’re nominally fighting for their province, each team essentially represents the school behind them. The competition has no explicit rules about this, but you’ll almost never see two schools form a joint team."

"I see..." Liu Yuhang said, rubbing Xue Li as realization dawned on him.

"Anyway, we just need to focus on doing our best."

Shao Ya clenched her fist. "The Shanda University Affiliated School wants to flex on us, but we can’t back down! When it comes to comparing strengths, you have to be willing to draw your sword!"

Su Zhi tucked his hands into his sleeves. "Are you even using those phrases ’comparing strengths’ and ’draw your sword’ properly?"

"Ah! I’m gonna get you!"

The room erupted in laughter.

The first day passed in a flurry of activity. Su Zhi’s dreams were filled with stuffy green-skinned trains and conference room meetings, causing him to wake up early the next day, long before dawn.

It would have been fine to sleep in, but a certain dog-shaped alarm clock hadn’t malfunctioned once. It prompted him to get up right on time today, too...

Su Zhi patted Yu Bao’s head earnestly. "Everyone else is still asleep. We can’t disturb them, right?"

Yu Bao stopped barking and nodded obediently.

Su Zhi seized the opportunity to lie back down and go to sleep.

"..." Yu Bao shot Shan Bao a look.

Shan Bao made an "OK" sign with its paw.

Su Zhi was still wondering why Yu Bao was so compliant today when a Golden Light flashed around him before he had even settled back down. When he opened his eyes again, his blanket and bed were gone. Above him was the blue sky, and beneath him was a lawn.

"WOOF!" Yu Bao wagged its tail excitedly.

"..." Su Zhi buried his face in his hands, exasperated.

A new day, starting with being out-hustled by his Pet Beasts.

During the national competition, the athletic field of the Shanda University Affiliated School was open to all its students and the competition participants. All you had to do was show your contestant pass.

Although Su Zhi’s method of entry was a bit bizarre, the student volunteers let him in after confirming his identity. Seeing that he was also on a team from Shanyou Province, they even cheered him on.

Even though it wasn’t even six o’clock, the field was already dotted with people doing their morning exercises.

At the Shanda University Affiliated School, waking up early was nothing unusual. Almost every student here had seen the academic buildings at four in the morning.

"WOOF!"

The sight made Yu Bao anxious.

’There are actually Pet Beasts in this world that hustle harder than me? How can such a thing exist!’

’No way! The great Wise One Su Zhi’s number one pet, the one who surpasses Wu Bao, the King of Hustle, Yu Bao, will absolutely not allow this to happen!’

So, Yu Bao also began practicing its Skills—several Skills at once, even—quickly drawing a wave of shocked stares from onlookers.

Shan Bao was also inspired. Full of Spirit, it started running laps around the field to train its stamina, stunningly leaving several Pet Beasts known for their speed in the dust.

Su Zhi watched, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, while also marveling at the excellent atmosphere of the Shanda University Affiliated School.

Although he’d had some personal run-ins with students from the school before, he had to admit that this place truly deserved its title as Shanyou Province’s top institution.

Training and cultivating in a place like this, even someone prone to slacking off would be influenced by their peers to strive for the top. It really did have a unique charm.

And aside from the determined figures of those hard at work, the field was also home to some... fateful encounters.

"Hey, hey, heyyy."

A voice that was both unfamiliar and yet somewhat familiar came from behind him.

Surprised, Su Zhi turned around and saw a girl with long, deep-red hair. Her golden eyes, like the sun, were especially striking.

And her figure was seriously hot.

"Sister Chuqing?"

"You had to think for a moment before saying my name? Don’t tell me you forgot about me after just one month!"

Shen Chuqing walked up to him with a smile, giving him a look that was friendly yet full of fighting spirit.

"I told you before we parted ways last time. If we meet on the national competition stage, I won’t go easy on you."

"Haha, if I remember correctly, I said the same thing."

The two of them laughed and bumped fists in the air.

"But it won’t be easy for you guys from Shanyou to run into us from Hundred Rivers. According to the tournament bracket, we’re in the upper and lower halves, respectively. We can only meet in the semifinals."