Beast Taming: I Can Add Points

Su Zhi’s opponent in the upcoming team battle was a boy from Shanda University Affiliated School named Wang Haokun.

Su Zhi didn’t really remember him. The only reason he knew the boy was from Shanda University Affiliated School was that he was standing with Chen Xinghao’s group.

It was typical of the ”top students” from prestigious schools. Even outside of school grounds, they preferred to stick with their own rather than mingle with the leftovers from lesser institutions.

”Huai City First Middle School, Su Zhi.”

”Shanda University Affiliated School, Wang Haokun.”

The two shook hands as was customary.

Although Wang Haokun wasn’t as obvious about it as Chen Xinghao, Su Zhi could still sense that his opponent didn’t take him seriously and was dismissive of the upcoming match.

”I’ll give you two minutes to arrange your tactics and lineup. In two minutes, the first combatant from each side will enter the ring.”

After speaking, Ke Yan pressed his stopwatch and sat down to the side.

”I’ll hold back. You don’t have to worry about being embarrassed,” Wang Haokun said softly. He glanced at Su Zhi before walking back to his team.

Su Zhi tucked his hands in his pockets and blinked.

’All you can do is smile at a time like this.’

”Hey, it looks like Wang Haokun said something to Su Zhi!”

”Probably some trash talk, right? Or a provocation?”

”What else would it be? It’s not like he was confessing his love...”

”The two teams have completely different vibes. Su Zhi’s group is constantly discussing something, while Wang Haokun’s team is just chilling, not talking at all.”

”That’s a sign of confidence. I heard that’s how they are in their city-level tournaments. They never communicate during team battles against other schools and still crush everyone...”

”Damn, they’re so arrogant!”

”What can you do? They’re from Shanda University Affiliated School, after all. The undisputed best in Shanyou.”

”But Su Zhi’s team won’t necessarily lose, right? I remember a few of them were at the front during the run just now. They can’t be that weak.”

”Wang Haokun was fast too, so what does that prove? Maybe they could’ve been even faster but were just holding back. Everyone from Shanda University Affiliated School likes to go easy on people...”

As both teams planned their strategies, the other students took the rare opportunity to relax and discuss with great interest.

In most people’s eyes, the match was already over before it had even begun. After all, a mere first middle school from a small city had no business challenging the top high school in the entire province.

A few people had heard of Su Zhi, though, and knew his matches were often full of suspense.

But what good would that do? A team battle wasn’t a single round. Even if he fought tooth and nail to win his match, it would be all for nothing if his teammates got crushed.

Of course, everyone still admired Su Zhi’s team. Not everyone could face such an intimidating opponent and still be fired up for the fight.

The small clique from Shanda University Affiliated School also had a brief discussion.

”How many seconds you think Brother Kun’s gonna take?”

”Sixty seconds, maybe? No more than that.”

”I’ll bet fifty seconds.”

”Fifty-two!”

They were, of course, debating how many seconds it would take Wang Haokun to defeat his opponent.

”It’s no big deal. Brother Kun’s group always uses this lineup for team battles; they’re already a well-oiled machine. The team from Huai City was probably thrown together at the last minute; they aren’t even a proper squad. Besides, Brother Kun already has a Tier Three Beast Taming Space!”

”I don’t think we can be careless, though. That Su Zhi guy also has a Tier Three Beast Taming Space, and from the looks of it, his isn’t just for show.”

”Did you forget what the instructor said? The Beast Taming Space is just a reference for strength. What really matters is the Pet Beast itself. There are plenty of cases where a Tier Three was beaten by a Tier Two.”

”Besides, Brother Hao saw him at the summer camp. Su Zhi lost to Brother Hao in the finals. I don’t think he’s all that.”

”Ehhh, that doesn’t mean much. I mean, losing to Brother Hao is completely normal.”

”Relax. So what if Su Zhi is some kind of badass who can win one match? He can’t carry an entire team by himself.”

”That’s a good point...”

”LET’S GO!!!”

A sudden shout shattered the whispers around the arena. The five members of Su Zhi’s team had stacked their right hands together and thrust them down with force.

The students from Shanda University Affiliated School looked at them as if they were watching a circus act. At their school, silence was golden. Shouting to pump yourself up was just a sign of insecurity.

The other trainees, however, watched with a certain eagerness as they walked toward the dueling ring.

Everyone’s feelings were actually quite conflicted.

While almost no one thought Huai City First Middle School stood a chance, many secretly hoped someone would knock the students from Shanda University Affiliated School down a peg.

”Ready? Then let’s begin. First combatants, enter the ring!”

Ke Yan let out a yawn.

From the Shanda University Affiliated School side, a boy walked out—and it wasn’t Wang Haokun.

And from Huai City First Middle School’s side, it wasn’t Su Zhi, as everyone had expected, but Liu Yuhang.

Ke Yan briefly sized up both combatants’ Pet Beasts.

Liu Yuhang’s Pet Beast was a Hao Waterfowl, its Real-time Energy Value just barely touching two thousand.

The challenger from Shanda University Affiliated School was a Thunderbolt War Falcon. Its Real-time Energy Value was around 2,700, which meant it had probably evolved some time ago.

To be honest, Ke Yan didn’t think there was much suspense either. The Thunderbolt War Falcon was a mobility-type Pet Beast, which to a certain degree countered the Hao Waterfowl, a Pet Beast that excelled at breaking through defenses.

”Pfft.”

The boy on the other side scoffed and looked over at Su Zhi. ”What’s this? Sending out cannon fodder for the first match? You don’t actually think a little trick like the ’Tian Ji Horse Race’ is going to change anything, do you?”

Su Zhi kept his hands in his pockets. ”Isn’t your esteemed school doing the same?”

The boy from the affiliated school cursed, ”Fuck!”

Liu Yuhang didn’t respond. His eyes were exceptionally focused, and so were Xue Li’s. The Pet Beast leaned forward, assuming an attack stance.

The match hadn’t even begun, but Liu Yuhang and his Pet Beast were already in the zone!

The boy from the Shanda University Affiliated School quickly composed himself, calming down to face his opponent. As expected of someone from a prestigious school, he wouldn’t let a little trash talk get to him.