Chapter 9 – Assessment Begins

The crowd immediately stirred with commotion.

Everyone stared intently at the screen, their eyes flickering.

The difficulty between each assessment level differed enormously.

But by the same token, the rewards after passing differed just as dramatically.

The baptism under Ultra Difficulty increased Soul Strength by a full five times that of Basic Difficulty.

Not to mention the rewards of boosting Constitution, raising a designated Pet Beast’s Growth Rate, unlocking a second Pet Beast slot, and so on.

It was enough to make anyone drool with envy.

Unfortunately, obtaining such a reward was no less difficult than reaching the heavens.

“The rewards for Ultra Difficulty are so high.”

“So tempting!”

“If only I could pass Ultra Difficulty.”

“Stop dreaming in broad daylight. You’d be thanking your lucky stars just to pass Basic Difficulty.”

“…”

The crowd buzzed with discussion.

Zhang Xiaoyun and Liu Siyan also eyed the baptism reward for Ultra Difficulty with burning desire.

Yet both of them knew full well that they were destined never to have it.

“What a shame. Forget Ultra Difficulty—if only we could pass Advanced Difficulty.”

“Yeah, after all, it unlocks a second Pet Beast slot.”

The two sighed in unison.

The number of Pet Beasts was undoubtedly one of the most important factors determining a Beast Tamer’s strength.

As long as one could contract a second Pet Beast, they would leave over ninety percent of Beast Tamers far behind and become a standout among their peers.

However, with their strength, passing Intermediate Difficulty was already a pipe dream, let alone Advanced Difficulty.

Only Lin Ze and Guan Ning had the confidence to pass Advanced Difficulty.

At that moment, He Zhenwen’s voice rang out again.

“Before you choose your assessment difficulty, let me offer you all a piece of advice.”

“This concerns your future development prospects, so please consider carefully and choose the assessment difficulty that best suits your own strength.”

“Whatever you do, don’t reach for what’s beyond your grasp and waste this precious opportunity!”

The crowd murmured among themselves.

Although everyone had already given it thought before coming here.

When actually faced with the choice, quite a few people still showed hesitation.

Lin Ze’s expression remained as calm as ever.

The moment He Zhenwen finished speaking, his finger pressed down without hesitation, firmly on the two characters ‘Ultra’ on the bronze token.

Guan Ning had been keeping an eye on Lin Ze’s movements and happened to catch the sight. She immediately widened her eyes in shock.

“Bro!”

The girl couldn’t help but cry out.

Zhang Xiaoyun and Liu Siyan were drawn over by Guan Ning’s voice, and when their gazes landed on the bronze token in Lin Ze’s hand, they too froze in place.

On the front of the bronze token, the two characters ‘Ultra’ had already lit up with light.

“Lin, Lin Ze, you chose Ultra Difficulty?”

“No way!”

The two women stared in disbelief.

After the battle with Zhao Kang, they had witnessed Lin Ze’s strength firsthand.

But even so, they had never imagined Lin Ze could pass Ultra Difficulty.

After all, that was a hellish assessment difficulty.

Pinghai City hadn’t seen anyone successfully challenge it in many years.

In past years, there had been those with second-tier Pet Beasts who attempted this difficulty.

But every single one of them had failed without exception.

So including Guan Ning, the three women had never considered from the start that Lin Ze would choose Ultra Difficulty.

They had always assumed Lin Ze’s goal, like Guan Ning’s, was Advanced Difficulty.

Yet the result was a real jaw-dropper.

“Bro, what on earth are you thinking? Why did you choose Ultra Difficulty?”

Guan Ning was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

“If you fail the assessment, you won’t be able to apply to the Beast-Taming Academy this year!”

“I know.”

Lin Ze smiled faintly, his expression calm and composed.

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

Guan Ning wasn’t so easily reassured. She bit her lip, her mind racing with thoughts.

Could she explain to the examiners that she pressed the wrong button by accident and get another chance to choose?

But before she could act on it, He Zhenwen and Lu Peixin, who were standing by the Origin Stele, suddenly let out a soft exclamation, their sharp gazes snapping onto Lin Ze.

As the examiners for this assessment, the two had a way of sensing everyone’s Difficulty selection status.

The moment Lin Ze selected Ultra Difficulty, they immediately detected it.

And in no time at all, they pinpointed Lin Ze’s location.

He Zhenwen looked Lin Ze up and down, then said in a deep voice:

“Young man, did you not hear what I said just now? You need to consider and choose carefully!”

Lin Ze replied calmly, “Examiner, this is indeed a choice I made after careful deliberation.”

“You’re a senior high school student this year, aren’t you? Have you thought about the consequences? If you fail the assessment, you won’t be able to apply to the Beast-Taming Academy.”

“I’ll take responsibility for my decision.”

“You mean to say, you think you can pass the Ultra Difficulty?”

He Zhenwen’s words landed like a bomb, immediately causing an uproar among the crowd.

Many people had been wondering why He Zhenwen was suddenly saying these things to a young man.

Only now did they suddenly realize.

So this guy had chosen Ultra Difficulty!

In an instant.

Countless gazes focused on Lin Ze.

Curiosity, confusion, mockery, and pity—all sorts of expressions were present.

“Where did this reckless kid come from?”

“Exactly, daring to challenge Ultra Difficulty, did he not wake up properly?”

“Looking at his age, he should still be a student. This is probably his first time participating in the qualification assessment. He didn’t do his homework beforehand and doesn’t understand how terrifying Ultra Difficulty is!”

“Poor guy, he definitely won’t be able to apply to the Beast-Taming Academy this year.”

Murmurs rose and fell one after another.

No one was optimistic about Lin Ze’s decision.

This was to be expected.

If Ultra Difficulty were so easy to pass, Pinghai City wouldn’t have gone so many years without anyone successfully challenging it.

Lin Ze’s persistence made He Zhenwen’s expression turn displeased.

He had only offered his advice out of kindness because he thought Lin Ze might be a senior high school student this year, and he didn’t want the latter to fail the assessment due to a moment of impulse and miss out on this year’s application opportunity.

Unexpectedly, the other party was stubborn to an unusual degree, dead set on challenging the Ultra Difficulty.

“Youthful arrogance, after all.”

He Zhenwen sighed inwardly, shook his head, and stopped paying attention.

Lu Peixin, on the other hand, was much more direct. He frowned at Lin Ze, let out a cold snort, and said:

“Overestimating oneself!”

Guan Ning tugged at Lin Ze’s sleeve, her expression worried.

“Brother, are you really not going to reconsider?”

Lin Ze smiled but didn’t answer.

Yet his demeanor made it clear that he wouldn’t change his decision.

Seeing this, Guan Ning couldn’t help but show a complicated expression.

Zhang Xiaoyun and Liu Siyan exchanged a glance, both letting out a quiet sigh.

Neither of them thought Lin Ze could pass the Ultra Difficulty.

In their hearts, they truly couldn’t understand why Lin Ze would be so impulsive.

Five minutes later.

Everyone present had finished selecting their challenge Difficulty.

He Zhenwen and Lu Peixin said no more and immediately announced the start of the assessment.

Everyone sat down cross-legged on the spot, clutching their bronze tokens tightly in their palms, and closed their eyes.

Soon.

A strange ripple spread outward.

All those seated on the ground suddenly relaxed their bodies, as if entering a state of sleep.

At the same time.

He Zhenwen reached out and pressed lightly on the stone tablet.

With his movement, a massive screen of light suddenly materialized above the stone tablet.

It was divided into thirty separate frames.

They were clearly scenes of each person undergoing their assessment.