Chapter 11 – Easy Crush, Everyone is Shocked

Back when the Ice Crystal Soul was still at Tier 2 Stage 4, it could already easily crush Gloom Wolves at Tier 2 Stage 1.

Now that its level had risen to Tier 2 Stage 6, going up against a Wither Beast also at Tier 2 Stage 1 was almost laughably easy.

An instant kill was hardly surprising.

However, He Zhenwen and Lu Peixin didn’t know this.

In their expectations, the Ice Crystal Soul and the Wither Beast should have erupted into a fierce battle.

But what actually happened left them utterly dumbfounded.

The Ice Crystal Soul had instantly killed the Wither Beast with a single counter-strike!

This scene left the two men staring in shock, their faces filled with disbelief.

“This kid…”

He Zhenwen couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath.

He realized he had still underestimated this young man named Lin Ze.

He had assumed that given the young man’s age, even if his Pet Beast was at the Tier 2 level, its level probably wouldn’t be too high.

At most, it would be Tier 2 Stage 1 or 2.

But now, it was clear he had been wildly wrong.

Judging by how easily that ice-attribute Pet Beast had instantly killed the Wither Beast, its level was at least Tier 2 Stage 5, or even Stage 6.

That kind of strength was astonishing!

For a moment, He Zhenwen and Lu Peixin couldn’t help but exchange glances, their eyes filled with shock.

In previous years, Tier 2 Pet Beasts had appeared during the Apprentice qualification assessments.

But most were Tier 2 Stage 1 or Stage 2, and at the absolute most, Tier 2 Stage 3.

Someone like Lin Ze, who possessed a Tier 2 Stage 5 or 6 Pet Beast, was simply unprecedented.

Though it was only a difference of a few minor levels, the significance behind it was completely different.

At just eighteen years old, he already possessed a Tier 2 Stage 5 or 6 Pet Beast.

With this kind of strength and talent, even in a bustling metropolis teeming with Beast Tamer prodigies, he would draw considerable attention.

“Good kid, so he had this card hidden up his sleeve all along. Truly unexpected!”

He Zhenwen stared intently at Lin Ze on the screen, his eyes filled with admiration.

“It looks like the local high schools are going to produce a fine prospect this year.”

Lu Peixin also nodded in agreement instinctively.

Lin Ze’s strength had truly exceeded his expectations.

“Old Lu, do you think he can pass the Ultra Difficulty?”

He Zhenwen suddenly asked.

Lu Peixin furrowed his brow, a hesitant look on his face.

If this had been a few minutes earlier, he would have scoffed at He Zhenwen’s words, absolutely refusing to believe Lin Ze could pass the Ultra Difficulty.

But now, things were different.

Having witnessed Lin Ze’s power, which far surpassed that of his peers, he couldn’t help but waver.

After pondering for a long while, Lu Peixin finally spoke slowly:

“Hard to say. Lin Ze is certainly outstanding in strength, but the opponents in the last two stages of the Ultra Difficulty are no pushovers either. I’d say there’s a chance he can pass, that’s all.”

He Zhenwen nodded noncommittally and said no more.

The two continued to watch the light screen.

The fourth stage had already begun.

The Pet Beast in this stage was a Fierce Claw Monster.

By this time, quite a few people had already exited the Virtual Realm one after another.

Those who had succeeded in the challenge wore joyful expressions,

while those who had failed hung their heads in dejection, sighing repeatedly.

“Dammit, I was so close! I almost killed that Pet Beast!”

“I didn’t expect the Basic Difficulty to be this hard either. The opponent was actually a Tier 1 Stage 6 Pet Beast.”

“Ugh, I failed again this year.”

“Haha, I made it! I’m an Apprentice Beast Tamer now!”

The speaker was beaming with pride, drawing envious glances from many.

Though being an Apprentice Beast Tamer was only the lowest rung of the Beast Tamer hierarchy, it still meant one foot had stepped into the elite class of society.

Once this title was secured, the future ahead was boundless.

The newly minted Apprentice Beast Tamer was about to say a few more words to show off his prowess, but then he saw the person in front of him suddenly widen his eyes, looking as if he had seen a ghost.

“Damn, what is that!”

“A Fierce Claw Monster!”

“Isn’t that a second-tier Pet Beast? Why would it appear in an apprentice assessment?”

A wave of uncontrollable exclamations suddenly erupted.

The newly minted Apprentice Beast Tamer turned his head in confusion, and the next second, his eyes also widened in shock.

There, in the very center of the light screen.

Two Pet Beasts were locked in fierce combat.

On one side was an unfamiliar Pet Beast, like an Ice Sprite.

On the other side was a Fierce Claw Monster.

The Fierce Claw Monster was a normal-attribute Pet Beast, and once it developed to the Mature Stage, its Power Level could reach Tier 2, Stage 3.

How could such a powerful Pet Beast appear in an apprentice assessment?

What was going on?

Soon, someone noticed Lin Ze’s presence.

“Wait, look—isn’t that the student who just said he wanted to challenge Ultra Difficulty?”

“Huh, it really is him.”

“So that means this is an Ultra Difficulty-level assessment!”

“It should be. Look at the marker in the bottom right corner—this is the fourth Gate.”

“Damn, no wonder it’s Ultra Difficulty level. The fourth Gate already throws out monsters like the Fierce Claw Monster!”

All the participants present were taken aback.

Both shocked by the peril of Ultra Difficulty.

There were five Gates in total, and already at the fourth, a Tier 2, Stage 3 Pet Beast appeared.

How terrifying must the final Gate be?

But what shocked them even more was Lin Ze’s performance.

That young man’s Pet Beast was actually trading blows with the Fierce Claw Monster, and even gaining the upper hand.

In other words, that Pet Beast was also at the Tier 2 level!

And its Level was definitely above Tier 2, Stage 3.

This strength already far surpassed every participant present.

“Amazing, it can actually suppress the Fierce Claw Monster!”

“Wow, I knew it—anyone who dares to challenge Ultra Difficulty must have some real skills!”

“Pfft, you were just mocking him earlier for not knowing his limits!”

“Cough… I was just saying that casually.”

“By the way, which high school is this guy from? He’s this strong.”

“No idea. I know all the ace students from the local high schools, but I don’t think this guy is one of them!”

Exclamations rose one after another.

Everyone stared at Lin Ze on the light screen with shock written all over their faces.

No matter how hard they racked their brains, they never would have guessed that the boy who had just been “spouting nonsense” was actually a genius with a powerful Tier 2 Pet Beast.

Just then, Guan Ning, Zhang Xiaoyun, and Liu Siyan also exited the Virtual Realm one after another.

The moment they got up from the ground, Zhang Xiaoyun and Liu Siyan hugged each other excitedly, jumping and cheering loudly.

“I passed! I successfully passed the Apprentice Assessment!”

“Me too, that means we’re both Apprentice Beast Tamers now!”

“Ah Ning, what about you?”

Zhang Xiaoyun asked Guan Ning with a face full of joy.

Guan Ning nodded, a smile she couldn’t suppress spreading across her face.

Clearly, she had also passed the assessment.

And she had passed at Advanced Difficulty, gaining far more than Zhang Xiaoyun and Liu Siyan.

But then, Guan Ning quickly suppressed her joy and looked nervously at the light screen.

“I wonder how Brother is doing in his assessment?”

Zhang Xiaoyun and Liu Siyan also remembered this and quickly looked up.

At this sight, the three women, like all the other participants present, stood frozen in place.

On the light screen.

The Ice Crystal Soul had successfully slain the Fierce Claw Monster and was now hovering beside Lin Ze, chirping softly in delight.

Lin Ze, in turn, stroked his pet beast’s head as a gesture of commendation.

In the void.

A cold, mechanical voice rang out.

“Fourth trial passed. The challenge continues!”