Chapter 31 – The Contempt Chain Among Candidates

Ningjiang City was one of the top ten major cities in the Federation.

Besides Ningjiang Academy, many second-tier Beast-Taming Academies were also located within the city.

Compared to obscure small cities like Pinghai City, Ningjiang City enjoyed a resounding reputation throughout the entire Federation, with a far richer Pet Beast atmosphere.

Beast Tamers, who were rare sights in other cities, could be seen everywhere in Ningjiang City.

Though most of them were students from various academies.

After entering Ningjiang City.

Before long, the bus came to a stop in front of a stylishly decorated hotel that occupied a vast area of land.

“We’ve arrived. Let’s get off.”

A school teacher named Qin He, seated in the front row, rose and said:

“This hotel is the accommodation arranged by Ningjiang Academy for all examinees. From now until the end of the Admission Assessment, you will all be staying here. All arrangements related to the assessment will also take place within the hotel, so unless there’s something important, remember not to wander off, so we don’t lose contact with anyone.”

“Alright, let’s head to the front desk to check in.”

The students disembarked one after another as instructed and entered the hotel under the guidance of Qin He and another teacher.

There were still two days before the assessment began, but the hotel already housed quite a number of students.

These people were mostly from cities farther away from Ningjiang City, having set out early to arrive ahead of time in case of unexpected circumstances.

Catching sight of Lin Ze and his group, many students began whispering among themselves.

“Another batch has arrived.”

“I wonder which city they’re from?”

“I know this one—I saw the bus that brought them outside earlier. The license plate was from Pinghai City.”

“Pinghai City? Isn’t that a third-tier small city?”

“Can people from such a small city even get into Ningjiang Academy?”

“Who knows.”

Upon hearing that the newcomers were examinees from Pinghai City, many immediately lost interest.

Some even openly displayed looks of contempt and disdain.

There was a pecking order among examinees as well.

Examinees from big cities looked down on those from mid-sized cities.

Examinees from mid-sized cities looked down on those from small cities.

And unfortunately, Pinghai City sat at the very bottom of that pecking order.

This was determined by practical realities.

Big cities had larger populations, richer Pet Beast resources, and far fiercer competition.

Examinees who managed to fight their way out of such places tended to have superior strength and talent compared to those from small cities.

Naturally, they had every reason to be proud and confident.

Hearing the faint murmurs of discussion around them, the students from Pinghai No. 1 High School couldn’t help but flush red, feeling both indignant and ashamed.

Some of the more hot-tempered students opened their mouths to retort angrily, but Qin He held them back.

“Don’t bother with what they say.”

Qin He reassured the group.

“The Admission Assessment is decided by strength. If you truly feel it’s unfair, then perform well in the assessment two days from now—that will be the most powerful rebuttal to these people!”

At these words, the students’ expressions immediately relaxed.

“That’s right, the teacher is correct!”

“So what if they’re from big cities? Those guys aren’t necessarily better than us!”

“Exactly, setting everything else aside, Lin Ze alone could crush every single one of them!”

“Right, we still have Lin Ze!”

Everyone nodded in deep agreement.

Anyone who knew the full details of the Insect Tide incident wouldn’t doubt this for a moment.

An Apprentice Beast Tamer who could take down a Tier 4 Deathknell Striker—just ask yourself, aren’t you scared?

Even though the Admission Assessment explicitly prohibited the use of Wonder Items, Lin Ze’s Pet Beast still possessed strength at the Tier 3 level, enough to crush ninety-nine percent of the examinees in the hotel.

Those big-city examinees who had mocked them weren’t even fit to carry Lin Ze’s shoes.

With that thought, everyone regained their morale and puffed out their chests.

Guan Ning, Zhang Xiaoyun, and Liu Siyan also wore expressions of shared pride.

They still didn’t know that Lin Ze’s Pet Beast had already evolved to the Tier 4 level.

And it wasn’t even just one.

Otherwise, they’d definitely be so shocked their jaws would drop to the floor.

After checking in at the hotel front desk, Lin Ze and the others took their room keys, first dropped off their luggage in their rooms, then gathered on the first floor and headed together to the restaurant for a meal.

It was around noon.

The spacious, bright hotel restaurant was packed to capacity.

Everywhere one looked, there were young men and women brimming with youthful energy.

“So many people,” Guan Ning said, looking around in surprise.

Zhang Xiaoyun explained, “I heard that this year’s applicants to Ningjiang Academy are far more numerous than in previous years—nearly five thousand people.”

Liu Siyan let out a soft gasp at that, a hint of worry appearing on her pretty face.

Ningjiang Academy enrolled roughly a thousand students each year.

Given this year’s applicant numbers, the acceptance rate was about one in five.

That admission ratio might not seem low, but one had to remember that the applicants were already the elites from high schools across the region.

Their talents and abilities were all outstanding among ordinary people.

Standing out among these people to secure an Enrollment spot was no easy task.

“Alright, don’t think about that now. Let’s fill our stomachs first,” Zhang Xiaoyun said, patting Liu Siyan’s shoulder in comfort.

The group tacitly dropped the topic.

Lunch was in buffet style.

Lin Ze and the others picked up trays at the counter, selected their food, then found an empty table and sat down to enjoy their meal.

Although the restaurant was crowded at the moment, their group of one man and three women was still quite conspicuous.

Especially since all three girls were strikingly attractive.

Guan Ning in particular had snow-white skin and delicate features—a true beauty by any standard.

For a moment, they drew quite a few glances.

Most of them came from boys, who looked at Lin Ze with a mix of envy and jealousy.

“That guy’s so lucky—he’s got pretty girls accompanying him even when he’s eating.”

“And three of them, damn! Isn’t he afraid he can’t keep up with all of them?”

“So jealous. Why is it that all the people around me are just a bunch of guys?”

“Pfft, say that again and I’ll punch you right in the face!”

“…”

Lin Ze paid no attention to the surrounding stares, calmly and unhurriedly eating his meal.

He had to admit, the food at this restaurant was quite tasty.

Suddenly.

Lin Ze sensed someone approaching and immediately looked up to see a chubby boy walking over with a tray in hand.

He was around the same age as them, with a warm smile on his face.

“Hey there, mind if I sit and eat with you all?”

Guan Ning and the other two girls were taken aback, while Lin Ze raised an eyebrow and pointed at an empty table not far away.

“Isn’t there a free seat over there?”

The chubby boy scratched his head and smiled. “I’d like to get to know you all. You’re examinees from Pinghai City, right?”

Though phrased as a question, his tone was quite certain.

Clearly, he already knew where Lin Ze and the others were from.

Lin Ze gave the chubby boy a few appraising looks, thought for a moment, then nodded. “Have a seat.”

The chubby boy immediately sat down with a delighted grin.

He was tactful enough to choose a seat right next to Lin Ze, leaving a few seats between himself and the girls.

“My name is Zhou Hong. What might your names be, classmates?”

Zhou Hong was the outgoing type, asking immediately after sitting down.

Lin Ze and the others took turns introducing themselves.

Then, right after.

Zhang Xiaoyun asked curiously, “From what you said, you’re looking to get to know examinees from Pinghai City. Why is that?”

Zhou Hong chuckled and said:

“I heard that a high school student from Pinghai City passed the Apprentice Assessment at Ultra Difficulty. I wanted to ask you all for some information about him.”