Chapter 50 – The Ranking List on the Stone Tablet

“It seems that fierce battles against opponents of the same level or higher yield a more significant boost to growth rate.”

Lin Ze’s eyes flickered.

Snapping back to reality, he continued to look at the panel.

After Xiao Xue’s growth rate exceeded 50%, new skills became available for unlocking.

【Ice Crystal Mirror】: An advanced skill of ‘Ice Shield,’ a defense-type skill that manipulates ice elements to form a mirror of ice crystals, blocking attacks while reflecting a portion of the damage. Unlock requires 50% growth rate and 300 Achievement Points.

Lin Ze decisively unlocked this skill.

【Name】: Snow Maiden

【Attribute Type】: Ice

【Level】: Tier 4, Stage 7

【Growth Rate】: 58%

【Skills】: Ice Waterfall, Sigh of the Snow Maiden, Extreme Ice Chain, Ice Crystal Mirror, Frost Nova

【Empress Path, next Evolution Form 【Frost-Blue Maiden】, requires: 100% growth rate, superior Ice Element Essence X30, Ice Blue Tear X1】

Rock Ghost, on the other hand, still had some way to go.

Among the several new skills, the one with the lowest requirement still needed 50% growth rate to unlock.

【Name】: Rock Ghost

【Attribute Type】: Earth

【Level】: Tier 4, Stage 7

【Growth Rate】: 31%

【Skills】: Earth Thorns, Stone Shot Volley, Clay Bomb

【Divinity Path, next Evolution Form 【Spirit of the Earth】, requires: 100% growth rate, superior Earth Element Essence X30, Spirit-Bearing Stone X3】

Both pet beasts had successfully broken through to Tier 4, Stage 7.

“Another boost in strength!”

Lin Ze stared at the panel, a delighted smile spreading across his face.

“At this rate, before reaching full growth rate, both Xiao Xue and Rock Ghost should be able to break through to Tier 5.”

“By then, I can participate in the Bronze Beast Tamer qualification assessment.”

“Until then, I’ll focus on raising growth rate while earning money.”

Lin Ze had estimated that gathering the evolution materials for both pet beasts would cost nearly ten million Credit Points.

His current savings were only a little over five million.

That was still nearly half short.

Before the pet beasts reached their evolution threshold, he needed to find a way to earn the difference.

“I wonder if there are other quick ways to make money besides bounty missions?”

Lin Ze muttered to himself, sinking into thought.

Early the next morning.

After breakfast at the hotel restaurant, Lin Ze, Guan Ning, and the others set out for Ningjiang Academy.

As expected.

From the moment they left the hotel room, Lin Ze drew the attention of countless people along the way.

Surprise, envy, jealousy, admiration, reverence… all kinds of gazes, each different.

Many students along the way proactively approached to strike up conversations.

Some girls even blushed as they came up to ask for his contact information.

It was getting on Lin Ze’s nerves.

Guan Ning and the other two girls also wore stern expressions, clearly displeased—mainly directed at the girls asking Lin Ze for his contact info.

It wasn’t until they reached the entrance of Ningjiang Academy that they finally escaped the situation.

A long line had already formed at the registration desk by the entrance.

Many senior students with armbands on their right arms were bustling about.

Registering the freshmen while maintaining order on site.

From time to time, a senior could be seen leading a group of freshmen into the academy.

Just as Lin Ze and the others were about to join the line, a voice suddenly came from the side.

“Yo, good morning, Junior Lin Ze.”

Lin Ze turned to look—Jing Tao was walking over with a grin.

“Senior Jing.”

Lin Ze greeted him, glancing at the armband on Jing Tao’s right arm, a hint of understanding dawning on him.

It seemed that those responsible for welcoming the freshmen were all Second Year students.

Guan Ning and the others quickly greeted Jing Tao.

Jing Tao smiled in response, then waved his hand and said, “No need to queue up. Just follow me directly.”

Seeing the puzzled looks on Lin Ze and the others, he added an explanation.

“This is Senior Teacher Gao’s instruction—I’m to show you around the academy and go over some Cautions along the way.”

“This is a privilege reserved only for the Top Freshman!”

Lin Ze glanced around.

The other freshmen were being given tours in groups of ten to twenty, each led by a Second Year student.

Only they had a four-to-one ratio.

It was indeed special treatment.

Seeing this, Lin Ze didn’t stand on ceremony. He thanked Jing Tao and accepted.

The group then passed through the historically rich gate and made their way into the academy.

What greeted them was an incredibly vast plaza.

It was even larger than the one where the Admission Assessment had been held the day before.

On the smooth granite-paved ground, stone benches and plants were arranged in orderly fashion.

There was even a fountain.

The overall layout was pleasing to the eye.

But what truly caught one’s attention were the four massive stone steles standing at the very center of the plaza.

“This is the Central Plaza. The teaching district is straight ahead, and the dormitory area is on the right.”

As they walked, Jing Tao introduced the surrounding buildings.

Zhang Xiaoyun pointed at the stone steles not far away and asked curiously, “Senior Jing, what are those?”

During yesterday’s assessment, they had entered Ningjiang Academy through a different gate, so they hadn’t seen these four steles.

Lin Ze and Guan Ning were also curious.

Because of the Origin Stele, stone steles often carried special significance in the Beast Tamer community.

Seeing steles in the plaza now, everyone couldn’t help but pay extra attention.

Jing Tao quietly gestured for them to follow him forward.

When they got closer, Lin Ze and the others realized those weren’t stone steles at all.

They were massive electronic screens designed to look like steles.

On them, small but clear black text listed rows of rankings and names in parallel columns.

And Lin Ze’s name was prominently displayed at the very top of the first electronic screen.

‘NO1. Lin Ze’

“This is the Leaderboard. From left to right, they show the rankings of students from the four Year levels,” Jing Tao explained.

“They actually put the rankings right where everyone can see them the moment they enter the school gates…” Zhang Xiaoyun exclaimed in amazement.

Jing Tao shrugged. “It’s also meant to motivate students to improve.”

“Then Senior Jing, what’s your ranking?”

Jing Tao pointed to a spot in the upper-middle section of the second electronic screen.

That was where his name was displayed.

‘NO256. Jing Tao’

“Ranked two hundred and fifty-six? That’s amazing!” Liu Siyan exclaimed.

For a girl ranked in the four hundreds, a ranking in the two hundreds was already quite impressive.

But Jing Tao let out a wry smile upon hearing this.

“Don’t tease me. Don’t forget—you’ve got a guy ranked number one right next to you.”

Guan Ning and Zhang Xiaoyun covered their mouths and giggled.

Lin Ze smiled helplessly and continued scanning the Second Year electronic screen.

Before long.

He found Zhang Man’s and Wu Tianze’s names.

‘NO188. Zhang Man’

‘NO98. Wu Tianze’

Guan Ning quickly noticed their rankings too and said in surprise, “Ranked one hundred and eighty-eight and ninety-eight—Senior Zhang Man and Wu Tianze are also really impressive…”

Mid-sentence, Guan Ning suddenly realized something and looked up at Lin Ze.

Even Wu Tianze, ranked ninety-eighth, had fallen to Lin Ze.

Didn’t that mean Lin Ze’s current strength was enough to place him in the top hundred of the Second Year?

Zhang Xiaoyun and Liu Siyan snapped back to reality at that moment, looking at Lin Ze with admiration.