Chapter 94 – Bronze Assessment

By this moment, the anger in Ye Zuping’s heart had long since dissipated completely.

Had any other first-year student of the Beast-Taming Academy dared to choose Ultra Difficulty, he would certainly have scolded them a few times.

But Lin Ze was different.

This was a true once-in-a-generation genius.

At just eighteen years old, he had passed the Ultra Difficulty Apprentice Assessment.

Such strength and talent—search the entire Federation and you wouldn’t find a second one.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, this young man was destined to become one of the Federation’s foremost top-tier powerhouses in the future.

Even Ye Zuping, as a Silver Beast Tamer, dared not treat such a figure with any slight.

After a moment of silence, Ye Zuping spoke with a hesitant expression:

“Even if Lin Ze’s talent is exceptionally outstanding, challenging Ultra Difficulty at this time—I still think it’s too impulsive.”

If Lin Ze were given another two or three years to grow, Ye Zuping believed there was a good chance he might pass the Ultra Difficulty Bronze Assessment.

But now, Lin Ze had only just become an Apprentice Beast Tamer less than two months ago.

In such a short span of time, no matter how outstanding one’s talent, how much could his strength really increase?

He’d probably even struggle to pass Advanced Difficulty.

Let alone Ultra Difficulty.

“It’s not strange that you’d think that way.”

Xue Wei let out a light sigh, wearing a look of wistful reflection.

“Under normal circumstances, your concerns are not without merit.”

“But Lin Ze happens to be someone who cannot be measured by conventional standards.”

Ye Zuping furrowed his brow: “What do you mean?”

Xue Wei spread his hands and said:

“You haven’t heard yet—just a few days ago, in the ranking battles of the Apprentice Zone in the Glory Virtual Realm, Lin Ze successfully claimed the number one spot.”

“What?!”

Ye Zuping’s eyes widened in shock, his face full of disbelief.

Although he hadn’t paid much attention to matters in the Apprentice Zone, he knew that the top-ranked Apprentice Beast Tamers in that zone generally possessed two Tier 4, Grade 8–9 Pet Beasts.

For Lin Ze—an Apprentice Beast Tamer who had only recently advanced—to actually defeat these elite geniuses…

Didn’t that mean his Pet Beasts’ Power Level was already approaching Tier 5?

Seeming to guess Ye Zuping’s thoughts, Xue Wei smiled with a strange expression.

“You must be thinking that Lin Ze’s Pet Beasts are about to break through to Tier 5, right?”

Ye Zuping was momentarily stunned: “Is that not the case?”

“Of course not.”

Xue Wei paused, his expression filled with emotion.

“Lin Ze’s two Pet Beasts broke through to the Tier 5 level long ago.”

“How is that possible?!”

Ye Zuping’s expression went blank, his entire body frozen in place.

He clearly remembered that in the information sent from the Pinghai Branch back then, Lin Ze’s Pet Beasts were only at the Tier 3 level.

How could it be that before even two months had passed, both of his Pet Beasts had broken through to Tier 5!

How was this possible?

It was simply inconceivable!

A massive wave surged within Ye Zuping’s heart.

The news he’d learned from Xue Wei’s mouth delivered an indescribably enormous impact upon him.

It took a long while.

Only then did Ye Zuping snap back to his senses, unable to help but draw in a sharp breath. The look he cast toward Lin Ze was now filled with shock and awe.

This young man was simply a monster!

When he himself was eighteen, he’d only possessed a single Tier 3 Pet Beast.

Compared to Lin Ze at this moment, it was like heaven and earth apart.

“…If that’s the case, then perhaps he really can pass Ultra Difficulty.”

Ye Zuping cast a complex glance at Lin Ze and said no more.

The participants present were unaware of this little interlude, still immersed in the tension and anxiety of the assessment about to begin.

Soon.

The two examiners began the assessment.

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

The next instant.

A strange ripple spread outward.

All those seated suddenly relaxed their bodies, as if falling into a state of sleep.

At the same time.

Xue Wei reached out and lightly pressed on the stone tablet.

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

It was divided into thirty panels.

Each showing the assessment scene of one participant.

Ye Zuping and Xue Wei both looked toward the panel showing Lin Ze, staring intently, afraid of missing even a single moment.

They both wanted to know whether this extraordinarily gifted young man could ultimately pass the Ultra Difficulty.

And create a miracle once again!

The moment he opened his eyes again, Lin Ze found himself in a brightly lit plaza.

Towering walls and densely packed spectator stands surrounded him on all sides.

There was no one in the stands—only countless empty seats.

More than twenty meters ahead stood a massive iron gate.

“So it’s the arena mode again.”

Lin Ze surveyed his surroundings, casually summoning Xiao Xue as well.

The Frost-Blue Maiden appeared and immediately took her place in front of Lin Ze, ready for battle.

At the same time.

A cold voice suddenly echoed from the void.

“The assessment is about to begin.”

“Under Ultra Difficulty, there are a total of five gates. Please prepare yourself.”

“Ten, nine, eight, seven… The assessment begins!”

As the voice fell, the iron gate more than twenty meters away rumbled open.

“Squeak, squeak!”

A group of ferocious beasts with hideous appearances charged out from within.

These beasts had fur as crimson as flames, their bodies the size of wolfhounds, looking like giant rats magnified dozens of times over.

Abyssal Savage Rats!

Dual Attribute dark/fire ferocious beasts.

Their levels ranged from Tier 3, Stage 5 to Tier 3, Stage 9.

And there were more than a dozen of them.

“To start with this kind of lineup at the first gate—no wonder it’s called Ultra Difficulty.”

Lin Ze clicked his tongue.

Just these dozen or so Abyssal Savage Rats were probably already comparable to the final gate of Intermediate Difficulty.

“Squeak, squeak!”

The moment they appeared, the Abyssal Savage Rats immediately charged at Lin Ze.

Before they even got close, the stench of sulfur assaulted his face.

Xiao Xue wrinkled her delicate nose, furrowed her brows slightly, and without a word, unleashed a Sigh of the Snow Maiden.

Crack! Crack!

A biting wind howled past, and the Abyssal Savage Rats froze solid on the spot before they could even resist.

In an instant, more than a dozen ice sculptures appeared across the plaza.

“First gate passed. The challenge continues!”

A cold mechanical voice immediately came from the void.

The iron gate rumbled open once more.

“Hiss, hiss!”

A hideous monster with four heads, resembling a cross between a python and a lizard, nearly four meters in length, slithered slowly out.

“A Hydra Lizard, huh.”

Lin Ze raised an eyebrow.

The Hydra Lizard was a rather special type of ferocious beast.

It was said to possess the potential for up to eight evolutions.

Each evolution would grow an additional head, and its level would rise by an entire major realm.

In the end, it could evolve into a Tier 9 Nine-Headed Hydra Lizard.

It was an extremely rare and precious ferocious beast.

“Too bad this is inside the Virtual Realm. If I’d encountered a Hydra Lizard out in the wild, I could’ve caught it and sold it for a good price.”

Lin Ze mused whimsically.

The four-headed Hydra Lizard before him was only at Tier 4, posing no threat to Xiao Xue whatsoever.

The Pet Beast Maiden instantly killed four serpent lizards with a single Ice Waterfall.

“Second trial passed, challenge continues!”