Beast Taming Star Journey

After class, my roommate Zhang excitedly ran to my side, his face flushed and his breathing a little unsteady. "Nongyu, you're amazing! How did you do that?"

I smiled and waved my hand casually, "It was just good luck."

Zhang's roommate looked incredulous. "Luck? I think you're exceptionally talented! Elder Li even praised you!"

Just as I was about to say a few words of modesty, I caught a glimpse of a newly posted notice on the college's bulletin board, its bright red color standing out prominently.

A competition? I walked to the notice board, my roommate Zhang following closely behind. The notice read "Academy Autumn Beast Taming Competition," and below it were detailed rules and rewards.

The rewards are generous, including spirit stones, elixirs, and valuable beast-taming skill books. More importantly, the winner will also have the opportunity to study at the Royal Beast Taming Academy.

The Royal Beast Taming Academy—that's the holy land every beast tamer dreams of! My heart started pounding.

Entering the Royal Beast Taming Academy has always been my dream. If I can stand out in this competition... I seem to see a bright future ahead, and a strange excitement wells up in my heart.

However, I also know very well that there are many experts in the academy. I am just an ordinary person who has only just activated my crystal. Can I really do it?

My hands clenched unconsciously, my knuckles turning slightly white. My roommate Zhang was beside me, chattering on and on about all the benefits of the competition, but I didn't hear a word he said; my mind was racing.

The image of Li's disdainful gaze and the mocking whispers behind my back flashed through my mind.

“Nongyu, look! The first prize in this competition is actually the ‘Beast Taming and Spirit Communication Technique’! If you can get it, your little beast’s strength will definitely improve by leaps and bounds!” My roommate Zhang’s voice pulled me back to reality.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down.

“Yes,” I replied softly, my eyes fixed on the words on the notice: Royal Beast Taming Academy.

Just then, several well-dressed trainees walked past us. One of the tall boys glanced at me and sneered disdainfully, "Him? He wants to participate in the competition? He doesn't even know his own limitations."

Another girl covered her mouth and chuckled, "A toad trying to eat swan meat, how presumptuous of him."

Their laughter pierced my eardrums like needles, and I felt a burning sensation on my face, as if I had been slapped hard.

My roommate Zhang was furious and wanted to go forward to argue, but I stopped him and gently shook my head.

“Let’s go,” I said, my voice so calm that it betrayed no emotion.

As I turned to leave the bulletin board, I saw a line of small print in an inconspicuous corner below the notice: "New students are allowed to participate in this competition."

I suddenly stopped in my tracks.

"Nongyu, what's wrong?" My roommate Zhang looked at me with a puzzled expression.

I didn't answer, but stared intently at the small print, a resolute glint in my eyes.

"I'll sign up," I said.

The registration area was bustling with people, mostly well-dressed students who chatted and laughed, brimming with confidence.

I stood silently at the end of the line, feeling the strange looks from those around me. Some people whispered among themselves, their words filled with disdain and mockery.

I clenched my fists, trying to ignore them and reminding myself to focus on the upcoming match.

The opponents in the preliminary rounds were of varying strengths, but thanks to the tacit cooperation between me and Little Beast—a pure white fox spirit—I fought my way through the rounds.

Under my command, the little beast can always launch attacks from unexpected angles and speeds, skillfully deflecting the opponent's offensive each time, and even finding the opponent's beast's weakness to strike precisely.

Its nimble figure darted across the competition stage like a white lightning bolt, eliciting gasps of amazement.

I could even sense that the little beast had grown during the competition; its movements were more fluid and its eyes were more determined.

I remember the semi-final battle vividly. My opponent was Li, a third-grader, who possessed a massive armored rhinoceros with incredible defense and formidable attack power.

Each charge of the armored rhinoceros carried an overwhelming force, causing the ground to tremble.

At first, the little beast and I were completely at a disadvantage; its attacks couldn't penetrate the armored rhinoceros's thick shell at all. Beads of sweat appeared on my forehead, and I was extremely anxious.

"Little guy, calm down, avoid its frontal attacks, and look for an opportunity to attack its belly!" I silently recited in my mind, while transmitting my thoughts to the little beast through the contract.

The little animal seemed to sense my tension; it let out a soft growl and its eyes became even more focused.

Seeing that we kept avoiding him, Li gave a contemptuous smile. "All you can do is hide? Cowards!" His taunts ignited my fighting spirit. I took a deep breath and calmly observed the armored rhinoceros's movements.

Finally, after another fierce charge by the armored rhinoceros, it exposed a weakness in its abdomen.

"Now! Little beast, Phantom Claw!" I shouted.

The little beast understood immediately, instantly transforming into a white light, circling behind the armored rhinoceros, its sharp claws carrying a fierce gust of wind, viciously grabbing at its belly.

"Awooo—" The armored rhinoceros let out a painful roar, its massive body swayed, and finally collapsed to the ground with a thud.

I won! A moment of silence followed, then thunderous applause and cheers erupted. I breathed a sigh of relief, patted the little beast's head, and felt a surge of joy and pride.

His opponent in the final was Zhao Lingyun, a famous beast-taming genius in the academy.

His tamed beast is a flamingo engulfed in flames, said to possess extremely powerful attack capabilities.

Standing on the final stage, feeling the scorching heat emanating from the flamingos, I couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Zhao Lingyun stood opposite me, a slight, disdainful smile on his lips.

He slowly raised his hand, pointed at me, and said, "Ready? Loser."

I took a deep breath, looked at him firmly, and slowly placed my right hand on the beast-taming pouch at my waist...