Chapter 4: Youth Training Camp, System Task, Beauty Pill

After the Awakening Platform was reset and the remaining students from the nine classes completed their awakenings, two hours had passed. By this time, Cheng Bingxi had passively exited her beast-eared maiden form, returning to her original human form. The principal gathered the most talented students, those who had already confirmed their contracts, to his office villa.

In the villa's first-floor office, the students, including Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi, were seated. There were nine of them in total: Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi, both with SSS-Rank talents; Xie Mengxuan with an S-Rank; and six others with A-Rank Beastmaster talents and A-Rank fierce beast templates.

"I awakened an A-Rank Magic Eagle template and contracted with Zhang Ziyang. What about you?"

"A-Rank Flame Python template." "A-Rank Dream Butterfly template."

"I wonder what the principal wants us here for!"

The three A-Rank pairs introduced themselves to each other.

Xie Mengxuan snorted coldly, being the only one without a partner, yet still called by the principal.

Hearing her snort, the three pairs turned their gaze to Xie Mengxuan, then shifted to Xiao Ye, expressing admiration and curiosity: "Purple aura stretching ten thousand miles, reflecting countless divine beasts, SSS-Rank Beastmaster talent, Xiao Ye, my god!"

"And Cheng Bingxi, you're amazing too."

However, when they looked at Cheng Bingxi, they suddenly seemed to see something terrifying. Their pupils shrank, and their expressions turned strange, with admiration giving way to surprise and a hint of disdain.

In her human form, Cheng Bingxi still had the same terrifying scar running from her forehead to her chin on her right cheek.

Cheng Bingxi's eyes widened.

The others involuntarily lowered their heads, but a trace of excitement suggested they found a sense of superiority over Cheng Bingxi.

Though they couldn't match Cheng Bingxi in talent, she would always bear that frightening scar. What did it matter if she was an SSS-Rank? She'd always show that scar to the world.

"Cheng Bingxi, my dear wife, there will be a way to fix your scar," Xiao Ye said warmly.

Cheng Bingxi's slightly low mood lifted a bit, but when she saw Xiao Ye's gaze fixed on her right cheek, she instinctively turned her head to hide it from him.

Her eyes darted, lacking confidence, as she whispered, "There will be."

Facing others with her scar, Cheng Bingxi was defiant and brave, but in front of Xiao Ye, she faltered, fearing he cared too much about it.

She feared she wasn't worthy of Xiao Ye!

In front of Xiao Ye, she wished to transform into her flawless, sacred fox-eared maiden form.

"Ha!" Xie Mengxuan chuckled, unable to hide her glee and excitement.

However, in the principal's office, Xie Mengxuan only dared to mock and disdain slightly.

Trash is trash; once out of the beast-eared maiden form, it's nothing! she thought excitedly.

"Is everyone here? Let me introduce someone to you. This is a former sophomore from the Wild Plains Academy, with an S-Rank Beastmaster talent, now at the second stage. His contract partner was lost in an accident, and he plans to retake the college entrance exam. Let's give him a warm welcome!"

The principal entered with a briefcase, introducing a bald young man with enthusiasm.

"Clap, clap, clap!" The room erupted in applause.

S-Rank, second stage, contract partner lost, retaking the exam!

Even Xiao Ye was surprised. A sophomore from an academy, retaking the exam? This wasn't Earth; it was the post-apocalyptic Blue Star overrun by magical beasts.

The principal turned to Xie Mengxuan, saying, "Xie Mengxuan, you two should get acquainted. If you find it suitable, you can form a contract."

The bald young man curiously asked, "Principal, I heard there's a girl who awakened an SSS-Rank template today at Third High. Who is she?"

The principal pointed to Cheng Bingxi, "Cheng Bingxi awakened an SSS-Rank template, but she's already contracted with Xiao Ye."

The bald young man looked over with curiosity but froze upon seeing Cheng Bingxi's scarred face, his smile twitching awkwardly: "This student is quite unique."

He then sat down next to Xie Mengxuan and started chatting quietly with her.

The principal surveyed the room, nodding in satisfaction, and said with a serious tone: "In the inter-base city competition of the college entrance exams, our Wild Plains Base City has been last for ten consecutive years. This year, to prepare for the exams, we've decided to start a youth training camp, strengthening the training of the most outstanding high school awakening class students in our base city, so that we can..."

The principal paused, then spoke passionately, "So that we can do our best to be second to last!"

The students were stunned. They had to exert maximum effort just to be second to last?

The students looked at the principal skeptically.

Are you kidding us?

"Ahem!" The principal suddenly smiled, "Rest assured, from what I know, both First High and Third High have awakened S-Rank templates and talents, more than one!"

"This year, after opening the entrance exam training camp, our Wild Plains Base City will surely place second to last in the national base city rankings, maybe even third to last!"

The principal seemed even happier, as third to last meant more resources from above.

Xiao Ye interjected, "Principal, be confident; bring back first place!"

"..." The principal rolled his eyes at Xiao Ye, "Xiao Ye, don't interrupt!"

Third to last was only a possibility, with less than a 50% chance! As for first place, that was reserved for the super base cities like Imperial Capital and Magic Capital, teeming with geniuses.

"You are all students of Third High. In the entrance exam training camp, you must unite and help each other. As your principal, I appoint Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi as captain and vice-captain. Any objections?"

"No objections!" "I agree!" "As it should be!"

The three A-Rank template contractors all raised their hands in agreement.

But a grating voice from the back, belonging to the bald young man, said, "Wait! I have an objection."

"Xie Mengxuan has agreed to contract with me, and I'm at the second stage, the strongest in the team. Naturally, we should be the captains!"

"This," the principal hesitated.

The bald young man continued, "As I understand, tomorrow is when we enter the training camp, so I suggest we have a match between our summoned beasts and Xiao Ye's team. The winner becomes the captain. How about it?"

[Event Encountered, Task Triggered]

[Task: Defeat the Second Stage Scenic Wolf King and secure the Third High team captaincy. Reward: Rare Beauty Pill, 100 Evolution Points]

[Beauty Pill: As the name suggests, restores appearance to a perfect state, a divine pill coveted by women; Evolution Points: Used for summoned beast form upgrades]

[Accept? Declining incurs no penalty, task failure incurs no penalty]

(Next Chapter Title: Meet the Parents, Enter the Bridal Chamber, Wedding Night)