Chapter 38: People Disappear While Taking the Exam

"Everything depends on luck. I'll do my best," Chen Shu responded. He didn't attach much importance to the Senior Three Training Class. If he could get in, great; if not, it didn't matter since he had the system.

"Why don't you care about my grades, Mom and Dad?" complained Zhang Dali, feeling displeased. "I'm your son, you know? My final exams are over, and you don't even have any expectations?"

"Your grades have always been stable. What's there to ask about?" Zhang Dali's father, Zhang Feng, chimed in. "Do you have any hope of reaching second-to-last place this time?"

"Well, not really," Zhang Dali admitted. "I just wanted you to ask, that's all."

Shaking his head, Zhang Feng chuckled, "Come on, you've never disappointed me in that regard."

However, Zhang Dali suddenly thought of something and said, "By the way, Mom and Dad, I'm turning eighteen soon, and I want to live on my own, experience independence."

"Hmm? Are you serious about this?" Zhang Feng widened his eyes, scrutinizing his son, somewhat incredulous.

"Of course, I am. After all, I am your son!" Zhang Dali proudly patted his chest. "Mom and Dad, I've already packed your luggage. You can take it with you whenever you're ready."

"..."

For a moment, silence engulfed the dining table.

So, he wants to live alone, huh? Chen Shu suppressed his laughter, finding it amusing. Zhang Feng finally spoke up, and suddenly a dark shadow appeared, delivering a swift slap to Zhang Dali.

Clutching his head, Zhang Dali wore a look of helplessness. "Dad, since when did you start using a Contracted Spirit to hit your own son?"

It was then that Chen Shu noticed a small monkey-like creature, about thirty centimeters tall.

"Let that be a lesson to you." Zhang Feng put away the Contracted Spirit, while Aunt Xue smiled and remained silent. Chen Shu's eyes flickered with some recollection of the black monkey-like creature.

Most of the high school biology curriculum focused on the savage beasts of the Otherworld, but it also included records of commonly seen human Contracted Spirits. Zhang Feng, being a Black Iron-level Beast Tamer, had undergone bloodline evolution with his Contracted Spirits. The violent monkey had evolved from the Great Strength Ape to the Rampage Ape, and its potential rating had jumped from C to B.

Although potential ratings could change through bloodline evolution, the initial rating of the Contracted Spirit still influenced the Beast Tamer's entire life. Chen Shu's Slime was rated F, and if it awakened the common evolutionary path, its potential rating would rise to E when he reached the Black Iron level. However, other people's Contracted Spirits would also evolve, meaning the gap would always exist. Unless Chen Shu could awaken a rare evolutionary path and experience a direct surge in potential rating, but the probability of that happening was very low.

Therefore, Beast Tamers could be divided into different tiers from the moment of awakening, with the importance of talent far surpassing effort. Of course, this didn't apply to those who used cheats.

The family finished their dinner in an atmosphere of "paternal kindness and filial piety." Chen Shu returned to his own home, looking forward to the upcoming Beast Science exam the next day.

The next day arrived quickly. South River Second High School became much quieter, with only freshmen and sophomores studying Beast Taming remaining. The other students had already started their summer vacation.

Fang Ke walked in, his tone calm as he said, "Today, the Beast Science exam is of great importance. I hope you can give it your all."

After speaking, he led Class Five of Beast Taming to the school's Beast Pavilion. Outside the Beast Pavilion, long queues had formed, consisting of over two hundred students waiting orderly to participate in the exam.

Soon, Class Five of sophomore Beast Taming entered the pavilion in an organized manner. The Beast Pavilion was extremely spacious, with not only combat arenas for Beast Tamers to practice fights, but also three large examination rooms inside, each designated for a different grade.

A total of 121 sophomore Beast Taming students entered the examination arena.

"The Beast Taming exam follows the same standards as before and is divided into five assessments," announced the grade head as he stood before the crowd, explaining the rules of the exam.

"The first assessment is the students' Contracted Spirit potential rating. If there are any errors, students can come forward to correct them."

When students enroll, the school records their potential ratings, so errors are rare. If there are any mistakes, they can be rectified, but it requires sharing their Contracted Spirit panel with others as the potential rating cannot be falsified.

"Xu Xiaoyu, potential rating: A!"

"Tang Lie, potential rating: A!"

"Lin Xingchen, potential rating: B!"

"... "

There are only two A-rated Contracted Spirits in the grade, but Chen Shu's F-rated Contracted Spirit is even rarer, as he is the only one. In fact, many students in regular classes have F-rated spirits, but they have the self-awareness to choose to be ordinary people and not burden their families.

"There should be no objections."

The grade head looked down and collected the list.

"Now we move on to the second assessment: Beast Tamer level."

Under the guidance of the homeroom teacher, each class formed an orderly queue, recording their respective Beast Tamer levels.

"Xu Xiaoyu, Level 7 Beast Tamer."

"Tang Lie, Level 6 Beast Tamer."

"Lin Xingchen, Level 6 Beast Tamer."

"... "

The grades of each student were recorded. The students in Beast Taming Class One truly lived up to their reputation as the best class, with even the weakest among them being a Level 5 Beast Tamer.

Soon, it was Beast Taming Class Five's turn. Xia Bing, as the class monitor, naturally stood at the forefront.

"Xia Bing, Level 6 Beast Tamer."

The teacher in charge of recording felt surprised but still announced it.

"Hmm?"

For a moment, many students looked over with astonishment in their eyes.

"So it's Xia Bing, the former top student of Class One."

The students in Class One had some understanding. Xia Bing's achievement may have seemed unexpected, but it was actually quite reasonable. There were only a few people in the grade who could consistently surpass Xia Bing. If it weren't for her family's poor financial situation, Xia Bing wouldn't have chosen Class Five of Beast Taming. Class Five required fewer resources, so the tuition fees were not too high.

"Now it seems she's definitely going to enter the special training class in the third year," Xu Xiaoyu looked at his former rival.

"Wang Meng, Level 4 Beast Tamer."

Soon, the assessment results for the class monitor, Wang Meng, were announced.

Wang Meng looked dejected, his eyes filled with a sense of defeat. Even at the end of the term, he still hadn't made a breakthrough, and he was basically out of contention for the special training class.

"Li Zixuan, Level 4 Beast Tamer!"

"Zhang Yue, Level 3 Beast Tamer!"

"... "

Most of the students in Class Five were Level 3 Beast Tamers, and Level 4 Beast Tamers were extremely rare.

Soon, Class Five of Beast Taming completed their assessments. Homeroom teacher Fang Ke remained unchanged in expression, as the results were roughly as he had expected. At least Xia Bing being a Level 6 Beast Tamer gave him a pleasant surprise.

"Mr. Fang, isn't there still one student in your class?" the teacher in charge of recording the scores looked at the list and asked.

"One more student?"

The grades of each student were recorded, and the students in the Beast Tamer Class were indeed the best in the class, with even the weakest student being a Level 5 Beast Tamer.

Soon, it was the turn of the Beast Tamer Class Five, and Xia Bing, as the class monitor, naturally stood at the forefront.

"Xia Bing, Level 6 Beast Tamer."

The teacher in charge of recording felt surprised but still announced it.

"Hmm?"

At that moment, many students looked over, their eyes filled with astonishment.

"So it's Xia Bing, the former top student of the Beast Tamer Class."

The students in the Beast Tamer Class understood to some extent. Xia Bing's achievement may seem unexpected, but in reality, it was expected.

There were only a few people in the grade who could consistently surpass Xia Bing. If it weren't for her family's poor financial situation, Xia Bing wouldn't have chosen to go to Beast Tamer Class Five.

Beast Tamer Class Five consumed fewer resources, so naturally, the tuition fees were not too high.

"Now it seems she's definitely going to enter the Senior Three Special Training Class." Xu Xiaoyu looked at her former rival.

"Wang Meng, Level 4 Beast Tamer."

Soon, the assessment result of the class monitor, Wang Meng, came out.

Wang Meng hung his head in dejection, his eyes filled with defeat. Even at the end of the term, he still hadn't made a breakthrough, and he was basically out of the running for the special training class.

"Li Zixuan, Level 4 Beast Tamer!"

"Zhang Yue, Level 3 Beast Tamer!"

...

Most of the students in Beast Tamer Class Five were Level 3 Beast Tamers, and Level 4 Beast Tamers were extremely rare.

Soon, the assessment of Beast Tamer Class Five was completed.

The homeroom teacher, Fang Ke, remained unchanged in expression. The results were more or less as he had expected. At least Xia Bing being a Level 6 Beast Tamer was a pleasant surprise for him.

"Teacher Fang, isn't there another student in your class?"

The teacher in charge of recording the grades looked at the list and asked.

"Another one?"

Fang Ke looked at the class and suddenly felt a shock. He exclaimed, "Damn it, where is Chen Shu?"

What's going on? How did he disappear during the assessment?