35: I want to be a salted fish

Qiuqiu evolved to the 3rd tier, and its entire body size increased by two circles compared to before. The sleek and strong muscle lines formed a streamlined shape, making Qiuqiu look full of unparalleled explosive power. With a slight movement of its limbs, the entire body emitted a booming sound, as if the bones were expanding. With the towering stature, the imposing aura was even more fierce than before. Qiuqiu seemed like a unsheathed sword. It was hard to hide its sharpness, especially with the three white cat tails swaying occasionally, attracting the attention of everyone present!

As a low-level bloodline beast, the Snow Civet Cat usually had a gentle temperament, coupled with its beautiful appearance. Even though its combat power was not high, it could still fulfill the role of a companion pet, helping families take care of children and the elderly.

Therefore, many contracters in the city kept Snow Civet Cats. Even in this office, many teachers had kept Snow Civet Cats at some point...

However, at this moment.

Seeing Qiuqiu evolve to the 3rd tier, many teachers, in addition to their shock, couldn't help but subconsciously compare Qiuqiu with other Snow Civet Cats they had seen...

But this comparison wasn't good. Upon comparison, they found that if it weren't for Qiuqiu's snow-white fur, solely in terms of appearance and size...

Qiuqiu and ordinary Snow Civet Cats seemed like two different breeds of beasts.

One looked like a tiger, the other like a cat.

"But how did it evolve to the 3rd tier in just three months?" In the midst of the teachers' shock, there was also inevitably some doubt in their hearts.

After all, even the students in the senior class who contracted insect-type beasts, currently only a small number had advanced to the 1st tier. After all, the evolution from the juvenile stage to the growth stage of beasts typically took a long time.

Moreover, breaking through the bloodline bottleneck was even more challenging.

Generally.

In the eyes of the public, excluding external factors, the growth rate of beasts is often determined by their species.

For example: Insects have a short lifespan, so the speed of crossing from the juvenile stage to the growth stage naturally shortens. Plant-type beasts, due to slow innate growth and development, often have several times the lifespan of ordinary beasts in their juvenile period.

However, the speed of advancement and combat power of beasts, excluding external factors, is more dependent on the potential value of beasts!

The higher the potential value, the faster the advancement and the stronger the combat power.

For example: In the same level situation, insect-type beasts are often at a disadvantage against tiger-type and bear-type beasts. However, if a certain insect-type beast has a higher potential value, counterattacks are also common.

But Snow Civet Cats belong to the mammal feline beasts, with a growth rate that is neither fast nor slow.

This Snow Civet Cat even had an officially recorded low potential value, plus the contractor's Beast Taming space was only F-grade.

It shouldn't have such a fast advancement speed.

"Uh..."

While many teachers felt happy for Song Yu, they couldn't help but frown.

Even if the Song family had money to purchase precious materials, the advancement speed of contract beasts should still be reasonable, right?

If beasts forcibly consumed materials beyond their physical limits, even powerful dragon-type beasts would end up with broken meridians and die!

So...

Can't figure it out, just can't figure it out.

A group of teachers in the office scratched their heads and couldn't figure it out either.

The first contract beast in the senior third class to advance to the 3rd tier this year is actually a low-level bloodline Snow Civet Cat?

You should know that even in previous years, if a student's contract beast advanced to the 3rd tier, it would usually be a matter for the next year. And basically, contract beasts that can advance to the 3rd tier before the college entrance examination must have a potential value rating of at least 80!

The group of teachers couldn't figure it out, but in the end, Song Yu is still a student of their school. If a student from their school becomes powerful, these teachers can also feel proud.

But at this moment...

Professor Sun was dumbfounded, and his slightly cloudy eyes subconsciously widened.

As an expert who has been studying beasts for most of his life, Professor Sun feels that the evolution of this Snow Civet Cat in front of him goes against his common sense!

"Snow Civet Cats are widely known as low-level bloodline species... The biggest problem with low-level bloodline beasts is that their potential values are generally low, and their evolution speed is extremely slow! Even if this Snow Civet Cat is a relatively rare variant... variants can't change the problem of low-level bloodline species, slow evolution, and difficulty in evolution!"

"Most importantly, the student in front of us has an F-grade Beast Taming space, which is also the lowest level. It doesn't have any ability to accelerate the growth of beasts... Otherwise, those ordinary people who have contracted beasts with low potential values would have become professional Beast Tamers in large numbers!"

"Could it be that the guy who evaluated the potential value of the Snow Civet Cat back then made a mistake?" Looking at the evolution speed of the Snow Civet Cat in front of him, far exceeding some contract beasts with potential values above 90, Professor Sun frowned and thought seriously...

But the next moment, the old man shook his head, denying his own idea.

To be evaluated with a potential value of 90 or above, the lowest requirement for the parent's bloodline level must be 6th tier. And there is no Snow Civet Cat in the world that can advance to the 6th tier!

So, the more it is like this, the more shocking it is!

It feels incredible!

Especially three minutes ago.

He solemnly declared that low-level bloodline beasts are a waste of time, energy, and money, not worth cultivating, and the next moment, the other party evolved, and the evolution speed far exceeded that of high-potential-rated beasts... Professor Sun felt a burning sensation on his face and felt a bit embarrassed.

At this time, a dozen or so students had gathered at the door of the office, and no one knew when.

Some stood at the window, some stood by the door, each stretching their necks to look inside, with bright eyes that wrote, "Damn! Awesome!" Some even exclaimed on the spot, "Amazing" and "Super strong."

Professor Sun: "..."

Professor Sun's face turned black, and his expression looked as sour as a stone in a pit.

Zhou Tao snapped out of his shock and felt that things were not good after seeing the situation.

He hurriedly walked a few steps forward to Professor Sun and respectfully said, "Professor Sun, now that the kids are young, please don't take offense...".

Although Qiuqiu evolved to the 3rd tier in front of Zhou Tao, as the head teacher, Zhou Tao still thought rationally that becoming an beast researcher would be the best way out for Song Yu given her qualifications.

"It's just a difference in perspective, nothing to be upset about..." Professor Sun's tone was tough, and he could see what Zhou Tao was thinking at a glance.

He snorted and, with his hands behind his back, said, "If I can't even tolerate such a small matter, I might as well go find trouble with the younger generation. If I do that, I won't have to do anything else at the research institute."

"However, I'm afraid I can't teach the students in your class. Let President Wu write another letter to the research institute to find other researchers." Today, being put in such a situation by a high school student, and being slapped in the face on the spot, even though Professor Sun wouldn't go looking for trouble with a student over such a thing, he didn't want to see this person again in the short term.

With his hands behind his back, Professor Sun was about to walk out of the office.

Zhou Tao, with a sweaty forehead, followed behind Professor Sun awkwardly, trying to keep him.

 

*****

 

Song Yu felt stiff all over, looking at Qiuqiu, whose chin she now had to tilt her head back to see, feeling somewhat suffocated.

She stood in the office, looking rather melancholic for a 1.68-meter-tall child.

How could her contract beast evolve again? And why so fast? Where are the promised 3 points of potential value? Where is the companion-type beast? With such a large size, just sitting there would be three to four meters high. Going home with her might end up breaking through several floors!

Most importantly, with Qiuqiu evolving so quickly, can she escape the fate of the wilderness forest?

Song Yu's throat felt dry, trembling as she pulled out her phone and opened the school website—

Sure enough!

Wilderness Forest Practical Combat Course for senior third grade, the schedule is... December, January, February, March... a full 4 months!

Just thinking about having to spend four months in the wilderness forest.

Song Yu's mind flashed with one after another... wild man crossing mountains, wilderness survival, Bear Grylls eating live insects, and the horrifying scenes of the villainous characters being killed in the novel.

"Cough, cough, cough..." Song Yu's eyelids twitched frantically, almost breaking through the defense.

She covered her chest, feeling like she really couldn't hold on this time!

Qiuqiu, oh Qiuqiu, I treated you as a brother, why do you always betray me? QAQ!

Can't we just quietly be salted fish together? QAQ!

Back then on the playground, I chose you, this little kitten with unique bones, suitable to be a salted fish like me!

But why did you run to the front of a bunch of top students??

You know, in the original novel, even the protagonist Bai Yuhan's contract beast, the Ironclad Lizard, would have to wait until next year's provincial high school students' Beast Taming Competition to advance to the 3rd tier.

Song Yu took two deep breaths, trying to suppress the panic in her heart, and encouraged herself by patting her chest.

"Songs, don't panic, don't panic! The more critical the situation, the calmer you need to be!"

"To participate in the Wilderness Forest practical combat course, you first need to look at the results of the Beast Taming practical combat course and the physical fitness combat course. Secondly, you need to consider the assessment of cultural achievements..."

"As long as I lie on the ground pretending to be unconscious as soon as the physical fitness combat course starts, mess up the cultural exam. I don't believe that with one zero and one fail, I can still rank in the top 70% of the class!" Thinking of this, Song Yu slowly breathed a sigh of relief, but felt it wasn't safe enough.

So, she thought for a moment and made a decision, "After going home today, I have to tell Qiuqiu that being a beast, like being a person, shouldn't be too high-profile. As the saying goes, 'The nail that sticks out gets hammered'."

Saying this, Qiuqiu should agree to go easy on the Beast Taming practical combat exam, right?

Song Yu thought seriously, "As long as I deduct a dozen points from the Beast Taming practical combat course, deduct dozens of points from the cultural exam, and score zero in the physical fitness combat exam... this time, the grades should be at the bottom of Class 5."

After all...

As a key high school in Jiangnan Province, students here are almost all study enthusiasts. Many people in the class have similar total scores in the final tests, and often a 0.5-point improvement can raise their rankings by two or three places.

Song Yu sighed, feeling relieved.

If it weren't for her poor academic performance, she would have tried to see if she could avoid all correct answers and get a zero.

However...

As Song Yu, with her hand on her chest, contemplated a strategy...

In Qiuqiu's eyes, it was the appearance of a contract holder looking dazed, feeling unwell, and about to faint while holding her chest.

"Meow~!" Qiuqiu instinctively rubbed against Song Yu, trying to comfort the contract holder.

However, Qiuqiu completely misjudged its own size. Just as its head lowered slightly for a gentle rub, Song Yu suddenly felt like she was hit by a level-ten hurricane, and she toppled backward!

Song Yu: "??!"

Qiuqiu: "??!"

Others around: "??!"

Professor Sun, with his hands behind his back, was about to bypass Song Yu and leave the office. However, after walking just two steps, he felt a dark shadow suddenly hit him from behind!

Professor Sun was stunned. Before he could react, the Flame Ape Monkey behind him had already extended its tail to catch him. And that dark shadow was also caught by the three tails extended from the side.

Song Yu firmly grasped Qiuqiu's tail, still in shock. She patted her chest, thinking that she might have been knocked to the ground by Qiuqiu, with blood splattering on the spot.

"Excuse me, young lady." Professor Sun's face turned black. He brushed off his robes and said discontentedly, "The school is not a place for you and your contract beast to frolic. If you want to play, it's more appropriate to do it at home."

"Squeak! Squeak squeak!" Exactly! I warn you not to be too arrogant; be careful, I'll beat you!

The Flame Ape Monkey scratched its head, also dissatisfied, and shouted at Qiuqiu. Its two fiery red monkey eyes glared angrily at Qiuqiu.

While it had been hitting its contract holder in front of it, did this Snow Civet Cat pretend it didn't exist?

Despite hearing a lot of talk about bloodline theories over the years, the Flame Ape Monkey didn't like Professor Sun, but he was still its contract holder. It had to give face to its contract holder. Otherwise, if this old man got angry, what would it do if he kept it locked in the Beast Taming space?

Powerful contract beasts, even if they don't need their contract holders to control them, can enter and exit the Beast Taming space at will. However, as a 4th-tier intermediate contract beast, the Flame Ape Monkey hadn't reached such a level of strength yet.

"Meow!"

However...

This time, Qiuqiu, which used to have its fur stand on end at the sight of the Flame Ape Monkey, shook its ears and shouted at the opponent. It showed no signs of fear like before. Instead, it looked serious, as if saying, 'This time I'm not afraid of you.'

"Don't be agitated, everyone, don't be agitated!" Zhou Tao, quick-witted, hurriedly stepped forward to placate the two contract beasts.

But be careful not to have two contract holders arguing, and instead, have two contract beasts fighting in the office.

If that happens, they don't know if this teaching building can withstand it.

"Professor Sun, sorry."

Song Yu scratched her head, blaming the situation, and indeed, she and Qiuqiu had almost collided with each other carelessly.

Song Yu looked at the Flame Ape Monkey protecting its master on the opposite side with some envy...

Hey, how come this Flame Ape Monkey has followed Professor Sun for decades and is only 4th tier? It would be great if Qiuqiu's advancement speed was also this slow...

Uh...

Song Yu's envious expression suddenly stiffened. Could it be that the novel's plot deliberately brought her to the Wilderness Forest, with the deliberately created plot killing her? Otherwise, why would a Snow Civet Cat with a potential value of 3 be able to advance faster than high-level beasts?

"......?" Professor Sun frowned, looking at Song Yu inexplicably.

He always felt that the girl across from him had a strange look in her eyes when she looked at him and the Flame Ape Monkey, as if something was not quite right.

After pondering for a moment, Professor Sun suddenly realized.

Professor Sun's face turned black, angry and frustrated. Hmph! Don't think that just because he's old, he doesn't know. These young people nowadays like to provoke with their eyes for no reason.

In his heart, Professor Sun cursed, thinking that the old man might be too rebellious in his past life. Even though this old man scolded her twice, she dared to look at him like that?

Ah, Song Yu sighed.

But when she turned her head and thought of the sentence Professor Sun just said, Song Yu became happy again.

It can't continue to advance, great!

It would be even better if after going to college, Qiuqiu's level could be forgotten by everyone. That would be the best!

After a heated argument with the vice dean of the Beast Research Institute, the deputy director was infuriated, but her own contract beast advanced to the 3rd tier.

This genuinely surprised many people, and envy and jealousy were evident in their eyes. Especially after Qiuqiu advanced to the 3rd tier, not only did it not look down on others with a raised chin, but it also became exceptionally obedient, making people even more envious!

"This Song Yu, only three months, and her contract beast has advanced to the 3rd tier. Doesn't this indicate that after contracting two more beasts, it won't take long for her to become a professional Beast Tamer?"

"Impossible... didn't the forum say she awakened an F-grade Beast Taming Space?"

"What's impossible about it? This Snow Civet Cat was said to have a potential value of only 3 points before! If, after Song Yu, she contracts beasts with potential values exceeding 3 points... won't her advancement speed be rapid?"

"Hmm? With such a fast speed, can it still be an F-grade Beast Taming Space?"

People looked at the departing figures of Song Yu and Zhou Tao, discussing among themselves. It's important to note that the awakening level of Beast Taming Space needs to be self-reported by students, except for some advanced Beast Taming universities and super-first-tier cities equipped with measurement tools found in secret realms. Ordinary people have no way of knowing the Beast Taming Space level of others.

For the sake of participating in the college entrance examination and gaining the attention of the school education bureau, they had only heard of people falsifying data by reporting lower-level Beast Taming Spaces. They had never heard of anyone falsely reporting a higher-level space as a lower one.

So later on...

Whenever a Beast Taming university admitted students, the Beast Taming Space level would only be considered as a reference. Schools usually focused on whether the students' contracted beasts were excellent, whether they obeyed the students' commands, and their practical combat abilities.

Even if a student intentionally falsified data, it didn't matter, as long as they were confident in keeping up with their classmates and not being eliminated at the bottom. Beast Taming universities also didn't reject such outstanding students. But if they were eliminated because they couldn't keep up with the coursework, then that's not the school's fault.

After all, professional Beast Tamers often needed to traverse the wilderness forest and secret realms where danger and opportunity coexisted.

Without some strength, merely seeking applause and flowers wouldn't do.

There was a moment of silence among the people around.

However, someone quickly broke the silence within the crowd and answered the question.

"I think you're all thinking too much. If Song Yu didn't have an F-grade Beast Taming Space, how could Zhou Wenchang have broken up with her in the first place? I heard she didn't go to school for more than a week back then! I heard her parents even called Professor Zhou."

"That's right, even though Beast Taming universities almost don't consider the level of students' Beast Taming Spaces during admissions, it's still one of the indicators. What if you miss a good university? How could someone willingly wait until now just to show off at this moment? Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?"

The students chattered, quickly arriving at their conclusion in their minds...

That is, Song Yu must have some special cultivation technique that speeds up the advancement of a low-tier bloodline like the Snow Civet Cat!

But... what is this special cultivation technique?

Not only the students but also many teachers in the office were equally curious.

 

*****

 

While Song Yu followed Zhou Tao upstairs, she was contemplating the words of persuasion she would use to convince Qiuqiu to keep a low profile at home in the evening.

As a crucial battle this semester, she couldn't afford to fight an uncertain battle!

However...

Song Yu never expected that before she could even settle comfortably in her chair, with her lines still unprepared, Zhou Tao on the podium waved his hand and said to the students below with a smile, "The weather is nice today, and it hasn't rained outside, so today, Mr. Zhang and I, along with other subject teachers, have decided to have a unified test for the entire grade."

"?" Song Yu was shocked.

Other students stared wide-eyed, almost thinking their ears were malfunctioning.

No one expected that the originally scheduled exam to start in three days would suddenly be advanced.

Zhou Tao, standing on the podium, was happily announcing, indifferent to the expressions of the students below. "We will have the Beast Taming practical combat course in the morning, the Physical Fitness Combat course in the afternoon, and the Cultural exam during the evening self-study. The results will be out today!"

Song Yu: "..."

Song Yu was frustrated, almost spitting blood. You liars! You said the exam would be in three days! Why did it suddenly get advanced?!

She hadn't even convinced Qiuqiu yet!

Zhou Tao smiled and said, "After the weekend, the day after tomorrow, students who rank in the top 55 in our class can take the school bus to the wilderness area for practical training. As for students ranking in the bottom 23, you will have to merge with students from other classes and attend cultural classes in the classrooms."

After saying the last sentence, Zhou Tao even deliberately touched his chin, looking at the students below with a meaningful smile, his eyes filled with mockery.

That smug look, that teasing posture, almost made the students unable to hold back, wanting to rebel and knock on Zhou Tao's head.

Fortunately, they still had some rationality, enduring the urge to explode, "..."

In the school.

No student likes a sudden in-class test.

Especially in exams that decide the fate and future path.

Standing on the podium, Zhou Tao had no sense of guilt whatsoever. Instead, he continued to cheerfully announce, urging everyone to quickly go downstairs and participate in the test. He smiled and said, "Exams are about your most authentic performance in your daily life. There's no point in last-minute cramming... Besides, when those wilderness beasts attack in the wilderness area, will they give you a warning beforehand?"

Zhou Tao continued with a smirk, "So... do well in today's test. If you pass, you can go to the wilderness area for practical training. If you fail, you'll continue to stay in school next week and attend cultural classes. This way, you won't risk your life in the future."

Many students were stunned, staring at Zhou Tao with a deep gaze...

Ah, the exaggerated expression on Teacher Zhou's face is really annoying!

As everyone in the classroom stood up and followed the majority downstairs...

Song Yu quickly stood up with a rustle, holding the hands of her desk mate Zhou Ting, tremblingly saying, "Zhou Ting, can you do me a favor?"

Zhou Ting: "...?"

Song Yu vigorously wiped her cheeks and pleaded, "Zhou Ting, my stomach hurts, and I need to use the restroom. Can you go to the playground first? If Mr. Zhang calls me, just tell him to let other students participate in the test first..."

Song Yu: "I'll be back in a maximum of 10 minutes! Immediately!"

Zhou Ting: "..."

Wait, isn't it necessary to go to the restroom with a flamboyant attitude?

Zhou Ting reluctantly nodded, "Fine, go ahead... You go, I'll talk to the teacher."

So...

Zhou Ting saw her desk mate, as if there was a dog chasing behind her, rushing towards the classroom door!

"Uh..." Zhou Ting blinked, it seemed urgent indeed.

 

Note: The term "Salted Fish" in the chapter title usually refers to someone who is lazy or idle, often taking a laid-back attitude towards life.

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