Beast Taming: the More the Better

Of course, this so-called "Heart of Machinery" was undoubtedly just a fantasy. Su Ping knew, as if by instinct, that even if he managed to create one himself, it would not only be of minor significance, but he also estimated that the maintenance cost would be quite high. Only a colossal institution like the Magic Capital Advanced Academy could possibly afford to provide such behemoths for their students' everyday use!

Collecting his thoughts, Su Ping turned to Aunt Qin. "Aunt Qin, can I give it a try now?"

Aunt Qin nodded. "Of course, the headmaster has already prepared an identity card for you. You may enter and leave most of the academy's facilities at any time during this period!"

Su Ping nodded with anticipation. Indeed, it was very thoughtful of someone who stood at the top of Dragon Nation.

Following Aunt Qin into the mechanical hall and registering with the temporary identity card, sure enough:

[Temporary Student Card - Su Ping (18 years old), please select a mode.]

Su Ping decisively chose the Elite Level, solo Pet Beast challenge mode.

[DING. Mode selection complete. Please summon your Pet Beast to receive a number plate, and then enter Simulation Battlefield No. 21 to start the elite challenge!]

[Please note, a Spiritual Frequency test will be conducted upon entry. Only one Pet Beast is allowed on the field!]

Listening to the voice from the massive registration machine, Su Ping's spirits instantly lifted.

Although Qian Yi, the Paperman, could fight without a sword—its paper body also able to condense into a blade—the swordsmanship it had mastered wouldn't flow as smoothly. For Qian Yi, this was undoubtedly a reduction in its strength. As for Xiao Qing, Su Ping didn't have much expectation for its solo combat capabilities.

All his previous plans were based on the assumption that Qian Yi could enter the solo Pet Beast challenge mode at full strength. If not, that would be incredibly frustrating.

However, the entrance test was based on Spiritual Frequency, or soul fluctuation. Generally speaking, as long as it was a living Pet Beast, it would have a soul, but the Paperman was truly an exception. This thing, before being pieced together, couldn't really be considered a true Pet Beast. Even when transformed into a sword, accustomed to fusing with the Paperman, its racial traits meant it still possessed a pieced-together soul. This gave Su Ping a sliver of confidence.

Guided by Aunt Qin through the mechanical, neon-lit corridor, Su Ping soon saw the massive '21' marking the entrance to the Simulation Battlefield.

"Alright, this is it," Aunt Qin said. "Go on in, but you better hurry; it's already 4:30!"

Aunt Qin's lips curled into a smile. In about half an hour, it would be five o'clock. Qin Xiaoxue and the headmaster would probably be wrapping up soon, and it was about time for Su Ping to come out too. She urged him to hurry, but in reality, she was just preparing an excuse for him in advance. Others did not know, but how could she be unaware of the difficulty involved here?

The enemy in each wave of the Simulation Battlefield's challenge mode was completely different and random. Often, it even depended on luck. For example, it was bad luck if an opponent that countered one's own Pet Beast was randomly spawned. Moreover, the number of enemies in each wave was uncertain. It might be a single high-level Pet Beast's cub or a swarm of lower-level Pet Beasts, densely packed together—all were possibilities. Therefore, Aunt Qin figured that even if Su Ping had some tricks up his sleeve, managing to last more than five waves in the Elite Level would be quite commendable. The battles would also likely drag on for a considerable time. From a timing perspective, it would match up perfectly.

Little did Su Ping know of Aunt Qin's good intentions.

He pushed open the door, swiped the temporary student card, and confirmed his identity. Finally, before the virtual environment simulation initiated, he summoned Qian Yi into the room!

"WOO-WAH!"

With its signature excited cry, Qian Yi, the Paperman who had been diligently training all this time, made a dazzling appearance.

Qian Yi stood before the detection device. Su Ping's heart tightened slightly!

Inside the large Sword Box Qian Yi carried on its back, three longswords with distinct hilt designs rested in their sheaths. Qian Yi curiously observed the mechanical equipment before it. It clearly wasn't impressed by these mechanical creations, but without its master's command, it naturally refrained from acting rashly.

Finally, the red light of the scanner turned green.

Su Ping's tension finally eased.

Sure enough, the testing device's voice sounded:

[Test complete. Please lead your Pet Beast into the arena. Please note that in the virtual battlefield, to fully test the single Pet Beast's strength, do not move around at will or summon additional Pet Beasts; otherwise, it will be considered a failure!]

[Please note: The virtual battlefield will fully simulate victory conditions and the most realistic combat experience. Outcomes will be determined by intelligent judgment with an accuracy rate of 99.98%, or you can press the 'End Trial' button yourself.]

[Please prepare. The first wave of the trial will begin in 30 seconds! 30, 29, 28…]

As the countdown blinked, the world before him slowly began to transform. The purely mechanical surroundings shimmered with light. The next moment, the once-spacious mechanical battlefield transformed into a pasture enclosed by fences.

Knee-high grass grew thick and lush. Above, an azure sky dotted with a few white clouds looked incredibly real.

"Qian Yi! Prepare for battle!"

Battle.

For his Pet Beasts, these two words—battle—were too scarce, too precious. After all, Su Ping rarely encountered opportunities for Pet Beast battles. Xiao Qing was quite content and not particularly combative by nature. Especially after learning to grow smiling sunflower seeds in its Beast Taming Space, it seemed to have developed more interest in farming. Qian Yi, however, undoubtedly possessed a great passion for combat. This was evident from the fact that its very evolution had been achieved through combat.

Now, summoned for the express purpose of battle, Qian Yi, having evolved into a Paper Immortal Swordsman, was positively brimming with eagerness. Its eyes shining with excitement, Qian Yi exclaimed, "WOO-WAH! (Battle!)"

Qian Yi looked into the distance.

As the countdown progressed, a beam of light coalesced in the distance, and the creature that appeared was one all too familiar to Qian Yi.

Even Su Ping, observing the battle from a distance, was taken aback. A Forest Wolf!? But obviously, this wasn't a real Forest Wolf. It was merely a phantom projected within the virtual battlefield, nearly identical in combat strength and behavior to an actual Forest Wolf.

At the same time, the voice from the Trial Tower chimed in again:

[First wave of the trial, target: Forest Wolf, Energy Level: Elite Eight, race limit: Elite Ten.]

As the voice faded, Su Ping was momentarily stunned.

The first wave is already a genuine Elite Advanced opponent? No wonder Aunt Qin said the Trial Tower was difficult. If the first wave is this challenging, one can only imagine the difficulty of those to come.

However, the truly challenging and tricky part was managing Energy inside, which had to be carefully considered outside of rest periods. This was because, apart from natural recovery, the use of external items was forbidden. Moreover, there was only a one-minute rest interval between each wave. Besides the opponents faced, Energy consumption was also a key test for the Pet Beast.

However, this was clearly not the time for overthinking. Through their soul connection, Su Ping's voice rapidly echoed in Qian Yi's mind, "Fight while minimizing Energy consumption!"

"WOO-WAH!"

In an instant, Qian Yi's face morphed. It shifted from its usual animated expression to a poker face. The pitch-black Ace of Spades design on its face now resembled less a face and more a sword—a pitch-black sword. The sharp point at the top of the spade was like a sword tip, capable of piercing anything.

Qian Yi firmly gripped the Thunder Sword.

In the past half-month, although Qian Yi hadn't created any new swordsmanship techniques, its Energy Realm had reached a peak. After all, Su Ping's own realm had broken through twice consecutively, aligning with Qian Yi's. This advancement feedback had naturally benefited Qian Yi immensely. If it hadn't been for the undigested Energy from its recent evolution, it would likely have broken through already.

For Qian Yi, this opportunity to battle was undoubtedly precious.

"AWOOO!"

The simulated wolf howl was piercingly realistic.

The Forest Wolf was a Pet Beast with which both Su Ping and Qian Yi were intimately familiar.

And indeed, as expected, concurrent with that howl, vines swiftly condensed from the void. They shot towards Qian Yi, intent on entangling it. Simultaneously, the Forest Wolf extended its claws and fangs, pouncing violently towards its target. The virtual opponent's fighting style was indistinguishable from a real Forest Wolf's.

However, Qian Yi, facing the entangling vines and the pouncing enemy, showed no change in its eternal poker face. Only the glow on its Thunder Sword grew more blinding.

Focus, and reach the pinnacle!

Almost simultaneously with the virtual Forest Wolf's pounce, just as the vines wrapped around Qian Yi like pythons, it made its move.

Again, it was the Thunder Sword.

The vines split apart. A single sword strike decapitated the wolf!

All Su Ping could see was Qian Yi resheathing its sword.

And its almost formulaic post-battle summary: "WOO-WAH! (Invincible... so lonely, wah.)"

Electric sparks flickered. In that instant, under the force of that one sword strike, the condensed phantom of the Forest Wolf vanished into nothingness.

Su Ping smiled, wondering just how far this little one's lonely, unbeatable journey would extend in this place.

[First wave cleared, time: 2.74 seconds. The second wave will open in 60 seconds, please prepare, 60, 59, …]