Beast Taming: the More the Better

However, it seemed that for Su Ping, and for Qian Yi, a challenge had finally begun to manifest. Watching those three virtual opponents solidify into reality, Qian Yi adjusted the brim of his conical hat, his poker face still betraying no emotion. Only the 'A', serving as Qian Yi's mouth, opened slightly as he whispered, "Waaah, finally... this is getting a bit interesting, huh?"

Su Ping paid no mind to the little guy's murmurs, instead staring at Qian Yi's face on the Paperman. To Su Ping's surprise, he had thought that facing three Elite Level opponents at this moment, Qian Yi would need to demonstrate his real skills—for instance, the abstract Three Sword Style or even the more abstract "Qian Yi Whirlwind." However, Qian Yi's poker face and actions underwent no change whatsoever. Even the sword in his hand remained the Thunder Sword. Streams of electricity surged along the blade, making the paper sword seem even keener at this moment.

"Waaah, have you... ever seen lightning?"

As the three battling opponents fully materialized, the Paperman spoke softly once again. Even before the Pet Beasts had a chance to act, almost as soon as the mechanical prompt sounded, the Paperman moved!

Have you ever seen lightning? Qian Yi's overly dramatic speech also represented the little guy's unparalleled confidence. And this time, Qian Yi's speed was even faster than the One-Word Electric Sword he had previously used. Because the previous One-Word Electric Sword involved an explosion of Thunder Attribute Energy along the blade! But over this period, Qian Yi certainly hadn't been idle. This time, what burst forth from Qian Yi's body were dense arcs of electricity. The explosive speed turned Qian Yi, in that instant, into a sprinting ball of lightning!

"Waaah! One-Word Electric Sword... Electric Flash, Continuous Barrage!"

CRACK-ZAP!

The extremely crisp sound of the Thunder Element Energy exploding truly made Su Ping hear what was described as the chirping of a thousand birds.

CRACKLE... CRACKLE... CRACKLE... CRACKLE...

With such noises, the body of the little Paperman Qian Yi was illuminated brilliantly white by lightning, leaving a blurred afterimage in the air. A 'Z'-shaped arc of electric light formed on the bodies of the three Elite Peak Pet Beasts that had surrounded him!

And then... there was nothing more. The final sight Su Ping witnessed was a familiar scene he had encountered several times before. The bodies of the Pet Beasts, already beginning to dissipate into light spots, slowly faded away into nothingness. Their throats, hearts, and torsos all bore a charred wound, fatal enough to kill.

And at that moment, the little Paperman Qian Yi simply stood in the distance. The metallic Thunder Sword was slowly sheathed back into its scabbard. The wind over the grasslands blew, making Qian Yi's paper cape rustle as this fellow looked up at the sky, his back to the three corpses, and shook his head slightly in reflection, "Waaah, the thunder of the sword... will be the last sight of your lives!"

Su Ping's vision darkened. He pursed his lips. Before his cringing toes could metaphorically carve out a three-bedroom apartment from the floor in second-hand embarrassment, thankfully, the mechanical voice announcing the results brought some relief:

"Fifth wave passed, time taken 3.11 seconds. Sixth wave will open in 200 seconds. Please prepare. 200, 199..."

The final part of the first five waves, a one-versus-three scenario, finally pushed Qian Yi's kill time beyond three seconds. What an inconceivable number!

Without giving Su Ping and the little Paperman much time to contemplate, the vast grassland before them began to transform. The virtual battlefield underwent changes. At the same time, Su Ping surmised, This also means the enemies we'll face from the fifth to the tenth wave should be different too, right?

Indeed, that was the case. The floor even undulated, and the surrounding terrain transformed. In just a moment, the previous pastoral grassland scene, where the wind would part the grass to reveal cattle and sheep, became a lofty mountain peak, as if one could touch the sky. And where once there was flat grassland at the edge of the arena, there now yawned a bottomless abyss beneath the clouds. Although Su Ping's spectator area was also on the outskirts, it was now furnished with floating rocks that served as seats. Under the rules of this new scene, it was clear that being knocked into the abyss meant certain defeat. Of course, the same effect would apply if one managed to knock an opponent into it during a fight.

Su Ping, accompanied by the little Paperman Qian Yi, was navigating the trials here.

「At this very moment, within Magic Capital Academy」

News had clearly already spread. There was an enormous square. The square alone was no smaller than the area of Su Ping's Heart of Water lake; its vastness was hard to imagine.

Above the square, numerous figures could be seen. Some stood gazing into the distance; others were seated with various items before them. There were even figures lying in tents scattered across the square, clearly making the most of the situation. This scene was completely out of sync with the atmosphere of the rest of Magic Capital Academy. Yet, the square was no less bustling than any other place.

Many figures came and went. Some were clearly students of Magic Capital Academy; others seemed to be outside merchants and some staff members. They were selling Magic Potions, offering resources, seeking teammates, and even soliciting business for crafting Advanced Level armor and weapons. In short, all kinds of activities were taking place.