Chapter Two: Scoring a Bargain, Contracting the First Magical Beast
“Boss, are you really going to throw away this magical beast?”
“Of course! Nowadays, who would be foolish enough to spend money on a Windhound? No one even wants it!”
The owner held the magical beast, a Windhound, which was one of the least favored creatures in the Beast Master world.
The Windhound bore a strong resemblance to a Husky, and just its intelligent gaze could deter half of the potential customers. Its inferior bloodline ensured that the other half would also turn away.
The inferior bloodline was the lowest quality, with no prospect of evolution whatsoever. Moreover, despite its name, the Windhound was not a Wind attribute beast but rather an attribute-less one. It was called Windhound simply because, in times of danger, it would run away faster than its owner...
Overall, this useless magical beast, which could run away faster than its owner, eat more than its owner, and stink worse than its owner, was something no one wanted to buy.
The owner was also at his wit's end; if he didn't throw it away, he would have to cover its food and waste disposal costs every month.
“Awwooo~”
The Windhound let out a howl similar to a wild wolf as it was thrown onto the street.
“Worthless piece of trash, fend for yourself!”
The owner coldly snapped, turning back toward the Beast Master shop.
Xiao Xingyu smiled, sensing an opportunity for a bargain.
The Windhound, realizing it was abandoned and homeless, became despondent, drooping its ears as it sat at a street corner amidst the bustling traffic.
Suddenly, the Windhound caught a whiff of a delicious scent, drool pooling at the corner of its mouth.
Xiao Xingyu crouched down, holding out a piece of sausage. "Hey there, buddy, do you want to be my magical beast?"
The Windhound, fixated on the sausage, nodded vigorously without hesitation. For it, having food was enough. It was self-aware enough to know that if it missed out on this chance with Xiao Xingyu, it might not find another owner willing to take it in.
Not wasting a moment, Xiao Xingyu bit his finger, smearing a drop of blood on the Windhound's forehead.
He then summoned the meager spiritual energy within him.
Above the Windhound’s head, a faint blood contract array began to form.
“Blood contract established. From now on, you will be my magical beast, Xiao Xingyu!”
The Windhound barked joyfully, circling around Xiao Xingyu and wagging its tail furiously.
Bystander 1: “In this day and age, someone actually wants to contract a low-bloodline Windhound?”
Bystander 2: “Looks like this guy's IQ is about on par with the Windhound. What a fool~”
In this era, anyone who signed a blood contract with a Windhound would be subjected to ridicule and disdain from those around them.
Xiao Xingyu remained unfazed, activating the **Demon God’s Eye** to view the Windhound's attribute panel.
**Name:** Windhound
**Level:** Initial Form (Tier 1)
**Bloodline:** Inferior
**Talent:** None
**Attributes:** None
**Loyalty:** 59
**Weakness:** Cowardly, runs away faster than its owner.
**Skills:** Bite, Bark, Spit.
**Evolution Path:** None
**Habits:** Eats and poops, then eats again.
This was the basic attribute panel of the Windhound, publicly available information.
The stats were so abysmal they could only be described as worthless.
However, when Xiao Xingyu activated the **Demon God’s Eye**, he could see a set of hidden data.
**Hidden Bloodline:** Hell Bloodline (Epic Quality)
**Hidden Talent:** Hellfire
**Hidden Evolution Path:** …
These hidden stats were visible only to Xiao Xingyu.
He opened the system interface with his thoughts.
In the system inventory, there was a **Bloodline Awakening Crystal** displayed.
As long as he fed this crystal to the Windhound, it would activate its hidden Hell Bloodline.
“Xiao Xingyu, you're still here~”
Su Zhe emerged from the Beast Master shop, accompanied by a leopard exuding dark mist.
“Let me show you what a real beast looks like! This is my contracted beast, the Crimson-Eyed Black Panther.”
This was a massive black panther, comparable in size to an adult elephant, with a pair of crimson eyes that looked fierce.
The Crimson-Eyed Black Panther was an Initial Form magical beast with a High Bloodline, possessing Fog attributes and impressive combat capabilities, with great potential for evolution.
“Xiao Xingyu, did you see that? The beast I contracted is the Crimson-Eyed Black Panther!”
“In three days, during the national examination, I could probably pass into the Hundred Spirits Academy even with my eyes closed!”
The Hundred Spirits Academy was the most prestigious Beast Master academy in the city.
Su Zhe’s face radiated arrogance and pride, relishing the chance to belittle Xiao Xingyu.
“Oh, you contracted a Windhound? Hahaha~”
“Xiao Xingyu, you’re treating a piece of trash the shop owner threw away as a treasure!”
Faced with Su Zhe’s merciless mockery, Xiao Xingyu remained calm.
“You think the Windhound is trash? I guarantee you that in three days, during the national examination, you’ll realize just how ignorant you are.”
Su Zhe’s smile twisted into one of amusement. “Oh really? And which Beast Master academy do you plan to apply to with your Windhound?”
Just then, a notification chimed in Xiao Xingyu's mind...
**System Notification.** “Ding~”
“System Task Released.”
“System Task: Pass the entrance exam for Qinglong Academy.”
“Task Reward: One [Dark Attribute Fusion Crystal] + 300 points.”
Xiao Xingyu kept his head down, his bangs hiding the smile on his face.
“I’m applying to Qinglong Academy.”
Su Zhe nearly stumbled in shock. “Y-You said what? You’re applying to Qinglong Academy? Are you serious?”
Xiao Xingyu remained silent.
“Holy crap, you’re serious! Have you lost your mind?”
Since the apocalypse began and magical beasts invaded, the civilization of Beast Masters had endured for 300 years. During this time, hundreds of Beast Master academies had been established across the nation.
However, only four academies were known as "Genius Concentration Camps."
Qinglong Academy, Baihu Academy, Zhuque Academy, and Xuanwu Academy.
These four academies, collectively referred to as the "Four Great Academies," only accepted students who were geniuses among geniuses, often described as "genius monsters."
At three o'clock in the afternoon, Xiao Xingyu returned to the high school campus, instantly attracting the attention of all teachers and students.
Wherever he went, whispers and finger-pointing followed.
“Dude, did you hear? Xiao Xingyu is applying to Qinglong Academy.”
“This guy is sick! He’s not even qualified to clean the toilets there!”
“I heard he contracted a Windhound.”
“Bringing a Windhound to take the entrance exam at Qinglong Academy? I can’t hold it in, haha…”
A middle-aged man wearing glasses approached Xiao Xingyu. He was Xiao Xingyu's homeroom teacher, Liu Kai.
“Xiao Xingyu, what nonsense are you spouting? You’re overestimating yourself by applying to Qinglong Academy. You’ll only embarrass yourself and the entire school!”
“Mr. Liu, I’ve already filled out the application form.”
Liu Kai glanced at the form and turned pale with anger. “You—you—you not only applied to Qinglong Academy but also selected [No Adjustment]!”
The crowd erupted in mocking laughter.
“No Adjustment? This Xiao Xingyu is truly a talent!”
“This guy is completely finished. If he fails to get into Qinglong Academy, he won’t be able to go to any other Beast Master academy either.”
“Looks like he’ll be the biggest joke of this year’s national exam!”
At that moment, a beautiful girl walked up to Xiao Xingyu.
Jiang Lina, the school belle of Xiangnan High School and Xiao Xingyu’s girlfriend of two and a half years.
Right now, there was no warmth on Jiang Lina’s face, only coldness and disdain in her eyes.
“Xiao Xingyu, let’s break up.”
Xiao Xingyu showed no signs of emotional turmoil and simply replied, “Alright.”
Jiang Lina was taken aback, surprised that Xiao Xingyu was so calm.
“Do you know why I’m breaking up with you?”
“Because you think I’m embarrassing, and you believe I’ll be the biggest joke in this year’s national exam.”
Xiao Xingyu stated matter-of-factly.
“Exactly! You’re poor and powerless, and you contracted a low-bloodline Windhound, yet you still dare to apply to Qinglong Academy!”
“Let me tell you, a sparrow can’t become a phoenix, and a water snake can’t transform into a dragon!”
“Someone like you, a clown, doesn’t deserve to be my boyfriend!”
Ignoring their two and a half years of relationship, Jiang Lina publicly humiliated Xiao Xingyu before turning to leave.
The surrounding classmates erupted in jeers, treating Xiao Xingyu as a source of amusement.
Diminished by his homeroom teacher, ridiculed by his classmates, and dumped by his girlfriend...
“I’m curious how you all will react in three days,” Xiao Xingyu said to himself, a cold smile creeping onto his face.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was three days later.
“The national entrance exam is about to begin.”
“Qingfeng City examination area, candidates please enter.”
In the entire Dragon Kingdom, Qingfeng City was an inconspicuous small city with only 3,000 candidates.
Based on last year's admission statistics, at least 2,000 of these candidates would be rejected by all Beast Master academies due to insufficient qualifications, forced to return to ordinary civilian life.
The remaining 1,000 candidates would mostly be accepted by the lowest-tier Beast Master academies.
Hundred Spirits Academy was the most prestigious academy in Qingfeng City.
Each year, less than 100 students were accepted into the academy.
In Zilin Square.
This vast open space served as the assessment location for Qingfeng City’s examination.
In the center of the square stood a massive, sophisticated machine.
This was the Spirit Testing Device, used to measure the candidates’ spiritual energy levels.
Xiao Xingyu appeared in the bustling crowd, dressed plainly.
“Isn’t that Xiao Xingyu?!”
“Yeah, that’s him! He’s using a Windhound for the exam.”
“And he’s applying to Qinglong Academy, no adjustment.”
“Our Qingfeng City hasn’t produced a genius in ages, but it hasn’t seen such a foolish person in a long time either, hahaha~”
Seeing the gloating faces of the other candidates, Xiao Xingyu smiled silently, thinking to himself.
“It’s time to deliver a dimensionality reduction strike to these lowly fish.”