"Is this fish very strong?"
Chen Shu kept scrutinizing the fish.
Could this be a super fierce beast that manifests its true form in times of danger?
"Strong? Your old man is a Level 1 Beast Master. That fish just lives longer; it's no different from any other fish."
"Then why are you so proud..." Chen Shu hung his head.
Beast Masters are ranked from Level 1 to Level 9. Above Level 9 are the Black Iron, Silver, Gold, and the unreachable King ranks.
A Level 1 Beast Master is basically an ordinary person; their contracted spirit is just a pet for viewing.
"You brat, you're just zero-level, what do you know?"
"I'm also a Beast Master?"
Chen Shu looked surprised.
...
...
"Having a contracted spirit means you're a Beast Master," his father Chen Ping said matter-of-factly.
"Then what's my contracted spirit?"
Just then, his mother brought a steaming bowl of pork rib soup and tossed Chen Shu a slime doll.
"This is the contracted spirit you signed with when you turned fifteen."
Chen Shu's forehead twitched with a black line as he fiddled with the slime doll.
"Does our family even have a normal contracted spirit..."
"What nonsense are you talking? Eat!" his father slapped the back of Chen Shu's head.
Suddenly, a virtual panel appeared in Chen Shu's eyes.
Name: Golden Slime
Personality: Lazy, kind.
Attribute: All-rounder
Species: Special class
Talent: \[Sleepiness: Can enter long-term sleep state, defense increased]
Skill: \[Charge: Rushes forward wildly, damage depends on the weight of both sides. Do not use against enemies over ten pounds!]
Potential Rating: F
Contract Owner: Chen Shu (Zero-level Beast Master, Beast Talent: Normal)
This slime really is his contracted spirit...
Chen Shu wore a sorrowful look. This talent, these skills...
He rubbed the slime's head, feeling like he was squeezing a big chunk of jelly.
To be honest, it actually felt pretty good.
The ability to see your contracted spirit's panel like this wasn't from the system, but a rule of this world. Everyone can see their contracted spirit's stats.
"Goo-gee! Goo-gee!"
Seeming to feel its owner's affection, the slime woke from its slumber.
Its two big eyes opened gently, warmly nuzzling Chen Shu's hands.
Although called Golden Slime, its gold was more like a dull yellow; from afar, it looked like a moving pile of poop...
"Dad, if I have a contracted spirit, why didn't I attend the Beast Master class?"
"Isn't the reason written on the yellow panel?"
"No, it's not..."
"The potential rating section."
"..."
"Son, it's okay. Even in a regular class, you can still make a name for yourself."
His mother comforted him as she put a pork rib on his plate.
Chen Shu sighed. Maybe that used to be true, but not anymore.
The regular student exams mostly test cultural knowledge, and a big part now is about Beast Master knowledge.
Chen Shu felt lost, staring blankly at the paper.
No! I have to attend the Beast Master class!
No matter what happens, nothing can stop me from becoming a Beast Master!
I barely managed to transmigrate and even awakened a system—how could I just end up ordinary?
He made up his mind, and suddenly two options appeared before his eyes.
[Option 1: Tell your parents you must attend the Beast Master class. Completion reward: Moderate amount of Beast Power]
[Option 2: Promise your parents you will get into a top regular university and strive to be an ordinary person. Completion reward: Ten million cash, Beast Master talent disappears]
What the hell!
Chen Shu's originally firm belief instantly began to collapse.
The offer was just too tempting!
"Dad, if you had two choices—ten million cash or becoming a powerful Beast Master—what would you choose?"
"Kids make choices, adults know... it's all nonsense."
Chen Ping looked at him as if he were crazy.
"Cough cough… You're really rational…"
Chen Shu coughed a few times and suddenly became serious.
"Dad, I want to attend the Beast Master class!"
He thought his parents would immediately object. After all, Chen Shu was already in the second semester of his second year of high school, about to enter the third year.
In any world, the third year of high school is extremely important.
Changing classes now would be like switching from liberal arts to sciences, and it would be impossible to get into a good university in just one year.
Pfft!
Chen Shu's father, who had been eating quietly, suddenly burst out laughing.
Chen Shu was speechless. Looks like he completely inherited his father's personality.
"Can you be a little more serious? This is your son's lifelong matter!"
"Son, don't mess around, come eat."
"…"
Chen Shu rubbed his temples. "Dad, I really want to become a Beast Master. Being ordinary is not my goal."
He was giving up ten million cash. He was destined to become the King of Beast Masters!
Seeing Chen Shu's serious face, Chen Ping suddenly stopped laughing.
"Really want to attend?"
"Yeah!"
"Okay! Then you can go!"
"???"
Chen Shu was dumbfounded. Was it really that easy?
"Old Chen, what nonsense are you two doing?" his mother said.
This father and son duo was way too hasty.
"Since our son has decided, as his old man, I naturally support him."
His mother seemed to have thought it over and no longer objected.
Chen Shu breathed a sigh of relief. Looks like it wouldn't be as hard as he imagined.
But if his parents agreed so easily, maybe he really was an invisible rich kid.
No matter what choice he made, the final outcome was inheriting the family business?
"Dad, honestly, am I a rich kid?" Chen Shu asked eagerly.
"I used to ask your grandfather that question too," Chen Ping said, looking at him disdainfully.
Chen Shu: "..."
"I'll talk to the teachers at school on Monday. The food's getting cold, eat up!" Chen Ping cut off his son's thoughts.
Over the weekend, Chen Shu stayed in his room locked away,
fully immersed in studying, unable to pull himself out.
Monday, Nanjiang No. 2 High School.
"You want Chen Shu transferred to the Beast Master class?"
Li Yuan, nicknamed Black Whirlwind, frowned. Transferring classes in the second semester of the second year was a big deal.
"Old Chen, it's not that I don't support you, but if he really transfers, Chen Shu will be finished."
One year is not enough time to become an excellent Beast Master.
"Old Li, you don't have to worry about that. My son has a contracted spirit and Beast Master talent, so he already meets the requirements for the Beast Master class."
Chen Ping and Li Yuan had been classmates and got along well.
Li Yuan was quite worried about Chen Shu's future.
"No way! To get into a top Beast Master university, you need a certain Beast Master rank."
Li Yuan shook his head firmly and handed Chen Ping a cigarette.
"Chen Pi's Beast Master talent is ordinary. In one year, he can at most reach Level 2 Beast Master, not even enough to get into a regular Beast Master university."
"Teacher Li, may I interrupt…" Chen Shu suddenly spoke up.