The difference in effectiveness between Beast Orbs and Beast Taming Pearls? Chen Shu could make that up just by sleeping, since a choice always triggered before bed. One option was sleep, the other was meditation—and sleep gave better progress, so any sane person would pick that.
"Leave it to me. My family has connections for Beast Taming Pearls."
"??" Chen Shu and Xie Sunan both turned to stare at Xu Xingxing.
"What?"
Xu Xingxing smiled sheepishly.
Chen Shu immediately asked, "What does your family do?"
"Just an ordinary family doing a little business." Xu Xingxing scratched his head.
Chen Shu and Xie Sunan exchanged glances, their mouths twitching. What a load of crap—"ordinary family!"
Basic-tier Beast Taming Pearls cost 150,000 yuan. Black Iron-tier ones cost 600,000. What kind of "ordinary family" dealt in those?
"Alright, class. Let's continue distributing rewards."
Shen Wushuang walked into the classroom and handed out all the prizes. Chen Shu did a rough estimate—the total value probably hit five million yuan.
"From now on, competitions like this will happen monthly! And the rewards will only increase, never decrease!"
That single sentence sent a wave of excitement through the room. Not everyone came from an "ordinary family." Wasn't getting into the Special Training Class all about access to these resources?
With ten months until the college entrance exam, the school would spend fifty million on competition rewards alone. Factor in other expenses and the total probably exceeded a hundred million. Of course, to high-tier Beast Tamers, Huaxia Currency wasn't worth that much—Beast Taming resources were the real treasure. A hundred million yuan could only perfectly cultivate two Black Iron-tier contract spirits.
"Now let's begin today's lesson. Everyone follow me to the Beast Taming Arena!"
Shen Wushuang left the classroom, and ten minutes later, the Special Training Class arrived at the Beast Taming Arena.
"This first month, you need to learn flexible skill usage!"
Shen Wushuang summoned his contract spirit. A massive python over ten meters long materialized before them, its scales displaying black and white patterns, its eyes fierce beyond measure.
An A-rank Black-White Python!
Its innate skill "Scale Conversion" was extraordinary—it could shift the color of its scales across its entire body. Black scales had extremely high resistance to physical attacks, while white scales had extremely high resistance to elemental attacks. Though it looked like an offensive contract spirit, it actually leaned toward defense—a tank, in other words.
"One of my Black-White Python's skills is 'Binding.' It can restrain enemies while also having a certain armor-breaking effect," Shen Wushuang explained, stroking the snake's head as he addressed the students below.
"Chen Shu, summon your Slime."
"..." Chen Shu's mouth twitched. So you're using my Slime as a teaching dummy now?
He immediately stepped forward and announced, "Classmates, I stake Young Master Tang's life on this—that snake's constriction definitely has armor-breaking effects!"
Tang Lie's mouth twitched. What the fuck is wrong with you? What does this have to do with me?
Chen Shu turned back to Shen Wushuang. "Teacher, let's skip the demonstration. Everyone gets it."
Shen Wushuang nodded, then continued, "Binding isn't just a control skill—it has other uses too. Does anyone know what they are?"
His gaze swept across the students below. Almost instinctively, every single one lowered their head.
This was another universal school rule!
Options appeared before Chen Shu's eyes.
[Option 1: Out of student instinct, you lower your head too. Completion reward: Small amount of Beast Taming Power]
[Option 2: As a system user, you're naturally extraordinary—time to stare at the ceiling. Completion reward: High-Grade Strength Potion]
[Option 3: Faced with Shen Wushuang's scrutinizing gaze, you decide to meet it with an equally scrutinizing stare. Completion reward: Berserk Potion]
Chen Shu stroked his chin, then suddenly looked up—directly at Shen Wushuang.
Having experienced the benefits of the Invisibility Potion, how could he pass up the Berserk Potion? It might just turn the tables someday.
Shen Wushuang was trying to decide who to call on when Chen Shu suddenly raised his head.
That gaze was even more scrutinizing than his own.
For a split second, Shen Wushuang felt like he was back in his student days. Without thinking, he lowered his head.
His mouth twitched as he immediately caught himself, recovering his teacher's dignity.
What kind of look was that? He actually made ME feel unconfident...
He pointed at Chen Shu. "Chen Pi, you answer."
Reward obtained: Berserk Potion!
Chen Shu happily collected his reward and spoke up. "Binding activates extremely fast. Not only can it quickly restrain enemies, it's also a protective skill."
"Oh? Go on." Shen Wushuang nodded slightly.
"If the host is in danger, the Black-White Python can rapidly coil around them to block incoming attacks."
Approval flickered in Shen Wushuang's eyes. He'd used exactly that technique to save his life in the Rift. Relying on the Black-White Python's natural speed, it could protect him fairly quickly, but with the skill's enhancement, its speed skyrocketed. It was like how Slimes naturally had terrible jumping ability, but under Violent Sitting Kill's enhancement, they could leap dozens of meters in one bound.
Shen Wushuang was about to speak when he raised an eyebrow—Chen Shu was still going.
"The third use is that it can rapidly contract its body, reducing its size to dodge enemy attacks."
Chen Shu's expression remained calm. "Of course, no skill has fixed applications. You need to judge based on the specific situation."
Shen Wushuang studied Chen Shu carefully. "Where did you learn all this? Did you study the Binding skill before?"
"No? Don't you just need a brain for this?"
Chen Shu spread his hands, his face the picture of innocence.
"..."
Every classmate's mouth twitched. So apparently we're all brainless, then.
"Chen Shu is correct. No skill has fixed applications. A damage skill might be a protective skill, or it might be a control skill. It all depends on how you use it." Shen Wushuang nodded in agreement—Chen Shu's understanding of skills was clearly a level above everyone else's.
"Xu Xiaoyu, summon your contract spirit!"
A Fire Bird appeared before them, radiating scorching heat.
Tang Lie instinctively stepped back. The trauma ran deep, apparently.
Chen Shu crossed his arms. "Young Master Tang, was that half-step backward for real?"
Seeing the two about to start bickering again, Shen Wushuang cut in. "Enough. Chen Shu, you'll explain skill flexibility to your classmates. Start with Xu Xiaoyu."
"Teacher Shen, I'm just a student here?" Chen Shu said, exasperated.
He was being used as free labor! With over twenty students in the class, how long would this take?
"From now on, you're the Class Monitor of the Special Training Class!"
"No! Absolutely no interest!" Before anyone else could speak, Chen Shu was already refusing.
"Two High-Grade Beast Orbs per month!"
"Serving my classmates is my sacred duty! Anyone who tries to take this from me will have to fight me!"