Volume One, Chapter 13: Actions Speak Louder Than Words; Strength Needs No Explanation!

Bai Jinghao and Wang Dongzhe’s back-and-forth exchange stirred a wave of complex glances toward Lin Yao from the surrounding crowd.

Bai Jinghao had steadfastly practiced the Energy Orb Training Method for a full three years, supplementing it with other techniques to enhance his abilities.

Yet, in the newcomer trial arena this time, he had only just reached level 6, barely nearing level 7.

Thus, the onlookers speculated: Lin Yao must either possess some special method he couldn’t reveal openly or he had truly discovered and exploited a loophole in the newcomer trial arena to cheat!

Faced with countless skeptical eyes, Lin Yao inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

He really hadn’t expected that such a person could persistently train with the Energy Orb Training Method for three whole years.

Even when Bai Jinghao had challenged him earlier, Lin Yao had wanted to retort with a sharp rebuke.

But at this moment, Bai Jinghao was no match for Lin Yao.

Lin Yao raised his right hand, palm up, and lightly concentrated; a faint blue energy orb appeared floating above it.

Bai Jinghao’s orb was loosely formed and visibly impure.

But the orb in Lin Yao’s palm had undergone a tenfold enhancement in all attributes, undergoing a fundamental transformation!

With ten times the purity, ten times the refinement, and ten times the energy intensity, it was immediately clear to everyone that Bai Jinghao’s energy orb and Lin Yao’s were worlds apart.

After conjuring the orb, Lin Yao’s brilliance needed no further words.

“How… how is this possible?! Why can your energy orb undergo such a transformation?” Bai Jinghao abruptly dispersed the orb in his hand, feeling as if his entire mindset was collapsing.

He was the first genius of the military-affiliated high school on the same path, yet he was utterly defeated by an obscure student from Northern Star No. 1 High School.

Even Murong Nanci, the icy beauty known as the Eternal Iceberg, now wore a faint smile of admiration as she looked at Lin Yao.

Knowing that both Lin Yao and Bai Jinghao were the future stars of Beifeng City, Murong Nanci offered Bai Jinghao some advice.

“Temporary victories mean little. You said yourself that for nearly three years, you only practiced the Energy Orb Training Method for one hour each day.”

“If Lin Yao has devoted more time, energy, effort, and sweat to practicing this method, and thus achieved more dazzling results, what is there that you cannot accept?”

Hearing Murong Nanci’s words, Bai Jinghao nodded slightly and respectfully thanked her, “Thank you for your guidance, Lady Guardian.”

Her words truly sank into Bai Jinghao’s mind, and his shaken mindset began to recover quickly.

Seeing this, Lin Yao also felt grateful toward Murong Nanci.

Everyone now understood: this guy was a cultivation prodigy even more extraordinary than Bai Jinghao.

However, many students present found themselves conflicted and troubled upon learning Lin Yao’s secret to success.

Lin Yao’s triumph did not mean they could replicate it.

Take Bai Jinghao, the military-affiliated high school’s top genius—three years of persistence had not brought him completely from quantitative to qualitative transformation in the energy orb.

While Lin Yao’s success did not require vast financial backing, the difficulty was not necessarily lower than Wang Dongzhe’s resource-heavy approach.

Once everything was understood, Principal Lu Zhenting of the military-affiliated high school and over forty other principals could not help but feel a deep sense of melancholy.

They had expected Lin Yao to possess some secret technique, but it turned out he was simply relying on relentless perseverance.

At that moment, Murong Nanci, the Guardian, did something utterly unexpected.

She raised her hand, withdrew a blue crystal card from her Beast Master ring, and handed it to Lin Yao.

While he was still puzzled, Murong Nanci briefly explained her intention.

“You should be familiar with this—it’s a Beifeng City access pass.”

“Normally, one must become a level 10 Beast Master to obtain such a pass.”

“But I’ve decided to award it to you as a prize for setting a new record in the newcomer trial arena.”

Lin Yao was both amused and exasperated by her words.

He thought to himself: What kind of reward is this?

He would naturally receive such a pass upon reaching two more levels.

With it, he could leave Beifeng City’s enormous “greenhouse” and face the trials of the outside world.

In plain terms: he could freely leave the city and venture into dangerous zones for experience.

Though these danger zones offered many opportunities, the risk of losing one’s life was high.

Moreover, he could challenge other trial arenas within the city, which were not designed for novice Beast Masters and were far more difficult, with potential for serious injury or disability.

Still, Lin Yao reconsidered and realized the early access to the pass was not without merit.

His true strength far surpassed that of an ordinary level 10 Beast Master.

Being able to leave the city early to face greater challenges would accelerate his growth tremendously.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Murong Nanci voiced a similar idea.

“Your rapid rise to level 8 in the newcomer trial arena proves you already qualify for missions outside the city.”

“Giving you this pass early could become a booster for your growth, or perhaps a death warrant.”

“In any case, you must use this pass with great caution.”

If this were all the reward, Murong Nanci might seem a bit stingy, not befitting her status as the city’s Guardian and as Miss Murong.

So she quickly added, “By the way, if you become a level 15 Beast Master before the college entrance exam and successfully enroll at the Imperial Capital University, I will gift you an SSS-grade beast.”

Instantly, all the students in the trial hall gazed at Lin Yao with envy, their eyes reddened!

Among so many students, fewer than five possessed an SSS-grade beast.

The Azure Dragon Maiden by Lin Yao’s side was rumored to have some issues, but no matter what, she was still an SSS-grade beast!

Moreover, both Lin Yao and the Azure Dragon Maiden had already reached level 8.

Whether the Azure Dragon Maiden truly had problems, no one could say for sure.

If Lin Yao met Murong Nanci’s two conditions, he would have two SSS-grade beasts…

At this moment, Lin Yao understood why the Guardian had given him the pass early.

She hoped he would quickly reach level 15 and then take the Imperial Capital University entrance exam.

Even without the Guardian’s favors, he would strive to improve and attempt to enter the university.

Now, he could achieve both goals at once.

However, Principal Lu Zhenting and the principal from Northern Star No. 1 High School exchanged glances, and other principals whispered among themselves.

“Murong Guardian’s promise isn’t empty, but… becoming a level 15 Beast Master before the college exam is incredibly difficult!”

“More than difficult—it’s almost impossible! Only Murong Guardian herself has ever done it in Beifeng City’s history!”

After their initial envy, many students gradually realized how challenging this goal was.

If Murong Nanci hadn’t personally achieved it, they might have thought she was mocking Lin Yao.

Soon after, Murong Nanci did not linger.

After briefly encouraging Lin Yao, she returned to the Guardian’s mansion to handle official duties.

Wang Guangyang and his son left the hall immediately after her departure.

On the way back to the Wang family residence, Wang Dongzhe kept a dark expression, deeply frustrated.

After the luxurious car had driven some distance, Wang Dongzhe finally asked, “Dad, with all the resources the Wang family has poured into me, could it really be that I’m no match for that Energy Orb Training Method?”

Wang Guangyang shook his head. “Not exactly. Lin Yao is obviously a rare exception. Didn’t you see? Bai Jinghao from the Bai family has spent so much time on the Energy Orb Training Method, and what’s the result?”

Wang Dongzhe felt somewhat relieved hearing this.

The Bai family, like the Wang family, was one of Beifeng City’s four great super clans, and Bai Jinghao’s resources were not much less than his.

Despite this, Bai Jinghao had invested immense time and effort into the Energy Orb Training Method.

The result? He was only level 7, barely surpassing level 6.

This clearly showed how exceptional Lin Yao’s case was.

Wang Guangyang then earnestly advised his son, “You don’t need to focus too much on Lin Yao. As levels rise, it becomes increasingly difficult to trigger qualitative transformation through quantitative accumulation with the Energy Orb Training Method, and the demands become more stringent.”

“This method is indeed effective in the early stages of a Beast Master’s growth, but beyond level 20, this early advantage gradually fades.”

“Level 20 is just the beginning of the Beast Master’s career. Our Wang family has a full cultivation program for feline beasts. Once beyond level 20, ordinary civilian Beast Masters like Lin Yao, who lack lasting strength, won’t even qualify to look up to you.”

Wang Guangyang’s words were not mere boasts.

Under normal circumstances, this was the harsh reality: ordinary Beast Masters, or even geniuses without powerful backing, would eventually be trampled by privileged scions like Wang Dongzhe.

However, Lin Yao’s efforts were beyond what the Wang family could imagine.

Trying to erase Lin Yao’s “ocean of sweat” with resources alone was pure fantasy.

Meanwhile, Lin Yao and Zhu Zhihan met privately with Chairman Han Yanran.

Han Yanran did not question whether Lin Yao and Zhu Zhihan’s achievements had any hidden reasons.

After greeting them, she congratulated them and then addressed the main point.

“Lin Yao, Zhihan, although you’ve reached the basic capability for missions outside the city, you must exercise extreme caution when venturing out!”

Han Yanran did not intend to stop Lin Yao from claiming the SSS-grade beast promised by Murong Nanci.

She simply believed that, given their current strength, the outside world remained too perilous.

Lin Yao nodded solemnly. “Chairman Han, rest assured, Zhihan and I carefully evaluate every mission and take thorough safety measures.”

Zhu Zhihan interjected with a smile, “Don’t worry, big sister. Little Brother Lin is an excellent Beast Master, just like you!”

Lin Yao immediately broke out in a cold sweat, feeling overwhelmed.

Han Yanran chuckled, rubbing Zhu Zhihan’s head gently. “Seeing how well you get along, I’m at ease.”

She glanced at Lin Yao and continued, “I trust this little guy very much. Otherwise, I would have told him not to venture outside the city at this stage, rather than just warning him to be careful.”

Lin Yao almost wanted to protest that he was hardly a “little guy” in any sense.

But considering Han Yanran was a level 45 Beast Master and a formidable figure, he wisely chose to remain silent.

Angering her would only lead to trouble beyond his control.

Rather than argue, he focused on planning how to safely venture out with Zhu Zhihan.

Though dangerous, he was more than capable of protecting himself.

And if he wanted to reach level 15 before the college exam and claim Murong Nanci’s promised SSS-grade beast, he needed to rest briefly and then set out immediately for external training!