Ye Bai's gaze fell on his deskmate, the graceful and elegant Li Weiyang—a name that carried an aura of nobility. In ancient times, Weiyang Palace was the emperor's main residence, symbolizing enduring imperial power, a future without disaster, and longevity.
Li Weiyang had harbored ambition from a young age. Her dream was to rise above the masses, to become someone admired by all. Her facial features were delicate, with each detail perfectly aligned, and her eyes sparkled with intelligence and depth, as though they could peer into one's soul. Her skin was pale and flawless, like jade polished smooth, and her figure—slender, with golden proportions—turned heads wherever she went.
Her smile was radiant, captivating, and seemed to warm everyone around her. For three consecutive years, she had reigned supreme atop Shenshan Middle School's beauty rankings, hailed as the most beautiful school belle in its history. Her dual persona as both a genius researcher and a driven, inspirational student had only amplified her popularity, showering her with admiration and benefits.
Yet, Ye Bai alone saw through her facade. To most, she was a delicate, unassuming flower. But beneath that image, she was more like a piranha flower—beautiful but dangerous. Despite sitting together every day and often clashing, neither had ever truly bested the other—though Li Weiyang had never once surpassed Ye Bai in academic rankings.
After the awakening ceremony, Li Weiyang was quickly surrounded by a flock of admirers.
"Congratulations, squad leader! You're destined for greatness now. Don't forget us!"
"Squad leader, could you help guide my pet beast's evolution route in the future?"
"Your skin is amazing! What kind of skincare products do you use?"
Li Weiyang glanced at Ye Bai with a smug expression, much like a peacock flaunting its vibrant feathers.
"Crazy narcissist," Ye Bai muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes.
While the Eye of Insight was certainly a rare and powerful talent, Ye Bai was confident that it paled in comparison to his own—a system that updated him daily with classified intelligence. In a world where knowledge equaled power, such information was a weapon far sharper than mere talent.
Before awakening, Ye Bai's standing in class had been equal to Li Weiyang's. But after he received the seemingly unimpressive talent of photographic memory, he faded into the background.
Most students believed that photographic memory was best suited for researchers, not warriors. It was useful in labs, not in battle. Who would remember a memory genius when surrounded by elemental fighters and elite pet tamers?
"Alright," homeroom teacher Zhang Lingxue announced, "those who successfully awakened their talents, come with me. We're heading into the secret realm to choose your first pet beast. The ones prepared this year are especially outstanding."
Only about a third of the sixty students had successfully awakened talents. The rest would be transferred to general classes, where their futures diverged sharply from their awakened peers.
The secret realm of Shenshan Middle School had an unusual origin. It was originally formed from the dying wish of a powerful pet master, who sacrificed their pet space and used countless spatial stones to preserve it. Over time, under the efforts of successive principals, the space had been expanded dramatically. Today, it was large enough to take a half-hour drive just to traverse its boundaries.
Zhang Lingxue, now in a different outfit, wore a quirky white hat with rabbit ears that twitched as if alive. She pulled out a sleek tablet and started introducing beginner-friendly pet beasts.
"The school's secret realm has been expanded and cultivated over many years. It houses a variety of specially bred pet beasts ideal for new tamers."
She tapped her tablet, and a projector in the school bus displayed the first beast.
"This is the Versatile Silkworm, the main focus of my research and one of Shenshan Middle School's signature pet beasts. It's as white as jade, resembling a plump silkworm larva, with two tiny horns and a harmless demeanor."
"It has almost no offensive power. Its only skill—Silk Spin—feels like a tickle. However, its defense is exceptional. It's perfect as an early-stage companion."
"Because of its unstable genes, the Versatile Silkworm has many evolutionary possibilities. Known forms include the Gray Poison Moth, Light Goddess Butterfly, Phantom Water Butterfly, Flame Butterfly, and Wood Elf."
"If you manage to discover a sixth stable evolutionary path and publish it, you can earn a mid-tier researcher certification from the Yanguo Alliance."
She tapped again. The projection shifted.
"This is Blast Rock, a fire-element beast resembling a small boulder riddled with vents. Occasionally, it emits sparks. Although docile in temperament, it demands respect—if offended, it's known to explode without warning."
"At the start, its main skill is Rolling Attack. But with proper resources, its explosive potential grows dramatically—some evolve to rival rocket blasts."
Another tap. A new projection appeared.
"This pet looks like a snowman—round snowballs stacked atop each other, with branch arms, a carrot nose, and coal-like eyes. It's called Little Snowball, an ice-type pet."
"Despite its whimsical appearance, Little Snowball is rare and highly sought after. Its nose, made of ruby-like carrot, is even rumored to be sweet and crunchy."
"It can evolve into two powerful forms: the Blizzard Guardian, a defensive tank, or the Iceball Wraith, a high-powered attacker. Due to its rarity, the school has only made two available this year."
"In fact, Little Snowball chooses you, not the other way around. It's reverse selection."
A student raised a hand, asking, "Teacher, if it doesn't choose anyone, can we choose it anyway?"
Zhang Lingxue rolled her eyes. "Didn't I just say it's reverse selection? If it doesn't choose anyone, then none of you qualify."