---
Zhang Dashan's gaze fell on Ye Bai. After looking at him for a long moment, a satisfied smile appeared on his wrinkled face.
"You're Ye Bai. You acted bravely yesterday," he said.
"Li Weiyang came forward and said she voluntarily gave up her spot at Shenshan Middle School to give you the opportunity to choose instead. Do you accept?"
Zhang Dashan asked the question as a formality.
Ye Bai raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised.
Although Li Weiyang wouldn't lack resources after entering the Supreme Academy, Shenshan Middle School's resource boxes still held considerable value. The items inside could at the very least boost a pet beast's strength—potentially even push it up several levels. Whether it could break through to the second tier would depend on the quality of those resources.
Ye Bai hadn't expected Li Weiyang to give up her chance so easily. Her decisiveness and courage earned his admiration.
Of course, he wouldn't be foolish enough to decline such a gift handed to him on a silver platter.
Ye Bai nodded without hesitation to show his acceptance.
"In that case, Ye Bai, you may select two resource boxes."
The students around the playground buzzed with chatter at the news.
"Ye Bai is so lucky! He saved Li Weiyang and got an extra resource box as a reward!"
"Yeah, even though the school's boxes are blind picks, the contents are always decent. Now Ye Bai gets two? That's enviable."
"If I'd known, I would've stepped up to save her too. Blocking bullets isn't that big a deal."
"I heard the bullet wasn't even strong. Ye Bai's Variety Silkworm took it without injury."
Many students didn't understand the actual danger Ye Bai had faced. They assumed it was a low-risk move since the silkworm hadn't even been scratched. Their jealousy deepened as they watched him.
Some students, sensing opportunity, began messaging others secretly—treating Ye Bai like a fat prize waiting to be claimed.
Principal Zhang smiled kindly, "Tell me your choices."
He had reviewed Ye Bai's academic record—ranked number one in the school for two years straight. Though his awakened talent, photographic memory, was only ranked D-level, Zhang believed Ye Bai could still make swift progress with the right resources.
"I'll choose boxes No. 38 and No. 39," Ye Bai replied calmly.
Zhang Dashan chuckled. The black flames around the selected boxes dissipated as they gently floated down to the ground. Each box was about one meter long, wide, and high.
Ye Bai waved his hand, and the two boxes vanished into his pet storage space.
From inside one box, he could feel a powerful surge of life energy—likely the Life Spirit Seed mentioned in his intelligence report. The other box radiated a thunderous aura.
Ye Bai smiled. This was an unexpected gain.
"Wow, Ye Bai's being sneaky. His pet space must be huge—he stored the whole box like it was nothing."
"I thought his photographic memory talent meant he'd be stuck doing research work. Why is his beast space so big?"
"Ugh, so jealous."
Ye Bai hadn't expected such an uproar over a simple action. But the misunderstanding was to his advantage—nobody suspected his true power.
After everyone had received their resources, Principal Zhang nodded to Principal Liu Hang.
The wind on the playground picked up. Liu Hang discreetly held down his wig, terrified it might fly off and turn him into a school-wide joke.
"Thank you, Principal Zhang, for personally distributing resources."
"I also want to thank all our students for their continued efforts. Shenshan Middle School will only keep getting better!"
"Now that you've received your resources, spend time familiarizing yourselves with your pet beasts. The Phoenix Cup and Young Scale Cup competitions are coming up. I encourage you to sign up!"
The Phoenix Cup and Young Scale Cup were national-level competitions, much like the Olympics. Only high school seniors could participate, and only once in a lifetime. The review process was strict.
The Phoenix Cup focused on combat, while the Young Scale Cup tested pet research skills—both theory and practice.
Ye Bai's original plan was to compete in the Young Scale Cup. Winning third prize or higher in the national finals would guarantee entry into any top university within the Yan Kingdom Alliance.
The college entrance exams included both written and practical components. The practical side evaluated talent and real combat ability.
While Ye Bai's photographic memory wasn't a combat asset, his hidden intelligence system was his trump card—though it had to remain secret to avoid being targeted.
With that in mind, Ye Bai decided to sign up for both competitions to maximize his gains.
After the crowd dispersed, He Qingyuan approached.
"Teacher, Ye Bai and I have a bet," he announced. "If I lose, I'll give Ye Bai my resource box and my insect stone. But if Ye Bai loses, he must give up his seat next to Li Weiyang and hand over his resource box."
Clearly, He Qingyuan had his eyes on Ye Bai's newfound treasures. In this world, power came from resources.
Hearing this, Ye Bai scoffed coldly, "You think I'm stupid? Why should I agree to that?"
He mouthed the word "coward" to He Qingyuan, whose face immediately darkened in humiliation. For him, this was a personal insult.
"You'll agree," He Qingyuan said confidently, pulling out a folded piece of paper.
Ye Bai's expression changed the moment he read it:
---
Notice of Rectification
Fangyuan Pet Shop has been found engaging in illegal collection and storage of pet beasts.
Per the Street Management Office, the shop will be closed for one month for rectification.
All pet beasts have been temporarily transferred to the neighborhood shelter.
---
He Qingyuan leaned in with a smug smile.
"Ye Bai, if something happens to your pet while it's in the shelter, well… there's nothing you can do about it, is there?"
A surge of anger bubbled up inside Ye Bai. His fingers trembled slightly. This was the first time in a long while he'd been so brazenly threatened.
"Haha, you're angry. That's your weakness," He Qingyuan sneered.
"Don't call me despicable. You brought this on yourself. Taking two boxes made you a target. Even if I didn't act, someone else would."
"Face it—you weren't born into a powerful family that can protect you."
He Qingyuan adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and gave Ye Bai a taunting smile.
After hearing that Ye Bai had received two boxes, the family behind He Qingyuan had immediately taken action. They used their connections to get the pet shop sanctioned—quietly and legally. Open threats to pet beasts were forbidden under the Beastmaster Union's laws, so they'd chosen a subtler route.
Still, it was enough to force Ye Bai into a corner.