"Where is everyone?"
Shen Zechuan’s aged voice echoed in the conference room. His eyes, usually kind and gentle, narrowed slightly.
The look of someone wanting to kill is impossible to hide.
"It’s one thing for Luo Sen to be absent, but what’s the deal with Chopper and Shang Duantie? How long have they been Alliance Leaders? And they’re already skipping a debriefing session!"
Shen Zechuan stroked his white beard. As his gaze fell upon the empty seat directly opposite him, veins bulged on his wrinkled forehead, pulsing with explosive power.
"Even Xiaojing is absent. What is this? A teacher-student conspiracy? Is that how he acts as a teacher?!"
"Your Excellency, the Grand Alliance Leader, please calm your anger."
At that moment, a short-haired young woman dressed in a tight-fitting, all-black combat suit gave a slight nod. A loose, light gray Alliance Member uniform was draped over her, looking more like a jacket.
Name: Cui Que
Alliance Member ID: 00000214
Shen Zechuan looked at her, his expression calming somewhat. "What has the Dark Alliance discovered?"
—The Dark Alliance, one of the Nine Great Alliances, whose primary functions are assassination, execution, intelligence gathering, and espionage.
Throughout history, the Dark Alliance has always been the branch with the lowest profile, yet the mere mention of its name was enough to send a chill down anyone’s spine.
"According to the preliminary investigation by the Dark Alliance’s intelligence network, it seems Alliance Leader Luo Sen has taken a strong liking to a camper from the Flying Shadow Alliance’s summer camp and wants to recruit him into the Divine Strategy Alliance.
"Alliance Leader Chopper disagreed and led his people to the Divine Strategy Alliance’s Battle Hall to snatch the person away. This matter didn’t originally involve Alliance Leader Shang Duantie, but he also wanted to recruit the person, so he went along.
"As the teacher of the first two Alliance Leaders, Alliance Leader Jing Shouxi presumably went to dissuade them. But..."
At this point, the corner of Cui Que’s mouth twitched, and a surreal look flashed in her elegant eyes.
Shen Zechuan picked up his cup and took a sip of tea, his gaze calm. "But what?"
"But after he arrived, he also joined in on trying to snatch the person..."
Shen Zechuan’s movement froze.
With a CRACK, a fissure shot through the classical ceramic cup engraved with a crane.
Shen Zechuan slowly placed the cup back on the table. His arms, which had looked withered, instantly swelled with muscle, becoming taut with power.
The Grand Alliance Leader’s fists were clenched.
"Four Alliance Leaders collectively skipping the monthly debriefing session to fight over a single camper—this is completely outrageous!
"Today’s meeting is canceled! I’m going to the Divine Strategy Alliance myself to see just what kind of camper could make four Alliance Leaders fight over him like madmen!"
·
BOOM!
BANG—
CRASH! CRASH!
Inside the Divine Strategy Alliance’s Battle Hall, the air was thick with the smoke of battle. Four Four-star Pet Beasts were tangled in a brawl, and the mere shockwaves from their fight made it nearly impossible to stay balanced.
Outside the combat zone, Selena shielded Su Zhi behind her. The reflection of a Dark Gold Saber Eagle flickered in her violet eyes, and her beige trench coat whipped about in the turbulent air.
Su Zhi hugged Yu Bao, not daring to make a sound, simply watching with eyes wide in shock.
After a long moment, he stammered out a few words, "...Isn’t this a bit much?"
An ordinary person might go their whole life without seeing a single Four-star Pet Beast. The Four-star rank corresponds to that of an Alliance Leader—in an era where Five-star Pet Beasts are nearly extinct, Four-star is the pinnacle a modern Beast Tamer can achieve.
And today, Su Zhi hadn’t just seen one, he had seen four at once...
’And the reason they’re fighting is... me???’
"I agree, it’s a bit much."
Selena glanced at Su Zhi and shook her head with a wry smile. "I’m truly sorry. This is a matter where your wishes should have been respected... yet it’s turned into a situation where you have no say at all."
Su Zhi shook his head. "It has nothing to do with you, Captain Sai. You don’t have to apologize..."
"Everyone, stop."
Just as the four Giant Beasts were locked in an inseparable struggle, a calm, aged voice suddenly sounded from offstage.
Compared to Chopper’s boisterous arrival earlier, this voice was utterly serene, yet filled with a majesty that was impossible to refuse.
It resounded directly in the minds of everyone present, making it more powerful than any shout.
Immediately after, countless red Light Arrays materialized around the four Giant Beasts. From within the arrays, iron chains shimmering with a cold light shot out, rapidly binding and immobilizing the four creatures.
Su Zhi’s eyes widened. The iron chains seemed to have been cast randomly, but each one had landed precisely on a vital point of one of the Giant Beasts. Not a single chain was redundant or wasted.
Under the lockdown of those chains, the four Giant Beasts, which had been fighting violently enough to turn the sky dark, were instantly frozen in place, unable to move a muscle!
Selena let out a sigh of relief. "It’s fine now. The old man in charge is here."
"’The old man in charge...’" Su Zhi repeated the phrase, his eyes flying wide. "Could it be...?!"
KLANG—KLANG—KLANG—
All the spotlights in the Battle Hall switched on, instantly flooding the once-dim arena with light.
Squinting against the dazzling light, Su Zhi looked toward the entrance.
An old man in a white robe was walking toward them from the entrance. He was completely bald, his head gleaming, and his long-cultivated white beard hung nearly to his knees. His eyes, however, were bright and full of spirit, set within a weathered, wrinkled face like two clear springs in a desert.
He looked like a kind and amiable grandfather.
Yet, when he had deployed the red Beast Taming Light Array, an invisible pressure had washed over them, carrying the undeniable authority of a superior being.
There was no way Su Zhi didn’t recognize him—
The Alliance Leader of the Central Imperial Alliance, the Grand Alliance Leader of the Common Defense Alliance, Blue Star’s only living legendary Beast Tamer, Shen Zechuan!
The red Beast Taming Light Array symbolized a Tier Nine Beast Taming Space, capable of forming contracts with five Five-star Pet Beasts—the absolute zenith of a Beast Tamer’s evolution.
In an era where even Four-star Pet Beasts were exceedingly rare, what did it mean to have contracts with five Five-star Pet Beasts?
In the six hundred years since the end of the Classical Era, Shen Zechuan was the only person to have reached such heights!
Such a legendary figure, someone who should only exist in textbooks, was now appearing right before his eyes, and even walking toward him.
Su Zhi was so excited he could barely think. If it weren’t so inappropriate for the situation, he would have rushed up to ask for an autograph...
"Your Excellency, the Grand Alliance Leader."
The teacher and two students, who had just been at each other’s throats, all bowed deeply.
Luo Sen reined in his creepy smile, tucked his hands in his pockets in a reasonably well-behaved manner, and put his eyepatch back on.
"You don’t need to explain. I already know the whole story."
Shen Zechuan’s face was grim. He shot a glare at Luo Sen, and when he realized it had no effect, he turned his glare on Jing Shouxi and his two students.
"Four Alliance Leaders, missing a debriefing session to fight over a child attending summer camp.
"If word of this got out, what would the outside world think of you? What would they think of our Common Defense Alliance?"
Shen Zechuan then looked up at Su Zhi. "A child who performed reasonably well in summer camp—is he really worth all this fighting?"
Shang Duantie mumbled in response, "I think he’s worth it..."
Shen Zechuan’s face was stern. Chopper and Jing Shouxi grew anxious, frantically signaling him with their eyes. Only then did Shang Duantie shrug and turn his head away.
"Reporting to Your Excellency, the Grand Alliance Leader, our actions were indeed ill-considered, but this camper, Su Zhi, truly has extraordinary qualities."
Chopper pulled out his phone and quickly brought up a video. "This is a recording of one of his battles. You’ll understand once you see it."
"No matter how extraordinary he is, you shouldn’t have... lost your composure like this..."
Shen Zechuan took the phone as he spoke, but after watching the video, he forgot to finish his sentence.
Then, he raised his eyebrows and shot Su Zhi a complicated look.
Selena smiled faintly. "You’ve caught the big boss’s attention."
Su Zhi shrank back, looking like a "scared.jpg" meme.
’Good thing the Grand Alliance Leader isn’t a big fan of tea.’
Just then, Luo Sen, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly walked up to Shen Zechuan.
"Your Excellency, the Grand Alliance Leader, I have important intelligence to report to you. Please follow me."
Luo Sen’s tone was unprecedentedly, extremely serious.
After speaking, he walked straight toward the side of the spectator stands, and a hidden passage appeared.
Shen Zechuan stroked his white beard and followed Luo Sen into the passage.
The hidden passage closed.
...
Ten minutes later, the hidden passage reopened. Luo Sen was the first to emerge.
Shen Zechuan followed behind him, his expression grave and complex. But the moment he stepped out, he quickly schooled his features back into their usual calm solemnity, showing no trace of anything unusual.
"Su Zhi, come here," Shen Zechuan said softly.
Su Zhi nodded quickly, picked up Yu Bao, and ran over to the side of the legendary figure who had previously only existed in his textbooks.
Shen Zechuan took a deep breath.
"Everyone present, you must all remember to keep today’s events strictly confidential. Not a word is to be spread outside.
"Given that student Su Zhi is currently only an Alliance Youth Team Member, does not belong to any branch alliance, and does not meet the requirements for full membership, any attempt by any alliance to convert him into an Alliance Member is invalid.
"As for whether he joins an alliance in the future, and which one he joins, I expect you all to show your sincerity while also respecting student Su Zhi’s own opinion."
"I admit my previous actions were inappropriate. I apologize to camper Su Zhi."
Chopper looked at Su Zhi, his tone calm. "If you are interested in joining the Flying Shadow Alliance in the future, I will assign you the most suitable mentor, and I will also create a personalized development plan and Pet Beast plan for you.
"The Flying Shadow Alliance welcomes any like-minded comrade, regardless of their particular traits..."
"Shoo, shoo."
Shang Duantie pushed Chopper aside and grinned heartily at Su Zhi.
"I’m Shang Duantie, Alliance Leader of the Cui Feng Alliance. You beat up one of our campers yesterday in the Land of Flash Gold Secret Realm.
"Let’s not beat around the bush. I admire your kind of genuine, naturally wild spirit! I’m telling you, you’re a perfect fit for our Cui Feng Alliance!
"I don’t do all that fancy, empty talk. If you’re willing to come, I’m willing to take you under my wing and teach you personally. You call on me, and I’ll make time for you, whenever!"
To be personally trained by an Alliance Leader—this was basically treatment reserved for a handpicked future Vice Alliance Leader.
Su Zhi’s mouth fell open. He felt like he was dreaming.
Chopper and Shang Duantie had a glaring contest, their eyes sparking with intensity.
Then, an old man in an orange-yellow Beastmaster robe grabbed one with each hand and pulled them apart.
"I am the Alliance Leader of the Boya Alliance, Jing Shouxi."
The old man folded his arms and looked sternly at Su Zhi. "Your natural talent is excellent, but your Beast Taming philosophy is fragmented and rebellious. On this path, you are destined to not go far.
"My recommendation is that you come to the Boya Alliance. I will arrange for our most senior instructors to provide you with corrective teaching. At the same time, the Boya Alliance has also gathered leading figures in the field of education. Here, you can interact with academic masters that no university could ever hope to match."
In contrast to the three Alliance Leaders, Luo Sen, the one who had started this whole scramble, remained silent, as if he had given up on competing. He simply studied Su Zhi leisurely.
After a moment, Su Zhi took a breath and looked at Jing Shouxi. "Elder Jing..."
Jing Shouxi was ecstatic.
’This is what they call a prodigal son’s return, more precious than gold!’
"You’re a good person."
"..." Jing Shouxi’s face turned ashen.
"Pfft." Shang Duantie and Chopper both stifled their laughter, as if they’d just remembered something hilarious.
Su Zhi then looked at Shang Duantie. "Elder Shang Duantie, you’re a good person too."
"..." Shang Duantie wasn’t happy about that.
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