Inside a small cubicle within the monitoring room of the Qinghe City Beastmaster Association.
Shi Kuanshan and Liang Lu were brewing tea and chatting, watching the 3D images projected by special technology.
The images showed Lin Chuan, Li Zeyu, and Chen Yulu discussing their cooperation.
Liang Lu took a sip of tea, twirling his teacup, and murmured with a smile:
“Humans have been able to proliferate in this extraordinary world, develop Beast Master civilization, and become the most powerful force, occupying a quarter of this planet and the most expansive habitable land. What they rely on has never been individual heroism, but unity.”
“As Beast Masters, they can compete with each other, vie for opportunities, and even form enmities and fight.”
“However, when facing a major disaster that threatens everyone’s home, they must also unite and cooperate.”
Shi Kuanshan glanced at Liang Lu and snorted lightly:
“I hate your overly literary and preachy style. Can’t you just speak normally?”
Although he said this, Shi Kuanshan did not deny the correctness of Liang Lu’s words. Of course, if it were him, he would not say it publicly, but he would express it in more direct terms privately.
In essence, it all boils down to interests, whether personal or collective.
Why does the school teach basic Beast Master knowledge?
Why does the Beastmaster Association work so hard to provide logistical support to new Beast Masters who are recent graduates?
Why do they cooperate with various businesses, factories, and enterprises to organize various Baby Cups, constantly finding new ways to provide initial cultivation funds to new Beast Masters?
For new Beast Masters from ordinary civilian backgrounds who are unable to participate in the Baby Cup, why do they deliberately create incredibly simple, virtually free, beginner tasks for them to complete?
There is never love without reason in this world.
The Star Rock Federation’s efforts are for collective interests!
As new Beast Masters grow on their extraordinary path, they contribute what they can to this nation and collective, protecting the country in times of crisis and maintaining social stability in daily life, allowing the nation to prosper.
Compared to Beast Masters who prioritize themselves, disregard others, or even engage in internal strife over resources during major disasters.
Beast Masters who, when faced with disaster, understand how to temporarily set aside personal interests and cooperate for the collective good.
Clearly, the latter are the true talents the Star Rock Federation needs, the truly ‘qualified’ talents.
The secret realm trial for the entrance examination also selects such ‘qualified’ talents.
Strength is fundamental.
Wisdom is also essential. It’s not about mastering countless knowledge or being incredibly intelligent, capable of planning ten steps ahead. At the very least, one must know when to advance or retreat, understand immediate gains and losses, and act cautiously in unknown and uncertain situations.
Beyond this, it comes down to the choice and trade-off between personal and collective interests.
It’s not required for someone to abandon personal interests, such as sacrificing their life; that level is too extreme.
However, they must also understand how to contribute to the collective interest. In critical moments, they must be able to cooperate and not act as a lone wolf, unless that lone wolf has the ability to solve all disasters independently.
Such talents are what the Star Rock Federation truly needs.
Teamwork is also one of the hidden assessment criteria of the secret realm trial.
While all candidates are competing against each other for score beads.
Beast Masters who possess sufficient strength, wisdom, and caution, and who can clearly assess the situation, understand the circumstances, and actively cooperate to overcome difficulties, will receive additional points.
These extra points will not be reflected in the specific score.
Instead, the organization responsible for the secret realm assessment will add a comment like ‘This person is highly capable’ when writing the candidate’s performance review after the assessment.
Only candidates with such an evaluation will receive true attention from the Star Rock Federation, be given substantial resource allocation for intensive cultivation, and potentially receive admission letters from the Eight Great Academies.
Otherwise, what would be the purpose of cultivating a selfish Beast Master who, when disaster strikes, disregards the safety of their home and country and flees alone?
What's the use of cultivating such a person?
Wouldn't that just be a waste of resources!
…
Secret Realm Space.
After listening to Chen Yulu’s explanation, Lin Chuan pondered briefly before agreeing to the cooperation.
“Since we now know the Terror Puppet’s species and attribute, do you have any countermeasures prepared?”
Lin Chuan asked Chen Yulu.
Knowing that she was a top student and understood the trial situation better than him, Lin Chuan naturally wouldn't do something as foolish as trying to seize command.
Well, as long as her plan was reasonable and feasible, without any suspicion of intentionally harming him, Lin Chuan was willing to listen and actively cooperate.
“Terror Puppet?”
Chen Yulu murmured, then understood that this was the temporary name Lin Chuan had given to those puppets.
Not bad, it’s a very fitting name, so she would adopt it.
Chen Yulu nodded slightly, but then asked Lin Chuan in return.
“Lin Chuan, do you know how to get a high score, or even first place, in an exam?”
Lin Chuan rolled his eyes. If he knew, his grades wouldn't be merely above average.
Chen Yulu pushed up her glasses, saying with a hint of showing off:
“Sufficient knowledge reserves are essential; this is the foundation for solving problems.”
“Then, if you want to get a high score, you have to guess the examiner’s thought process, guess what content the examiner wants to test, and what kind of answer they want to see.”
“Hmm, I can’t say too much.”
“It’s best if you understand, but if not, it’s fine. At least you’re already on the right path to solving the problem.”
At this point, Chen Yulu paused.
Lin Chuan, meanwhile, had a thoughtful expression. The examiner, what do they want to assess, what kind of answer do they want to see?
Treating this secret realm trial as an exam paper.
So, what does the examiner want to assess?
At this moment, the high-ranking officials of the Beastmaster Association, who must be observing them through some means, what kind of performance do they want to see from them, the candidates?
Seeing Lin Chuan deep in thought, seemingly understanding.
Chen Yulu nodded slightly, thinking that Lin Chuan wasn’t too stupid, at least much smarter than Li Zeyu. Previously, she had spent a lot of effort and explained many things before Li Zeyu finally agreed to team up with her and let her fly high, avoiding the puppet tide just now.
As for why she specifically reminded Lin Chuan of these things?
It wasn’t because she had any particular fondness for Lin Chuan; after all, he was just a stranger.
The reason for reminding Lin Chuan.
Was to make Lin Chuan realize the most correct way to approach this secret realm assessment.
Then!
Lin Chuan would be more proactive and cooperative in forming a team.
Lin Chuan, this great healer, was the foundation for building this BOSS Assault Team.
In this secret realm assessment space, there were C-rank Beast Masters everywhere; even Li Zeyu wasn’t irreplaceable.
But for healing, Lin Chuan was the only qualified one.
Other candidates might have some healing skills, but their healing output was too low. They couldn’t even heal themselves, let alone others, and couldn’t support a BOSS Assault Team.
Time was pressing, so Chen Yulu didn’t let Lin Chuan continue pondering. She formally answered Lin Chuan’s question, saying:
“Based on the current known situation and conditions, the solution is actually very clear.”
“Currently, the Terror Puppet’s core consciousness has not yet awakened. This should be a seal and restriction placed on it by the examiners. Every 12 hours—this is my guess, it could be shorter—at the set time, a portion of its seal will be lifted until it’s completely removed, and it will awaken.”
“And the Terror Puppet’s ultimate combat power will depend on the amount of fear and other negative emotions it absorbs during this period.”
“To put it simply, it’s whether it’s fully fed and in peak condition, or hungry and in a weakened state.”
“What we need to do is, before the restrictions on it are completely lifted, before it fully awakens.”
“Minimize the amount of fear and other negative emotions it can absorb, so that when it awakens, it will be in a weakened state due to insufficient energy.”
“Then, we gather some other capable candidates, form a team, and together, we defeat it!”
As she spoke, Chen Yulu subconsciously waved her small fist, as if intending to smash the awakened Terror Puppet.
Realizing her action and feeling embarrassed, Chen Yulu quickly withdrew her small fist and changed the subject, saying:
“Once we defeat it and ensure our survival until the assessment ends, we can then resume our individual competitions during the remaining time.”
With that, Chen Yulu’s explanation was complete.
Lin Chuan gazed deeply at Chen Yulu.
It wasn’t because she was beautiful; Lin Chuan felt envy and admiration. His grades in school were above average, making him an excellent student, but compared to a top student, he was no different from a struggling one.
Sometimes, the gap between people is greater than that between humans and dogs.
Some people, even if they constantly play and goof off, not studying much, still have excellent grades, getting first in every exam.
While others, no matter how diligently they study, burning the midnight oil every day, can only achieve average results.
He couldn't compare, truly couldn't.
Fortunately, I have a cheat!
I can’t compare to your learning ability and intelligence, but my Beast Master talent is stronger than yours!
Lin Chuan secretly thought, filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.
At the same time, Lin Chuan also decided that his next spirit beast must be a Book Spirit!
Even if the Beast Master talent of reincarnation and rebirth was ineffective on the Book Spirit, unable to reshape its bloodline.
He didn't care how much combat power the Book Spirit had; just its ability to almost instantly memorize knowledge was enough.
A Book Spirit can only memorize knowledge; it lacks sufficient imagination and inspiration, unable to creatively apply existing knowledge like a true human top student.
It’s not a true top student, but it’s still a pseudo-top student!
When in an unknown environment facing an unknown demonic beast, it can provide information and suggestions based on its vast memorized knowledge.
As someone who wasn’t a top student, he truly needed a portable encyclopedia and small strategist.
Back to the main topic.
Since the plan was set, it was time to act.
After all, time was pressing. According to Chen Yulu’s estimation, in another 12 hours—well, to be precise, less than 10 hours—the main consciousness of that sealed Terror Puppet would awaken.
So, how to reduce the amount of fear and other negative emotions it absorbs?
Chen Yulu didn't need to explain this; Lin Chuan found it very simple, and even Li Zeyu understood.
Hunt down those scattered Terror Puppets and eliminate candidates.
The former could cut off the Terror Puppet’s means of absorbing fear and other negative emotional energy.
The latter directly cut off the source.
As long as all other unstable candidates who were easily scared into fear and breakdown were eliminated, there would be no one left to provide fear emotions to the Terror Puppet.
In short, Lin Chuan and Li Zeyu were the enforcers, responsible for hunting Terror Puppets and candidates, attacking whatever they encountered.
As for Chen Yulu, she would find a place to hide or do her own thing. Lin Chuan and Li Zeyu couldn’t take care of her. If she was eliminated by other candidates, it would only prove that she lacked even the minimum self-preservation ability, and then even if she was a top student, it would be useless. A Beast Master with intelligence but no power had no future.
Of course, not all candidates were targets for hunting and elimination.
Those candidates who were clearly powerful, mentally stable, and wouldn’t be scared into breaking down and screaming, producing large amounts of fear and other negative emotions when facing Terror Puppets, were valuable cooperation targets.
When the Terror Puppet’s main consciousness awakened, they would also have an additional combat force.
After all, even if Chen Yulu’s plan succeeded and the Terror Puppet awakened in a weakened state due to insufficient energy.
It would still be a minimum Tier 3 demonic beast, and moreover, a Demon Attribute demonic beast.
Demon Attribute, a pure negative mental attribute.
Powerful Demon Attribute demonic beasts could even cause mental pollution with a single glance, a cry, or even the release of their aura, leading to symptoms as mild as stiff bodies, inexplicable fear, and loss of combat will in humans and spirit beasts, and in severe cases, even causing humans and spirit beasts to go mad and lose control.