Misty Forest

Two and a half hours later, Su Yuan and the others finally arrived at their destination.

As Su Yuan stepped out of the carriage, a wild, desolate atmosphere immediately enveloped him.

Looking up, there was a forest stretching as far as the eye could see.

The forest is filled with towering giant trees, each at least tens of meters tall, and there are countless giant trees that require three or four people to encircle their trunks.

Above the forest ahead, a thin layer of mist lingered, like ethereal fairyland.

Su Yuan looked at the misty forest ahead, a look of curiosity on his face.

He lived his entire life in Tianyang City, which was surrounded and protected by iron walls, and had never seen anything outside of Tianyang City.

"Is this the Misty Forest? It's magnificent!"

"After living in Tianyang City for more than ten years, I've finally seen the outside world."

"Frog Fun! Did everyone hear that beast roar coming from inside?"

"The forest is shrouded in a thin mist, like a fairyland; the Misty Forest truly lives up to its name!"

"Hey! My rise to power begins in the Misty Forest!"

……

The others reacted even more strongly than Su Yuan when they saw the misty forest before them after getting off the vehicle.

Like Su Yuan, they had never left Tianyang City in their entire lives.

Seeing the Misty Forest and having to fight ferocious beasts face-to-face within it naturally fills them with excitement and anticipation.

"Ha, a bunch of country bumpkins who've never seen the world, making a fuss over nothing."

At this moment, Li Ming, standing at the front of the crowd, glanced back at the people behind him and scoffed at their behavior.

Li Ming, Shi Qianying, and the others did not come by bus, but in their own luxury cars.

Two powerful beast tamers followed him.

The uniforms they were wearing also indicated that they were members of the Thunderbolt Security Group.

Near Li Ming, there were several other figures, including Shi Qianying.

These people are all scions of some of the most prominent families in Tianyang City. Although they came to participate in the combat training along with other students from Tianyang No. 1 Middle School.

However, they were all picked up and dropped off by their own private cars and arrived at the outside of the Misty Forest ahead of the others, instead of taking the bus with them.

"Su Yuan!"

Just then, Shi Qianying, who was standing in front, searched through the crowd and finally spotted Su Yuan. She immediately waved and called out to Su Yuan.

Shi Qianying's shout attracted the attention of many people.

The school beauty of Tianyang No.1 High School naturally attracts a lot of attention.

"I reckon Shi Qianying is going to be the envy of a lot of guys now."

In the crowd, Su Yuan heard Shi Qianying calling out.

He looked up and saw Shi Qianying waving excitedly as she walked towards him, and thought helplessly.

Just as Su Yuan had predicted.

At Shi Qianying's invitation, many people looked in the direction she was pointing at Su Yuan.

Some boys initially thought Shi Qianying was greeting her best friend, but after realizing that her target was a guy like Su Yuan, they were surprised.

Many boys looked at Su Yuan with envy as well as jealousy.

The most obvious example is Li Ming.

Watching Shi Qianying happily walk towards Su Yuan, and remembering that he and the others had arrived at the Misty Forest first, he tried to get closer to Shi Qianying, but she ignored him.

Li Ming felt his heart clench violently.

However, when Li Ming's gaze fell on the beast-taming bracelet on Su Yuan's hand, a strange light suddenly appeared in his eyes.

He quickly adjusted his expression, regained his composure, and walked towards Su Yuan.

"Su Yuan, I heard you contracted a Blastoise, and the school even specially funded your evolution into a Water King Torterra, which is an exceptional quality pet. Congratulations!"

On one side, Shi Qianying came to Su Yuan, put her hands behind her back, and said to Su Yuan with a shy look on her delicate face.

After her talent for taming beasts was discovered, Shi Qianying was taken home and contracted with the first natal beast prepared for her by her family.

For the next month, Shi Qianying took a leave of absence and did not go back to school. Instead, she was taught and guided by her family elders.

The two hadn't seen each other for a month, which is why Shi Qianying was so happy to see Su Yuan.

"Thank you, but my current beast is not yet fully evolved; it's just a rare-quality beast."

Upon hearing Shi Qianying's congratulations, Su Yuan smiled and nodded.

"High-quality beast evolution resources are quite rare. If you are still lacking any materials, you can ask me for help."

"My family is in the beast-taming business, so finding rare beast resources is probably easier for us than it is for the school!"

Upon hearing that Su Yuan's Blastoise had not yet completed its evolution, Shi Qianying cautiously spoke to Su Yuan.

"No need. I've already gathered enough evolution resources, and I've also made progress on the remaining rare resources, which I've already had acquired."

"Once this practical training is completed, I estimate my Blastoise will be able to evolve."

"Okay, that's good!"

"Qianying, Suyuan, it's been a long time!"

Just as Su Yuan and Shi Qianying were talking, Li Ming came to their side and greeted them with a smile.

Even so, Li Ming's gaze remained fixed on Shi Qianying.

As Su Yuan and Shi Qianying looked at him, Li Ming continued:

"Qianying, the Thunder Cat that my grandfather prepared for me has evolved into a Lightning Tiger, possessing the quality of an excellent seven-star beast."

"Moreover, its level has reached the common fifth tier. As long as it doesn't face a ferocious beast of superior quality, my Lightning Tiger is capable of fighting against opponents of higher levels!"

"How about we team up for the upcoming combat training?"

"That way, even if we encounter a powerful ferocious beast, I can protect you."

After Li Ming finished speaking, he looked at Shi Qianying with a faint smile, waiting for her reply.

When talking about his current beast-taming level and quality, Li Ming's face was full of pride, and his head unconsciously tilted up, looking quite arrogant.

Li Ming had overheard the conversation between Su Yuan and Shi Qianying.

It is known that Su Yuan's tamed beast, the Water Arrow Turtle, has not yet completed its evolution.

He's saying this on purpose for Su Yuan to hear.

Su Yuan's Blastoise is generally only of rare five-star quality, and even if it evolves into Water King Turtle, it will only be of excellent three-star quality.

The Water King Turtle is somewhat inferior to his Lightning Tiger, not to mention the Blastoise, which has not yet evolved.

"The practical training organized by the school is to let us fight the ferocious beasts face to face with ourselves."

"Li Ming, in your eyes, am I just a useless pretty face? Do I need your protection?"

"Also, don't call me 'Thousand Shadows,' we're not that close yet!"

Shi Qianying remained unmoved by Li Ming's invitation, and instead spoke to Li Ming with a hint of disgust.

"No, that's not what I meant, listen to me..."

Shi Qianying's reaction startled Li Ming, who quickly waved his hand, trying to explain.

However, before Li Ming could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the whistle signaling the start of the live-fire training.

Upon hearing the whistle, the surrounding students quickly dispersed and headed into the misty forest.

At this moment, Shi Qianying also turned to Su Yuan and said:

"Su Yuan, the combat training has begun. I'll go first."

"I hope you've gained something from this trip. See you later."

Shi Qianying spoke to Su Yuan in a much gentler manner.

She didn't want to hear Li Ming's explanation, and didn't even want to stay by his side for another second.

After greeting Su Yuan, Shi Qianying found a secluded spot and quickly headed into the Misty Forest.

As for Li Ming, she didn't even greet him.

Watching Shi Qianying enter the Misty Forest, Su Yuan also chose a route that no one else took and walked into the Misty Forest on his own.

Throughout the entire process, Su Yuan did not say a single word to Li Ming. When heading to the Misty Forest, Su Yuan brushed past Li Ming as if no one else was there.

"Su Yuan!!!"

"We'll see!!!"

Watching Su Yuan completely ignore him as he walked into the Misty Forest, Li Ming felt a surge of anger, and all the joy of superiority vanished from his heart.

Li Ming kept staring in the direction Su Yuan had disappeared into the dense forest, unable to calm his anger for a long time.

"Young Master Li."

It wasn't until the two beast tamers from the Thunderfire Security Group who had been following him spoke up and reminded him that Li Ming realized what was happening.

Only then did he realize that he was all alone outside the Misty Forest.

"Remember the direction Su Yuan is heading. Tell the men below to keep a close eye on that kid!"

Coming to his senses, Li Ming glared fiercely in the direction Su Yuan had left, then whispered something to the two people beside him.

Then, without further hesitation, he walked into the misty forest.

"Brother, Young Master Li is jealous."

"They're all young people, it's normal for them to be jealous of each other."

"Should we do as Young Master Li instructed and have the brothers keep an eye on that kid named Su Yuan?"

"Su Yuan is a genius beast tamer with A-level talent; Tianyang No. 1 High School will definitely have teachers keeping a close eye on him!"

"We can have our subordinates put some pressure on him, but we absolutely cannot go too far; his safety must be guaranteed!"

"Okay, I understand."

After Li Ming entered the Misty Forest, the two beast tamers from the Thunderfire Security Group exchanged a few whispers, then took out their communicators and began sending messages.