29: Chapter 29 The Real Flight

"Skip a grade?"

"Go straight to the fourth year," Teacher Sun said earnestly. "With your current strength, there's no point in staying in the first year. The ferocious beasts in the training area are too weak for you, and it's actually affecting other students' training—look, in just one month, you've basically wrecked the training area."

Qin Ce realized that he had indeed hunted a large number of ferocious beasts over the past month. Recently, many teams had been quietly complaining about not being able to find any beasts.

"The fourth-year training grounds are in the real wilderness. The beasts there are at least Black Iron High-grade, Bronze Rank is common, and sometimes even Silver Rank appears," Teacher Sun continued. "There, your growth speed will be much faster."

Qin Ce fell into deep thought.

Skip to the fourth year? This meant he could encounter higher-level combat and resources three years early, which would undoubtedly greatly accelerate his growth.

But at the same time, the risks were higher. Fourth-year students were all veterans, and the competitive environment was likely much more complex and cruel than the first year.

However... thinking about how Qingluan had reached Black Iron High-grade, its combat power was comparable to Bronze Rank, and with his own recently improved strength, Qin Ce felt that challenges and opportunities went hand in hand.

More importantly, if he could skip grades, he could reach Bronze Rank sooner, graduate sooner, and bring his mother and sister into the city sooner!

"I agree," Qin Ce decided.

Teacher Sun breathed a sigh of relief. "Good! I'll go apply for it right now. With your combat record, it should be approved quickly."

"By the way," Teacher Sun's tone shifted to casual conversation, "do you have any plans for the future? Like what you want to do after graduation?"

Qin Ce asked for advice: "Please enlighten me, Teacher."

Teacher Sun's gaze became distant, as if recalling something. "There are generally three paths for a Beast Tamer."

"First, join the military. The system is complete, resources are relatively stable, and there are channels for promotion through military merit. But the discipline is strict, freedom is low, and you face the dangers of the front lines directly."

"Second, form or join a private organization. Adventure groups, mercenary groups, caravan guards, and so on. The freedom is higher, and the rewards are directly linked to the risks, but there is a lack of stable security, and internal competition is intense."

"Third, follow the path of a lone powerhouse. A ranger, or a 'Beast King' who pursues the peak of personal martial power. This path is the freest, but also the most difficult. It requires extremely strong personal strength, survival skills, and resource acquisition capabilities. Moreover, the wilderness between cities is full of dangers, and without Gold Rank strength, it is almost impossible to travel safely alone."

He looked at Qin Ce. "With your potential and performance, you can take any of these three paths. The military will definitely try hard to recruit you. Large private organizations will also extend olive branches. As for the third path... although it is difficult, it also has the highest potential."

Qin Ce pondered for a moment and said earnestly, "Teacher, I want to take the third path."

Pursuing the peak of personal martial power and soaring freely between heaven and earth—wasn't this exactly what he yearned for deep down? What's more, he possessed the system, and his goal was to cultivate the strongest Pet Beast; going solo might allow him to perform even better.

Teacher Sun was not surprised but warned him solemnly: "The minimum requirement is Gold Rank. Before that, you need to accumulate experience, resources, and you also need companions or a temporary base. You have to walk the path one step at a time."

"I understand, Teacher," Qin Ce nodded. Gold Rank—this was another goal of his in the short term.

After chatting for a few more minutes, Teacher Sun got up and left. Before leaving, he reminded Qin Ce again to rest well and wait for news about the grade-skipping application.

After seeing Teacher Sun off, Qin Ce closed the door, his heart unable to calm down for a long time.

Skipping to the fourth year, new challenges, a new stage. And the confirmation of the third path... the future seemed much clearer and broader all of a sudden.

Over the next two days, just as Teacher Sun said, the base suspended all hunting activities for students and organized personnel to conduct a comprehensive sweep. Qin Ce also got a rare holiday.

He did not sit idle.

First, he exchanged almost all of his remaining points for practical supplies: high-quality energy bars, portable water purification tablets, multi-functional tools, several sets of sturdy and wear-resistant spare combat uniforms, and a set of more sophisticated alloy short blades and throwing knives. The remaining points were all exchanged for easy-to-carry, high-energy-density beast jerky and concentrated nutritional supplements. These were necessities for surviving in more dangerous and harsher environments.

Secondly, after he was finally able to leave the infirmary, he couldn't wait to summon Qingluan.

"Chirp!"

A clear, resonant cry, full of joy and pride.

After evolving, Qingluan's size had increased dramatically! Its wingspan had grown from 1.5 meters to nearly three meters! The cyan-gold feathers were deeper, and every feather, which looked like cyan jade, was more slender and gorgeous, exuding a metallic luster. Golden patterns appeared on the long tail feathers, and dark golden light faintly flashed beneath the feathers. The spirituality in its cyan-gold pupils was almost overflowing; when it looked at people, it was as if wisdom was flowing within them.

The most obvious change was its bone structure—although its size had increased, it felt even lighter. When it flapped its wings, it was almost silent, with only subtle wind element fluctuations.

"Good fellow..." Qin Ce couldn't help but exclaim.

Qingluan affectionately rubbed its head against his face, then spread its wings, signaling its widened back. Through the mental link, a consciousness was transmitted: it could carry Qin Ce into the sky, and fly very high.

Qin Ce looked incredulous and stroked its head. "You can carry me and fly?"

Qingluan nodded, chirped, and then lowered its body.

Qin Ce rolled up his pant legs and carefully straddled Qingluan's back. The evolved Qingluan had a broad back, and it was very stable to sit on.

"Take off."

Qingluan flapped its wings—

"Whoosh!"

A gust of wind rose suddenly! Qin Ce felt his body lighten, and he had already been carried into the air!

Unlike the previous times when he was grabbed by its claws and couldn't exert force, this time it was true riding flight! Qingluan's flight was stable and swift; sitting on its back, he could clearly feel the flow of wind elements.

"Accelerate!"

Qingluan flapped its wings again, and its speed increased sharply!

Qin Ce looked down at the training base below—the wooden houses had turned into matchboxes, and the people had become ants. The evening breeze blew against his face, bringing an unprecedented sense of freedom.

This was true flight!

Qingluan's physical changes naturally couldn't be hidden. When its massive wingspan of nearly three meters carried Qin Ce to perform various high-difficulty flight maneuvers over the training field, it caused a sensation once again.

"Look! Qin Ce's bird has gotten so big!"

"Those wings... so cool!"

"He can really ride it and fly! This is too convenient!"

"It's over, I want to contract a flying pet even more now..."

Envious discussions were endless, and even Instructor Lei stroked his chin in amazement: "This kid's Pet Beast grows really fast."

After circling a few times in the air, Qingluan landed slowly.

Qin Ce jumped off its back, his heart filled with heroic spirit.

With such a partner, what kind of challenge could he not face?