32: Chapter 32 Emerging Talent

Forming my own team?

Everyone was stunned.

"Ha!" Wu Zhou scoffed, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. "Do you think anyone in the Elite Class can just form a team whenever they want?"

He mocked, "There are only twelve teams in the Elite Class because there are only twelve team badges! All resource allocations, mission acceptances, and point accumulations here are tied to those team badges!"

"Without a team badge, you can't even accept missions, so how are you going to form a team?"

"However, if you really want to form your own team, it's not impossible." A calculating glint flashed in Wu Zhou's eyes. "According to the rules, if you challenge an existing team captain and win, you take their team badge, and you can naturally form a team!"

He looked at Qin Ce provocatively, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "I just wonder if this 'genius' junior has the guts to do it? Or are you only capable of bullying freshmen during your first year, and now that you've reached the fourth year, you're only thinking about leeching off resources?"

Qin Ce didn't respond immediately but turned to look at the head teacher. "Teacher, is there such a rule?"

Wei Ming nodded helplessly. "There is indeed... but Qin Ce, you only contracted your Pet Beast a short while ago, while Wu Zhou is already a fourth-year senior, and his Pet Beast is at least Black Iron High-grade. You—"

Before he could finish, Qin Ce had already turned his head, looking at Wu Zhou with a calm gaze. "Then I challenge you!"

Crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

A low murmur erupted across the training grounds.

"Does he really dare?"

"Is he crazy? Wu Zhou is at the Black Iron Peak! He's been contracting Pet Beasts for four years!"

"A newborn calf is not afraid of the tiger..."

"I think he just got a hot head and lost his cool."

Wu Zhou was stunned for a moment, then a trace of triumph and ecstasy at the success of his scheme flashed in his eyes. He immediately shouted to those around him, "Everyone heard that, right? He initiated the challenge himself; I didn't force him!"

Fearing that Qin Ce might back out, he immediately turned to Wei Ming. "Teacher Wei! I agree! I request to use the battle arena!"

Wei Ming frowned slightly, but still spoke his words of dissuasion. "Qin Ce, you need to think clearly. Student Wu Zhou's strength is in the upper tier even among fourth-years. You just contracted your Pet Beast, so there might be a gap in level and experience. Once the challenge begins, a winner must be decided. If your Pet Beast is defeated in the arena, it will need to recuperate inside your body for a month, which will waste a lot of your time. The teacher can still arrange a team for you."

Qin Ce shook his head, his tone calm. "I have thought it over. I confirm the challenge."

Seeing his resolute attitude, Wei Ming sighed. "Alright then. Since both parties agree, we will follow the rules. Go to the No. 3 battle arena."

The group moved to the edge of the training grounds, to an alloy arena that stood one meter above the ground and measured fifty meters in length and width.

The news spread quickly as if it had grown wings. Not only were all the members of the Elite Class present, but students from other general classes and even some base personnel were attracted to the scene. Soon, three or four hundred people surrounded the arena, whispering and discussing.

"Is that the freshman who skipped grades?"

"He looks quite young. He dares to challenge Wu Zhou?"

"I heard it's that freshman who skipped grades. He wants to snatch the team badge!"

"Wu Zhou's Blood-Sucking Flame Wolf is at the Black Iron Peak, just one step away from Bronze."

"Qin Ce's Pet Beast is only two months old. It's at most Black Iron Low-Grade, right?"

"The newcomer is too arrogant. He dares to challenge a senior team captain just after arriving?"

"Didn't Wu Zhou's younger brother get beaten up by this freshman? It's obviously an attempt to settle a private grudge..."

The discussion below the stage was one-sidedly in favor of Wu Zhou.

On the arena, Wei Ming stood in the center as the referee.

"The rules are simple: if one side's Pet Beast loses combat capability or is forced to dissipate and return to the Beast Tamer's body, they lose. You must not use lethal force against the Beast Tamer. Do you understand?"

"Understood." Qin Ce and Wu Zhou replied simultaneously.

"Good, both sides take your positions!"

Wu Zhou sneered and spoke to Qin Ce. "Kid, don't say I'm bullying a newcomer. How about we add a wager? Whoever loses must voluntarily withdraw from the Elite Class and get lost! Do you dare?"

He was trying to completely cut off Qin Ce's retreat.

Qin Ce glanced at him and said indifferently, "I'll give you a chance to take those words back."

"Take them back?" Wu Zhou acted as if he had heard a joke. "What, are you afraid?"

"No." Qin Ce shook his head. "I'm afraid you'll regret it."

"Regret? Hahaha!" Wu Zhou laughed loudly. "I'll regret it? Fine! Let's bet on that! Whoever loses gets out of the Elite Class!"

"Fine." Qin Ce stopped wasting words. "Then let's begin."

Almost simultaneously, a system prompt sounded in Qin Ce's mind:

[Emergency Mission: Emerging from the Crowd]

Mission Content: Defeat the opponent and gain recognition in the new grade.

Mission Reward: Receive corresponding skill rewards based on the degree of fame from victory.

Failure Penalty: None

Hearing this, Qin Ce's eyes lit up, and his fighting spirit soared. According to custom, the rewards given by the system were never bad.

The two stood firm.

"Both sides, summon your Pet Beasts!" Teacher Wei ordered.

A red light flashed beside Wu Zhou, and a giant wolf nearly three meters long, over a meter tall at the shoulder, crimson all over, with exposed fangs and a scorching aura surrounding its body, appeared—it was a Black Iron Peak Blood-Sucking Flame Wolf!

As soon as it appeared, it let out a low, fierce roar, its scarlet eyes locked onto Qin Ce, its momentum quite impressive.

A chorus of admiration rose from below the stage.

"Black Iron Peak! Wu Zhou's Flame Wolf has become even stronger!"

"This aura, it's not far from Bronze!"

"That freshman is finished!"

Wu Zhou's Blood-Sucking Flame Wolf was quite well-known in the Elite Class.

On the other side, the tattoo on Qin Ce's chest shimmered with cyan light. A clear and resonant cry of a Luan sounded, and an elegant and majestic figure suddenly appeared, landing lightly in the air in front of him. Its wings were slightly folded, and its cyan-gold feathers flowed with a noble luster under the sunlight, its eyes looking down at the Blood-Sucking Flame Wolf below with a calm and sharp gaze.

It was the Qingluan! With a wingspan of nearly three meters after evolution, its extraordinary and majestic demeanor, and the faint pressure naturally emitted, belonging to a high-level creature, it instantly attracted everyone's attention!

"Whoa! What a majestic bird!"

"This size... is it really a Pet Beast that was contracted only two months ago?"

"This aura... it doesn't feel weak at all!"

"Black Iron High-grade? No, it feels a bit stronger than Black Iron High-grade..."

Exclamations arose everywhere. Many students who knew their stuff, including Jiang Ruowei who was watching from under the arena, narrowed their eyes slightly. This blue bird was definitely not simple! Just its appearance and the faintly emitted pressure far exceeded ordinary black iron rank Pet Beasts!