Of course, Ouyang Wei had no way of knowing what Lin Guang was thinking.
His brows furrowed slightly, as if he had misunderstood something, and he said, "You're not thinking of contracting… that, are you?"
Lin Guang didn't follow. "Which one?"
Ouyang Wei stared at him for a full ten seconds, as if trying to confirm his thoughts.
"What exactly are you referring to, teacher?"
"Ahem… never mind. Forget it."
After coughing twice, Ouyang Wei casually signed a leave slip. Then he reached into the inner lining of his somewhat faded coat, took out a simple black leather holder, and with two fingers pulled out a silver metallic card, handing it to Lin Guang.
"Take it. Return it to me on Monday."
Lin Guang smiled as he accepted it. It had a bit of weight—clearly made of some special metal.
"Thanks, Teacher Ouyang. I'll get going then—I'm worried it'll close if I'm too late."
Only after Lin Guang closed the door behind him did Ouyang Wei let out a sigh.
What he had just thought of was a certain kind of "spirit beast."
They didn't appear in breeding bases or legal spirit beast stores—only in underground black markets. Contracting such "spirit beasts" required almost no compatibility. Even with Lin Guang's highly exclusive talent, he would likely succeed.
But… that was the worst possible choice.
Because it was said that those who contracted such "spirit beasts" would, at best, lose all prospects of further advancement—and at worst, suffer mental instability and descend into madness.
Lin Guang was a student he held in very high regard. Not only was he talented, he was also incredibly hardworking—the kind who was always the last to leave the meditation room. Even if he couldn't contract a spirit beast, he could still become a researcher. Ouyang Wei had even mentioned him several times to Doctor Kevin, intending to introduce him someday.
So even if the probability was tiny, he didn't want Lin Guang to risk falling into that kind of situation.
"I hope you don't make the wrong choice…"
…
Zhen Sheng Experimental School was located on Tongfa Road in Xili—not exactly a bustling central district. But even so, the scene before Lin Guang filled him with excitement.
The street ahead was divided into three sections. The widest was the Spirit Beast Lane, followed by the vehicle lane, and the narrowest was the pedestrian walkway.
A docile House Turtle carried a family of four on its back. The upper half of its heavy shell could transform into glass-like Moonlight Crystal, absorbing lunar essence at night—charging for an hour allowed it to travel a hundred kilometers. Its six massive legs gave it impressive mobility.
Yet even that speed paled in comparison to the Gale Wolves. Their silver fur shimmered under the sunlight, and their broad backs could carry two or three grown men. If not briefly obstructed by the House Turtle ahead, forcing them to pause and weave through, their movements would be nearly impossible for the naked eye to track. Their owners were usually city couriers, darting through the streets at lightning speed with packages strapped to their backs.
In the sky, Messenger Pelicans flapped their wings leisurely, carrying takeout orders in their beaks. From time to time, they cast disdainful glances at the Gale Wolves below—ever since a certain spirit beast professor deciphered their evolution path, they had stolen much of the wolves' business.
On the vehicle lane, all kinds of modern vehicles sped by, forming a stark contrast to the ancient, fantastical feel of the Spirit Beast Lane. Their designs were sleek and futuristic. Occasionally, there were even hovering cars gliding lightly through the air—but these weren't purely "technology," as they relied on the power of mechanical-type spirit beasts.
Along the pedestrian path, tall Golden Birch trees were planted every few meters. They were the most common trees in Zhen Sheng City and its surroundings—almost a symbol and signature sight of the area. Pedestrians strolled leisurely, with all kinds of spirit beasts accompanying them.
The roadside was lined with all sorts of strange shops: a Martial Ape bone-setting clinic, a Blind Earthworm massage parlor, Milk Teapot bubble tea, a Battle Top experience store… alongside ordinary food stalls. One balding owner in sandals held a massive wok and kicked the Flame Sloth dozing beneath it. Thirty seconds later, the creature yawned deeply, and with a whoosh, orange flames over a thousand degrees Celsius burst from the fur on its back.
Standing by the roadside, looking at this familiar yet foreign scene, Lin Guang took a deep breath. His dark eyes shone with an excitement and emotion no one else could understand.
This was the world of spirit beasts—the world of the extraordinary!
The seemingly ordinary life "Lin Guang" had lived for sixteen years… was, in truth, a miracle he once wouldn't have even dared to imagine.
Letting out a long breath, he steadied himself and walked to a nearby bus stop. Though he would have preferred riding a spirit beast, he was still in the early stages—he needed to spend money carefully.
The Hualong Spirit Beast Market was located in the northern part of Hualong District. Though called a "market," it covered an area of four to five square kilometers. With shops and entertainment facilities of all kinds, it was more like a spirit beast–themed amusement park and was extremely popular. Buses heading there arrived every five minutes.
An hour and a half later, the bus arrived.
Not far ahead were three diverging paths, leading respectively to the Fresh Produce Zone, the Spirit Beast Zone, and the Entertainment Zone.
After scanning a code to rent a shared electric scooter, Lin Guang headed toward the Spirit Beast Zone.
Zhen Sheng City sat at the mouth of the Pearl River, so naturally, the first things he encountered were all kinds of water-type spirit beasts.
Gray-tier fish-type beasts were displayed in reinforced glass tanks of all sizes. Their colors varied, more dazzling than even the most vibrant tropical fish from his previous life—and they were intelligent. Along the way, he saw quite a few children throwing tantrums on the ground, while their experienced parents calmly scrolled on their phones nearby. Only a few especially doting ones would actually ask about prices.
White- and Green-tier spirit beasts, however, had already moved beyond mere ornamentation. For most aspiring combat-oriented Spirit Tamers, they were excellent choices. While roadside shops rarely carried top-quality goods, Lin Guang did spot a well-built Kaila Giant Crocodile—massive, with six sturdy legs. Surrounded by onlookers, it was quickly bought for 500,000 Great Xia currency.
As he continued, Lin Guang gradually deepened his understanding of this world. In terms of pricing, there wasn't much difference from the game—and the species matched what he knew.
Further ahead, beasts unique to other regions began to appear, such as the Ten-Thousand Venom Centipede (Green Excellent-tier) from Linshen City. There was even an Iron-Eating Beast from Mountain City performing a trick—standing on its front limbs while… relieving itself upside down. If Lin Guang hadn't already tried contracting similar beasts (bear-type + Earth attribute) at the breeding base, he might have stopped to watch.
After riding for about half an hour, the "entry pass" in his chest pocket began to emit a faint warmth. Following its guidance, he stopped in front of a large seven-story building.
The sign above read: "Afu Premium Spirit Beast Emporium."
But rather than a simple "shop," it looked more like a massive department store, with a constant flow of customers going in and out.