Chapter 15: Clack Clack Clack

Lin Fei’s match seemed to ignite a fierce competitive spirit among the students. After that, the campus selection battles increased significantly, and Mu Huiyue began receiving numerous battle requests one after another.

With each challenge that landed in her inbox, anticipation buzzed in the air like the crackling of energy before a storm. The excitement was palpable, and Mu Huiyue couldn’t help but feel a thrill as she considered her upcoming opponents. Would they be formidable? Would they bring unique strategies to the table?

Her heart raced at the thought of testing her skills against so many eager challengers. The atmosphere on campus transformed into a battlefield, where every corner echoed with the sound of determination and ambition. She knew this was her moment to shine, to prove her mettle in a series of exhilarating confrontations.

As the day of the first match approached, Mu Huiyue prepared herself, both mentally and physically, ready to embrace the challenges ahead. The thrill of combat awaited, and she was determined to emerge victorious.

Lin Fei’s match ignited a spark of competitive spirit among the students. Following that, the school selection matches saw a surge in battles, and Mu Huiyue found herself inundated with duel requests.

Compared to a monster like Lin Fei, the tenth challenger with a little skeleton looked considerably easier to handle. Mu Huiyue welcomed all challengers and, alongside Ellen, continued to rack up victories, sending everyone packing.

Days passed in this “peaceful” manner at the academy, and Mu Huiyue finally accumulated enough battle points to make another ten pulls.

In her beast-taming space, she stood beneath the World Tree with her little skeleton. A game panel floated above her, displaying the card pool labeled “Spirit Spring Temple.”

With a long exhale, Mu Huiyue adjusted her mindset and focused on the draw screen.

This time, she intended to take matters into her own hands. She couldn’t let Ellen use all his luck on casual card pulls; what if it affected their fortunes during battles?

She definitely didn’t want Ellen to experience the agony of a 90% hit rate only to miss three times in a row!

Gathering her resolve, Mu Huiyue earnestly tapped on the icon for the ten draws.

Ten drops of Spirit Spring water flew toward the temple, and a magnificent fountain erupted with rippling waves, suddenly bursting forth in dazzling light.

Gold Light!

Mu Huiyue felt a slight relief. After all, she couldn’t expect SSRs every time, right? The advantage of accumulating ten draws was that, no matter what, there was always a guarantee of at least one SR resource.

As the golden light faded, she examined her latest haul.

The SR item was still a golden chest, and upon opening it, a dark, semi-transparent fruit materialized.

[Space Fruit]

[Attribute: Dark]

[Description: A dark attribute space fruit that enhances the beast-taming space when used.]

[Status: Usable for meditation]

R-grade items didn’t come in boxes; they simply appeared in her hand.

[Experience Fruit]

[Attribute: None]

[Description: A universal experience fruit that can slightly increase a pet’s energy and accelerate leveling up.]

[Status: Usable]

Aside from that, the rest of her ten draws consisted of the most basic N-grade physique and attribute fruits.

Mu Huiyue sighed. “Looks like I should let Ellen pull next time, right?!”

“Click?” The little skeleton tilted its head, puzzled by why the beastmaster’s emotions fluctuated so intensely every time she pressed that tiny button.

Mu Huiyue let out a sigh and carefully examined the earthy-yellow [Experience Fruit] in her hand.

This was the first new item drawn from the card pool, albeit only an R-grade. Its effect was essentially an upgraded version of the N-grade attribute fruit, capable of slightly boosting the energy within her pet.

When a pet’s internal energy surpassed a certain threshold, it could level up, so calling it [Experience Fruit] seemed accurate, even if it might be better named [Energy Fruit] based on its effects.

Mu Huiyue handed the new experience fruit, along with other N-grade fruits, to Ellen.

The little skeleton took the fruits, eagerly munching away. The black mist enveloped each fruit consumed, slowly dissolving into nothing.

“How do you feel?” Mu Huiyue asked.

“Click…” (It doesn’t seem like anything’s changed…)

Ellen waved its thin arms and shook its head.

“There’s no helping it; they are just N-grade and R-grade fruits,” Mu Huiyue reassured. “Keep eating; maybe the quantity will lead to a breakthrough… How does the experience fruit taste?”

“Click!” (Not bad! But the dark attribute fruits are still tastier!)

“Glad to hear that.” Mu Huiyue smiled as she ruffled the little skeleton’s skull.

Even if there were no immediate effects, at least Ellen enjoyed the tasty treats.

As for the only guaranteed SR item, the [Space Fruit], it was akin to an experience fruit for beastmasters. After reviewing the item description, Mu Huiyue prepared to use it herself.

Since today was Saturday and she didn’t have to go to school, Ellen spent the entire day in the beast-taming space’s training area while Mu Huiyue meditated using the space fruit.

There weren’t significant changes in her beast-taming space, but the World Tree had grown notably more vibrant.

Previously, only a few scattered leaves clung to the branches, leaving them bare. Now, many new leaves had sprouted, barely covering the branches and casting shadows large enough to shade several people.

Mu Huiyue checked the World Tree’s information. The level of her beast-taming space remained at lv.1, indicating that it wouldn’t upgrade anytime soon.

Ellen, however, had improved significantly; both its strength and speed had noticeably increased. Perhaps the physique fruit it had eaten was finally beginning to show its effects.

After a fulfilling day, Mu Huiyue received a call from the family driver at eight o’clock the following Sunday morning.

Originally planning to sleep in, she stared at the caller ID for a while before recalling that today was the “family feast” her brother Mu Yixia had mentioned earlier; her legendary father was finally coming home.

With a sense of reluctance, Mu Huiyue got out of bed and began to tidy herself up. As she passed the kitchen, she felt her shadow shimmer. The little skeleton appeared, and as the black mist dissipated, it revealed a skeleton that had become noticeably healthier.

“Good morning, Ellen.” Mu Huiyue opened a bottle of booming white milk and handed it over.

“Click!” (Good morning!)

Ellen took the milk and obediently gulped it down.

Feeling her earlier gloom lifting, Mu Huiyue perked up as she got into the car heading home.

The driver wasn’t headed to the dojo but to the “old residence,” a small villa with a garden where Mu Tong occasionally returned.

This place had once been Mu Huiyue’s favorite spot, but after her mother, Aisha, went missing and Mu Yixia came into the picture, Mu Tong started staying away for long periods. Consequently, Mu Huiyue rarely returned, often residing in the dojo dormitory instead.

When the car stopped at the gate, Mu Huiyue stepped out and spotted a man standing in the garden’s center—it was her father, Mu Tong, as she remembered him.

In her original world, Mu Huiyue’s parents had passed away early on, leaving her lacking in familial experiences. Now, faced with such an unhealthy family dynamic, she found herself at a loss for words.

Mu Tong was the first to look up at his daughter, his tone flat as he nodded, “You’re back.”

As Mu Huiyue stepped into the garden, she noticed a massive canine-shaped pet standing beside him.

It stood over three meters tall, sporting wolf-like erect ears and an elongated snout. Its fur was fluffy and bright, shimmering with specks of light, while its tail flickered with blazing white flames, resembling the sun’s most radiant glow spilled onto the ground.

The giant wolf lowered its head, allowing Mu Tong to pet its crown as it contentedly squinted its eyes.

Such an almost affectionate gesture from such a formidable creature radiated an inexplicable intensity, making anyone who beheld this majestic being tremble in awe.

This was the Solar Flame Wolf, an elite royal beast of both light and fire attributes.

It was Mu Huiyue’s first encounter with a genuine elite royal beast. Even in the absence of hostility, she couldn’t help but feel her nerves tighten.

Gathering her composure, she glanced at the man grooming the Solar Flame Wolf and softly said, “Father.”

In his forties, Mu Tong appeared to be in his thirties, thanks to the feedback from the beast-taming space and his contracts. His sharp features mirrored Mu Huiyue’s, especially when his face was stern, clearly showcasing their father-daughter resemblance.

The gentleness that belonged to her mother, Aisha, seemed to have been inherited by her sister, Mu Yixia.

Speaking of Mu Yixia, Mu Huiyue noticed her younger sister had already returned, standing not far from Mu Tong. Upon catching Mu Huiyue’s gaze, she smiled brightly and waved.

Before Mu Huiyue arrived, the two seemed to have been engaged in conversation. After being interrupted, Mu Yixia quickly resumed the topic, sharing light banter with Mu Tong. It appeared to be a warm father-daughter moment, filled with affection, while Mu Huiyue stood awkwardly by, silent and out of place.

After leisurely tending to the Solar Flame Wolf, Mu Tong turned his attention to his eldest daughter.

“I’ve heard some unflattering rumors about you, Huiyue.”

Mu Huiyue raised an eyebrow at this. There were many rumors circulating about her; she had no idea which one Mu Tong referred to.

Mu Yixia wisely fell silent, her gaze flitting between her father and sister, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

“I can overlook many things, but I heard your initial contracted beast is a… little skeleton?”

Mu Tong’s expression soured slightly at the mention.

“That’s correct.” Ignoring her father’s brewing storm, Mu Huiyue reached into the shadows and lifted the little skeleton. “Father hasn’t met him yet, has he? This is my contracted partner, Ellen.”

Suddenly caught in the crossfire of their intense gazes, Ellen raised its hand hesitantly, sensing the unusual atmosphere.

“Click…” (Hello…)

Crack!

A sudden, muffled sound echoed as Mu Tong seemingly crushed something in his hand, startling Mu Yixia while Mu Huiyue remained unfazed.

Mu Tong’s voice turned icy: “Do you realize what you’re doing, Mu Huiyue?”

“Awakening as a beastmaster and contracting my first pet—isn’t that what you’ve always hoped for, Father?” Mu Huiyue replied, cradling the little skeleton back to her side, her tone steady.

“An inferior elite species! My daughter, Mu Huiyue, has contracted a little skeleton? Are you trying to make a fool of the entire beastmaster community in Da Yan?” Mu Tong retorted sharply, as if he had just heard the most absurd joke.

He had already chosen suitable initial contract pets for his daughters. Mu Yixia had yet to contract her first, waiting for the one he had arranged, but Mu Huiyue had gone behind his back and chosen the little skeleton.

The initial contracted beast had a monumental influence on a beastmaster’s entire life, and Mu Tong had emphasized this repeatedly.

His academically accomplished daughter, who had finally awakened, was throwing away her future just like that.

Sensing Mu Tong’s rising emotions, the Solar Flame Wolf suddenly opened its eyes, its gaze sharp as it turned toward them.

A palpable pressure enveloped the area around it, radiating intensity.

The sunlight grew more dazzling, casting a myriad of sparkling rays that filled every corner of vision. In an instant, even the shadows couldn’t escape its brilliance. Every creature in the vicinity, except for Mu Tong, shut their eyes, gasping for breath under the overwhelming glow that saturated the atmosphere.

The Solar Flame Wolf unleashed its Light Attribute—Imperial Domain!