Chapter 273: You're Still Young, There Will Be More Chances
The male examiner's expression shifted as he turned and asked, "Can you still introduce me to your sister?"
Wu Ding shot him a glare.
"Dream on!"
Male Examiner: ...
As soon as the female examiner with a low ponytail stepped into the arena, the waiting beast tamers around her began to stir.
"Didn't expect it to be Examiner Wen. Looks like this kid has no chance..." Although the tone was sympathetic, the speaker's voice had an unmistakable trace of schadenfreude.
"Why is Wen Lei here all of a sudden? I'm up right after the next candidate. What if she's the one assessing me?!"
"Since I came in, I haven't seen a single person pass under her watch. This girl's doomed."
"It can't be that bad, can it? The Flame Hound is a fire-type pet beast, after all. This is just for an E-rank beast tamer qualification; it shouldn't be that hard." Said a boy who had sneaked a picture of the FlameHound while waiting in line.
"This your first time taking the exam?" Asked the man in a white T-shirt sitting beside him.
The boy paused.
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, that explains it."
The man in the white T-shirt explained, "Anyone who's taken this exam before knows about Examiner Wen. Pretty much nobody earns an E-rank qualification under her."
"Examiners all have solid skills, and they adjust how much they hold back based on the applicant's level. But Wen Lei... she never holds back."
The boy froze upon hearing this. Examiners are skilled; even with a mid-level pet beast, their experience and mastery are on a whole different level than the applicants.
Without holding back, how could anyone pass?
Understanding the situation, the boy looked at Qiao Sang with newfound sympathy.
On the field:
"Let's begin."
Once the two pet beasts were in position, Wen Lei spoke, waiting for Qiao Sang to make the first move.
It wasn't that Wen Lei didn't want to attack first; she was just concerned that if she did, her opponent wouldn't be able to showcase the Flame Hound's full potential. It might even be over within two moves.
"Alright."
Qiao Sang looked remarkably calm.
Though Shi Gaofeng had told her about the examiner's nickname, Don't Even Think About Passing, she had complete confidence in Yabao given they were both mid-level pet beasts.
"Yabao."
Qiao Sang said coolly, "Use speed to finish it."
"Yap!" Yabao immediately understood, raising his head and letting out an excited cry, sending a wave of heat surging around them.
A Swift Cat, an evolved form of the Long-eared Cat, ranks among the top five fastest mid-level pet beasts in the Yu Hua region. Information about the opponent's pet beast flashed through Qiao Sang's mind.
A month ago, she might not have been completely certain, but now...
"What skill is this?!"
"Looks like Flame Charge! But Flame Charge shouldn't be this intense!"
"It's the skill proficiency! That's why!"
Exclamations filled the exam room. Several beast tamers waiting in the back row stood up in amazement.
The Flame Hound on the field was engulfed in bright red flames. Its body was obscured within the blaze, creating a mirage-like distortion around it.
At that moment, the fire seemed to be one with the Flame Hound.
It didn't look like the Flame Hound was just using a fire skill; it looked as if fire was a natural part of its body, destined to burn on it.
Before the crowd could even marvel at the skill's brilliance, the Flame Hound vanished in a streak.
"Substitute!" Wen Lei's eyes narrowed as she saw the flaming shadow rush forward. She quickly issued her command.
She took a deep breath, controlling her surging adrenaline.
Ultimate Skill!
This was an Ultimate-level Flame Charge!
A proficiency of this level appearing on a mid-level pet beast stunned Wen Lei, but her extensive combat experience and strong composure allowed her to react immediately.
Two identical Swift Cats appeared on the field.
Seeing her Swift Cat use Substitute just before the Flame Hound's attack, Wen Lei relaxed slightly, until the next moment, when her mouth dropped and her eyes widened.
Whoosh!!
The blazing shadow rushed forward, splitting into two the instant the Swift Cat used Substitute!
Bang!!!
In the next second, the two identical Swift Cats were hit by the fiery blur and sent flying over ten meters, landing against the wall outside the field!
"Swift..."
One Swift Cat vanished, while the other fell to the ground, unconscious.
A collective gasp echoed throughout the room.
One-hit KO!
If Wen Lei had defeated this teenage girl and her Flame Hound, no one would have been shocked. But the one getting defeated was Wen Lei!
This was Wen Lei! The infamous Don't Even Think About Passing Wen Lei!
"Do you think Examiner Wen held back?"
"No way. Who could withstand that Flame Charge?"
"Forget how terrifying that Flame Charge was. How did it manage to use Substitute mid-charge? That's a combo move!"
"Incredible, truly incredible! This girl doesn't seem like she's here for an E-rank qualification..."
People whispered amongst themselves, keeping their voices low for fear Wen Lei might overhear.
This terrifying girl passed Wen Lei's assessment, but they certainly wouldn't.
Wu Ding and the male examiner in the black baseball cap didn't have the same concerns.
The male examiner swallowed hard and said, "Did you see that? It was a combo move, and she doesn't even need to give specific commands to the Flame Hound."
"I saw." Wu Ding was dazed.
"An Ultimate-level Flame Charge... Thank goodness I didn't go up there."
"Yeah..." The male examiner replied.
Wanting to fight the Flame Hound was one thing, but only if they could effortlessly take control of the situation.
Being utterly defeated in front of a crowd would be a whole different story...
For a moment, Wu Ding and the male examiner felt grateful to Wen Lei.
At least their pride was intact.
Wen Lei stood frozen, her expression blank.
Did... Did she really just lose?
"Did I pass?" Qiao Sang asked, breaking the silence as the Don't Even Think About Passing examiner remained quiet.
Wen Lei looked over, as if snapping back to reality.
She gave Qiao Sang a complicated look, then nodded reluctantly.
"You passed."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Qiao Sang and Yabao left the field.
"Yap..." Yabao's tail drooped, looking deflated.
Shi Gaofeng greeted them excitedly, but paused when he saw the Flame Hound's expression.
"Qiao Sang, was your examiner the Don't Even Think About Passing?"
"How did you know?" Qiao Sang asked, curious.
With a sigh, Shi Gaofeng patted her shoulder.
"It's okay if you didn't pass. You're still young; there will be more chances."
Qiao Sang replied, exasperated, "Who said I didn't pass?"
Shi Gaofeng was stunned.
"You passed?"
"Yep." Qiao Sang nodded.
"Then why does your Flame Hound look like that?" Shi Gaofeng asked.
Qiao Sang glanced at Yabao, who was hanging his head.
With a shrug, shes aid, "It's nothing. He was hoping for an intense battle, but it ended too quickly, so he's disappointed."
"Yap..."
Yabao nodded, looking sad.
Shi Gaofeng: ...