The trembling tentacles mirrored the turmoil in Cluru’s heart.
At the same time, the little octopus crawled out from the spirit realm.
Spirit beasts could empathize with their master’s emotions.
Cluru was conflicted, but it didn’t want to be.
Not far away, the qilin was curled up under the blanket, fast asleep.
—Its body was petite and adorable, its snowy-white fur smooth and flawless.
After taking a Soul Cultivation Pill, it looked even more radiant, truly worthy of being called the embodiment of purity.
The little one’s eyes were shut tight, its chest rising and falling gently. Its peaceful sleeping face was completely unguarded.
The little octopus extended a tentacle and silently pulled out a box, lifting it high.
Then, like a hunter lurking in the darkness, it crept toward the little qilin without a sound.
Its tentacles stretched out—so soft, so sensitive—moving silently, without disturbing the slumbering prey in the slightest.
Limbs, waist, neck.
“…Meow?”
By the time the slight suffocation and restraint were felt, the tentacles had already wrapped perfectly around the qilin’s entire body.
“Meow?!!! Glrk—”
The box slammed shut! Sealing the two little creatures off from the world!
Darkness fell.
……
“There you guys are… Huh? Why is that box over there shaking?”
I had no idea what had just happened. It wasn’t until Xinyue called out to me that I finally snapped out of my game trance.
“Shaking? No idea. Anyway, why is this damn game so hard? Are this year’s players all monsters or what?”
I had even entered a hyper-focused state, completely shutting out the outside world to concentrate on the game—and I still died.
Why?! Why did I die before I even saw the opponent?!
I’m done. I give up.
“That’s because that guy’s using a cheat—insta-kill and invisibility. Of course you couldn’t win… Wait a second… You actually beat him? You only died once, and killed him ten times??”
Xinyue glanced at the match record and looked as if she’d seen a ghost.
“But I still died once.” I sulked.
“…”
I rolled over with a groan and stretched out like a starfish.
Our class rep never shows up without a reason. Since she’s here, it must mean we have something to do.
“The results are out. Everyone in the class passed, except Lu Ming—he was disqualified for disciplinary reasons. Mr. Ishida wants everyone except him to gather now.”
Knew it.
“It’s almost dark. What are we doing at this hour?”
No way we’re heading out now, right?
“We’re going for the Baize Divination.”
Baize Divination?
What’s that?
“Before entering a wilderness zone, we undergo Baize Divination. It reveals a prophecy related to our journey. That way, we can prepare ahead of time based on it,” Xinyue explained.
A prophecy… What’s the mechanism? Fate calculation? Heavenly perception?
And it helps us prepare in advance—wouldn’t that cause bugs from butterfly effects?
Kinda curious.
“Let’s go.”
……
The bus was already waiting on the sports field.
Mr. Ishida stood at the bus door, stern-faced as always, watching the students board.
Like a stone lion outside a courthouse.
One boy tried to sneak on and got yanked aside by Ishida.
“Lu Ming, you’re not getting on.”
“Why?” Lu Ming wailed.
“You gathered outsiders to assault a classmate. The fact you’re not expelled is mercy.”
“Please, sir, I know I was wrong! Give me a chance!”
“Mistakes have consequences. In a Master’s world, no one gives you second chances… Leave. Don’t make me force you.”
“…”
Lu Ming slunk away in defeat.
With that minor episode resolved, everyone else boarded the bus.
“The space inside is limited. Students, please do not summon your spirit beasts… Hey! I’m talking to you!”
Not far away, a Samoyed and a Pekingese were in a full-blown shouting match, a toy poodle was clinging to its master’s leg throwing a fit, and a hawk was chasing a snake—feathers flying everywhere.
It was a mess. Pure chaos.
Thankfully, the little qilin and the octopus were quiet, still hiding inside the box, trembling for who-knows-what reason.
Under Mr. Ishida’s oppressive presence, everyone finally retracted their spirit beasts, ending the chaos.
“Once we arrive, line up for divination according to your student ID.”
By student ID? Since Cluru and I were the last to enroll, that meant we’d also be the last two.
“Now, everyone calm your minds. Baize Hall does not welcome restless visitors.”
……
At first glance, Baize Hall looked like a small ticket booth in a tourist area.
And these little booths were stationed at the entrance to every wild zone in Donghuang District.
A steady stream of Masters entered Baize Hall and exited through the side door.
When they came out, some looked elated, while others looked disappointed.
“I got ‘Moderate Luck’! Baize said, ‘You shall encounter a Steel-type spirit beast.’ Awesome! I’ve been needing one to challenge the Chang’an Gym.”
“Really? I got ‘Bad Luck’…” a senior sighed. “Baize said, ‘You will injure your ankle.’ Guess I should pack some meds.”
I watched classmate after classmate walk into Baize Hall and come out muttering about their prophecies.
I think I was starting to understand how this divination worked.
“Baize reveals a prophecy—something that will happen during this trip,” Xinyue explained just in time. “We can prepare or take precautions ahead of time… but no matter what, it will happen.”
“If I skip this trip, then what happens?”
“Then the prophecy will carry over. You’ll trigger it the next time you enter the wild.”
I see.
“But Baize’s prophecies never involve life or death.
Also, the prophecy only reveals one among the countless events that could occur during the journey. Whether it’s good or bad, you might end up with a bigger surprise—or scare—along the way.”
Oohhh~~~
“It’s my turn.”
Class rep Xinyue’s student number was near the front, and she walked into Baize Hall with great anticipation.
Just a few seconds later, she came out, joy practically written all over her face.
“Baize said, ‘You shall gain an opportunity to evolve’!”
“No way?!”
“Seriously?!”
The students around us immediately erupted in a chorus of envy and disbelief.
“I’m doomed. Baize said, ‘You shall suffer dysentery.'”
“Ughhh, same. Maybe the whole class is gonna get food poisoning.”
“…”
The students gathered around, chatting excitedly about their prophecies.
Finally, the students ahead had all gone through.
Now it was number 32—Cluru’s turn.
She went in quickly, and came out just as fast.
“Cluru, what did you get?” Xinyue hurried over to ask.
From inside the box came Cluru’s voice:
“Great Fortune · You shall encounter a Legendary spirit beast.”
“……”
The conversation instantly died.
.
This… must be what it means to be born lucky.
.
Her ridiculous luck just made me even more excited.
I rubbed my hands together and walked into Baize Hall.
Inside, there was a crystal ball, with a sign beside it explaining how to use it—place your palm on the crystal.
I carefully reached out.
The moment my palm touched the crystal ball, a line of golden text floated up above it!!
I quickly looked up, full of anticipation.
And saw:
[Hey sis, need a pet over there?]