Beast Taming Patrol Chapter 4: Chapter 1 Lin Su (Seeking Investment and Followers)_2

An age ruled by Beast Tamers had now arrived upon the world.

Deep within the human mind exists a secret realm called the Beast Taming Space, enabling those who forge bonds with exotic creatures to earn the title of Beast Tamers. The bonded exotic creatures become known as Guardian Beasts, setting them apart from their feral relatives.

Residing in the Beast Taming Space, Guardian Beasts advance at an accelerated pace compared to ordinary ones. With support from their Beast Tamers, accessing essential growth resources becomes far simpler for them.

Such benefits create a symbiotic bond between Guardian Beasts and Beast Tamers. Wise exotic creatures started seeking contracts with humans, harnessing the Beast Taming Space's might for swift advancement and surpassing their species' innate boundaries to achieve greater power.

The society of Beast Tamers expanded swiftly and thrived, igniting humanity's fierce retaliation against the exotic creatures.

While Beast Tamers wield immense strength, exotic creatures remain equally daunting foes; the old view of treating them merely as servants, as in the days before the Ghost Energy Stone emerged, is no longer feasible. Humanity's pushback reclaimed lost lands yet compelled them to surrender vast areas as living spaces for the exotic beasts.

Organized by regional boundaries, human domains transformed into four secure federations: Yanhuang, Sacred, Desert, and Free. The Yanhuang Safe Alliance occupies the Central Asian expanse of Blue Star and splits into seventy-two districts.

Right now, Lin Su found himself in the 32nd district of the Yanhuang Safe Alliance.

When he was just three, a devastating beast tide claimed the lives of his parents. Orphaned with no family left, Lin Su spent the following years in a children's orphanage, surviving on the alliance's basic sustenance funds.

This place had served as his residence for a full fifteen years.

The clang from the metal entrance drew out a young girl, seeming no older than eleven or twelve, whose face lit up with delight. "Lin Su, big brother, you're finally back!"

"Mhm." Lin Su reached out, ruffling the girl's hair fondly. Before her face could scrunch in annoyance, he swung the elegant paper sack before her. "Tongtong, what do you think I've got here?"

"Yay!" The girl's irritation vanished in an instant as she grabbed the sack and clutched it tightly. "It's Rainbow Candy!"

"I'm going to my room; make sure you don't hog all the candy. Share it around," Lin Su remarked with a soft grin, giving her head another pat before proceeding to his quarters.

"Okay, okay, big brother Lin Su, no need to fret—I'll share properly, one piece per person!" Tongtong bobbed her head in agreement and dashed toward the children's play area.

One for Little Radish, one for me; one for Little Moon, one for me; one for Brother Feng, one for me…

Hehe!

…

Reclining on his bed in the privacy of his room, Lin Su's expression shifted to one of hidden sorrow he hadn't displayed earlier.

"Tomorrow brings the first Guardian Beast assignment…" he whispered quietly, his gaze flickering with hesitation.

Having turned eighteen, Lin Su's Beast Taming Space had settled at the initial level, marking him as a novice Beast Tamer. To secure a contract with a Guardian Beast and earn validation from the Guardian Beast Co-operation, he could then enroll as a licensed Beast Tamer, unlocking numerous perks and the eligibility to seek entry into Beast Tamer University.

Much like elite institutions before the cataclysm demanded high exam results for acceptance, today's top Beast Tamer Universities set standards based on a Beast Tamer's prowess. For a fresh graduate binding their debut Guardian Beast, this largely hinged on that beast's own capabilities.

To put it simply, the power level of the Guardian Beast he would bind tomorrow would dictate his chances of entering a renowned Beast Tamer University.

Exotic creatures get ranked by power levels, from the base Juvenile Tier up to the pinnacle Immortal Tier, spanning six stages in total; in between lie the Elite Tier, Commander Tier, Sovereign Tier, and Emperor Tier, each separated by vast gaps in might.

Every exotic creature begins life at the Juvenile Tier, yet variations in born aptitude and promise lead to diverse maximum potentials. Certain ones cap at the Elite Tier in adulthood, whereas others soar to the lofty Sovereign Tier or beyond, even reaching the Emperor Tier.

Judged by their growth prospects, exotic creatures fall into four categories: Elite, Commander, Sovereign, and Emperor, matching the inherent ceilings for each type. Furthermore, every category divides into low, mid, and high subdivisions.

In the early days, Beast Tamers could bind Sovereign and Emperor types freely, but the rise of Immortal Tier exotic creatures decades back altered the landscape entirely.

Immortal Tier beasts possess unique abilities to wield and govern fundamental rules.

To curb human Beast Tamers' dominance, three supreme Immortal Tier exotic creatures collaborated decades ago, embedding a potent curse called the "Alien Beast Ban" into the lineages of other promising high-rank exotic beasts. This curse triggers immediate death upon any attempt to contract with a human Beast Tamer.

Merely the Elite species and the baseline segments of Commander species escape the Alien Beast Ban's grasp, remaining open for contracts with Beast Tamers.

Humans have unlocked evolution routes for low-rank exotic beasts, permitting upgrades from inferior types to superior ones, so the Alien Beast Ban doesn't utterly cripple Beast Tamers.

Nevertheless, this scarcity tightens Beast Tamer supplies dramatically, deteriorating opportunities for emerging Beast Tamers.

Currently, for Lin Su to bind a pet beast, only two paths existed.

The initial path involved purchasing a bindable pet beast from vendors and forming the contract personally.

The alternate path, suited for a new high school graduate like him, involved claiming the starter pet beast handout.

The distinction lay in costs: self-purchasing demanded full market rates, while the starter allocation, provided as league aid, merely charged the fundamental rearing expenses—far below market values by multiples.

His school, Green Eagle High, being a state-run institution, oversaw breeding lines for the low Elite species known as the Green Feathered Eagle. Graduating seniors could select from assorted Elite species pet beasts or choose the Green Feathered Eagle for their starter. Yet, rearing a Green Feathered Eagle cost twelve thousand league coins.

Lin Su's situation barred him from either procuring a pet beast independently or committing to a Green Feathered Eagle contract.

He possessed just thirty thousand league coins, accumulated through lifelong thrift and persistent savings from game halls.

That sum sufficed for the rearing fees of any Elite species pet beast, but not for the Green Feathered Eagle.

Lacking a starter pet from the low Elite species, Lin Su faced barriers to gaining admission into a superior Beast Tamer University.

This reality bitterly frustrated him, always a standout scholar, though he could do nothing about it.

Dwelling on discontent further proved futile now.

Letting out a helpless sigh, Lin Su pulled out his communicator and checked it over.

No new messages awaited.

As he prepared to power it down, an alert banner flashed into view.

"In today's announcement, league head researcher Qin Yunzhang conducted a press event, revealing a revolutionary scientific breakthrough."

Qin Yunzhang?

The pioneer behind the Guardian Beast Co-operation combat tactics?

Blinking in curiosity, he tapped to delve deeper.

"Fresh studies indicate that alien beasts' species ratings may not stem from random mutations triggered by Ghost Energy Stone radiation, but instead the radiation targets ordinary wildlife highly akin to preset exotic beast molds, guiding their transformation into these molds—independent of the wildlife's original characteristics…"

"Researcher Qin explained that even in a realm devoid of Earth's lifeforms, the Ghost Energy Stone would likely spawn identical exotic beast varieties. This finding challenges our core views on exotic beasts and poses fresh enigmas, such as the origins of these preset molds…"

"We'll keep tracking updates on this study—tune in for more."

Reaching the article's close, Lin Su shook his head with letdown, shut the device, and placed it down.

Though the discovery seemed grand, it brought zero aid to his plight.

Time to rest and recharge, bracing for tomorrow's starter pet beast distribution.

Shutting his eyes, drowsiness gradually enveloped him.

Lin Su drifted into slumber.

Abruptly, he jolted awake once more.

The moment his lids lifted, a startled shout rang out.

"Master! Madam! The young master is stirring!"

Lin Su: "???"

When did I turn into a young master?