Beast Taming: the More the Better Chapter 863 - 370: The Provincial Exam Ends Early! Heated Discussions!

Lu Xingming exhaled a prolonged breath.

A smile then graced the corners of his mouth.

Huaiyang Province’s Provincial Exam results placed him at 29th.

However, these results were only from two days of the Huaiyang Province Secret Realm, with several unusual contestants yet to emerge.

Still, Lu Xingming estimated his final standing would likely remain within the top fifty, as the resources within the Provincial Exam Secret Realm were inherently limited.

For seeded contestants, failing to secure a spot in the Provincial Exam’s top ten could be disheartening, but for Lu Xingming, this achievement was sufficient.

He could offer a satisfactory explanation to his devoted fans.

Indeed, Lu Xingming had never truly intended to journey to the Imperial Capital for the final examination. Attaining this particular rank had already demanded considerable strategic thinking and a degree of external assistance.

As for breaking into the final top ten? Those individuals had to be truly exceptional!

After all, becoming an idol wasn't a simple feat; the foremost requirement was, naturally, a handsome appearance, followed by a Pet Beast that was either majestic or exceptionally cute. The sinister yet potent Necromancy System was not an easy pact to forge.

Of course, individual styles varied, but regardless of the approach, strength was considered a vital benchmark for any idol, particularly for those aspiring to be recognized as strength-oriented idols.

Nevertheless, popularity reigned supreme.

Consequently, Lu Xingming maintained a considerable level of confidence.

His striking looks, combined with his abilities, the demonstrated strength, and crucially, the extensive promotion from his company, should theoretically propel him to the top of the popularity rankings, shouldn't it?

Yet, after meticulously managing all these aspects, Lu Xingming eagerly pulled out his phone to check online trends. To his dismay, his name was nowhere to be seen among the initially displayed top trending searches.

[#Su Ping]

[#Paperman]

[#Jianghai Province Provincial Exam]

[#The Battle with the Greatest Disparity]

[#Provincial Exam’s Strongest Pet Beast!]

[...]

A wave of confusion washed over Lu Xingming as he stared incredulously at these trending topics. What was going on?

Su Ping? Was this some newcomer being aggressively promoted by a prominent entertainment company?

But his own entertainment company possessed considerable influence across Dragon Nation; even if other companies were launching a new talent, such a complete suppression of trending visibility seemed illogical, right?

Under Lu Xingming's diligent scrutiny, he finally spotted his name, relegated to the tail end of the top ten trending searches.

However, in stark contrast to the aggressively marked 'exploding' red tags adorning the higher rankings, his name and position appeared utterly insignificant.

In reality, remarkably few individuals seemed to be discussing it, suggesting the trending search was likely generated purely by bought traffic and corporate maneuvering.

What in the world was this?

Both perplexed and intrigued, Lu Xingming clicked into the primary trending search. The face that greeted him immediately arrested his attention.

He acknowledged him with a nod, considering it perhaps a new idol's debut. Despite his youth, the individual indeed possessed appealing features.

He certainly met the criteria for becoming an idol.

However, upon accessing the live-streamed video associated with this 'traffic star' named Su Ping, and focusing on the most debated segment within the video, Lu Xingming was utterly dumbfounded.

Were the entry standards for Jianghai Province truly this lax?

Why were these Beast Tamers seemingly immobilized, passively receiving attacks from that peculiar Pet Beast?

Yet, observing the comments and the rapid-fire scroll of the chat below, Lu Xingming rewatched the footage. Ultimately, he fell into a profound silence, completely and utterly convinced.

His final, resounding thought: Was this even human?

Undeniably, Lu Xingming’s thoughts mirrored the sentiments of nearly everyone who witnessed the event.

Every individual present at the live broadcast and those who later viewed the video, which spread like wildfire, harbored this singular realization.

Could this Pet Beast, and the Beast Tamer who had nurtured it, truly be considered human?

Forget ordinary people.

The Imperial Capital.

Perched atop a special pavilion that seemed to hover between the tangible world and the Secret Realm.

While not the uppermost floor, any individuals present in this exclusive locale were undeniably extraordinary.

Several figures were either seated or stood with crystal cups in hand, their attention fixed on the displayed image: Su Ping's triumphant smile and the spectacle of hundreds of swords unleashed into the air.

Had Su Ping been present, he would likely have recognized some familiar faces among the assembly.

Zhu Hong, Leng Ye, and Master Yin, for instance.

"That audacious brat performed admirably! The potential of Paperman ought to be widely revealed!"

Zhu Hong remarked with a slight smile.

Leng Ye, standing nearby, displayed no apprehension whatsoever. Despite limited prior interaction with Su Ping, Leng Ye understood the young man was quite adept at making a grand impression.

This particular occasion certainly saw him excel.

After all, both Paperman and this Zhou Tian Five Elements Body possessed the inherent qualities that warranted Su Ping's ostentatious display!

Master Yin, positioned beside them, expressed a minor reservation:

"Ghost Saint, prematurely revealing the secrets of Paperman, might it adversely affect..."

Leng Ye interjected, shaking his head: