In Locke, beast taming begins with a black pot.

Jiangcheng No.1 Middle School.

The school gate was bustling with people and colorful flags were fluttering, making it even more lively than during the Spring Festival.

Today is the annual Beastmaster Awakening Ceremony, the most important day in the lives of all senior high school students.

One step to heaven, one step to hell.

Chen Xun, carrying his schoolbag, strolled slowly into the school.

As soon as I entered the school gate, I was pounced on by a chubby figure.

"Brother Xun! You've finally arrived! I thought you were going to run away at the last minute!"

Fatty Wang gripped Chen Xun's arm, panting, his face a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

"Why would I desert my post?"

Chen Xun rolled his eyes: "It's not like we're going to the execution ground."

"This is even more exciting than going to the execution ground!"

Fatty Wang patted his chest: "I didn't sleep a wink last night, afraid that my lazy white hair would let me down when it woke up. What if it just fell asleep on the spot?"

Chen Xun: "..."

It's not impossible.

After all, the white-haired lazy race may not be good at anything else, but they are experts at sleeping.

"If it really falls asleep, just stew it on the spot and give it a good boost to its brain."

Chen Xun has a sharp tongue.

Fatty Wang: "..."

The entire school was clearly divided into three distinct circles.

At the very center are the chosen ones like Zhao Yuxuan, who already possess green or higher quality Pokémon eggs or have already hatched Pokémon.

They gathered in small groups, showing off their sprites without restraint.

"Look at my Spark! It just hatched yesterday. It has a conservative personality and top-notch talent!"

"Pshaw, sparks are nothing. My dad got me a Water Blue, blue quality, and I've already learned how to use a water gun!"

"Next month's guaranteed admission spot at the provincial key university will definitely go to Brother Xuan. His Shui Lanlan was personally nurtured by a provincial-level mentor!"

……

Zhao Yuxuan was surrounded by a group of people, playing with a blue ball in his hand, enjoying their praise.

These people have basically already reserved their university places.

The best among them may even have the opportunity to enter the nation's top Beast Tamer Academy.

Their future is bright.

The second group consists of ordinary students who have only awakened white-quality spirits.

They stood in twos and threes in the corner, their faces filled with worry, discussing the future in hushed tones.

"Sigh, I guess my little Rattata has no hope of evolving. After graduating, I can only work as a quality inspector at a Pokémon feed factory."

"Being a quality inspector is pretty good. My mom has already used her connections to find me a job as a pet owner at an elf park. It includes room and board and pays 3,500 a month."

"Be content. It's better than those who don't even have elves. At least we still have a job."

……

After graduation, these people will basically work in technical fields related to elves.

Although they may not become glamorous beast tamers, they can still live a decent life.

At the very edge are those students who can't even afford an elf egg or are destined never to awaken their powers.

They leaned against the wall, smoking cheap cigarettes, their eyes blankly watching the bustling crowd on the playground, as if it all had nothing to do with them.

"So what if you've awakened? Without a good Pokémon, you're still just screwing things in."

"I heard that Li Gou Dan from the next class awakened a white-quality Caterpie, and after graduation he went straight to work on a construction site, which is even worse than those who didn't awaken one."

"If I'm reborn into a good family in my next life, I might be able to get a blue elf to play with."

……

Their future was already decided.

They can only do the lowest-level jobs, barely making ends meet and barely scraping by.

Chen Xun watched all of this without feeling any emotion.

This world is just that cruel.

From the moment you are born, your family background and talents have already determined your life trajectory.

Unless you can create a miracle.

"Brother Xun, look, that idiot Zhao Yuxuan is showing off again."

Fatty Wang gestured with his lip toward Zhao Yuxuan, looking disdainful.

Chen Xun followed his gaze and met Zhao Yuxuan's eyes.

When Zhao Yuxuan saw Chen Xun, his expression was mocking. He deliberately held up the blue Gulu Ball in his hand even higher and said to the people around him, "Some people are born poor. They can't even afford a white elf egg, yet they want to participate in the awakening ceremony. It's laughable."

The people around immediately burst into laughter.

Fatty Wang was so angry that his face turned red, and he was about to rush up and argue with him.

Chen Xun grabbed him: "Don't bother arguing with an idiot. If a dog bites you, you can't bite it back, can you?"

"But he's so infuriating!"

Fatty Wang said indignantly.

Chen Xun said calmly, "He'll have his moment to cry later."

Just then!

The loudspeaker on the playground suddenly blared.

"Attention all senior high school students! Please assemble on the playground immediately! The awakening ceremony is about to begin!"

"Class teachers, please organize your students and have them line up in class order!"

Upon hearing the announcement, all the students sprang into action and surged toward the playground.

Chen Xun and Fatty Wang followed the crowd to the playground.

A huge stage has been set up on the rostrum of the playground.

In the center of the stage, there was a white spirit-testing stone, about half the height of a person, emitting a faint white light.

On the platform sat the school's leaders and several beast tamers in official uniforms.

All the students quickly lined up according to their classes.

The principal cleared his throat, picked up the microphone, and began his long speech.

"Students! Today is the most important day of your lives!"

"Here you will awaken your spirit slots, form contracts with spirits, and become glorious beast tamers!"

"There are 360 ​​professions, and every profession can produce an expert! No matter what kind of spirit slot you have awakened or what kind of spirit you have contracted, as long as you work hard, you can all become useful members of society!"

"Today you are proud of your school, tomorrow your school will be proud of you!"

The audience was completely silent.

The students were all internally complaining.

"The principal's mouth is a liar's mouth."

"The school will be proud of me tomorrow? I'll be lucky if I don't get expelled."

"There are 360 ​​professions, and every profession can produce an expert, but in the profession of beast tamer, there can only be one expert, and the rest are cannon fodder."

The principal seemed to know that few people were listening to him, so after speaking for more than ten minutes, he changed the subject and said excitedly:

"Today we are also very honored to have a special guest with us!"

"He is Yang Chao, a genius beast tamer and a 2020 graduate of Jiangcheng No. 1 High School!"

"Let's give a warm round of applause to welcome senior Yang Chao!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a young man wearing a black tracksuit and sporting a buzz cut walked out from behind the stage.

A majestic duck perched on his shoulder.

The duck was covered in brown feathers, had a distinctive tuft of curls on its head, sharp eyes, and sharp steel claws on its wings, exuding a powerful aura.

It's a Fighting-type Pokémon: Curly-Duck!

Moreover, judging from its size and aura, it has clearly completed its first evolution!

"Holy crap! It's Senior Yang Chao!"

"It really is him! That curly-feathered duck warrior!"

"I heard that last year he single-handedly killed a level 30 Beedrill Queen in the Crescent Bridge Secret Realm!"

"He's so cool! I wish I could be as good as him!"

……

The audience erupted in chaos!

The girls screamed, while the boys looked on with envy.

Even the usually arrogant Zhao Yuxuan put away his smile, his eyes filled with a hint of awe, and quickly moved closer to the front of the stage, wanting to talk to Yang Chao.