In the early morning, while all the pet beasts in the nursery were still fast asleep, Big Gray suddenly opened his eyes and quietly got up. Despite its massive size, its movements were surprisingly light and gentle.
It picked up a rag and bucket and began meticulously cleaning the entire nursery until everything was spotless.
Big Gray had become aware that he was sleeping deeper and more often. Sometimes, he would fall into a deep slumber in the middle of his tasks.
He could feel his body gradually weakening. Once capable of effortlessly lifting tons, he now struggled to hold heavy objects for long.
Big Gray gazed around the nursery with deep reluctance—it had been his home for the past three years.
He had spent truly happy days here.
Now, he could sense that his time was coming to an end. Like most gray night chinchillas, he knew it was natural to seek a quiet place before death to await the end peacefully.
He had already chosen such a place. Tonight would be his last in the Fangyuan Nursery.
The reason he had introduced Ye Bai to the lightning cat was so that after his departure, Ye Bai would have someone to help ease the pain. He didn't want Ye Bai to be left alone in sadness.
---
The Next Morning
The rising sun slowly broke through the final veil of darkness on the horizon. Golden-red rays bathed the eastern sky in a warm glow.
The sun's faint silhouette peeked through the clouds, casting a gentle warmth. As it continued to rise, its light grew stronger, gilding the clouds in radiant gold.
A new day had begun.
Ye Bai stretched and yawned widely.
The Qianbian Silkworm bounced around the room. After spending a night in the nursery, it had already grown fond of the place.
It could eat freely and drink nectar-infused water, which was sweet and fragrant—much better than regular sparkling water.
Ye Bai's immediate priority was to treat the Qianbian Silkworm's malnutrition to prevent any negative impact on its growth and development.
Putting on his clothes, Ye Bai set off on his bicycle, taking the Qianbian Silkworm along. Big Gray waved at him gently.
Then, he began bidding farewell to the other pet beasts in the nursery. Everyone already knew Big Gray's decision and tried hard to hold back tears as they waved goodbye.
Finally, Big Gray arrived at the backyard. Just as he was about to say his final farewell to the sunflower, he suddenly collapsed.
He had a faint, bittersweet smile as he slipped into a deep sleep. In the end, he couldn't leave gracefully.
Big Gray felt that this was his final rest. He might pass away in his sleep. What he regretted most was dirtying Ye Bai's territory—he wondered if Ye Bai would be devastated when he returned.
---
On the way to school, Ye Bai stopped by Welfare Lottery Station No. 24785 and found it was conveniently located next to his school. However, the scratch-off tickets wouldn't be available until 5:45 PM.
Since the store wasn't open yet, Ye Bai decided he would return after school at noon.
At school, Ye Bai took his seat, and He Qingyuan walked over with a gloomy expression. In his hand was a box containing the treasure he had wagered: an intermediate-level Insect Stone.
After their bet the previous day, He Qingyuan deeply regretted it but couldn't go back on his word.
His expression was sour, as if the entire world owed him a fortune.
Ye Bai smiled and said, pretending to be generous, "You don't look like you want to go through with this. Want to call it off?"
He Qingyuan looked relieved for a moment, but just as he was about to accept the offer, Ye Bai leaned in and whispered:
"Yesterday, when Li Weiyang was attacked, you ran faster than anyone else. You even left your shoe behind."
"I saw it clearly from where I was. Should I let everyone else know?"
The words pierced He Qingyuan's heart like a dagger.
Li Weiyang had awakened the "Eye of Insight," and her family had since become extremely favorable toward He Qingyuan. His elders praised him for befriending such a talented individual early on.
They had even offered to buy him a high-quality pet as a gift.
If the truth got out, he would instantly become a disgrace in their eyes.
Other students might hide the truth to protect themselves, since they also ran away during the incident.
But not Ye Bai.
He Qingyuan's face turned a frightening shade of pale.
His fists clenched tightly, knuckles cracking, veins bulging. If looks could kill, Ye Bai would have been torn apart.
Yet, He Qingyuan forced himself to calm down and think.
His family had rewarded him with a Combat Stone and a "Heavy Fist" skill orb the previous night.
After training overnight, his Boxing Rabbit had reached Level 1, Tier 3. He'd also started practicing the Heavy Fist skill—though still new, he could now punch with hundreds of kilograms of force.
Ye Bai had only contracted a versatile silkworm—something without any real offensive ability.
Victory seemed within reach.
If he could defeat Ye Bai and become Li Weiyang's deskmate, it would solidify his family's belief in his future.
He Qingyuan nodded. "Alright. I accept your challenge."
Just then, Zhang Lingxue walked in. "Save it for later. We need to gather at the playground to receive our supplies."
"If we're late, the principal might skin me alive."
"You wouldn't want to see your teacher get lectured, would you?"
"Besides, the old principal is back today, and he's personally hosting the resource distribution ceremony."
She gave them a sharp glare. The students around her instinctively straightened up.
As their homeroom teacher, her aura commanded immediate respect.
"Those of you who have awakened your talents, come gather with me. We'll head to the playground together. The rest of you will stay in the classroom. After the distribution is complete, we'll reorganize the classes."
---
The students quickly filed out to the playground. Only those who had awakened beastmaster talents were allowed.
Those who hadn't would be placed into general education classes and eventually assimilate into society.
Zhang Dashan, the former principal of Shenshan Middle School, once served as the president of the Yandong Province Pet Union. After being injured during a beast tide, he stepped down and became the school's principal.
Liu Hang, his former student, stood nearby with a smile, nervously checking to see if his wig was in place.
If the wind blew, it might reveal his bald head.
Zhang Dashan coughed a few times, noticing Liu Hang's distraction.
Liu Hang immediately straightened up and said nothing.
Zhang Dashan was pleased.
His pet beast, a Titan Hellfire, towered like a mountain.
He floated in midair, surrounded by dozens of boxes outlined in a ring of black light. Each box had glowing black flame numbers.
Seeing that all students had assembled, he clapped his hands.
"Students, I am Zhang Dashan, former principal of Shenshan Middle School."
"Today, I've returned on a whim to personally host the resource distribution ceremony."
"Haha, I've even brought a rare treasure from my personal collection. Let's see who's lucky enough to claim it."
"First, let's welcome the top-ranked student from last semester's exams—Ye Bai—to come on stage and choose a resource box."
Ye Bai stepped up calmly.
All eyes turned toward him.
"Ye Bai awakened a photographic memory talent, right? What good is that?"
"Yeah, with a talent like that, he'll probably never make it to the frontlines. He's bound for a life in logistics."
"Sigh, the once-untouchable top student—how far he's fallen after awakening such a useless talent."
The whispers around him continued, but Ye Bai ignored them.
After all, from a different perspective, photographic memory was one of the most powerful brain-enhancement talents out there.
These students simply didn't understand its value due to their limited experience.
Ye Bai stepped up and said directly, "Principal Zhang, I choose resource box No. 38."