Clap, clap, clap, applause rang out.
It didn't come from the students in the classroom, but from outside the classroom.
Lin Chuan looked in the direction of the sound, as did the other students and Liu Qi Zheng, who was standing at the podium.
One after another, two young men entered the classroom.
Seeing their attire, all the students in the class couldn't help but hold their breath, Lin Chuan was no exception.
Huang Shuya, the top student who Liu Qi Zheng had called on to answer a question earlier, mentioned that the Star Rock Federation had major powers like the Three Sects, Five Families, and Eight Academies, but she didn't mention, or rather, subconsciously forgot, that there was a true behemoth above all Beast Master powers: the Xingyan Federation Government!
The Xingyan Federation Government was the true master of this nation!
The reason ordinary people rarely felt its presence was because the Xingyan Federation Government's influence didn't need propaganda; it had already subtly integrated into every aspect and corner of the Federation citizens' lives.
School textbooks, daily food and medicine for the common people, materials for cultivating spirit beasts—behind all these things, the great hand of the Federal Government was controlling and regulating.
The Star Rock Federation had many subordinate agencies and departments responsible for maintaining the stable operation of this nation, including but not limited to law, public welfare, economy, scientific research, and so on.
Among these agencies and departments, the closest to ordinary people and the most widely watched was the Beastmaster Association!
The Beastmaster Association, as its name suggested, was an organization that coordinated and managed matters related to Beast Masters and spirit beasts.
The Association provided Beast Masters with all-around support and Assistance, including but not limited to material transactions, skill instruction, and certification exams.
At the same time, the Beastmaster Association also issued various tasks to Beast Masters, coordinating and allocating the power of Beast Masters to truly needed and suitable places.
Furthermore, the Beastmaster Association was also responsible for organizing various large-scale public welfare activities and tasks, such as the awakening ceremony held annually during graduation season, which was assisted by the Beastmaster Association branches across the Federation.
A long coat with black and white as the base colors, with auspicious cloud patterns embroidered on the edges of the sleeves and collar, and shiny black Martin boots—this was the standard uniform for Beastmaster Association staff!
Those with white as the main color and black as the secondary color were the administrative staff of the Beastmaster Association, while those with black as the main color and white as the secondary color were the Professional Beast Masters of the Association!
At this moment, the two who entered the classroom.
The latter, whose long coat was primarily white, was an administrative assistant, while the former, whose long coat was primarily black, was a Professional Beast Master!
In the current era, as long as one was not a criminal who had committed heinous crimes and been stripped of their Beast Master rights, other normal, law-abiding citizens all had the opportunity to awaken their Beast Master talent through the awakening ceremony, and then contract a spirit beast to become a Beast Master.
However, merely awakening a talent and contracting a spirit pet was far from enough.
Such Beast Masters, to put it nicely, were called apprentice Beast Masters; to put it less nicely, they were amateur Beast Masters.
Only Beast Masters who could cultivate their spirit pets to be excellent and powerful, stand out among countless peers in competition, prove their ability and qualifications to embark on the path of a Beast Master, and finally pass the secret realm assessment set by the Beastmaster Association would be issued a professional certificate and become a Professional Beast Master.
Only by becoming a Professional Beast Master could one truly embark on the path of a Beast Master; only then would the Beastmaster Association grant access, allowing the purchase or exchange of high-level Beast Master knowledge and precious Beast Master tools and materials.
Professional Beast Masters usually didn't need to work; they only needed to focus on cultivating spirit beasts to continuously grow stronger. They could even choose to completely slack off and not continue cultivating spirit beasts if they wished, as long as they accepted the Beastmaster Association's summons when necessary. The Federal Government would then provide monthly payments to cover their living expenses.
Furthermore, even their family and friends didn't need to worry about their livelihood; the Xingyan Federation Government also had corresponding support documents, prioritizing Assistance in arranging suitable jobs for the family and friends of Professional Beast Masters.
Becoming a Professional Beast Master was equivalent to securing a lifelong, stable job! Moreover, it was a case of one person's success elevating their entire family.
This path could be said to be the simplest and most promising way for ordinary people to achieve class transcendence and improve their social status.
…
"My name is Zhao Tong, no need for further self-introductions. After today, most of you and I probably won't meet again."
The Professional Beast Master from the Beastmaster Association spoke, his tone and manner of speaking had a certain something about them, which generally made people uncomfortable. However, no one cared; as a Professional Beast Master, a bit of arrogance was expected, or rather, this was still considered good.
He was one meter eighty tall, with a square face and a pair of sharp, eagle-like eyes. Just standing there gave off a very assertive and oppressive feeling.
Zhao Tong scanned the classroom, his gaze falling on Liu Qi Zheng, and he nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
Liu Qi Zheng, knowing his place, stepped back two paces. Zhao Tong walked forward two steps and stood at the center of the podium. After a slight pause, he spoke in a deep voice.
"I walked around your school and looked at all ten graduating classes. Your class gives me the best feeling."
"It's not because of you, but because of your teacher. You have a good teacher!"
Saying this, Zhao Tong glanced at Liu Qi Zheng.
Liu Qi Zheng's slightly plump face immediately flushed with excitement. Being acknowledged as a good teacher by a Professional Beast Master was more gratifying than praises from other principals or even bonus payments. "Hmm, if he could send me a silk banner, that would be even better," Liu Qi Zheng thought to himself.
With a light chuckle, Zhao Tong withdrew his gaze from Liu Qi Zheng and looked at the students in the class again, continuing.
"Your teacher is right. Keep striving and don't give up, and one day you will be rewarded."
"However, I also need to remind you that the path of a Beast Master is not as beautiful as you imagine. It is a thorny and incredibly difficult road, and countless people will fall along the way. I hope that when you encounter difficulties, you will remember what your teacher said today."
"And then, I'll give you some personal advice here; whether you listen or not is up to you."
"Perseverance does not equal stubbornness. To become a qualified Beast Master, you must persevere when you should, and know how to adapt when you should. Sometimes, acting within your capabilities, knowing when to stop, and learning to give up can also be a form of courage."
"Alright, I won't say any more."
"Hmm, I imagine you're already impatient, Xiao Yu."
Zhao Tong's gaze turned to the administrative assistant accompanying him.
The young man called Xiao Yu wore round-rimmed glasses and appeared delicate and thin.
Nodding in acknowledgment, Xiao Yu stepped down from the podium area and distributed small cards of an unknown material, similar to playing cards, to every student in the class.
"These are spiritual guidance cards. Those who know the situation don't need me to explain, and those who don't understand don't need to know. Just follow what I do."
Seeing that the cards had been distributed, Zhao Tong spoke and began to demonstrate.
"Hold the card in your palm, or place it close to your body in a way you prefer, such as under your armpit. In short, find the most comfortable way for yourself."
No one made an exception. The students present all imitated Zhao Tong, placing the card between the palms of their hands, then pressing their hands together to completely cover the card.
"Close your eyes, take a deep breath, clear your mind, and then use your spirit to perceive and touch the card. It will lead you into the awakening ceremony."
Zhao Tong continued to instruct.
All the students followed the instructions, closed their eyes, concentrated their attention, and used their spirit to perceive and touch the card.
Everyone could awaken their Beast Master talent through the awakening ceremony, but there would always be some people who, due to various reasons, were in poor condition or unable to concentrate their mental attention, thus failing to establish a connection with the card and enter the awakening ceremony. The school's week-long holiday for students to rest and adjust their physical and mental state was for this very purpose.
Lin Chuan had adjusted his state very well this week, even perfectly. His essence, qi, and spirit were full and abundant.
Therefore, Lin Chuan was also the first student in Class 3-7 to successfully establish a spiritual connection with the card and enter the awakening ceremony, which made the three people on the podium—Zhao Tong, Xiao Yu, and Liu Qi Zheng—look at him a bit longer.
Light gradually spilled from the cracks in Lin Chuan's clasped hands.
…
The Awakening Ceremony, since it's called a ceremony, naturally has a ceremonial appearance.
It requires choosing the right time, the right place, setting up an altar, then placing some offerings, and finally inviting someone to perform rituals and shamanistic dances.
Well, the specific operations are certainly not that exaggerated, but the basic process is roughly like this.
In short, the ceremony would be very complicated, and the resources consumed would be massive. Naturally, it was impossible for every city and every school to set up an altar and hold a ceremony.
The Awakening Ceremony was officially hosted by the Star Rock Federation, held regularly once a year, and those who missed it would not be waited for. The Beastmaster Association headquarters coordinated with other departments and even Beast Master organizations, such as the Three Sects, Five Families, and Eight Academies, to carry out the specific operations related to the ceremony. The ceremony was held in a specially opened secret realm small world, and then through spiritual guidance cards, the spiritual consciousness of the person holding the card was guided into the ceremony for the awakening of Beast Master talent.
Lin Chuan trembled, not a physical tremor, but a tremor of his spirit and soul.
Then, Lin Chuan felt that everything around him became ethereal. When he opened his eyes, there was nothing around him; the classroom was gone, the classmates around him, the teacher on the podium, everything was gone.
Before Lin Chuan could react, he was instantly enveloped by a feeling of losing his footing and falling into water.
It was the sensation of sinking into a vast ocean.
Sinking, sinking, and sinking further, the pressure around him continuously grew stronger.
Lin Chuan had an indescribable feeling of discomfort. He struggled hard, but it was in vain.
Gradually, Lin Chuan stopped moving, stopped resisting, letting his body continue to sink, letting the pressure around him continue to intensify.
Gradually, he forgot the discomfort in his body, and then, suddenly startled awake, Lin Chuan found that his consciousness and spirit became incredibly clear at this moment! He could even recall things from before he was three years old; the scene of riding his mother Su Xiaoxia's spirit pet, Xiao Yue, and running wildly and joyfully all over the farm clearly appeared in his mind. Even the fragments of past life memories he had awakened before, those previously vague and unknowable past life scenes, became clear. He saw that planet, that country, the Great Wall, the Yellow River, he saw himself working overtime in his past life, and he saw many, many other things.
Lin Chuan was immersed in his past life memories, browsing everything of another world, his past life, from a god's perspective.
Suddenly, a light abruptly lit up before his eyes, pulling all his thoughts, spirit, and consciousness back from the fragments of his past life memories.
It was a speck of light, a pale blue speck.
Following the appearance of this first speck of light, soon, a second speck of light closely followed, golden yellow, then a third, a fourth speck, specks of various colors continuously appeared, the specks becoming more and more numerous, appearing faster and faster.
Finally, before Lin Chuan's eyes appeared an ocean of countless colored specks of light, like a colorful starry galaxy, incredibly mysterious and infinitely beautiful.
Suddenly, Lin Chuan realized that he himself was also glowing.
Looking down, Lin Chuan found that his heart was emitting a faint green light, a vibrant green light. Fortunately, it was his heart glowing green, not the top of his head, Lin Chuan couldn't help but think.
Focusing his attention on the green light from his heart, instantly, Lin Chuan's mind was enlightened.
— — — —
Spiritual Wood Heart (Tier 2): Increases the efficiency of cultivating Wood and Illusion Attribute pet beasts, making it easier for Wood and Illusion Attributes to break through bottlenecks. Slightly enhances the power of Wood and Illusion Attribute skills when used by spirit beasts.
— — — —
So, this was his naturally awakened Beast Master talent?
Tier 2 Spiritual Wood Heart.
Not bad, Spiritual Wood Heart was already a relatively rare and powerful Beast Master talent, not to mention Tier 2. This surpassed at least 99% of his peers.
With this Beast Master talent, he had already won at the starting line.
As long as he didn't slack off and waste his talent, and proceeded step by step, he would definitely become a Professional Beast Master!
No!
Lin Chuan suddenly realized.
Although Spiritual Wood Heart was a rare talent, it shouldn't have been naturally awakened by him. Otherwise, his awakening omen should have been an illusion of an endless misty forest, not the awakening of past life memories.
So, he had awakened a second Beast Master talent!?
Indeed, given that one has already naturally awakened, there is a probability of awakening a second Beast Master talent through the awakening ceremony, and the probability is not small, about a 20% chance.
What luck! Lin Chuan sighed with emotion.
However, at this moment, Lin Chuan was more curious about where his previously naturally awakened talent had gone? It wouldn't have been swallowed, would it? That would really make me anxious!
Observing himself up and down, apart from his heart glowing green, Lin Chuan didn't find any other parts of his body glowing.
Wait!
There was a spot he couldn't see with his eyes like this.
Already aware that he was currently in a soul-spirit state and not a physical body, Lin Chuan closed his eyes and used his spiritual consciousness to examine himself.
Immediately, Lin Chuan found that the area of his brain at the top of his head was emitting light. Phew, fortunately it wasn't green light, and it wasn't a single color of light. It was a two-colored light mass, with black and white intertwined. The little guy was really unique, doing something special and different. However, special was right, that's how a natural awakening should look.
As his spiritual consciousness approached and sensed the black and white light mass, the next moment, enlightenment once again emerged in Lin Chuan's mind.
— — — —
Reincarnation (Tier 1)
Reincarnation of Inheritance: Allows contracted spirit beasts to inherit abilities from the remains of other spirit beasts, including but not limited to skills, attributes, and combat experience.
Reincarnation of Rebirth: Allows contracted spirit beasts to undergo rebirth, returning to their initial form. Rebirth has a high probability of allowing the spirit beast to break through its bloodline limit, and at the same time, special materials can be used during rebirth to cause the spirit beast's species to mutate.