Chapter 21: Teacher Zheng’s Guidance

Five scales represented fifty years of Soul Power Cultivation.

Golden light shimmered, exceptionally dazzling.

Especially for Wang Che standing nearby.

The testing principle of this Soul Power detector worked by sensing the Soul Power fluctuations within the Soul Pet.

There was no hiding it.

Of course, Wang Che didn’t plan to hide it.

Soul Power Cultivation was just the foundation of a Soul Pet. It couldn’t represent its true strength.

Yet, even as just a foundation.

Fifty years of Soul Power Cultivation, at the beginning stages of school, was enough to amaze all present students!

Especially when it came from a Green Caterpillar.

Countless stunned gazes came from every direction.

Earlier, Lin Xi’s Zhiyun Snake with forty years of Soul Power Cultivation had already been astonishing enough.

But now, nobody expected to witness a Soul Pet with fifty years of Soul Power Cultivation.

Achieving this level of cultivation at school entry…

This time.

Unlike the wave-like shouts that had erupted earlier for Lin Xi,

it was eerily quiet.

Their minds were too shocked to form words.

Wang Che glanced at his Green Caterpillar.

The Green Caterpillar crawled off the detector, still just a child.

It naturally couldn’t grasp the current atmosphere.

“Siiwoo!” The Green Caterpillar suddenly chirped toward Wang Che.

Wang Che looked around, realizing several other Green Caterpillars were also watching him.

‘I’m not the only one who chose the free Soul Pet Egg and hatched a Green Caterpillar. Other lucky ones too…’

Perhaps the collective stare made his Green Caterpillar uncomfortable.

It had never experienced this before.

Besides its own kind, many other Soul Pets were also watching the Green Caterpillar intently.

Suddenly, it felt like the most dazzling kid among all Soul Pets.

But his little pet didn’t understand being the center of attention.

So, it chirped toward its Soul Pact Master, expressing its confusion.

“Your fellow Green Caterpillars think you’re pretty ordinary,” Wang Che calmly explained. “So you need to work harder. The others? They’re challenging you with their eyes.”

Green Caterpillar: “(·◇·)?”

It looked doubtful, sensing Wang Che might not be entirely truthful.

“You don’t believe me?” Wang Che started walking with the caterpillar. “Try staring back. They definitely wouldn’t look at you. Because they wouldn’t consider a Green Caterpillar a rival worth their notice.”

Convinced, the Green Caterpillar swept its gaze across the other Soul Pets.

True to Wang Che’s words, every pet averted its eyes.

The pressure of fifty years Soul Power Cultivation was simply too much for these young pets to face.

And this Green Caterpillar, through disciplined training under Wang Che’s care, had unknowingly developed a faint aura.

Of course, the caterpillar itself was oblivious.

Seeing this:

“Siiwoo!” A surge of motivation sparked inside the Green Caterpillar.

It felt it had to try even harder.

After all, the Green Caterpillar in those stories became so strong.

It couldn’t fall behind.

“Good! That’s the spirit!” Wang Che nodded. “Keep that drive. In a few days at the Dawn Cup, none of them will stand a chance against you.”

He silently noted that once it matured mentally to around twelve or thirteen, tricking it like this wouldn’t work. But by then, its character would be more settled and reasonable, needing no tricks anyway.

Returning to his class group,

testing was still ongoing.

“Fifty years Soul Power Cultivation, Wang Che… you’re unreal…”

“I thought I was cocky enough… but you truly take the crown…”

“Not bad, undeveloped… When you posted those simple words in the group chat, I knew you were playing it cool.”

“Che Bro, training a Green Caterpillar to fifty years in just two weeks… honest question, did you cheat?”

“Che Bro remains undefeated…”

Classmates teased him.

But their jokes held genuine praise and envy.

No real malice existed beneath.

They all knew nurturing a Soul Pet was just the start.

The road ahead stretched long.

Right now, they cared more about training their own pets over the next seven days to perform well in the Dawn Cup.

Then nurture them properly, awaken their Martial Souls…

Amidst this, one person watched silently, saying nothing.

But this day’s five golden scales would still become a hot topic among students and teachers.

Perhaps even start countless parental lectures:

“Look at classmate Wang Che! Even a Green Caterpillar improved this fast! Look at yourself?”

Testing ended.

Each class teacher led their students to individual training zones on the large field.

The field was immense; even with all students gathered for the test earlier, they barely covered a tenth of its central area.

Across different parts of the field, distinct zones were marked for each class based on various planted greens.

Naturally, academic lessons would still happen inside the school building.

During those times, Soul Pets would rest and recover at the school’s Soul Pet Recovery Center, under professional care.

Essentially, all high schools had such Soul Pet Recovery Centers.

“Before starting your training, let me briefly outline Dawn Cup rules.”

Teacher Zheng led over forty students to their designated spot. A wave silenced them.

“The Dawn Cup,” Teacher Zheng coughed, “is an entry-level Soul Pet Battle tournament for Tianxin City’s three major high schools.”

“Namely No.1 Middle School, Xingyue, and Nanhu. Around a thousand seniors participate. Registration is voluntary—it’s mainly to help you newcomers experience basic battle dynamics.”

“Sure, I know you’ve watched big Soul Pet Battles online, even continental or global ones.”

“But seeing those online is worlds apart from witnessing them firsthand or even competing.”

“The Dawn Cup, as an entry-level tournament, is the most accessible competition for you right now.”

Teacher Zheng’s expression turned serious.

“First, understand: Soul Pet Battles hold an entertainment aspect, always. Even top-tier tournaments maintain this. Their core goal is deepening a Soul Pact Master’s bond with their Soul Pet.”

“The Dawn Cup uses a voluntary sign-up system. Matches follow a simple best-of-one elimination format, decided by random draw. Lose once, you’re out.”

“A first-round bye exists—if your luck is exceptional, theoretically, you could become champion without ever fighting.”

Teacher Zheng paused, sipped his water, then continued:

“Those are the basics. Prizes: top ten rewards differ mainly for first place. Participants ranking within a hundred get consolation awards. Of course, participation itself holds more value.”

“I advise all of you to give it a try after this week’s training.”

“Even playing just one match lets you feel the battle environment.”

“But most importantly, it helps you understand your Soul Pet better.”

Teacher Zheng explained the rules clearly.

Wang Che ran some numbers. A thousand plus participants.

Assuming everyone joined, finishing the tournament might require only about eleven or twelve rounds.

To win the championship? Over ten straight wins—a tough challenge.

But preliminary Soul Pet Battles wrapped up swiftly. Fights themselves lasted mere minutes.

Without scheduling delays, the whole event could finish in three or four days.

Reaching the top ten would involve winning around seven matches.

Difficult? Yes. Impossible? Far from it.

Because current seniors’ Soul Pets were mostly common or Rare Soul Pets (Rare Soul Pet), with comparable Soul Power Cultivation.

Seven days of training couldn’t create massive physical gaps.

Similar stats meant unpredictable outcomes.

But if a pet could awake a Soul Skill (Ten-Year Soul Skill), its power could multiply. Dramatically boosting winning odds.

‘An entry-level battle tournament with benefits built-in.’

Wang Che grasped its core purpose: motivation.

The prizes weren’t bad either.

“Alright, enough on rules for now. Next, I’ll begin explaining tailored training points for each of your Soul Pets!”

“Over these seven days—if your pet hasn’t started cultivation, focus on awakening its Soul Power. If active cultivation exists already, aim for higher Soul Power levels! For pets with considerable Soul Power already? Devote all energy toward awakening a Soul Skill!”

Teacher Zheng began instructing each student individually, analyzing their pets.

“The Drizzle Frog?” he first addressed a student. “Strength lies in speed while retaining decent power. Its Ten-Year Soul Skill options? Leap Flash—blending evasion and attack. Alternatively Water Bullet? A Plant-Type (Plant-Type) elemental skill. Tougher to master requiring higher Soul Power potency… but hits harder.”

“Next for the Ppai Pampan?” he turned to another girl. “A standard Soul Pet, Ppai Pampan shows weaknesses in strength, speed, and endurance. Its first Ten-Year Soul Skill? Mist Form! Gives fifty percent physical damage resistance. Awaken it? Easily rank Top 100 in the Dawn Cup.”

“And the Hundred-Flower Beast?” he approached yet another. “This Plant-Type (Plant-Type) newborn Soul Pet excels strongest in defense. Ten-Year Soul Skill choices? Agglomerate Shield: huddles tight shrinking its form boosting defense while dodging key attacks. Soften Powder? Releases enfeebling spores—a tougher control-type elemental skill.”

…