"Gaining their respect?
Can't we just beat them into submission?"
However, judging by the local customs and temperament, beating them into submission might be a bit difficult.
The more likely outcome is that they'd rather die fighting.
"How do I earn their respect?" Chen Chang'an asked.
"You actually want to become the dean?"
"You're so young—what's the rush?"
"You're not like me, who might drop dead any day now."
The old man frowned at Chen Chang'an, unable to understand why this young man was in such a hurry.
Besides, you’ve only got a dog with you, and you think you can challenge the dean?
"To be the dean, you don’t just need strength—you also need the trust of the people."
"What qualifies you to be dean? What have you contributed?"
"What have you done for the Beast God Continent? For the Beast God Academy?"
"You—"
"Hold on!"
"So, you're saying even if I succeed in the challenge, it won’t count without contributions?"
"Exactly."
"Then, under what circumstances would the Beast God appear?"
"You want to meet the Beast God?"
"Don’t you?"
"Well..."
The old man was momentarily stunned by Chen Chang'an's question. Who in the Beast God Continent wouldn’t want to see the Beast God?
"Enough with the questions. Find yourself a place to stay—there aren’t many people here anyway."
"I’m leaving."
Without another word, the old man turned and walked away.
Chen Chang'an shrugged helplessly, then led Da Huang to a relatively clean-looking dwelling.
"Da Huang, tell me—how can I truly earn their respect?"
"Making a grand contribution... that’s a tough one."
"I came all this way for you—give me some ideas." Chen Chang'an chuckled.
A grand contribution?
What could that even be?
"Here’s what I think you should do."
"You know plenty of people—get them to team up and attack the Beast God Continent."
"Then, swoop in like a hero and save the day."
"By then, your reputation would rival even the Beast God's!" Da Huang suggested after some thought.
"Da Huang, that’s a damn good idea."
"So, what? You’ll go round up the troops while I wait here?"
"Wait, you’re actually considering this? That’s one hell of a performance—how many people would die?"
"Oh, so you do realize people would die? Can’t you come up with something useful?"
Da Huang’s idea was clever, but the cost was far too high.
"Then I’ve got nothing."
"Just pray some unlucky fool sets their sights on the Beast God Continent."
"That’ll be your chance."
An unlucky fool?
What kind of luck would it take to run into one of those?
"Big brother! Da Huang!"
"You’re at the Beast God Academy!"
Chen Chang'an was still pondering how to meet the Beast God as soon as possible when Little Qiqi’s voice rang out.
Her cheeks flushed with excitement, she dashed toward them—her target, as always, was Da Huang. With a resigned look, Da Huang endured as Little Qiqi wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Da Huang, I missed you!" she squealed.
"Do you live here with your grandfather?" Chen Chang'an asked.
"Yep! I’ve lived here since I was little."
"I was going to ask Grandpa to help find you, but here you are at the academy!"
"By the way, where are the two sisters? Why didn’t they come?" Little Qiqi tilted her head curiously.
"They had other matters to attend to, so they didn’t join the academy."
"Oh, I see."
"That’s great! Can I come play with Da Huang every day from now on?" She blinked up at Chen Chang'an with hopeful eyes.
Faced with that expectant gaze, Chen Chang'an couldn’t bring himself to refuse outright—but he couldn’t afford to idle here indefinitely either.
"Well... if I’m free, you can visit."
"Thank you, big brother!"
Beaming, Little Qiqi rewarded him with a bright smile before showering Da Huang with affectionate pets.
"Brother, why did you join the academy now of all times?" she asked, pouting slightly between strokes.
"Now of all times? What do you mean?" Chen Chang'an raised an eyebrow.
"Lately, the Beast God Academy hasn’t been... peaceful."
"Since you just joined, they probably won’t start teaching you beast-taming techniques right away."
Not peaceful?
Those words made Chen Chang'an’s eyes gleam. This was exactly the kind of good news he’d been hoping for.
You’re in trouble? Perfect.
"What’s happening at the academy?"
"If things are unstable, why keep recruiting new students?" he pressed.
"It’s tradition. Traditions can’t just change, and besides, this round only accepted outsiders—hardly anyone ever gets in anyway. It’s just for show."
"Big brother, you’re the only outsider in this batch who made it in."
"You’re amazing!" Little Qiqi grinned.
Sure enough, though many had come, Chen Chang'an was the sole outsider admitted to the Beast God Academy.
No wonder no one else had been brought in all this time.
"So, what’s this ‘unrest’ about?" Chen Chang'an asked.
"Hmm... Grandpa told me not to talk about it."
"It’s fine—I won’t tell a soul. Just whisper it to me."
"Then you have to keep it a secret, okay?"
"Don’t worry—my lips are sealed."
"Well..."
Though young, Little Qiqi was articulate and sharp-minded, recounting everything she’d overheard with startling clarity.
After hearing her account, Chen Chang'an finally understood the academy’s so-called "unrest."
"So there is an unlucky fool after all?"
The Beast God Academy’s dominance was undisputed in the Beast God Continent—it was the sacred land every beast-tamer aspired to join.
Yet over the years, certain practices had drawn criticism, chief among them the admission of outsiders.
Many natives of the continent couldn’t even secure a spot, yet outsiders were allowed in.
Though few in number, this policy had bred resentment.
Now, the Eight Great Beast-Taming Academies sought to challenge the Beast God Academy’s leadership.
Individually, none could match it—but united, even the Beast God Academy couldn’t afford to underestimate them.
"I thought the Beast God Academy was the first beast-taming academy, established by the Beast God’s decree?"
"Beast-tamers revere the Beast God—would they really dare move against his academy?" Chen Chang'an mused.
"The Beast God hasn’t shown himself in ages."
"Few alive today have ever seen him."
"And they’re using the pretext of ‘purifying the Beast God’s legacy.’"
"They claim the academy, as the sacred land of beast-tamers, shouldn’t admit so many outsiders."
"Basically, they want to overthrow the academy and the dean."
"Oh, big brother—what did you mean by ‘unlucky fool’ earlier?" Little Qiqi asked, tilting her head.