“Does the Monster Network have online writers too?” Bai Tang was curious. He turned to look at Xiao Feige, but his gaze met that of a black-clad youth.
The youth’s features were inked with a classical charm, although subtle, it carried an ancient flavor.
“He’s been secretly watching you for a long time,” the system rambled like a protective father, “Clearly coveting your beauty. Quickly, go glare at him!”
Bai Tang silently turned around, feeling that the system’s reaction was a bit too intense.
“Qing Dai.” After the name was announced on the podium, the black-clad youth stood up. He introduced himself, “I’m Qing Dai, a stone spirit. My dream is to become an excellent artist.”
Stone spirits are relatively rare, and after Qing Dai finished speaking, everyone exchanged whispers, eyes filled with curiosity.
The next name called was a mantis spirit, a young man with a closely shaved head, displaying a calm and composed demeanor. A deep green long knife was strapped to his waist, ready to be unsheathed at any moment for a fight.
The mantis spirit indeed unsheathed his long knife, and the blade reflected a cold light under the sunlight.
She Rao raised her head, her slender eyebrows slightly furrowed, scrutinizing the other with caution.
Zhen Aichi swallowed the food in his cheek, and his round apricot eyes squinted slightly in a shy manner.
“I’m Tang Jinlang, a Praying Mantis spirit. My dream is to become a chef,” Tang Jinlang stared at the long knife in his hand, “It will be my old partner, conquering various ingredients together with me.”
After finishing his statement, Tang Jinlang quickly sheathed the knife and looked at Zhen Aichi intensely. “Zhen, my classmate!” His voice was loud, and with bold brows and big eyes, he seemed like a hero from ancient times shouting.
Zhen Aichi almost choked on his food, freezing in place. He responded weakly and helplessly, “What… what’s going on?”
“If I create a new dish in the future, would you be willing to give me feedback?” Tang Jinlang asked sincerely and seriously, “I want to hear the opinions of professionals to improve myself.”
A relieved yet eager Zhen Aichi breathed out and replied shakily, “Of course, I can.”
Tang Jinlang nodded, “Then have the bento I made for lunch.” He arranged the lunch plan without giving Zhen Aichi a chance to refuse, leaving him in a pitiful state.
“Looks like the classmates get along very harmoniously, haha.” Chu Li seemed to have a special ability; no matter how awkward the situation, she could smile as if nothing had happened. Thanks to the loli voice bonus, her laughter indeed possessed a power to lighten the atmosphere.
However, this time, Chu Li was genuinely a bit excited. Her gaze fell on the simple name “Bai Tang” in the class roster, and she felt as if she had tasted white sugar, sweet with joy.
Who wouldn’t like a handsome young man?
Especially one who was so good-looking that he broke through the dimensional barrier.
“Bai Tang.” Chu Li read out the name with a hint of excitement, already planning to introduce the beautiful young man as a begonia flower later.
“Hello, everyone. I’m Bai Tang, modeled after the Jade Grass, born from a lightning strike, capable of absorbing the power of thunder. Therefore, I can break through thunder tribulations.” Bai Tang finished his rehearsed script in one breath. In the ensuing silence, he continued, “I want to become a professional tribulation-crossing expert, helping everyone to cross their tribulations.”
The venue was filled with gasps of disbelief.
Chu Li, suspecting her hearing had gone awry, vigorously rubbed her ears, causing her long rabbit ears to pop out. “Bai, what did you just say?”
The powder-pink rabbit ears acted like a microphone, pointing directly at Bai Tang. All the monsters were watching him intently, even Xiao Feige, who had been lying on the table, lifted his head, staring at Bai Tang with wide eyes.
Thunder Tribulation.
This was a great concern for all monsters, and none could easily overcome it. If one failed to cross the tribulation, their strength would decline, and in severe cases, they might lose their lives.
Bai Tang’s appearance was like a shiny get-out-of-jail-free card, making every monster present excited. They held their breath, eagerly looking at Bai Tang.
“I said, I want to become a professional tribulation-crossing expert.” For a moment, Bai Tang felt like a superstar, and everyone around him seemed like eager paparazzi, each monster wanting to interview Bai Tang to get firsthand information.
“Is it for real?” Zhen Aichi asked in a hushed tone, feeling a bit timid after asking, afraid of angering Bai Tang. He quickly added in a whisper, “Uh, that, I was just casually asking.”
Zhen Aichi’s question addressed the most crucial concern for everyone present. All eyes were now sparkling as they looked at Bai Tang.
“I have successfully helped a monster overcome Thunder Tribulation, and I’ll assist a second one during the upcoming full moon.” Bai Tang gave a concrete example. After saying these words, the metaphorical light bulbs in everyone’s eyes seemed to brighten.
Even if the success rate of helping someone cross Thunder Tribulation was only two or three percent, it was enough to attract the attention of most monsters.
Monsters would go to great lengths to cross the tribulation, and they wouldn’t miss any opportunity to increase their chances of success.
Having successfully helped one monster through the tribulation not only proved Bai Tang’s competence but also opened the door for a second opportunity, indirectly showcasing his strength.
“This is indeed a highly innovative profession.” Chu Li marveled. She remembered Zhu Tianji; when he first demonstrated his abilities, the entire monster world thought he was seeking attention. It wasn’t until his abilities were validated over time that all monsters realized what was truly happening.
In the Elephant Clan, there was a scholar who predicted that the monster world would ultimately undergo a significant change.
This world was evolving rapidly, from the barren land it once was to the thriving capital it had become. From the initial small groups of monsters to the current booming population, everything was progressing in a positive direction.
Monsters enjoyed many conveniences through the Monster Network as they built their own homes, making the Monster Realm appear prosperous. However, thick, ominous clouds always hovered overhead, ready to unleash Thunder Tribulation at any moment.
Thunder Tribulation could easily destroy a monster.
Thunder Tribulation left the Monster Realm riddled with holes. So no matter how much progress it made, it could never match the prosperity of the human world. Many monsters, after transforming into human forms, wanted to venture into human society for fun.
The influx of monsters into human society and some monsters undergoing tribulation there drew dissatisfaction from human governments. The Monster Realm had to implement a system of assessing monsters’ maturity. Monsters without a Spirit Certification caught in human society were usually deported back to the Monster Realm.
This was also the reason for Chu Li’s training class.
Then came Zhu Tianji, a legendary Pig Spirit.
Originally a farm-raised pig, Zhu Tianji reached the age to be slaughtered. However, he managed to escape the farmer’s captivity, squealing like a pig while sprinting away. Armed butchers and farmers wielding hoes chased after him relentlessly. Zhu Tianji, terrified, ran with trembling courage, fearing that he might fall off the mountain if he didn’t see the road ahead clearly…
The story could have ended here, but Zhu Tianji’s luck was extraordinary, leading many monsters in the Monster Realm to suspect that Zhu Tianji was a disguised auspicious Carp Spirit among pig monsters.
Zhu Tianji fell into an ancient relic, consumed unknown treasures of heaven and earth, and inherited the legacy of an ancient powerhouse named “Breaking Heaven Machine.”
Since then, he could see through the mysteries of heaven and earth.
From that moment, he became Zhu Tianji.
Chu Li initially thought the prophecy of the Elephant Clan pointed to Zhu Tianji. Zhu Tianji could predict the approximate time of Thunder Tribulation’s arrival. According to statistics, the Monster Realm’s development speed doubled since Zhu Tianji appeared.
Although Zhu Tianji only calculated the Thunder Tribulation periods for a few monsters each year, those who secured these slots were influential leaders and their descendants among the monster clans. The survival rate of this group increased, securing the foundation of the Monster Realm. Even when Thunder Tribulation struck, the cornerstone remained intact.
However, now, Chu Li felt like she had glimpsed the true designated person in the prophecy.
If there was truly someone capable of unraveling Thunder Tribulation, then perhaps the Monster Realm would see the dawn of a genuine new era.
Chu Li’s profession in the human world is a web novelist. At this moment, she really wants to passionately recite some chuunibyou lines, but she is currently a teacher—for monsters. She’s here to teach monsters how to behave and whether they should avoid acting too juvenile.
Because she has endured so much, Chu Li’s originally rosy eyes now appear even redder, as if she’s on the verge of tears.
Suppressing her inner chuunibyou spirit with all her might, Chu Li calmly said, “This class ends here. Everyone, take a break!”
During the break, the new students engage in socializing, extending their small “friendship boundaries” by probing.
Tang Jinlang strides over to Zhen Aichi, offering a snack and extending his friendship “boundary”—his mantis blade!
Zhen Aichi sniffs and takes the snack, placing his small “boundary” of friendship with a sense of resignation.
She Rao stands up from her seat, walking expressionlessly towards Xiao Feige. “Let’s be friends. I want to mentor a novice author. I’ll subscribe and bombard her with comments for every chapter. I’ll write detailed reviews every week. I can rationally analyze the flaws in her writing, and encourage her to improve. I can listen to her troubles, and be her psychological counselor. If anyone maliciously attacks her,” the girl points to her lips with a finger, “I will make them regret it with my fangs and venom.”
“If her data is impressive, I’ll share the joy with her, encourage her, praise her, and let her happily continue writing,” She Rao paused, her expression coldly tilting her head, a somewhat contrasting cuteness in her gesture, “Do you think I’m strange?”
“I don’t know why, but every time I see you, I feel you resemble an author I admire a lot,” She Rao whispered, “She is a writer on the Monster Network, only writing gags, and always remaining cheerful without any sequels.”
“But the gags she writes are particularly captivating.” She Rao, as if fearing Xiao Feige wouldn’t believe her, solemnly added, “Really captivating. The moment I laid eyes on them, I fell in love.”
The girl’s eyes were sparkling, and when she spoke about her beloved author, those eyes, belonging to a cold-blooded creature, emitted an incredibly scorching light.
A light that seemed capable of burning retinas.
This made Xiao Feige momentarily hesitant to meet her gaze. She dared not look at this short-haired girl, this reader who flooded her comment section. So, Xiao Feige lowered her eyes, avoiding direct eye contact.
Then she heard the girl, speaking slowly and solemnly, “I believe she can become a deity. From the first moment I saw those words, I thought so.”
“If she doesn’t drop out.” She Rao’s tone carried a hint of distress. “I don’t know why, but from the moment I saw you, I… I really like you.”
“So, please let me foster you. Allow me to accompany you all the way and watch you step by step ascend to godhood.”
Author’s Note:
Little Theatre:
She Rao: I want to foster you.
Xiao Feige: …Uh
Little Angel: I want to foster you.
Author: Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay!!!
