Chapter 1: Not Her Fault

Zhehai Province, Hanggang City.

Wencheng Junior High School, Class 37.

"This time, everyone's progress in the mock exam is evident to all, especially Qin Shou, who ranked second in the entire grade, just two points away from a perfect score. Everyone should learn from him."

"Most of you have done well, but a few students, who don't strive for improvement, scored zero, significantly lowering the class average."

"I won't name names here, but I hope this student takes it seriously. There are only 21 days left until the high school entrance exam. With such a score, not only will you not get into the Beastmaster High School, but you won't even be able to get into a regular vocational high school."

The balding homeroom teacher glanced at the third row from the back on the right side, where a girl with a ponytail sat upright, her back straight, looking like a model student.

His lips twitched involuntarily. What a pretense! I'm talking about you!

Qiao Sang, of course, knew the teacher was referring to her, but she couldn't help it. She wasn't the Qiao Sang from this world.

She had just arrived two days ago and hadn't even adapted when the mock exam came.

But it was just a junior high school mock exam, and she wasn't afraid. After all, in her previous life, she had been a top student at a 985 university.

However, when she saw the test paper, she was stunned.

"What does the human brain domain awakening form?"

"What does the Heart Scale attract in extraordinary beings, and what effect does it have?"

"What is the final evolved form of the Stinky Loach?"

"What planets have humans already colonized?"

These... What kind of questions are these?!

In the end, she had no choice but to choose the shorter option among three long and one short, the longer option among three short and one long, fill in the blanks randomly, and leave the answer questions blank.

Over the past two days, Qiao Sang had adapted to her body, and the original owner's memories had surfaced. She now had a general understanding of this world.

This was a world dominated by beast mastery. Since humans discovered they could master beasts, 32,050,000 years have passed, forming a highly mature beast mastery social system.

Although it's called the Beastmaster Era, not everyone can master beasts. At the age of 15, humans can awaken their brain domain through magnetic wave stimulation, forming a Beastmaster Codex.

This codex is both a contract and a space, perfectly connecting humans with extraordinary beings.

If one's brain domain cannot awaken by the age of 15, they are unlikely to have any connection with beast mastery for the rest of their life.

Although the Beastmaster Era has developed for millions of years, humans still cannot guarantee a 100% awakening rate for the Beastmaster Codex.

Last year, only 73% of the students who took the high school entrance exam awakened their codex, while 27% did not. Even if some of them were academic geniuses, they were destined not to get into a Beastmaster High School.

Those who cannot master beasts can only remain mediocre, spending their entire lives at the bottom of the social hierarchy.

This is a very realistic issue. Without the ability to master beasts, you might not even be able to carry bricks.

Who would use human labor to carry hundreds or even thousands of kilograms of bricks when there are extraordinary beings that can do it with their bare hands, saving time and effort?

Even serving dishes is the same.

Even if the wages are several times higher, restaurants would rather hire extraordinary beings to serve, as it attracts more customers.

In a world so different from the previous society, Qiao Sang, as a junior high school student nearing the high school entrance exam, was extremely anxious.

In the past, knowledge changed one's fate; now, beast mastery changes one's life.

Although she had the original owner's memories, the original owner was a poor student.

Her grades were consistently among the bottom three in the class. In last month's mock exam, she improved slightly, ranking fourth from the bottom.

But that was only because the student who usually ranked fourth from the bottom had diarrhea and skipped two subjects.

The high school entrance exam was only 21 days away, and she didn't expect to get into a key high school. She was just grateful to be able to attend any high school.

Qiao Sang listened to the teacher attentively, took notes, and even continued reading her textbook after class, showing the same determination she had when preparing for the college entrance exam.

"Qiao Sang, the zero score the teacher mentioned is yours, right?" Her desk mate, Fang Sisi, leaned over and whispered.

This wasn't a question but a confirmation. Although the teacher didn't specify who it was, who else would openly take notes on a zero-scored test paper without even covering the score?

Qiao Sang nodded.

In Qiao Sang's memory, she and Fang Sisi had a good relationship. They often ate and went out together.

The main reason for their good relationship was that Fang Sisi was also a poor student.

Fang Sisi had replaced the student who usually ranked fourth from the bottom due to diarrhea, becoming the new fourth from the bottom.

"Wow, you even filled in the multiple-choice questions, but you didn't get a single point. The difficulty must be comparable to someone getting a perfect score," Fang Sisi said, giving her a thumbs up.

Qiao Sang was speechless. Could she be blamed? It was the rule of three long and one short, choose the short!

"How did you do?" Qiao Sang asked.

"263, an improvement of 98 points from last time," Fang Sisi said, somewhat proudly.

True to the nature of a poor student, even with two more subjects, she only improved by 98 points.

However, Qiao Sang only thought this in her heart. After all, they were both poor students, and it was best not to hurt each other.

"You did well."

Qiao Sang wasn't lying. Although her desk mate's score was low, it was clear that she had improved compared to her previous 200-point level.

"That's for sure. My mom has been watching me closely lately..."

Before she could finish, the student in front of Fang Sisi turned around and said nervously, "Do you think it's true that Dai Shushu from Class 9 was recommended to Litan Beastmaster High School?"

Fang Sisi sighed, "If everyone is saying it, it must be true."

Qiao Sang flipped through her textbook.

Dai Shushu was the top student in the grade for this mock exam. Being recommended to a high school as the top student wasn't surprising, and Qiao Sang had more important things to do, like studying.

"I heard she was recommended because she awakened on her own," the student in front of Qiao Sang added, joining the discussion.

Qiao Sang looked up.

Beastmaster High Schools recruit future beastmasters, and the ability to awaken one's brain domain is the top priority. Those who can awaken on their own often achieve more than those who awaken through magnetic wave stimulation.

The first batch of beastmasters who awakened 32,050,000 years ago all awakened on their own, and the ratio of beastmasters was only 0.01% of the population, making them extremely rare.

It wasn't until 2,563 years ago that a researcher named Chen Leshen discovered that human brain domains could be awakened through magnetic wave stimulation, marking the true beginning of the Beastmaster Era.

However, those who can awaken on their own are still the best among them.

"Awaken on her own?" Fang Sisi pondered, "Do you think it's still possible for me to latch onto her?"

The student in front of Fang Sisi shook her head, "Forget it. If she's been recommended, she won't stay in school. If you knew you could get into high school, would you still come to school?"

Fang Sisi nodded in agreement.

"If I awaken on my own, can I still be recommended even if my academic score is low?" Qiao Sang took a deep breath, looking very serious.

This question drew the attention of the three students.

"Even if you score zero, there will still be schools that want you," the student in front of Qiao Sang joked.

"Stop dreaming. Those who can awaken on their own are always top students, not poor students like us," Fang Sisi patted Qiao Sang's shoulder, "I had the same dream a few days ago."

Qiao Sang lowered her head, not saying a word.

The three students thought she was discouraged and stopped discussing the topic of awakening on one's own.

Only Qiao Sang knew how hard she had to resist the urge to burst out laughing.

Awaken on her own!

She had awakened on her own when she first arrived!

At the time, she didn't know what it was, thinking it was some kind of golden finger. Later, after her memories merged, she realized it was the Beastmaster Codex that would awaken at 15.

Since everyone would awaken at 15, she didn't take it seriously, but she didn't expect the difference to be so significant!

No wonder the original Qiao Sang, being a poor student, didn't realize the difference between awakening on one's own and through magnetic wave stimulation when her memories merged.

...

...

Without the pressure of the high school entrance exam, Qiao Sang found studying much more relaxed. She no longer just memorized facts by rote.

"Deep Fur Turtle belongs to the Earth element, commonly inhabits desert and tropical regions, has black eye rings, and is not good at swimming."

You're a turtle, and you're not good at swimming?

If you can't swim, why are you a turtle?

If you're a turtle, why are you an Earth element instead of a Water element?

"Steel Rat should not be exposed to rain, as its body can rust, and it prefers sunlight."

Why would an extraordinary being rust?

If it's made of steel and can rust when exposed to rain, why does it like sunlight?

Isn't it afraid of oxidation and rusting?

The more common knowledge she saw, the more she wanted to comment.

But because of this, Qiao Sang found studying interesting and didn't need to force herself to memorize.

Soon, school was over.

Qiao Sang was still at her desk when a girl with black-rimmed glasses walked over, "Qiao Sang, the teacher wants you to go to the office."

Qiao Sang was taken aback, "I know."

The girl with glasses was named Ma Xiao, the class study committee member. She was used to the teacher calling Qiao Sang to the office.

As the class's resident third from the bottom, this was a regular occurrence for Qiao Sang.

The original Qiao Sang was used to it, but the current Qiao Sang was not.

Especially when the teacher's spittle flew onto her face.

"What's wrong with you! The high school entrance exam is just around the corner, and you score like this! How do you explain this to yourself and your parents!"

Qiao Sang took a step back, "Tea...cher, calm down."

Phew, almost called him "old man"...

"Calm down! How can I calm down! I've never seen a student as bad as you in all my years of teaching!" The teacher intensified his spittle attack.

As a top student in her previous life, Qiao Sang had never experienced such treatment. She took another step back, "There's a reason for my poor score."

The teacher glared, "What reason?"

"Actually, I awakened on my own, and my brain hasn't caught up yet."

At this moment, Qiao Sang was impressed by her own quick thinking.

"Huh." The teacher sneered, "It seems the teacher has been too lenient with you."

Qiao Sang was puzzled. What does this have to do with being lenient?

The teacher pulled out a phone book from his drawer, opened it, and dialed a number.

Soon, the call was connected.

"Is this Qiao Sang's parent? I'm Qiao Sang's homeroom teacher. Do you have time to come to the school?"

Qiao Sang: "..."