Wow!
It was a trending news article she stumbled upon by chance.
Reportedly, fluctuations in spatial rifts were detected in the Yunnan region of Huaguo. Instrument readings suggested a high likelihood of an oceanic expanse inside, with no isolated islands—meaning access would require either marine or airborne mystical beasts.
Given the vastness of the ocean within the spatial rift and the potential presence of powerful marine creatures, recent recruitment for the exploration team has favored airborne mystical beasts by default.
"But even if we choose bird-type mystical beasts, it doesn't guarantee entry, does it?" Yao Chen frowned; she had heard about this too.
"Also, my dad mentioned that only super mystical beast tamers are allowed inside that spatial rift, which tells you how dangerous it is."
Gao Yuanzhi was taken aback upon hearing this.
He scratched his nose and awkwardly replied, "I didn't know that. After all, I'm not some walking encyclopedia."
Yao Chen was about to say more, but the next second, excited chatter erupted inside the vehicle as the teenagers rushed to the windows, with some even letting out barks of excitement.
"The base is right there!"
"Whoa! It's huge!"
Cheers and exclamations filled the air.
Li Miao turned to look out the window and, sure enough, saw a colossal structure looming ahead—
It was an immense steel fortress, flanked by towering walls that stretched into the sky, obscuring everything beyond. On those walls, neatly arranged artillery, equipment, and patrolling soldiers—some clad in armor, others mounted on mystical beasts—stood watch, giving the impression of a slumbering lion from afar.
Li Miao's jaw dropped.
This was probably the first time in her life she'd seen a military base up close.
"So cool..."
She unconsciously licked her lips and even leaned halfway out the window for a better look.
In her previous life as an ordinary person, the highest authority she'd ever encountered was the armed police at a bank—something she'd only seen in passing. Now, she had the chance to enter a military base and participate in combat training!?
Heavens!
This had to be the school pulling some serious strings!
Li Miao distinctly remembered that none of the seniors in previous years had received such treatment.
At this thought, an uneasy feeling crept over her.
This was too strange.
Why would the school suddenly arrange for them to undergo combat training when they had only just started taming mystical beasts?
Moreover, the Mystical Beast Tamer Code generally recommended trainers beyond Level 10 for such exercises.
Just as she was pondering this, Li Miao caught a fleeting black shadow darting past in her peripheral vision.
From what she glimpsed, it resembled... a bat?
Unsure, she pulled her head back inside.
The vehicle slowly came to a halt at the base entrance.
The students eagerly disembarked, grabbing their luggage and dragging their canine companions along. Li Miao, meanwhile, tugged at her overly excited husky and glanced back at Chen Bin, who was still seated, waiting for everyone to exit.
After a brief hesitation, she asked, "Instructor... are there wild mystical beasts near the base?"
Chen Bin gave her a puzzled look. "No, all the wild beasts in this area were driven out of the city long ago. Why? Did you see something?"
"Not sure," the girl replied. "Whatever it was moved too fast. All I caught was a shadow."
Frowning, Chen Bin pressed, "What did you see?"
Li Miao described the bat-like creature she'd glimpsed, though whether it was domesticated or wild wasn't her concern.
Still, her account was enough to put Chen Bin on alert. The man frowned and reached for his phone.
By the time Chen Bin finished his call, the vehicle was nearly empty, with even Li Miao already outside, merging with the crowd.
Chen Bin stepped out and instructed everyone to gather their belongings before leading them to the registration desk at the main gate.
The check-in point was housed in a guardhouse in front of the base.
Despite being just a security checkpoint, the interior was vast—easily the size of a shopping mall. Inside, they were greeted by a two-meter-tall bear clad in silver armor, lumbering forward with an endearingly clumsy gait.
Li Miao's eyes gleamed.
Another fluffy creature!
Adorable! Must pet!
"Roar!"
The beast let out a low growl before turning to guide the group toward the registration desk.
Nearby, aside from the armored bear, were other mystical beasts—a fox-like canine and a floating jellyfish, translucent and refracting prismatic light, exuding grace and elegance.
Li Miao couldn't help but stare at the jellyfish.
"That's a Glimmer Jellyfish," Gao Yuanzhi whispered as he sidled up. "I really want one... Rumor has it they're spatial-type, with built-in micro pockets."
Li Miao's eyes lit up.
Space—now that was essentially a walking wallet!
"Too bad Glimmer Jellyfish can't evolve, and their storage space maxes out at about the size of a palm. Real shame." Gao Yuanzhi sighed before launching into an explanation for Li Miao.
For instance: Bronze-tier creatures, their spatial capacity fixed regardless of level-ups, equipped with only a basic storage skill, and practically zero spatial abilities—making them among the least desirable mystical beasts on the market.
Yet, thanks to clever marketing capitalizing on their spatial attribute and photogenic looks, Glimmer Jellyfish had somehow squeezed into the luxury category.
Hearing this, Li Miao's interest immediately waned.
Had the jellyfish been reasonably priced, she might have considered it—especially since her Evolution Tome could bypass its limitations.
But with a price tag exceeding a million, coupled with her family's recent financial nosedive after purchasing her husky, Li Miao resigned herself to giving up.
"Husky, I've decided. Starting tomorrow, we're tightening our belts. So no more canned food for you."
Husky: ???
You're so noble! You're amazing! You're broke, so you dock my treats!?
The husky nearly kicked her kneecap in fury.
Yet Li Miao, the absolute demon, remained unfazed.
"Come on, it's our turn."
Holding the flailing, outraged husky as effortlessly as a plastic bag, she approached the registration desk and signed her name and ID.
Thinking she was done, the clerk pointed to another ledger.
"Your mystical beast's ID registration. Don't forget to fill that out too."
Li Miao froze.
She stared at the ledger, then at her husky.
Husky: ???
Taking in the blank confusion on the dog's goofy black-and-white face, Li Miao said earnestly, "What if... I forgot my mystical beast's ID number?"
The clerk: "..."
He couldn't help but deadpan. "If you can't even remember your own mystical beast's ID, why bother signing up for training camp? Why not just forget your brain while you're at it?"