C44 Then I Won't Hold Back Either.

The silence was eerie, as if the air itself was holding its breath.

Everyone stood frozen, unable to process what had just happened.

The turn of events had caught them completely off guard.

The Wind Lion, defeated with such ease?

It seemed impossible!

It took a good while for the crowd to snap out of their stupor.

"Am I seeing things?"

"He took down the Wind Lion that easily?"

"We're talking about a fourth-rank pet beast!"

A chorus of exclamations echoed around.

Luh Qiu's face was a mask of disbelief and shock.

"How can this be?"

He murmured to himself for what felt like an eternity before his realization hit him like a thunderbolt. His eyes locked onto Xie Yang.

"Is that really a fourth-rank pet beast?"

All eyes turned to Xie Yang, awaiting his confirmation.

Xie Yang, hearing the question, nodded with unshaken composure.

"Yes, it is."

Despite their suspicions, hearing Xie Yang's confirmation made everyone draw in a sharp breath.

A fourth-rank pet beast was no small matter!

Lian Xia, Han Xuemei, and the other freshmen with third-rank pets were already hailed as prodigies.

Yet, their pets paled in comparison to a fourth-rank.

"It truly is a fourth-rank pet beast."

"That's just unbelievable!"

"How did he manage that? He's practically our age."

"Not even the elite scions of Beastmaster families could achieve such a feat!"

For a moment, many felt as though they were caught in a surreal dream.

The reality before them was simply too astounding to comprehend!

Han Xuemei and Lian Xia were particularly shell-shocked.

Both hailing from Beastmaster families, they had been groomed among the elite since childhood, expending untold resources to reach their current heights.

They took pride in their strength and talent.

Even after being outpaced by Xie Yang in the previous ferocious beast hunt, they hadn't felt inferior to him.

Instead, they were determined to outdo Xie Yang.

But now, the stark reality of the chasm between them and Xie Yang had set in.

Confronted with such an insurmountable gap, a profound sense of defeat welled up within them.

"He's nothing short of a monster!"

Han Xuemei bit her lip, her expression a tumult of reluctance and awe.

She had been adored and flattered by countless people throughout her life. Yet, this was the first time she truly understood the complex emotions ordinary people felt when confronted with a genius whose talents seemed insurmountable.

Elsewhere, Yun Ye's face was a picture of defeat.

Falling behind in the rankings of ferocious beast hunting was one thing—it didn't necessarily prove anything. But the sight of Xie Yang's fourth-rank pet had starkly illuminated the vast chasm of strength between them, delivering an indescribable blow to his pride.

In stark contrast, Bai Tian, Moo Shuqin, and Zou Xinrui were a mix of astonishment and elation.

Their joy stemmed from Xie Yang's victory over Luh Qiu.

Their astonishment was due to the realization that their earlier speculation had indeed come to fruition.

It was clear that the humanoid pet, which bore a striking resemblance to a human girl, must be the evolved form of the Ice Crystal Soul.

"Xie is incredibly strong!"

"Absolutely. In just over half a month, his pet has evolved yet again!"

Moo Shuqin and Zou Xinrui couldn't contain their admiration, gazing at Xie Yang with starry eyes.

Bai Tian remained silent, her face alight with a joyful smile as she watched Xie Yang.

"A freshman with a fourth-rank pet? This can't be real."

Luh Qiu's face twisted into a wry smile.

Never before had Nightbay Academy seen such a prodigy among its new students.

Moo Yaoyao and Luo Tu exchanged glances, their eyes filled with disbelief.

When the current top student had first claimed the title among the freshmen, his pet had only been at the ninth layer of the third rank. That had been a sensation in its own right.

But now, compared to Xie Yang, it seemed almost trivial.

"Luh Qiu."

Xie Yang's voice snapped Luh Qiu and the others out of their stupor.

"Are you willing to continue the fight?"

He was referring to Luh Qiu's other pet, the Wind Slasher Mantis.

Luh Qiu let out a bitter chuckle and shook his head.

"I'm not in the mood for masochism. The Wind Slasher Mantis won't stand a chance against your pet. I concede this match."

As Luh Qiu openly acknowledged his defeat, a buzz swept through the surrounding crowd.

Before the challenge had even begun, who could have imagined Xie Yang triumphing over Luh Qiu?

The ending was absolutely unforeseen!

Many examinees regarded Xie Yang with awe and admiration.

Whether or not Xie Yang could overcome today's challenge, his position as the top newcomer remained unshakable.

After conceding, Luh Qiu stepped down.

Next up was Moo Yaoyao, who approached with determination.

"Xie, your next challenge is me," she declared.

Moo Yaoyao's gaze was intense as she faced Xie Yang.

"I must acknowledge that even as a freshman, your abilities nearly match ours. Therefore, I won't be holding back in the fight ahead."

Beside her, two pet beasts materialized.

One was a colossal tortoise, its shell thick and bristling with spikes.

The other was a towering humanoid beast, two meters tall, resembling an erect lizard.

Xie Yang's quick assessment identified the creatures.

Armor Piercing Turtle and Yellow Sand Lizard Man.

Both were earth attribute beasts of the fourth rank.

"This senior must be a beastmaster with a focus on the earth attribute," Xie Yang surmised.

Many beastmasters chose to specialize in a particular attribute to better nurture their pets and enhance their own prowess.

Moo Yaoyao was a prime example.

Luh Qiu, in contrast, had honed his skills in the wind attribute, as evidenced by his wind attribute beasts.

The crowd of onlookers gasped as Moo Yaoyao summoned two fourth-rank beasts, realizing the gravity of the situation.

In retrospect, Luh Qiu had been merciful in earlier battles, only calling forth one beast at a time.

Had he deployed both simultaneously, Xie Yang's victory would not have come so easily.

A tense hush fell over the spectators.

All eyes were on Xie Yang, curious to see how he would respond.

Bai Tian looked visibly anxious.

Moo Shuqin reassured her, "Relax, Tian. Brother Xie's got this!"

Yet, her confidence wavered slightly.

The odds were stacked against Xie Yang.

Facing a full-force attack from a sophomore was a daunting prospect for any freshman.

"Moo Yaoyao means business. He's in for a tough fight," Luh Qiu remarked, barely concealing his schadenfreude.

Luo Tu shot him a dismissive glance, "Feeling smug? Remember, you lost your match. By the rules, you're only getting half the resources you won this time."

Luh Qiu grumbled with a hint of defiance, "I was merely caught off guard. Had I known he possessed a fourth-rank pet, I certainly wouldn't have pulled any punches."

Before he could finish his thought, Xie Yang's serene voice cut through.

"If you're ready to give it your all, then I see no reason to restrain myself."

In a flash of light before Xie Yang, a towering and muscular figure materialized from nowhere.

It was the first time the Rock Ghost made its presence known to the onlookers.