C1 The System Activation.
At the gates of Pinghai No.1 High School, a group of teenagers were deep in conversation after the final bell.
"The college entrance exams are just a month away. Have you guys figured out which colleges you're aiming for?"
"We've only got one college around here. Which one are you thinking of applying to?"
"Maybe he's got his sights set on Ningjiang City's Beastmaster Academy."
"He doesn't even have his Apprentice Beastmaster qualification. There's no way he can enroll."
"We're all in the same boat!"
"What about you, Lin Ze?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Lin Ze shook his head.
"I haven't made up my mind yet."
The boys exchanged knowing smiles and left it at that.
They were all too aware of each other's circumstances.
None of them were particularly gifted; the Beastmaster Academy was almost certainly out of reach.
Barring any surprises, their futures likely included attending a standard school and diligently working for a paycheck after graduation.
It was this very reality that had forged their friendship.
Soon after, they split up at the crossroads, waving goodbye before Lin Ze turned to head home.
He had been in this world for over half a month now, and it still felt foreign to him.
He had awoken one day to find himself in an unfamiliar world, transformed into a high school student on the cusp of exams.
The whole situation was bizarre.
Lin Ze couldn't shake the feeling that he might be dreaming.
But the harsh truth was that this was no dream.
He had actually transmigrated.
"All those transmigration novels I read, and now I've actually done it," he mused with a sigh, heading towards home.
Lin Ze wasn't one to wallow in pessimism.
Faced with this new reality, he had no choice but to accept it and force himself to adapt to his new identity and world.
In the days since his arrival, Lin Ze had begun to understand the basics of this world.
In essence, it was a place where supernatural powers were the norm.
Centuries ago, hordes of ferocious beasts had emerged from a dimensional rift, preying on humanity and plunging society into despair.
But humanity fought back. Through a brutal war, they discovered how to tame these beasts, giving rise to the Beastmasters.
Since then, with the rise of countless powerful Beastmasters, humans had managed to hold their ground against the onslaught.
Now, humans had established a thriving Beastmaster Civilization, controlling the planet's richest territories.
In this era, being a Beastmaster was synonymous with high status and class.
Anyone who became a Beastmaster was considered part of the elite.
Nearly every young person, Lin Ze included, aspired to wield such power.
In his previous life, he had longed for such extraordinary abilities. Now, becoming a Beastmaster seemed the quickest and most effective path to a better life in this world.
Strength was the key to mastering one's destiny—a truth that held fast in any world.
"Too bad it might be too difficult for me to reach that goal," Lin Ze lamented.
In this world, every young adult over eighteen could form a contract with their first pet.
The power of this initial pet depended largely on one's wealth and Soul Strength.
The greater a person's Soul Strength, the higher the level of pet they could contract.
But pets were expensive commodities.
Even the weakest Rank 1 Level 1 pet could cost tens of thousands, while a pet with potential could run into the hundreds of thousands—far beyond the means of the average person.
Most had no choice but to contract with the most affordable, weakest pets available.
Unfortunately, Lin Ze had no advantages in either wealth or Soul Strength.
His parents had perished in an accident three years prior.
Despite inheriting a substantial sum, Lin Ze found himself with limited funds at his disposal, as he needed to set aside money for future living expenses.
His only option was to purchase the most affordable pet.
Lin Ze's Soul Strength measured at 0.8, just shy of the college entrance exam average of 0.9, indicating that he barely qualified for beastmaster potential.
Yet, Lin Ze refused to accept defeat and was determined to bond with a pet.
Ultimately, he settled for a creature known as Little Snowball.
Upon summoning his pet, a flash of light revealed a basketball-sized, pure white snowball materializing from nowhere.
It hovered a few meters off the ground, its clear, lake-blue eyes gazing at Lin Ze with a small and intricately charming appearance that was irresistibly adorable.
However, for a pet, true value lies in combat capabilities and potential for growth.
By the standards of the Beastmaster Association, Little Snowball was classified as a Class F pet—the lowest tier.
Class F pets lack any evolutionary forms; their initial state is their peak.
Even with full training, its highest attainable level would be Rank 1 Level 2.
Its sole awakened skill was Frost Breathing, capable of expelling a gust of cold air akin to that from a refrigerator.
Little Snowball's combat prowess and potential for growth ranked at the very bottom among pets, earning it the designation of an ornamental pet.
"With only half a month until the college entrance exam, there's no way I can use it to get into the Beastmaster Academy," Lin Ze lamented, massaging his temples.
His prospects were grim.
Was he destined to live as an ordinary person?
He couldn't stand the thought!
It was then that a mechanical voice abruptly echoed in his mind.
"System recharge complete, activation commencing!"
"Activation successful!"
"The Achievement System is now officially online!"
Lin Ze was momentarily taken aback before a surge of elation hit him.
The System had remained dormant since his arrival in this world, simply because it was charging.
At last, he had something to fall back on!
Taking a deep breath to calm his excitement, Lin Ze was about to inquire further when a semi-transparent screen appeared before him.
"Name: Lin Ze"
"Physique: 1.0, Soul: 0.8"
"Level: None"
"Soul Power: 80/80"
"Soul Technique: None"
"Pet Beast: Little Snowball"
"Achievement Points: None"
"Note: The standard physique and soul attributes for an adult male are 1."
