Chapter 1: Tengteng Flew Halfway?
“Look, look, that girl with the ponytail is Ge Bai. In today’s entire Spiritual Consciousness Development Test, she has the highest score. I have a reliable source: this year, only about 10% Spiritual Consciousness Development across the whole city, and including her, there are only 7 people.”
“9.9%! What kind of monster is this? I heard she’s an orphan too. I’m only 2.5%, my dad is going to kill me.”
“She’ll definitely break through 10% steadily before the middle school entrance exam. So envious.”
Ge Bai had just completed her Spiritual Consciousness Development Test. The 9.9% clearly displayed on the testing instrument brought a small shock to everyone present.
According to the Interstellar Federation Basic Law, all teenagers aged 15-16 must undergo a unified Spiritual Consciousness Development Test before the middle school entrance exam.
This is also the earliest time that current technology can test Spiritual Consciousness Development.
This year, over 110,000 students from 15 districts in Jinggang City took the test, and Ge Bai’s level was undoubtedly among the top performers.
The Meditation Method for developing Spiritual Consciousness was made public by the Interstellar Federation 172 years ago and is part of the 9 years of compulsory education for teenagers.
Thanks to this, Ge Bai, who grew up in the Welfare Institute, had the opportunity to develop her Spiritual Consciousness through her own efforts.
“Sigh, don’t celebrate too early. Maybe during the second test for spirit-type creature affinity value, she doesn’t have Pet Beast Affinity Attribute. Then what’s the use of high Spiritual Consciousness Development?”
“How is that possible? Have you ever seen someone who autonomously develops Spiritual Consciousness to 10% without Pet Beast Affinity Attribute!”
Ge Bai disconnected from the testing instrument and walked out on her own, ignoring the envious exclamations and jealous sarcastic remarks around her.
It was already 11 a.m. now. It was her turn for cleaning duty today, and she still needed to hurry back to the Blue Star Welfare Institute to help Teacher Xiaolu make lunch.
This year marked the sixteenth year that Ge Bai had been in this world.
In her previous life, after working continuously for over 30 hours, Ge Bai suddenly died in her cubicle in the office building.
When she regained consciousness again, she had become an infant in swaddling clothes at the doorway of the Blue Star Welfare Institute.
She originally thought she could easily live another life relying on memories from her previous one, but Ge Bai discovered that this world was completely different from Earth!
221 years ago, under the influence of galactic β rays, plants and animals on ancient Blue Star began to mutate worldwide, with their intelligence and physical strength soaring.
Some super variants even evolved unimaginable skills, developing strong aggression toward cities and villages, plunging human society into chaos for a time.
After over 20 years of resistance and research, Huaguo scientists were the first to explore the path of Beast Tamers to stably control Spirit Beasts and made it public to all society.
Through Meditation, one can develop Spiritual Consciousness. Every 5% increase in Spiritual Consciousness Development allows contracting one Spirit Beast, turning it into a Pet Beast and storing it in the Spiritual Consciousness Space.
Through cultivating and educating Pet Beasts, promote their evolution to grow into War Beasts.
Relying on Beast Tamers and War Beasts, humanity gradually quelled the global mutation disaster and steadily expanded into interstellar space, currently having occupied and developed 5 planets suitable for human habitation.
After over a hundred years of development, Beast Tamers are not only the mainstay of the Interstellar Corps but have also become indispensable in all aspects of modern society.
Construction, logistics—without the help of Pet Beasts, humanity would be utterly helpless.
But not everyone can become a Beast Tamer.
Contracting with Spirit Beasts requires two initial conditions: one is Spiritual Consciousness Development reaching 5%. Most ordinary people can only reach 15%-18% Spiritual Consciousness Development Level in their lifetime.
There are also a small number of people who, no matter how hard they try, cannot break through 5% in Spiritual Consciousness Development Level.
In addition, contracting Spirit Beasts requires Pet Beast Affinity Attribute. Researchers divide affinity attributes into six levels: extremely low, Not Up to Standard, Up to Standard, Good, Excellent, Extremely High.
Only Up to Standard or above can contract with Spirit Beasts; otherwise, Spirit Beasts will strongly resist, leading to contract failure.
Statistics show that the population with Pet Beast Affinity Attribute Up to Standard or above barely reaches half of the total population.
Fortunately, 72 years ago, the Interstellar Federation Spirit Plant Research Center achieved a major breakthrough, finding some Spirit Plants that can contract with humans.
Spiritual Consciousness Development Level reaching 2% allows contracting with Spirit Plants to become a Spirit Planter.
Most contractable Spirit Plants are fruit trees or grain types, providing auxiliary support for Pet Beasts.
Although the current compatibility between Spirit Plants and humans, and human cultivation of Spirit Plants, are far inferior to the Beast Taming system, it still gives many people opportunities to improve their lives.
Coincidentally, most people without Pet Beast Affinity Attribute possess Spirit Plant Affinity.
Ge Bai wasn’t too worried about her own Affinity Attribute Test at this moment.
Indeed, as that passerby just said, the higher the autonomous Spiritual Consciousness Development Level, the higher the probability of having high Pet Beast Affinity Attribute.
In this era, contracting a Pet Beast to become a Beast Tamer is everyone’s pursuit.
As for Spirit Planter, that’s a choice far inferior to Beast Tamer.
Walking out of the testing building, Ge Bai passed the Eagle Falcon stop, watching rows of tall, handsome Eagle Falcons standing neatly in the designated parking area by the roadside.
Pilots wearing helmets and uniforms uniformly solicited passengers beside the Eagle Falcons, occasionally grooming their own Eagle Falcon’s feathers. The large birds, much taller than humans, would lower their heads and affectionately rub against the pilots.
“Little girl, today ‘Eagle Di’ has exclusive discount coupons for students. Ride our company’s Eagle Falcon FlyDi at half price.” The pilot saw Ge Bai looking like a student and hurried forward to solicit her.
This Eagle Falcon with brown base and black feathers also cooperatively flapped its wings, raising its head high to show Ge Bai a fit side neck profile.
It made Ge Bai’s heart itch. She thought to herself: “Maybe contract a large bird species for my first Pet Beast. They’re really so handsome.”
Thinking was one thing, but Ge Bai touched her pocket and firmly shook her head.
Taking an Eagle Falcon back to the Blue Star Welfare Institute, even with a half-price coupon, would cost 12 Alliance Coins. Taking the bus back only costs 1 Alliance Coin.
The Alliance’s suspended electric buses aren’t slow at all. Taking the bus back now wouldn’t delay helping Teacher Xiaolu cook.
“Abi, Abi.” As soon as Ge Bai reached the doorway of the Blue Star Welfare Institute, she saw Camilla on the Eucalyptus Tree in the yard waving its right paw at her.
Ge Bai quickened her pace to the Eucalyptus Tree and opened her arms. “Bibi, are you waiting for me?”
The chubby gray-furred Camilla, only as tall as an adult’s thigh, slowly climbed down from the trunk. Halfway down, Ge Bai couldn’t wait and hugged it into her arms.
Camilla didn’t resist, wrapping around Ge Bai’s neck and resting its head on her shoulder, calling “Abi Abi.”
“Eat less Eucalyptus Tree leaves! Eating too many will make you dumb!”
“Abi! Abi!”
“Even if it’s tasty, eat less. I’ll bring you Good Dream Fruits tonight; they’re better than Eucalyptus Tree leaves.”
“Abi.”
This Camilla named Bibi is Teacher Xiaolu’s Pet Beast. Although its evolution level is only 2, far from War Beast standard, it has a gentle temperament and usually takes good care of the little ones in the Welfare Institute.
Ge Bai and Bibi practically grew up together.
Holding Camilla, Ge Bai went straight to the kitchen. Teacher Xiaolu and two other aunts were busy.
“Bai Bai is back?”
“The test results are good, right?”
Ge Bai smiled and greeted the aunts, sat down next to Teacher Xiaolu, and helped her pick vegetables. Everyone was even happier hearing Ge Bai’s Spiritual Consciousness Development Test results.
“Don’t fuss, go rest. You still have to go to the Research Institute this afternoon for the Affinity Attribute Test.” Teacher Xiaolu was only in her early 30s, short in stature, and appeared especially gentle.
She is the daughter of the old director of this Blue Star Welfare Institute. The old director passed away a few years ago, and she single-handedly kept the Blue Star Welfare Institute going.
“It’s fine. Resting won’t make the Affinity Attribute any higher.” Ge Bai shook her head, her hands not stopping.
She could still clearly remember 16 years ago, when the teenage Teacher Xiaolu carried her in swaddling clothes in from the doorway.
Back then, Teacher Xiaolu fumbled even with mixing formula, but still raised her bit by bit, like a mother and like a sister.
Teacher Xiaolu didn’t insist, shook the water off her hands, and tapped Ge Bai’s forehead. “You and your arguments.”
“Have Wu Da Mi and Liu Hao come back? How were their test results?”
“They came back an hour earlier than you. Da Mi 5.7%, Hao Hao 6.2%. They’re probably in the activity room checking homework for the little ones right now.”
This year, the Blue Star Welfare Institute has only these three third-year junior high students.
Hearing this result, Ge Bai paused her hands for a moment but didn’t say anything.
Teacher Xiaolu knew what she wanted to ask and said gently: “They just told me they’ve already decided. After the afternoon Affinity Attribute Test, whether it’s affinity for Spirit Beasts or Spirit Plants, it doesn’t matter.”
“No full-time high school. Tomorrow they’ll apply for a loan, select a contract target, submit resumes, find jobs, then attend night school. They’ll manage to support themselves. They’re all good kids.”
This is the cruelty of this era.
Federation compulsory education is only 9 years. High school is divided into full-time high school and on-the-job night school.
Every third-year junior high student faces a major life choice.
Although theoretically, as long as they can contract with Spirit Beasts or Spirit Plants, they qualify for full-time high school admission.
But the high tuition for high school and the costs of purchasing and cultivating Spirit Beasts or Spirit Plants aren’t affordable for every family.
So many children from poor families, and Welfare Institute orphans like Ge Bai and the others, mostly choose the work-study program.
They take loans to buy Spirit Beasts, work during the day to repay loans and scrape together money for potions to cultivate Spirit Beasts, and attend on-the-job night school at night.
This way, Spirit Beast cultivation is naturally much slower. Forget evolving into War Beasts; even making ends meet is hard, and they might toil fruitlessly their whole lives.
Buying and cultivating Spirit Plants is cheaper than Spirit Beasts, but because Spirit Planters’ growth ceiling is too low, they basically have no independent battle capability.
Most can only become advanced gardeners or raw material suppliers for Spirit Beast potion companies.
Even the most excellent Spirit Planters who enter the Interstellar Corps can only serve in logistics support or auxiliary roles, so full-time high schools are especially strict with Spirit Planter admissions.
This results in most Spirit Planters seen in high schools and universities being leisurely rich kids or second-generation officials.
Ge Bai didn’t want to relive her life as a corporate drone. Even in her previous life, she was a high-earning corporate drone making a million a year.
From beginning to end, she only had the path of top student.
Basic top student requires 10% Spiritual Consciousness Development plus contracting a Spirit Beast, which waives high school tuition.
In addition, Shenglan High School and Jinggang No. 1 Middle School, these two provincial key high schools, have opened special recruitment channels for top students.
Special recruitment uses Pet Beast Battle mode. The final 5 winners not only have high school tuition waived but also receive high scholarships from the school, more than enough to cover general Pet Beast purchase costs.
Last year, Jinggang City’s selected No. 1 Seed Player for the Interstellar Alliance Battle was a special recruit from Shenglan High School, reportedly from a poor background too.
So ever since Ge Bai learned the Meditation Method, she practiced diligently day and night. Around this time last year, she felt her Spiritual Consciousness Development hit a bottleneck and couldn’t improve further no matter what.
But without testing, she didn’t know her exact level. Today she learned it was stuck at 9.9%.
Haven’t heard of teenagers under 16 having their Spiritual Consciousness Development stall? Ah, generally, it’s only after 50 that they reach the Spiritual Consciousness Development limit.
Ge Bai felt uneasy, wondering if it was because her soul and body weren’t compatible.
She prayed silently: “I hope the affinity test goes smoothly.”
————————
Afternoon 15:30, Jinggang City Research Institute Affinity Attribute Testing Center.
“Name: Ge Bai”
“Spiritual Consciousness Development Level: 9.9%”
“Pet Beast Affinity Attribute: Not Up to Standard”
“Spirit Plant Affinity: Extremely High”
“Career Planning: Recommended to contract with Spirit Plant and become a Spirit Planter.”
The clear mechanical female voice entered Ge Bai’s ears, exploding like thunder.
The surrounding testers whispered upon seeing this data.
“This is the first time I’ve seen such high Spiritual Consciousness Development Level with no Pet Beast affinity.”
“Really too bad.”
“But her Spirit Plant Affinity is ‘Extremely High’, which is rare too.”
“What’s the use? No matter how high, it’s just a Spirit Planter.”
Ge Bai clenched her teeth tightly, forcing herself to step down from the testing instrument.
She knew it—this damn heaven never intended to let her have it easy.
Others reborn have smooth sailing, systems at their side. She, with orphan start, not to mention, after nearly 16 hard years, didn’t even see a single system hair.
She had basically given up, ready to forge her own path, but then hit such a huge pit on the way!
Ge Bai was on the verge of collapse. She didn’t know what all these years of hard Meditation practice were for.
She had even picked out her Pet Beast and planned early cultivation schemes over and over—what potions have what effects and prices, she knew by heart.
She had even prepared for special recruitment battles, watched countless Pet Beast Battle videos, and mentally rehearsed commanding Pet Beast Battles countless times.
Now? All useless. She really didn’t know what to do in the future—raise a fruit tree and be a corporate drone?
In a daze, she returned to the Blue Star Welfare Institute. Teacher Xiaolu was holding Bibi at the yard doorway. Ge Bai forced a smile at Teacher Xiaolu.
She didn’t know that her pale face, stiff muscles, and that forced smile looked utterly awful.
Seeing Ge Bai like this, Teacher Xiaolu understood everything without asking, feeling especially heartbroken.
She set down Bibi and stepped forward to hug the little girl.
Bibi also sensed Ge Bai’s sadness, climbed to her side, and hugged her leg tightly.
“Go back to your room and rest. It’ll be okay, everything will be okay.”
Teacher Xiaolu’s comfort seemed especially powerless.
Ge Bai nodded, rubbed her face hard on Teacher Xiaolu’s shoulder, eyes red, and rushed back to the girls’ dorm with her head down.
Teacher Xiaolu watched Ge Bai’s back and let out a long sigh.
Such a hardworking little girl—this blow was really too big for her.
————
Midnight, Blue Star Welfare Institute girls’ dorm.
Ge Bai buried herself under the quilt, uncharacteristically not meditating, just staring blankly with open eyes.
She had long forgotten what day it was today and wasn’t expecting anything.
But sometimes, surprises come unexpectedly.
Midnight.
“Ding, Shen Nong 2.7 System awakened.”
A crisp electronic voice sounded in Ge Bai’s mind.
She sat up abruptly.
Moonlight shone brightly outside the window, the children on surrounding beds were fast asleep, and the wall clock pointed to midnight.
Only then did she remember—today, this moment, she was sixteen years old.
