Genius Beast Taming: Starting from Awakening an S-Rank Talent

Zhou Heng's eyes flickered: "What's wrong, Senior Yixuan?"

Li Lang quickly recounted the whole story: "Do you remember how much effort Gu Yixuan put into participating in a competition at their Blacksmith Academy? Gu Yixuan won against a fellow student from the Qiongqi Meng family, named Meng Lide, who was extremely petty and therefore harbored a grudge against Gu Yixuan. Later, due to various reasons, the two had some friction. Until a few days ago, the Blacksmith Academy organized an activity for senior students to explore a secret realm outside the Cold Moon Cave. Meng Lide actually led a group of people to ambush and kill Gu Yixuan in the secret realm. Fortunately, Gu Yixuan escaped by sheer luck, but his second summoned beast perished as a result, causing him considerable harm." The backlash could affect his subsequent level advancement. After Gu Yixuan reported this matter to the school, his professor, Zhilan Hou, not only didn't help him but also suppressed him, burying the matter. This was because the Qiongqi Meng family not only had lecturers and professors at Hanyue University, but even the dean of the Blacksmith Academy, Yun Jian Hou, was from the Qiongqi Meng family. Although Gu Yixuan's professor, Zhilan Hou, was also a seventh-level noble beast tamer, he only came from a small aristocratic family and couldn't afford to offend the Qiongqi Meng family. Therefore, the school's punishment for Meng Lide was very lenient, only requiring him to apologize, which was insignificant to Meng Lide, and he wasn't even compensated with a few bottles of medicine to treat the backlash.

Zhou Heng asked expressionlessly, "What kind of talent does this Meng Lide possess?"

Li Lang quickly said, "A-level talent. Fortunately, he only has an A-level talent. Although he has the backing of the Qiongqi Meng family, he can't mobilize enough resources. If he had an S-level talent, he would have killed Gu Yixuan long ago."

A dangerous glint flashed in Zhou Heng's eyes: "Although my relationship with Senior Yixuan isn't exactly close, he's still someone I know. How could Meng Lide, as a member of the Qiongqi Meng family, not know this? He actually dared to go against Senior Yixuan; he simply doesn't take me seriously. It seems I've been too mild-mannered, making some people think that provoking me won't come at a price."

Li Lang guessed, "He probably doesn't understand your personality. Moreover, as a member of a prominent family, he naturally tends to view things from the perspective of aristocratic families and judge others by his own standards. He probably thinks that Gu Yixuan comes from a humble background, and as the young master of a large aristocratic family, you must care a lot about social status. He probably doesn't consider Gu Yixuan as one of your own. In addition, your relationship with Gu Yixuan isn't that close, so it's impossible for you to stand up for Gu Yixuan over such a small matter."

Zhou Heng wasn't angry because Meng Lide was causing trouble for Gu Yixuan, but because Meng Lide didn't respect him: "No matter what, the fact that Meng Lide dared to gang up on Senior Yixuan shows that he doesn't have enough respect for me. Even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner! Besides, Senior Yixuan is my friend."

Many people in positions of power are very protective of their own, partly due to their personality and partly driven by self-interest.

If you don't protect your own, the people around you will definitely have doubts.

People under your command may feel that the person they follow is unreliable, and their loyalty will inevitably waver.

The opposing side will also think that this person is an easy target, someone they can test at will, and even use various means to bully them.

Over time, this will lead to a significant drop in authority.

Therefore, those in positions of power must protect their own.

Li Lang asked, "What are you planning to do? Go straight to their door, or go to your fourth senior brother to put pressure on Yun Jianhou, the dean of the Blacksmith Academy?"

"Why go through all that trouble?"

Zhou Heng addressed the void, saying, "Nephew Tianyin, Nephew Qianren."

The void rippled and swayed like water, and two figures, one black and one yellow, appeared: "Junior Uncle, what are your orders?"

Zhou Heng said directly, "Go and call the dean of the Blacksmith Academy over for me."

"Yes, sir." Marquis Tianyin and Marquis Qianren immediately accepted the order and left.

Soon, Yun Jianhou, the current dean of the Blacksmith Academy, who was born into the Qiongqi Meng family and served as the Supreme Elder of the Qiongqi Meng family, appeared before Zhou Heng along with Tianyinhou and Qianrenhou.

Yun Jianhou was dressed in a white robe embroidered with flame patterns. He looked to be over sixty years old, but his gray hair was neatly combed.

Upon seeing Zhou Heng, he immediately knelt at Zhou Heng's feet, saying with trepidation, "Greetings, Young Alliance Leader! Please forgive me, Young Alliance Leader. I was completely unaware of what my unworthy descendants had done, and I had absolutely no intention of protecting them, much less any thought of opposing you, Young Alliance Leader. Please see the truth, Young Alliance Leader."

Yun Jianhou was not only a seventh-tier feudal lord beast tamer, but also an eighth-tier blacksmith. Even when facing a true eighth-tier monarch beast tamer, he would not be so humble.

But this time was different; he was facing Zhou Heng.

Behind Zhou Heng is the world's strongest expert, Xuan Chen Supreme, who has already advanced to the tenth-order Supreme Beast Tamer.

Moreover, he was in the wrong this time. Although it was a small matter in essence, Zhou Heng was young and impulsive. If he really wanted to make a big deal out of it and take it to the Xuan Chen Supreme, even if he had the Qiongqi Meng family behind him, he would not have a good outcome.

Therefore, he wanted to use this extremely humble attitude to gain Zhou Heng's understanding.

His tactic really worked.

Zhou Heng wasn't a vicious person. Seeing that Yun Jianhou was so sensible, he merely glanced at Yun Jianhou and said indifferently, "I don't want to waste any more words. You handle this matter yourself!"

"Please rest assured, Little Alliance Leader, I will definitely give you a satisfactory answer. I will go and deal with all the people involved."

Yun Jianhou of the Qiongqi Meng family took out a storage ring and presented it to Zhou Heng with both hands: "In addition, although I was unaware of this matter before, as the Supreme Elder of the Qiongqi Meng family and the Dean of the Forging Academy, I have inadvertently acted as a protector for those below me, and I cannot escape blame. This is my humble apology, please do not find it offensive, Young Alliance Leader."

Zhou Heng waved his hand and took the storage ring offered by Yun Jianhou into his palm. He used his spiritual power to probe it and found that there were thirty seventh-order treasures and five eighth-order treasures inside.

Although Yun Jianhou is an eighth-level blacksmith, the materials for forging treasures are not cheap, and it takes a considerable amount of time. The fact that he could produce so many high-level treasures at once must have come at a huge cost.

Zhou Heng's expression immediately softened considerably: "Dean Meng, ignorance is no excuse. As long as one can turn back from the wrong path, that is the greatest good. You are highly respected in our Hanyue University, and I believe you can handle things well."

Yun Jianhou of the Qiongqi Meng family breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you for your magnanimity, Young Alliance Leader! I am deeply grateful."

Zhou Heng then waved his hand.

Yun Jianhou of the Qiongqi Meng family wisely bowed and said, "This old man takes his leave."

Then, the void behind him rippled like water. He bent over and took a step back, his figure disappearing from Zhou Heng's sight.