Chapter 263: Your Beast Pet, Can I Borrow It for a While?

Oral examination is the most difficult assessment method in a Beast Tamer's theoretical assessment.

Examinees do not use a brush to write answers; instead, they answer orally.

When answering with a pen, one can think, ponder, and even correct mistakes. This is not possible with an oral examination.

One must answer immediately upon hearing the question, with no time for thought and no opportunity for revision. Once started, it means providing the correct answer directly; any mistake signifies failure.

This form of theoretical assessment, much like the 'Pill Debate' in the Alchemist Guild, is specifically designed for renowned masters to reduce examination time and to test their mastery and recall of knowledge.

A normal theoretical assessment takes an hour to complete, but the oral examination format can finish in half that time.

Although the time difference between one hour and half an hour is not significant, this format demands an exceptionally high level of quick reaction and mastery of fundamental knowledge. Consequently, almost no one dares to attempt it; since this Beast Hall branch was established a thousand years ago, no one has ever challenged this assessment.

Hall Master Feng and the others never dreamed that this man, who looked so exhausted he could faint at any moment, would actually choose this method!

"Yes!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"You need to think this through carefully. An oral examination allows no time for thought, and once you make a mistake, there's no chance to change it..." Hall Master Feng couldn't help but advise against it.

"I know," Zhang Xuan nodded, "but I'm simply too tired to hold a pen. Just using my mouth will be simpler!"

"Since you insist, let's begin!" Seeing the other party's firm gaze, not appearing to be joking, Hall Master Feng said no more. He took a few steps forward, took the exam paper back into his hand, and looked up. "Tell me about the characteristics of the Golden-Armored Iron-Toothed Beast!"

"The Golden-Armored Iron-Toothed Beast is entirely covered in golden scales, possesses extremely strong defense, and is a type of Aperture Realm savage beast. It lives between swamps and mountains, feeding on green bamboo grass, and is active at night, resting during the day... This is recorded in Senior Hu Yao's 'Outline of Beast Taming'. The 'Compendium of Iron-Toothed Beasts' left by Beast Tamer Bai Zhen has slightly different records; according to his observations, the Golden-Armored Iron-Toothed Beast prefers cool temperatures, and its dwelling places are often located in shady areas..."

"Thirty years ago, Senior Duojie of the Beast Hall compiled all previous theories. After years of research, it was discovered that what we refer to as the Golden-Bodied Iron-Toothed Beast is not a single species, but can actually be divided into three categories. Those living in swamps can be called Swamp Iron-Toothed Beasts, those in mountains are called Mountain Iron-Toothed Beasts, and those in shady areas can be referred to as Shady-Area Iron-Toothed Beasts."

"These three types of Iron-Toothed Beasts have distinct differences: first, a specific scale in the center of their forehead is unique; second, their tail structure differs... If you wish to examine their characteristics further, you can consult his 'Detailed Explanation of Golden-Bodied Iron-Toothed Beasts,' located in the library on the seventeenth shelf, near the left side!"

Zhang Xuan looked on with a calm expression.

"This... completely correct!" The Golden-Armored Iron-Toothed Beast is not a common savage beast, and its classification is even more complex. Most people, upon seeing this question, would be considered essentially correct if they could describe its physical characteristics. Not only did the other party state everything, but he even introduced the books left by the seniors and even... stated the exact location of the books in the library! Damn, is he even human?

Everyone around them widened their eyes, and not a sound was heard.

"Characteristics of the Iron-Spine Monkey savage beast!"

"The Iron-Spine Monkey has a massive, prominent spine on its back, from which most of its strength derives. Its feet are large, and it runs swiftly. Although it is a monkey, it cannot climb trees, and its body shape resembles some large ape-like savage beasts... These characteristics are recorded in 'Discourse on Miscellaneous Mountain Savage Beasts'. Senior Zashan was a relatively renowned Beast Tamer of the Beast Hall about 140 years ago..."

Before the crowd could fully recover their senses, Hall Master Feng posed another question, and the young man opposite answered again without the slightest hesitation.

The two went back and forth, question and answer, at an extremely fast pace. Often, while the others were still pondering whether the previous answer was correct, the next question had already been posed and answered.

In everyone's eyes, this young man, less than twenty years old, seemed as if he were looking at the correct answers. His responses were not only detailed, but he also articulated various possibilities, deductions, and even conjectures about information vaguely recorded in books.

His answers were flawless; no mistakes could be found.

"Completely correct!" "Completely correct!" "Savage beast, River-Roaming Insect's habitat... correct!" "Why Three-River Worm and Savage Beast Du Ming Bird cannot coexist... correct answer!"

One question after another was posed by Hall Master Feng, and the repeated exclamations left him almost numb.

At first, he thought the other party only happened to know one or two questions, assuming that once he got to the harder ones later on, the answers wouldn't come so quickly.

But the result was... despite looking drowsy and as if he could faint at any moment, the other party answered faster and faster, to the point that even Hall Master Feng could barely keep up.

Most importantly...

The answers were fast, and flawless.

Had they not witnessed it themselves, they would not have dared to believe that such a prodigy could exist in the world!

No wonder he could identify the Cloud-Lightning Ancient Sparrow. In terms of memory for fundamental beast taming knowledge, even they were likely far inferior.

"This... this is impossible!"

"These questions... they're so difficult!"

The three Beast Tamers were astonished beyond belief. Zhou Xuan and Zhu Jinhuang, standing aside, were dumbfounded, and both saw terror in each other's eyes.

Even they found many of the questions Hall Master Feng had just asked to be ambiguous and difficult to answer.

It wasn't that their fundamental knowledge was weak, but that in many questions, the characteristics of numerous savage beasts were so similar that a slight oversight could lead to a mistake.

Just like the River-Roaming Insect mentioned earlier, although it sounds like a mere wild beast, it is actually an extremely powerful savage beast with external bones and immense strength.

Such a fierce savage beast, yet it can float on water without sinking. Upon hearing "River-Roaming," many people would assume it lives on the water, but frustratingly, its suitable habitat is actually towering mountains...

It must be said that none of the questions posed by Hall Master Feng were simple. When they answered with a pen, they had to consider and reconsider carefully, yet this guy in front of them answered casually, as if without even thinking...

How did he do it?

Such rapid answers, without even needing to think! Let alone them, even the super genius, Miss Mo Yu, standing by, surely couldn't achieve that!

This performance absolutely indicates that this fundamental knowledge has been memorized to the bone!

Zhu Jinhuang and Zhou Xuan shivered involuntarily.

They actually questioned such a person, thinking he knew nothing and was just putting on a show?

Compared to him, their so-called mastery of fundamental knowledge was truly as ridiculous as knowing nothing at all.

At first glance, an oral examination seems similar to a written one: as long as the answer is correct, the time taken doesn't matter. However, as individuals with extensive knowledge of beast taming, they understood that these were fundamentally two different concepts.

During the beast tamer's taming process, unexpected incidents can easily occur. The faster knowledge is extracted from the mind, the quicker one can draw conclusions and make the most advantageous judgments.

At such times, every second counts. Once the initial opportunity is missed, many situations become incredibly complicated and much harder to resolve.

Precisely because of this, the so-called oral examination, though seemingly trivial, is actually a dream assessment method for countless beast tamers.

Every beast tamer who can complete it will surely become famous across many kingdoms in the future.

They had initially thought Zhang Xuan was just a clown seeking fame, who actually knew nothing about beast taming. They never imagined... not only were his oral answers correct, but he also answered without any thought, perfectly complete...

He was simply not human!

The two shivered, and Shen Biru, standing beside them, also parted her ruby lips.

An hour ago, this man didn't even know what a Beast Forest was, yet now he was speaking eloquently, full of confidence. Even she, no matter how foolish, understood there had to be something amiss.

"Perhaps he... truly has the talent of a Diviner!"

If there was still doubt before, now there was no longer any.

If he hadn't known the exam questions in advance, how could he have answered so quickly, without even needing to think?

As she grew suspicious, Miss Mo Yu, not far away, also furrowed her delicate brows, her eyes filled with suspicion as if pondering something.

"...That's all. Hall Master Feng, two Beast Masters, were my answers correct?"

After an unknown period of time, Zhang Xuan finished answering the last question and looked over with a faint smile.

"You... answered everything correctly, without a single mistake!"

After exchanging glances with the other two Beast Masters, Hall Master Feng nodded.

In less than half an hour, the other party had answered everything on his exam paper. Not only were there no mistakes, but he also stated the origin of every answer.

The precision and detail of his memory were such that even they had to admire it.

"All answers are correct; the first assessment stage is passed!"

Without pausing for long, Hall Master Feng announced the result, then looked over again. "The first stage is passed. Now we proceed to the second stage: taming a savage beast. For this stage, you have half a month. As long as you can achieve preliminary taming, you pass."

"Half a month? That's too long... Do you have any savage beasts here that haven't acknowledged a master? May I tame one?"

The Xuanluo Mountain Range is vast, and although there are many savage beasts within it, finding a suitable one isn't that easy. If he had to go out and search, he didn't know how much time would be wasted. Since this is the Beast Hall, surely they would have such savage beasts!

As he spoke, Zhang Xuan stood up. After the adjustment period during the oral examination, his fatigued body had gradually recovered somewhat.

Although he still seemed to be in less than ideal condition, he was much stronger than before.

"Let you tame one?"

Hearing this, everyone was speechless.

"What kind of joke is this?!" Miss Mo Yu, standing aside, scoffed, clearly displeased. "Every savage beast is incredibly precious; how could we possibly let you tame one? Furthermore, only tamed savage beasts are allowed into the Beast Hall. Otherwise, if they cause chaos, no one can bear the responsibility!"

"Is that so..."

Hearing her say that, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but shake his head. Becoming a Beast Tamer was truly troublesome. Where was he supposed to find an untamed savage beast now?

"Oh, right, can I borrow your Azure Eagle Beast to tame it?"

His eyes lit up as Zhang Xuan remembered something, and he couldn't help but look over.