Chapter 321: "I’ve Got My Eye on Him.

After the cultural ceremony, the testing of the Empire’s noble females was of great importance. With delegations from the major empires also present to observe, the scene was exceptionally bustling.

While all S-Class females were important to the Empire, they were also ranked amongst themselves.

And Hui Chu of the Sand Cat Clan, being an SS-Level female, was deservedly the first noble lady to be tested.

Everyone was filled with anticipation.

Had she made any progress in the past year?

An SS-Level was already considered a top-tier female in the Empire, but above SS were SS+ and the legendary SSS-level Holy Female—a rank that no one on the entire planet currently held!

Yu Zhizhi stood quietly in the crowd.

She thought of the "Young Master" from the Land of Prophecy, the mysterious figure hidden behind the beaded curtain. ’He might not be Zero.’

’Because...’

’Zero never said he was from Cang Mountain.’

"Miss Hui Chu, please step forward for your test," the master of ceremonies invited with the utmost respect.

The Sand Cat Clan female slowly walked onto the raised platform.

His Majesty the King only attended in person for this annual S-Class testing.

The Little Golden Ball, responsible for the live broadcast, followed closely behind.

It would project the test results in their entirety to a livestream with over a hundred million viewers online.

The number of viewers on the livestream had been steadily climbing ever since the cultural exchange began.

The citizens of the Valoran Empire were particularly fond of such grand ceremonies. More importantly, this was the most anticipated event of all: the Level testing!

Would a new SS-Level female emerge in the Valoran Empire?

And could Miss Hui Chu of the Sand Cat Clan advance even further?

Hui Chu of the Sand Cat Clan stood on the platform. Her long hair was styled in an elegant updo, and her light-colored, cat-like eyes were so beautiful that no one could look away. Yet, her expression was proud and cold, making her seem unapproachable.

’Then again, she was the Empire’s most esteemed SS-Level female.’

The favor His Majesty the King showed her was likely even greater than that he showed the Little Princess.

The Sand Cat Clan female stood on the Crystal Platform, and the test officially began. A faint golden light enveloped her body, giving her an almost divine aura.

A hush fell over the area. No one dared to make a sound.

The system’s analysis was quick to produce a result. Ancient script materialized behind the Sand Cat Clan female, appearing before everyone’s eyes—

[Spiritual Power: 1000]

[Super Talent: Spirit Shield (Advanced), Charm (Advanced)]

These two Advanced talents were what had originally secured her Level.

This time, without fail, a brilliant golden [SS] materialized behind her!

Everyone’s faces lit up with joy—

’This is wonderful!’

Miss Hui Chu’s dual talents were developing steadily. Her Level hadn’t dropped; it remained firmly at SS-Level!

The Sand Cat Clan female’s face showed little emotion. She merely lifted her chin slightly, her gaze passing over the crowd to land on the Cangshan Cat Clan.

The livestream chat exploded with comments.

Most were congratulatory, exclaiming that the Empire was truly blessed by the Beast God to have an SS-Level female!

Mumu of the Snake Clan was green with envy. ’If only I could advance to SS-Level, too...’

But she only had one superpower, and it was a rather impractical one.

She had only managed to become an S-Class female thanks to her strong bloodline and a bit of good luck.

"Spirit Shield... Charm..." Yu Zhizhi murmured. ’Those both sound like incredible talents.’

The Sand Cat Clan female basked in the crowd’s envy and applause.

She did not step down from the Crystal Platform right away.

Instead, she bowed toward the front and announced, "His Majesty the King, today Hui Chu has seen someone who has captured my heart, and I wish to form a bond with him."

A faint smile touched His Majesty the King’s lips. "For you to favor them, Hui Chu, is their honor."

There were many talented young men from the Valoran Empire in attendance, as well as those from the Cat Clan branches of other empires. The worst that could happen was that they would have to remain in Valoran—

According to planetary law, no male chosen by an SS-Level female was allowed to refuse.

However, Hui Chu had used the phrase "form a bond," not explicitly named him as a Beast Husband.

Therefore, the one she chose could become her fifth Beast Husband, or he could simply be a Pet she wanted to take home on a whim.

His Majesty the King inquired, "And who is it that has caught your eye, Hui Chu?"

The Sand Cat Clan female’s gaze landed on the Duke standing nearby. The crowd looked on in stunned disbelief—

’It couldn’t be the First Duke of the Valoran Empire, could it?’

With his status and position, if Miss Hui Chu chose him, she would likely be met with rejection.

Just as Hui Chu’s personal maid was growing anxious, her mistress smiled faintly, retracted her gaze, and raised a hand to point toward the Cangshan Cat Clan. "The one I have my eye on is over there."

As an SS-Level female, she had previously had four Beast Husbands.

All of them had been exceptionally distinguished noble males, but they were still a cut below Hui Chu in terms of prestige.

All eyes turned to follow her gesture—

The broadcasting Little Golden Ball also swiveled, casually focusing on the incredibly ornate palanquin.

*Wow! Miss Hui Chu has her eye on the Young Master from the Land of Prophecy!*

*Is it because she believes the rumors that he’ll awaken the Power of Prophecy in the future?*

*Haha! Looks like the Cangshan Cat Clan is staying!*

*Huh? Wait! Look where Miss Hui Chu is pointing. It doesn’t seem to be at the beaded curtain—*

The Little Golden Ball’s camerawork was extremely precise. Its lens focused on the area beside the palanquin, landing on a young man hidden behind the other members of the Cat Clan.

He was dressed in a common attendant’s uniform and wore a Cat Clan mask. At that moment, he appeared to be...

Asleep?

The young cat-man was leaning against the palanquin with his arms crossed, his head drooping slightly. Suddenly, the head covering he was wearing fell off, exposing his choppy, black-and-white hair.

Not far away, Yu Zhizhi’s rabbit-like eyes widened—

’It’s him!’

’He’s wearing a mask, just like always. This one is painted with red and gold pigments, making it look like a cat’s face at first glance.’

’He was wearing an attendant’s head covering before, so his hair was completely hidden. No wonder I couldn’t find him even after scanning the crowd several times...’

’Zero really came!’

’He’s from a branch of the Cangshan Cat Clan?’

’The region he’s from is called...’

’The Land of Prophecy?’

’Judging by his clothes, is he a servant of the Cangshan Cat Clan?’

"...Hrm?" Zero stirred, waking from a doze. The cultural ceremony had been so boring that he had simply leaned against the palanquin and fallen asleep.

Now awake, he found that all eyes were fixed on him.

Up ahead, the Cat Clan elder’s face was a mask of horror.

’He was disguised so well, and yet he was still chosen...?’

They had heard before arriving that the SS-Level female from the Sand Cat Clan would likely choose a mate. Her previous four Beast Husbands had all been abused to death, so the Cangshan Cat Clan certainly didn’t want any part of this "honor."

’To think he’d still be chosen, even when hidden so carefully.’

The Sand Cat Clan female looked down condescendingly at the young man in the cat-face mask, a smug smile gracing her lips—

’He must have thought she wouldn’t notice him just because he was mixed in with the crowd.’

"His Majesty the King, I have chosen this young cat-man. Please allow him to be my Pet."

The Empire’s most prestigious SS-Level female had spoken. The matter was practically set in stone. This young cat-man was about to be taken home by Miss Hui Chu.