Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

"How did you suddenly learn to summon rain…?" Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned.

With Yabao and Little Treasure already learning high-level skills at the beginner level, Qiao Sang wasn’t exactly shocked or incredulous about Lubao mastering rain prayer.

It’s just that she didn’t know the skill last night, nor did she train today, so how did she suddenly learn to summon rain? This left Qiao Sang a bit perplexed.

Even if it was a sudden epiphany like in novels, there should be some process. But Lubao had spent the whole day inside the Beast Codex without doing anything.

Right then, Qiao Sang noticed a string of data.

Water Mist (Small Success: 1902/2000)+

Qiao Sang paused for a moment, recalling that last night the data for Water Mist was 1677…

The numbers don't lie, and suddenly, the mystery was clear.

Lubao must have snuck in some practice time overnight while she was asleep!

“Lu lu.”

Lubao coldly flicked her tail.

Rain Prayer? She didn’t even need special training to master it.

Qiao Sang fell silent for a moment.

“…Impressive.”

“Lu lu.” Lubao looked nonchalant.

Basic skills, that’s all.

Qiao Sang: …

While Lubao had indeed worked hard through the night to learn rain summoning, it couldn’t be denied that her innate talent was exceptional.

For an average intermediate-tier beast, practicing even for a hundred nights might not be enough to learn such an advanced skill.

It seemed that Lubao’s evolution did bring about some changes, at least a noticeable improvement in talent…

Qiao Sang didn’t say much more. However, that night, she made sure to carefully memorize Lubao’s stats in the Beast Codex.

The next morning, as soon as she woke up, Qiao Sang checked the Codex and, sure enough, the data had changed.

[Rain Prayer (Beginner: 43/100)+]

Seeing the updated stats, Qiao Sang was rather moved. Rain Prayer, after all, is an advanced skill, and it consumes a lot of energy with each use.

Without energy-replenishing potions, practicing it more than 40 times overnight was quite the feat…

---

8:30 AM, Shengshui High School

As a contestant, Qiao Sang led Little Treasure to the designated competition area.

Many events were happening simultaneously, but nearly everyone on the field had gathered around the brick-breaking competition.

“Do you think the Treasure-Seeking Ghost can really use the Fighting-type skill Brick Breaking? Is that true?”

Though rumors had spread throughout the school that Qiao Sang’s Treasure-Seeking Ghost knew a Fighting-type move, not everyone believed it.

Especially those with Ghost-type or Fighting-type contract beasts found it hard to accept.

After all, the two types are notoriously incompatible.

A Ghost-type beast knowing a Fighting-type skill? It sounded more absurd than a mage getting into hand-to-hand combat.

“What Treasure-Seeking Ghost? Open your eyes. That’s a Treasure-Seeking Demon!”

“...Whoa, it’s only been a month since the start of the school year, and it’s already evolved?”

“An evolved Ghost-type beast using Brick Breaking? Evolution is nothing in comparison!”

“Honestly, I feel like this rumor is too wild. Treasure-Seeking Demon using Brick Breaking? Just think about it, it’s practically impossible.”

“Yeah, it’s a bit unbelievable. But if I consider that Qiao Sang is its trainer… then maybe it’s not entirely impossible.”

“Let me tell you this: if Qiao Sang’s Treasure-Seeking Demon can use Brick Breaking, then my Punch Crab can use Shadow Ball.”

The speaker was a junior about to compete in the brick-breaking contest.

“Your Punch Crab using a Ghost-type move? Dream on!” A nearby student teased.

The junior shot back, “You get that’s a joke, right? So why believe that a Ghost-type beast can use Brick Breaking?”

The nearby student replied earnestly, “That’s Qiao Sang’s Ghost-type beast. Are you really comparing yourself to them? Let’s see if you can develop a new evolution form for your beast, go undefeated against over 200 opponents, and have the police station award you a banner. If that day ever comes, I’d believe that your Punch Crab could even spit fire.”

The junior: …

There was no way to argue with that logic.

“Xun!”

Little Treasure took his designated spot, flexing his claws and warming up.

“Yungli!”

From the left, a burly Power Monkey scoffed.

Little Treasure glanced over, only to see a towering figure several times his size.

“Yungli.”

Seeing the small creature looking at it, Power Monkey flexed its massive biceps with pride.

“Xun…”

Little Treasure looked at the other’s stature and muscles, then down at his own short arms and legs, his mouth twisting in dismay as he drooped, looking dejected.

“Little Treasure! Go for it!”

Qiao Sang noticed the change in his demeanor and quickly encouraged, “Keep your spirits up! Remember your golden gloves!”

“Yap yap!”

Yabao enthusiastically cheered.

“Xun!”

Little Treasure's eyes immediately reignited with determination.

“Haha, Qiao Sang.”

Aburly boy beside her laughed, “I don’t know what you were thinking, letting a Ghost-type beast enter a brick-breaking contest. This isn’t a battle, you know.”

He chuckled.

“But I wonder if beating you here could win me some teleportation technique scrolls?”

Before Qiao Sang could respond, her classmates, who had come to cheer her on, couldn’t hold back.

“You wish!”

“Qiao Sang, this guy is Liu Qijia from Class 9. His dad’s a professional Beast Master specializing in Fighting-type beasts, don’t agree to any of his nonsense!”

“You’re crazy if you think you’ll get scrolls. If you’re so strong, prove it in a real battle!”

“Even if Qiao Sang agrees, do you really think she’d lose?”

As everyone around added their comments, Qiao Sang calmly said, “If you win, it’s not impossible for me to give you the scrolls.”

The crowd fell silent.

Since Qiao Sang said so, she must be confident she’ll win!

Liu Qijia was dumbfounded. I was just joking… you’re actually agreeing?

Isn’t this just a free giveaway?

“Are you serious?” Liu Qijia asked, a bit unsure.

“Of course.” Qiao Sang nodded.

Hearing her definitive answer, Liu Qijia was overjoyed. A teleportation technique scroll! He could sell it for resources to last his Power Monkey three years!

The thought of losing didn’t even cross his mind.

“But I have a condition too.” Qiao Sang added.

“Name it!” Liu Qijia replied seriously.

Qiao Sang said, “You know you have a high chance of winning. It wouldn’t be fair if only I had to offer something. So, if I win, you’ll give me something too.”

Liu Qijia shrugged it off.

“What do you want?”

Now this felt right; he had wondered how this was such a good deal.

Qiao Sang smiled.

“How about those golden gloves?”

“Deal!” Liu Qijia agreed without hesitation.

Compared to the teleportation technique scroll, golden gloves were nothing.

Watching things unfold, Jin Feifan, who had been quietly observing, approached Qiao Sang with concern.

“Are you sure about this?”

“Absolutely.” Qiao Sang smiled.

“Didn’t you hear yesterday? My Little Treasure has a high chance of winning. Even against third-years, it’d be a total knockout.”

Jin Feifan: …

The tiles had been set in front of the thirteen competing beasts. For the first round, each competitor had ten stacked tiles to break.

The teacher referee blew the starting whistle.

Almost everyone’s gaze locked onto the third beast from the left, a seemingly undernourished, slightly dyed Treasure-Seeking Demon.

“Xun!"