Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

Zhang Junli, a member of the third-year individual battle team at Sansong High School, was easily recognizable by his spiky hair.

Before every competition, he made it a habit to gather intel on other schools.

Following the principle that money makes the mare go, the information he obtained had helped him achieve impressive results in the last two National Campus League Championships.

"You’re telling me you don’t even know what she looks like? And her phone isn’t usable for the next two days? What if you can’t recognize her when she shows up?" Asked a boy wearing a baseball cap.

"Don’t worry." Zhang Junli chuckled.

"I’ve already agreed on a signal with her. Besides, Shengshui High doesn’t normally let students leave campus. At this time of day, anyone coming out of there has to be her."

"Alright then." The boy in the cap finally felt somewhat reassured after all his questions.

At that moment, the sound of the school bell from Shengshui High echoed to the front gate.

Zhang Junli checked his watch. "They’re out of class now. She’ll be out in a bit."

Ten minutes passed.

Nothing.

"Let’s wait a bit longer." Zhang Junli said confidently.

The boy in the cap remained silent.

---

Fifteen minutes passed.

A gust of wind blew by, swirling up dust on the ground.

Still nothing.

Not a single person, or even an ant, emerged from the school gates.

"She’s definitely coming out soon!" Zhang Junli gritted his teeth.

The boy in the cap looked at the sky and patted Zhang Junli’s shoulder. "Are you sure it’s not about to rain?"

Zhang Junli glanced upward. "Impossible. The weather forecast said no rain today."

"But is the forecast reliable?" The boy pointed at a medium-sized beast flying above them.

"Look at that Hengheng Bird. It’s not even flapping its wings."

Basic high school knowledge: Hengheng Birds dislike flapping their wings when rain is imminent and prefer gliding on air currents instead.

"Where?" Zhang Junli scanned the sky.

As he looked away, Qiao Sang arrived at the Shengshui High gates, riding her beast, Yabao.

Since forming a contract with Lubao, Qiao Sang had developed a sharper sense of weather changes. She looked up at the sky and said, "Yabao, it looks like it’s going to rain. Want to head to the Beast Codex for now?"

"Yap."

Yabao nodded, signaling his agreement.

Qiao Sang waved her hand, withdrawing Yabao into his designated space.

Just as she was about to enter the school, a low voice called out from behind her: "Why are you only coming out now? We’ve been waiting forever!"

Turning around, Qiao Sang saw two unfamiliar boys. Before she could ask who they were, the spiky-haired boy hurried over, grinning.

"Who is Lin Ya?" He asked excitedly.

Qiao Sang froze for a moment before instinctively replying, "A god among men."

"That’s it! The signal matches! It’s her!" Zhang Junli turned to the boy in the cap, visibly thrilled.

The boy in the cap was just as excited, both of them looking at Qiao Sang with fiery determination.

Secret signals? Really? And something this simple? Realizing they had mistaken her for someone else, Qiao Sang was about to clarify.

However, Zhang Junli took out a deep-blue crystal from his pocket and asked, "I’ve brought the item. Where’s the intel?"

Qiao Sang narrowed her eyes, pausing her words as a slew of information about the crystal flashed through her mind.

Blue Dew Crystal: A material exclusive to water-element beasts.

Although pet beasts were innumerable, even the most skilled beast forgers and trainers couldn’t possibly recognize every material related to them.

For someone like Qiao Sang, who wasn’t academically inclined, it was even less likely.

But there were always exceptions, materials that left a strong impression.

Blue Dew Crystals were one such example.

Not only were they a specialty of the Yuhua region, but their peculiar origin also added to their intrigue.

Blue Dew Crystals weren’t naturally occurring minerals. Instead, they were formed from the eyes of king-level Zao-ring Sea Snails after decades or even centuries of exposure to ultra-low temperatures and extreme pressure.

What made them even stranger was the additional requirement: The Zao-ring Sea Snail had to be severely nearsighted, with a minimum prescription of 600 degrees.

Ironically, despite being formed from a nearsighted creature's eyes, the potions crafted from Blue Dew Crystals could significantly enhance a water-element beast’s vision, making their far-sight as sharp as if they were equipped with an 8x scope.

---

Qiao Sang quickly deduced the situation. These two likely didn’t know the real person they were supposed to meet.

If her guess was correct, their intended contact was a Shengshui High student.

That they didn’t question the person's gender or age meant they either didn’t know or had coincidentally crossed paths with her instead.

Most Shengshui High students boarded at school and had limited chances to go out. Their intel likely pertained to something inside the school.

---

"Why aren’t you saying anything?" Zhang Junli asked.

After a brief silence, Qiao Sang said, "What intel are you looking for?"

"Details about the new member of the third-year team!" Zhang Junli replied.

"I want every bit of information on them!"

Qiao Sang: ???

So the person he wanted intel on was me?

"You’ve come to the right person." Qiao Sang smiled sincerely.

"No one knows her better than I do."

"See? I told you we found the right person!" Zhang Junli bragged to the boy in the cap, then turned to Qiao Sang.

"Tell me everything. The more detailed, the better!"

"Her name is Qiao Sang, 15 years old, a first-year student in Class 1." Qiao Sang said seriously.

"She’s exceptionally good-looking, hardworking, and ambitious. She has a Flame Hound and a Treasure-Seeking Demon. Recently, she contracted another beast, blue in color, likely water-element."

"Flame Hound?! Treasure-Seeking Demon?! Plus another beast?! Three in total?! And she’s only 15?! A first-year student?!" Zhang Junli gasped, his eyes wide in disbelief.

"That’s right." Qiao Sang leaned closer, lowering her voice.

"The last piece of intel is still unconfirmed by most, but I guarantee it’s true. This is exclusive information I haven’t shared with anyone else."

Zhang Junli, clearly impressed, handed over the Blue Dew Crystal with great respect.

"If what you’re saying is true, you’ve done me a huge favor!"

Taking the crystal, Qiao Sang smiled warmly. "It’s nothing. Let me know if you need anything else next time."

"Absolutely!" Zhang Junli promised, patting his chest.

The boy in the cap, however, had a strange look on his face. He had seen people sell intel before, but never had he seen someone so gleeful while spilling secrets about their own school.

---

Once the two boys left, Qiao Sang weighed the Blue Dew Crystal in her hand, deep in thought.

She might have just discovered a lucrative new business...