Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

Chapter 1071: Fast-paced race (two in one)

This skill is… Qiao Sang didn’t react for a moment.

“Xiaoting!”

Xiaoting Dragon glared again.

Qiao Sang looked at its sharp eyes and fell into contemplation.

“Xiaoting.”

Xiaoting Dragon’s eyes and expression returned to their usual state, and it called out, indicating that it had finished using its skill.

Qiao Sang was silent for two seconds, then turned her head and scanned the surroundings.

Soon, her gaze fell on a green Bug-type Pet Beast moving about a hundred meters away.

On Yan Tian Star, there are many wild Pet Beasts, and it’s quite normal for wild Pet Beasts to occasionally wander into people’s homes, especially houses with outdoor training grounds and gardens like villas.

“Catch it,” Qiao Sang said.

“Xiao Xunbao~”

Xiao Xunbao called out.

The next second, the moving green Bug-type Pet Beast was controlled by a force and quickly flew over, landing in front of Xiaoting Dragon.

“Renren!”

The green Bug-type Pet Beast cried out in a panicked expression, indicating that it was just lost.

Qiao Sang didn’t understand its meaning and said, “Don’t be afraid, I just want you to help confirm a skill.”

Patience Bug, a Beginner Bug-type Pet Beast, is very patient, able to endure even the dirtiest and most foul-smelling places.

“Renren.” Patience Bug listened, quieted down, and nodded.

It was willing to help with this small favor.

“Use the last skill you just used on Patience Bug again,” Qiao Sang said.

“Xiaoting!”

Xiaoting Dragon nodded, then looked at Patience Bug, widened its eyes, and showed a sharp gaze.

“Renren…”

An intense fear inexplicably rose in Patience Bug’s heart.

After about three seconds, it turned its head and ran, without the slightest hesitation.

Xiaoting Dragon’s expression and eyes returned to normal.

“Xiao Xunbao?”

Xiao Xunbao called out, indicating whether to chase.

“No need.” Qiao Sang smiled, “I already know what skill Xiaoting is using.”

Leer, a Beginner-level Normal-type skill, uses a sharp gaze to frighten the opponent, thereby lowering their defense.

Xiaoting Dragon is still a Beginner Pet Beast, so the power of this skill is negligible for her and Yabao, but for Patience Bug, which is also a Beginner Pet Beast, the power is extraordinary.

“Xiaoting?”

Xiaoting Dragon called out with a questioning tone.

Qiao Sang inexplicably understood its meaning and said, “It’s Leer, it can make opponents afraid and lower their defense.”

Xiaoting Dragon showed an “Oh, I see” expression.

For skills that are not learned but are innate from birth, or awakened through evolution, Pet Beasts have an impression of how to use them in their minds, but what they are specifically can only be determined through successful release.

Xiaoting Dragon has not yet contracted with her, so it’s impossible to steadily increase proficiency by releasing skills. To increase the win rate in battles, there’s only one way… Qiao Sang collected her thoughts and asked,

“Are there any other skills?”

“Xiaoting.” Xiaoting Dragon shook its head.

“Then what you need to do now is to successfully use Dragon Tail every time.” Qiao Sang set a training goal: “Currently, this is the only skill you can’t release with 100% success, which creates a lot of variables in battle. You need to constantly practice this skill. When you run out of energy, drink energy recovery fluid. Once you can successfully release Dragon Tail every time, we’ll move on to other training.”

“Xiaoting.”

Xiaoting Dragon nodded, then looked around as if searching for something.

“What are you looking for?” Qiao Sang asked.

“Xiaoting.”

Xiaoting Dragon called out, indicating it wanted to ask its boss for an energy recovery drink.

“Xiao Xunbao!”

Before Qiao Sang could speak, Xiao Xunbao quickly appeared, calling out eagerly.

The boss will get you energy recovery fluid now!

Qiao Sang: “…”

The next day, early morning.

9:05 AM.

Room.

“Why aren’t you training in the outdoor training ground?” Qiao Sang asked Xiao Xunbao, who was drilling in and out of black holes, while opening her computer.

“Xiao Xunbao…”

Xiao Xunbao called out with a tired expression, indicating that the hatred transfer time had not yet passed, and Brother Yabao had just bared his teeth at it when he saw it.

The effect is still there after so long… Qiao Sang was a bit surprised, but didn’t say anything, and instead got down to business, searching for the official website of the Contracted Tacit Understanding Competition to register.

After submitting her registration, she roughly looked at the registration requirements and precautions, as well as the time and specific location of the competition.

“Yu Beast Master level is not restricted, Pet Beast level is not restricted, as long as there is no contract between the teamed Yu Beast Master and the wild Pet Beast.”

What? Pet Beast level is not restricted?

When she saw this, Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment, then quickly got up and walked out of the room to look for Teacher Mi Jiala.

Soon, she saw Mi Jiala meditating cross-legged outside through the French window.

Qiao Sang came to the outdoor training ground and went straight to the point:

“Teacher, in this competition, not only is the Yu Beast Master’s level unrestricted, but the Pet Beast’s level is also unrestricted. So I won’t encounter General-level or King-level Pet Beasts, will I?”

“No.” Mi Jiala said while meditating, “Wild Pet Beasts on Yan Tian Star, once they reach General-level and King-level, basically have their own exclusive duties to perform, and rarely seek Yu Beast Masters to contract with. In this kind of competition, at most you’ll encounter teammates teamed with High-level Pet Beasts.”

Qiao Sang: “…”

Mi Jiala added, “But that possibility is also rare. Most opponents will still be Beginner and Intermediate Pet Beasts.”

Alright, forget about the champion, it seems even the runner-up and third place are out of reach… Qiao Sang’s fighting spirit greatly diminished.

Mi Jiala seemed to realize Qiao Sang’s thoughts, opened her eyes, looked over, and said,

“Participating in this kind of competition is to see how well the tacit understanding between you and your Pet Beast is, or to cultivate that tacit understanding, to see if you and your Pet Beast are compatible. Winning or losing is not important.”

As soon as she finished speaking, there was a “bang” not far away.

Qiao Sang looked in the direction of the sound, only to see Xiaoting Dragon’s tail, condensed with silver-white light, fiercely striking the ground.

“I understand.” Qiao Sang withdrew her gaze and said.

For Professional Beast Tamers, it doesn’t matter how many times they lose in private, as long as they can win the most important competitions.

Qiao Sang turned around, preparing to return to her room for Meditation.

Xiaoting Dragon is working so hard, she should also put in more effort and develop a new Yu Beast page sooner.

As soon as she entered the living room, a gust of wind drifted over, transforming into Qingbao, who called out with a serious expression:

“Qingqing.”

The competition it registers for later cannot be like this; it needs to be more formal, and the opponents should ideally all be of the same level.

I didn’t expect Qingbao to care about this… Qiao Sang looked at Qingbao with amusement and said,

“If there’s a competition like that, I’ll sign up.”

“Qingqing.”

Qingbao relaxed, transformed into wind, and returned to the outdoor training ground to train.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

Qiao Sang changed the direction of her step and walked towards the door.

Opening the door, she found no one there, only a familiar foul smell wafting into her nostrils.

She looked down.

A familiar bouquet lay by the door.

Why is Meichouni still sending me flowers… Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment, then bent down, picked up the flowers, and walked into the room.

Time passed.

Two days later.

Qiao Sang woke up early, quickly washed up, had breakfast with Yabao and the others, then put on her backpack with Lubao and Xiaoting, held Yabao, and went with Teacher Mi Jiala to wait outside the community for a passing taxi or rental Pet Beast mount.

The streets of Yan Tian Star are filled with scenes of people and wild Pet Beasts coexisting, as well as some unique buildings. It’s quite interesting to watch along the way. She didn’t want Xiao Xunbao to directly use Space Movement and miss these sights, and the last time she came to Yan Tian Star, the experience of riding the Shoulder Ape King was good.

Although there are many wild Pet Beasts, not all of them are suitable for riding or as transportation. Taxis are much cheaper than riding rental Pet Beast mounts, so taxis as a form of transportation are still preserved.

After waiting for about ten seconds, no rental Pet Beast mounts were seen, but a taxi passed by the entrance first.

Qiao Sang then hailed it, and the taxi stopped.

“To Mu Lian Arena?” Qiao Sang asked.

“Yes,” the driver uncle said with certainty.

Upon hearing this, Qiao Sang opened the car door.

She saw a Pet Beast sitting in the back seat, about 20 centimeters in size, looking soft and fluffy, mostly white, like cotton.

It’s a shared ride… Qiao Sang hesitated for a moment and didn’t get in the car immediately.

Seeing this, the driver uncle said,

“You’re all going to the same place.”

Hearing this, Qiao Sang got in.

Mi Jiala looked at the cotton-like Pet Beast in the back seat and chose to sit in the front passenger seat.

The driver uncle was a man of few words and didn’t speak much.

Cotton Seed, a Beginner Grass-type Pet Beast, extremely light, easily blown away by the wind… Qiao Sang subtly observed the Pet Beast next to her, and relevant information flashed through her mind.

“Xiao Xunbao…”

Xiao Xunbao couldn’t help but appear and poked Cotton Seed’s soft body.

Cotton Seed looked over, then its mouth drooped, and it suddenly burst into tears:

“Mianmian!”

“Mianmian!”

“Xiao Xunbao…” Xiao Xunbao looked at a loss.

The driver uncle had seen the scene through the rearview mirror and said,

“Passengers in the back row, please be careful not to touch other passengers.”

Qiao Sang: “…”

Mi Jiala: “…”

“Xiao Xunbao…”

Xiao Xunbao started making various funny faces at Cotton Seed.

“Mianmian.”

Finally, under various funny faces, Cotton Seed stopped crying and smiled.

“Xiao Xunbao…”

Xiao Xunbao breathed a sigh of relief.

“Mianmian?”

Cotton Seed looked at Qiao Sang, then at Xiao Xunbao, and called out.

“Xiao Xunbao~”

Xiao Xunbao shook its head, revealing its white identity bracelet.

“Mianmian?”

Cotton Seed called out again in confusion.

“Xiao Xunbao~”

Xiao Xunbao nodded.

The two of them chatted happily.

During their intermittent conversation, the taxi arrived at its destination.

Qiao Sang paid the fare and got out of the car with Teacher Mi Jiala.

Cotton Seed did the same.

After waving its paw at Xiao Xunbao, it turned and left.

Qiao Sang looked around.

The area outside the entire arena was bustling with people, feeling like half people and half Pet Beasts.

Most of the Pet Beasts were not large in size and did not wear miniature shrinking bracelets; only a very few did.

Most of the people looked very young, some even carrying school bags, looking like high school students.

Qiao Sang roughly scanned the area and got a sense of the demographic interested in this competition.

If there were no surprises, she might be the highest-level Yu Beast Master among the participants…

“Xiaoting.”

Xiaoting Dragon climbed out of the backpack, also looking around.

Seeing some Pet Beasts looking at their own Yu Beast Masters, Xiaoting Dragon’s face fell, and it climbed onto Qiao Sang’s neck, hanging there to declare its presence.

More gazes came from around them.

Although humans and wild Pet Beasts coexist on Yan Tian Star, Dragon-type Pet Beasts seen on the streets are still terrifyingly rare.

Seeing a wild Dragon-type Pet Beast so attached to a human, Qiao Sang instantly gained an “affluent” halo in the eyes of passersby and wild Pet Beasts.

It is well known that when wild Dragon-type Pet Beasts look for a contracting partner, the most important point is whether they can afford to support themselves.

If one has extraordinary talent but no money, it’s simply not enough.

“Xiaoting…”

Xiaoting Dragon, seeing more gazes, had streaks of yellow electric arcs appearing on its body.

Qiao Sang pressed down her slowly rising ponytail and warned, “Don’t Discharge.”

“Xiaoting…”

The electric arcs on Xiaoting Dragon’s body disappeared.

Mi Jiala glanced at it.

At this moment, a reporter came over and asked Qiao Sang,

“Hello, are you a participating contestant?”

Qiao Sang said, “Mm.”

“Xiao Xunbao~”

Xiao Xunbao appeared, enthusiastically waving its paw at the camera.

Seeing another Pet Beast it had never seen before, the reporter’s eyes lit up, and she asked,

“Are you also participating in this competition?”

Saying that, she handed the microphone to Xiao Xunbao.

“Xiao Xunbao~”

Xiao Xunbao shook its head, revealing its paw wearing a white identity bracelet.

“That’s truly a shame,” the reporter said with a look of regret.

Then she looked at Qiao Sang and continued to ask,

“May I ask which Pet Beast will be participating with you in this competition?”

“It’s him.”

Qiao Sang pointed to Xiaoting Dragon hanging on her neck.

The reporter’s eyes lit up again, and she asked, “May I ask if you are confident in winning this competition?”

After asking, she handed the microphone to Xiaoting Dragon.

Xiaoting Dragon glanced at her, then turned its head away, disdaining to answer.

Qiao Sang was about to answer for Xiaoting Dragon.

The reporter, however, showed no surprise, took back the microphone, and said to the camera,

“It seems this Dragon-type contestant is very confident in his strength. His eyes tell me that he disdains to even mention his opponents in the competition.”

Qiao Sang: “…”

What kind of reporter is this…

Mi Jiala gave a meaningful look towards the entrance, then walked in that direction.

Qiao Sang, holding Yabao, quickly followed.

After checking their contestant identities, a uniformed Pet Beast beside them made a “please” gesture.

“Teacher, I’ll go first,” Qiao Sang said.

The Contracted Tacit Understanding Competition has few registration restrictions, many registered people and wild Pet Beasts, and many people and Pet Beasts who follow it. Therefore, it has developed into a somewhat popular competition program, held once a month and broadcast simultaneously on a certain TV channel.

The competition rules also lean towards a fast-paced direction.

All preliminary contestants compete in the same venue during the pre-selection stage.

Of course, the venue will be divided into many sections, and only Yu Beast Masters and Pet Beasts with outstanding performances will be given camera time.

Qiao Sang had roughly understood the rules and pace of this competition in the past two days. As soon as she entered, she would be led to the venue, waiting for the start of the competition under the cameras, and could not go to the audience with Teacher Mi Jiala.

Mi Jiala was also familiar with this competition pace and nodded,

“Okay.”