Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

The night was still and quiet.

After finishing her nighttime routine, Qiao Sang sat on her bed with damp hair, browsing the Beast Codex. Her eyes lingered on a few lines.

Name: Flame Hound (Yabao)

Level: Intermediate (1255/10000)+

Points: 1656

These past few days, Yabao had been battling Water Luriana every day, gaining a 50-point bonus daily. Today, he defeated two ghost-type pets, adding a total of 470 points.

It seemed like the points for defeating a higher-level pet should be around 200.

"Wait a minute, wasn’t the level value just 1205 yesterday?"

Qiao Sang paused for a moment. The last time Yabao's level shot up suddenly was after it defeated the Scale Controller Doll.

This time, although Yabao faced two high-level pets, the battle wasn't nearly as intense as with the Doll. The fact that Yabao was barely injured proved that.

So why did the level value still increase by 50?

Could it be because of the breakthrough in Yabao’s mental strength?

Qiao Sang pondered this for a while and then turned the page.

Name: Treasure-Seeking Ghost (Little Treasure)

Level: Beginner (329/1000)+

Points: 20

This... Qiao Sang was a bit confused.

Even though the level increase for Little Treasure wasn’t as high as Yabao’s, it still grew by 10 points, more than usual.

It didn’t make sense. If Yabao’s increase was due to a breakthrough in mental strength, what was the reason for Little Treasure’s growth?

Qiao Sang mentally replayed everything that had happened throughout the day, silently analyzing it.

Her mind froze on the moment she fed Yabao and Little Treasure some Energy Pills earlier.

Right, the Energy Pills!

Qiao Sang suddenly realized it. Feeding pets Energy Pills was meant to improve their various abilities, and the increase in level values made sense now.

It appeared that most of Yabao's growth was indeed due to his mental breakthrough.

“I didn’t expect that an Energy Pill could increase their stats more than the daily bonuses from the items they wear. Being a beast master really does require money...”

Qiao Sang couldn’t help but sigh. She had only bought E-rank items for her pets so far.

If she had the money to buy S-rank items for Yabao and Little Treasure, with their potential, they’d skyrocket.

Just as Qiao Sang’s consciousness exited the Beast Codex, she noticed a small puddle of water on the floor.

The puddle was slowly moving toward where Yabao lay.

Just as it was about to reach Yabao, Qiao Sang spoke up, "Um, I don’t recall Yabao attacking you today, Water Luriana."

The puddle froze in place, stopping its movement, then slowly began to retreat toward the door as if nothing had happened.

Qiao Sang: …

“Wait.” Qiao Sang called after it.

In its watery form, Water Luriana surprisingly stopped, though for what reason was unclear.

"Little Treasure, milk." Qiao Sang turned to the ghost.

"Xuuuun~"

Little Treasure, which had been practicing his telekinesis with a coin in the room, paused his glowing claws and opened his palms.

He wasn’t hungry.

Qiao Sang twitched the corner of her mouth.

"I didn’t ask you to take it out for yourself."

"Xuuun..."

Little Treasure blinked, took off his ring, and floated a bottle of milk over to Qiao Sang.

"Yesterday, I was out and forgot to leave some milk for you. Are you hungry?" Qiao Sang got out of bed and placed the milk in front of Water Luriana.

The puddle of water hesitated for a few seconds, didn’t take the milk, and quietly flowed out through the crack under the door.

“Wow, didn’t expect you to be so prideful.”

Qiao Sang sighed as she watched the water disappear.

For the past few days, she had been leaving milk by the water fountain. At first, the milk was left untouched, but after a few days, she noticed signs that the bottle had been opened.

Though the milk wasn’t visibly reduced, Little Treasure later drank some and realized it had been watered down.

---

The next day.

In the living room, Qiao Sang and Yabao were staring at each other. After a moment, both human and pet exchanged serious looks and nodded.

Another Flame Hound identical to Yabao appeared beside him.

The next second, Yabao and his clone walked toward the courtyard.

Qiao Sang followed behind, filled with both anticipation and excitement.

Although Yabao had managed to cast different skills simultaneously between his real body and clone in the secret chamber yesterday, what if that had been a fluke?

After all, some things could only be achieved under pressure. In normal situations, it might not be possible.

Just like that girl from her previous life.

She had never passed a running test, but to help her pass her physical exam, her dad trained her by having a wolfdog chase her from behind.

The girl suddenly channeled the spirit of Liu Xiang, surpassed her limits, and ran a jaw-dropping time, even vowing to become a female version of Liu Xiang and bring glory to the country at the Olympics.

She posted her victory on social media for all to see.

But on the day of the school physical exam, with no wolfdog behind her, she still failed the test and quickly set her social media to visible for three days only.

In the courtyard, the two Flame Hounds adopted serious expressions, posing in the same stance.

Then the one on the left bared his fangs, while the one on the right glanced to the side with glowing blue eyes, fixing on the milk bottle held by Little Treasure.

In the next second, the fangs of the left Flame Hound were engulfed in flames, while simultaneously, the milk bottle in the Little Treasure’s hands started floating around the courtyard.

"Success!"

Qiao Sang was ecstatic. Even though she had expected Yabao to succeed, seeing it happen was still an entirely different feeling.

"Yabao! You-" Qiao Sang turned to Yabao in excitement, only to find Yabao looking back at her with the same excitement.

Her heart skipped a beat, a bad feeling creeping up.

"Wait..." Qiao Sang hadn’t even finished speaking when Yabao excitedly pounced on her, knocking her to the ground.

Her premonition came true...

"Yaaap!"

"Yap yap!"

Yabao wagged his tail joyfully, licking his beast master’s face, completely oblivious to the fact that she was struggling to breathe under his weight.

Meanwhile, Little Treasure used his telekinesis to catch the milk just in time, glanced at it, saw that none had spilled, and calmly continued drinking it.

In the water pool, Water Luriana peeked out, silently watching everything unfold.

---

2:12 PM.

At the Beast Center, third floor, in the task hall.

Qiao Sang had just registered her task when she spotted a familiar face.

Crew cut, thick eyebrows, bright eyes, and tanned skin, it was none other than Shi Gaofeng from the sophomore team.

"What a coincidence! Have you finished your task?" Qiao Sang walked over and greeted him.

To her surprise, Shi Gaofeng jumped back, looking around nervously.

When he saw no one else around, he let out a breath of relief.

"What a coincidence indeed. Why are you here? Haven’t you finished your task?"

Qiao Sang noticed his strange behavior but didn’t expose it.

"I’m here to collect my reward. The task poster left it at the Beast Center. What about you?"

Shi Gaofeng hesitated for a moment before replying, "I’m here to post a task."