Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

Chapter 256: My Sparring Fee Is Cheap Too

The advanced trainers in the venue had already gathered and were discussing enthusiastically.

Everyone present was a top-tier beast trainer, skilled in observing details and reading situations.

A young person with three spirit beasts strolled in, wearing a student ponytail and carrying a backpack, perhaps to look younger.

But the real question was: What exactly were these three spirit beasts?!

"Did they post wrong information online? Could the Flame Hound actually be an advanced-level spirit beast, not an intermediate one?"

"I think that’s highly possible!"

"Possible? That’s nonsense! It’s been verified by the Alliance."

"But if the Flame Hound isn’t advanced, this doesn’t make sense! It’s using a pack of shadow clones to practice Meteor Rain! A whole pack!"

"I’m not blind, I can see it."

"Have you ever seen an intermediate-level spirit beast using shadow clones to practice advanced skills?"

The trainer who insisted on the Flame Hound's certification by the Alliance fell silent, no longer willing to debate.

Any knowledgeable beast trainer knows shadow clones are mainly used for confusing opponents, as distractions or defenses, not for offensive purposes.

Even if a spirit beast learns to use attack skills with shadow clones, it’s usually just for show, the skill’s effectiveness can’t compare to one performed by the original.

Yet, the destructive power of Meteor Rain cast by these shadow clones seemed fully on par.

The strength was just as intense as when advanced-level fire-type spirit beasts release it!

If the Flame Hound was merely an intermediate-level spirit beast, all of this would defy logic.

Could the online news have been fake?

As this advanced trainer began to doubt himself, the others continued their intense discussion.

"This Flame Hound is extremely skilled in its abilities! It can cast Meteor Rain while using telekinesis to coordinate, which means it could create a combo move!"

"Fire and psychic types together, wow, I’d love to have one!"

"Wait, is that Treasure-Seeking Ghost using Brick-Breaking? Did I see that right?"

"I swear on my enhanced vision, better than the international standards chart, you did not see wrong!"

"Honestly, this is the first time I’ve seen a ghost-type spirit beast using a fighting-type skill in person."

"Not just in person, I haven’t even seen it online! A while ago, I watched a Dummy clone use Karate Chop on BeastTube, and I gave it a like, only to find out the video was edited."

"In that case, I’ve got to recommend a creator. There’s a blogger whose ghost-type spirit beast is an expert in fighting-type skills."

"You must mean Steel Sauce. Her spirit beast, the Broken Doll, is from Lenbur Region and has ghost and fighting attributes, totally different from pure ghost-types like Treasure Ghost."

Nearby, Zhang Jie, wearing glasses, had been watching for a while.

She suddenly said, "That blue spirit beast isn’t from our region, right? Does anyone know its name? It looks quite cute."

"No idea." Someone beside her replied.

"But the kid must be Qiao Sang, the one everyone’s been talking about recently. We’re all colleagues, we can just ask later."

At that moment, Li Song cleared his throat and said, "I can go ask for you. I’ve spoken to Qiao Sang a couple of times; she knows me."

"No need." Zhang Jie smiled.

"She just came over and asked to battle with me, so she probably hasn’t forgotten me. I’ll ask myself."

The two shared a polite, forced smile, then turned their heads away with mutual understanding.

Both of them knew perfectly well: Asking about that spirit beast’s name was just an excuse. Taking this chance to build rapport was the real objective.

Whether Qiao Sang’s backpack was for show or not, she was definitely still a student.

Even guessing high on her age, with that face full of collagen and a sprout-like figure, she didn’t look like a college student.

A high schooler with three spirit beasts, no one would believe she’d have no future.

An hour later, Qiao Sang looked at the empty bottles of energy recovery elixir scattered on the ground, feeling her heart break.

What were these bottles if not money?! In the past, Yabao needed at most one bottle per day; now, in just two hours, he’d gone through eight!

As Qiao Sang fretted over the empty bottles, a clear voice called out beside her, “Impressive. Training three spirit beasts at once, most beast trainers couldn’t manage that.”

Qiao Sang turned to find a renowned advanced trainer standing there, accompanied by her Ice Shimmer Bear.

“Really?” Qiao Sang replied, puzzled.

“But isn’t this pretty simple?”

From Qiao Sang’s perspective, as long as her spirit beasts were disciplined, she’d just need to tell them what to train on, and they’d handle the rest. Was that difficult?

Not at all!

Zhang Jie: …

To avoid getting too irritated, Zhang Jie promptly decided to change the topic. She pointed at the light-blue spirit beast and asked, “By the way, what’s this one’s name?”

“Water Luriana.” Qiao Sang replied.

“That’s a nice name. It’s not from our region, is it?” Zhang Jie continued.

“It’s from the Ancient Guwu Region.”

“No wonder I don’t recognize it…” Zhang Jie realized the topic had hit another dead end.

Then, she noticed the Flame Hound nearby, as if remembering something. She smiled, “I’ve just finished my training. Any chance you’d be interested in a quick match?”

Qiao Sang hesitated and glanced over at Yabao.

Yabao seemed to have lost interest in Ice Shimmer Bear and was instead playing a bottle-tossing game with Little Treasure.

Little Treasure was floating around, moving the enlarged ring around with his claws to create a moving target.

Yabao used telekinesis to try tossing an empty bottle into the ring.

“Lu lu!”

Meanwhile, Lubak cheered enthusiastically, who she was cheering for was clear.

Qiao Sang turned back to Zhang Jie and shook her head, “No, I’ll be heading home soon.”

“Well, anytime you have free time, feel free to let me know. I’m usually at the club.” Zhang Jie said with a smile.

After thinking for a moment, Qiao Sang asked, “Do you want to battle me too?”

“Of course.” Zhang Jie replied without hesitation.

“Your abilities were clear from the training just now.”

Scratching her head awkwardly, Qiao Sang said, “Well, in that case, if you still want to battle before 9 p.m. tomorrow, feel free to book me. My sparring fee is quite affordable, 1,000 Alliance Coins per hour. For colleagues, I’ll give you a 10% discount, so just 900.”

Zhang Jie: ???

As Qiao Sang left the training area and reached the club’s entrance, she suddenly remembered something and returned to the front desk.

“Do you have my business cards prepared?”

The new receptionist looked momentarily confused and shook her head.

“Only advanced trainers have personalized business cards here.”

The blatant favoritism was hard to miss. Feeling helpless, Qiao Sang turned to leave.

Just then, the new receptionist kindly suggested, “If you want business cards, you could have them made at an ad agency, though you’d have to cover the cost yourself.

Qiao Sang: Thanks…

10:30 p.m.

After her evening routine, Qiao Sang went to her room, closed the door, and lay down, opening her Beast Codex as usual.

Meteor Rain (Minor Achievement 675/2000) +

Although Yabao had been consuming energy recovery elixirs like water today, the results were significant, Meteor Rain had reached the level of minor achievement.

Achieving minor proficiency in an advanced skill within half a day was unbelievable.

Of course, besides her golden finger, it also required a hefty dose of financial support.

Any regrets over the cost of the elixirs faded instantly.

In good spirits, Qiao Sang turned to Little Treasure’s page.

Her eyes stopped on one line.

Hypnosis (Mastery 10009/20000) +