Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

Chapter 271: Fail, Next!

Seeing Shi Gaofeng, Qiao Sang was reminded of their plan to go to the Beast Center.

Assessing a beast master's rank is something almost every beast master goes through.

Even if one’s future goals don’t include becoming a professional beast master, as long as they meet the requirements to apply for the E-level beast master certification, nearly every F-level or rookie beast master will be tempted to give it a try.

It’s not that reaching E-level is particularly impressive, but the perks offered by the Alliance are just too enticing.

The ranking system for beast masters isn’t determined by any national policy; it’s unified by the Alliance and recognized in every country and even on other planets.

Once a beast master reaches E-level, they can enjoy a 10% discount on any paid service at any beast center across the galaxy.

It’s important to know that beast centers are spread throughout the galaxy, and beast masters inevitably have to interact with them.

From pet treatments and check-ups to beast master brainwave tests, material level assessments, dining, and lodging services, these are all common expenses at beast centers.

Calculating over a year, these expenses aren’t insignificant.

The money saved from the 10% discount could even cover a down payment on a house in a third-tier city.

“Are we heading to the Beast Center for the assessment now?” Qiao Sang asked immediately.

Shi Gaofeng walked closer and chuckled.

“Smart guess. I’ve been waiting for you for ages. You don’t have anything else planned, right?”

Qiao Sang shook her head.

“No.”

Compared to getting certified as an E-level beast master, the next competition event just didn’t seem as appealing.

“Then let’s head out now.” Shi Gaofeng suggested.

Qiao Sang naturally nodded in agreement.

During the school sports meet, the school was in an open state, allowing students to freely enter and exit. This was also why Shi Gaofeng chose this period to take the beast master assessment.

Qiao Sang sat atop Yabao, while Shi Gaofeng used an electric skateboard as his mode of transport.

Along the way, the two chatted casually.

“When did your Treasure-Seeking Ghost evolve into a Treasure-Seeking Demon?” Shi Gaofeng asked, his tone a little envious.

Qiao Sang already had a Flame Hound, and now, barely a month into the school year, her Treasure-Seeking Ghost had already evolved into a Treasure-Seeking Demon.

Unbelievable.

“That happened just last week.” Qiao Sang replied.

Although she trained at the training grounds after school, she didn’t stay for long each time. Little Treasure also liked to stay hidden, so it was mostly Yabao training there.

After the last group chat, she had remained quiet.

When the mission ended, Shi Gaofeng and the others couldn’t bring their phones to school, so naturally, he hadn’t known about the Treasure-Seeking Demon’s evolution.

Looking around and seeing no one nearby, Shi Gaofeng leaned in and lowered his voice.

“Be honest with me. Did your Treasure-Seeking Demon absorb some sort of strange energy?”

Qiao Sang blinked.

“Strange energy?”

Shi Gaofeng lowered his voice even further.

“Like life energy or something.”

Qiao Sang: …

“That’s illegal.” She said, exasperated.

Shi Gaofeng pursed his lips, still a bit skeptical.

For ghost-type pets to evolve quickly, they typically needed to absorb energy. If it hadn’t absorbed some restricted energy, how could it evolve so fast?

Plus, it was odd for a ghost-type pet to learn combat skills.

However, he’d once read an article online about a ghost-type pet that absorbed life energy from a sleeping scorpion and ended up needing nine hours of sleep daily instead of the usual two.

Shi Gaofeng suspected that Qiao Sang’s Treasure-Seeking Demon might have similarly absorbed some life energy from a combat-type pet, which influenced it to learn Brick Break.

Glancing at Qiao Sang, he decided it was best to keep this theory to himself.

Meanwhile, Little Treasure was relaxing on his master’s head, enjoying the scenery, completely unaware of his reputation almost being ruined.

---

At the Beast Center.

The registration area for the beast master assessment was packed with people.

These days, any beast master who met the requirements was likely to take the assessment, and F-level beast masters aiming for E-level made up the majority.

Even so, Qiao Sang and Shi Gaofeng, in their Shengshui High uniforms, stood out.

After all, their age was obvious; standing among a crowd mostly of adults, they drew attention.

Especially Qiao Sang, not for any particular reason other than Yabao accompanying her.

The Flame Hound’s popularity might have waned, but it was still a rare sight in real life.

A young man around eighteen years old behind her couldn’t help snapping a few photos with his phone.

Yabao’s ears twitched, and he turned to look at him.

Startled, the young man hurriedly put down his phone.

Having been surrounded and photographed before, Yabao glanced at the human’s phone knowingly, understanding what the sound was.

Yabao turned back, proudly puffing out his chest.

“Yap…”

Just another one captivated by his coolness, how troublesome…

One by one, the beast masters completed their registrations and headed to the assessment area.

When Shi Gaofeng’s turn was approaching, he suddenly turned to Qiao Sang and said, “Don’t worry. With your skill, you should be fine.”

You’re the one who’s nervous… Qiao Sang looked at Shi Gaofeng’s forehead, now visibly sweating, and decided not to call him out.

She nodded. “I think I’ll be fine, too.”

Shi Gaofeng: …

The assessment wasn’t free, it cost 500 Alliance coins per attempt, a measure to prevent people from registering without real intent and wasting resources.

After paying, registering, and filling out the form, the process was straightforward.

When Qiao Sang entered the assessment area, she saw dozens of people sitting around, including Shi Gaofeng, everyone who had just registered, waiting for their turn.

At one end of the arena, two examiners were seated at a long table, looking at their screens.

Another examiner was conducting a test in the center of the arena, with a Monitor Eye floating above, supervising the entire process.

Qiao Sang took a seat beside Shi Gaofeng.

Shi Gaofeng subconsciously glanced at her, only to find her calm and composed, showing no signs of nerves.

Typically, first-time candidates are either excited or anxious, but Qiao Sang showed no emotion at all.

Shi Gaofeng felt a bit in awe, thinking to himself, No wonder everyone at school calls her a prodigy…

Seeing her watching the examiner, Shi Gaofeng whispered, “If that examiner ends up assessing us, we’re in luck.

“I’ve researched today’s examiners; the one in the center is known to go easy. Nine out of ten candidates usually pass under him.”

As he finished speaking, the Arena Duck on the field used a powerful Water Gun to knock down the Fat Dove.

“Failed. Next.” The examiner, whom Shi Gaofeng had just described as soft-hearted, announced.