Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

When it came to the next skill to learn, Qiao Sang made her decision almost immediately after Water Luriana demonstrated the skills she already knew.

That skill was Water Stream Jet.

Water Stream Jet is a water-type physical attack skill. However, the skill’s effect isn't as literal as jetting out a stream of water.

Instead, it involves wrapping the pet beast’s entire body in water, allowing it to rush forward with the flow and slam into its opponent.

Qiao Sang thought it through carefully.

Given Water Luriana’s average aptitude, learning high-level skills at this stage would be unrealistic.

Although Water Stream Jet is considered an intermediate skill, it’s also one of the harder-to-learn moves among all intermediate water-type skills.

Based on Water Luriana’s aptitude, learning this move could potentially take years.

But Qiao Sang believed she wouldn’t take nearly as long, because Water Luriana already knew Water Tail.

Learning skills can promote a pet beast’s growth and also lead to understanding other skills.

Most beastmasters start by building a strong foundation for their pet beasts, encouraging them to learn a corresponding lower- or mid-level skill before tackling high-level skills.

For example, with the high-level water skill Hydro Cannon, having the pet beast master the intermediate skill Water Gun first significantly increases the success rate of learning Hydro Cannon.

It’s like a student needing to complete nine years of compulsory education before taking the high school entrance exam. Without a solid foundation, tackling high school-level problems would be impossible.

In the living room, Qiao Sang pulled out her phone to search for videos of Water Stream Jet for Water Luriana to watch.

Water Luriana blinked and watched the screen intently.

In the video, a water-type pet beast wrapped itself in water and charged powerfully at a grass-type pet beast ten times its size.

The grass-type pet beast stood firm as a rock, unmoved, even casually scratching its nose.

Water Luriana’s eyes widened. This was the move she was supposed to learn?

"Oops." Qiao Sang quickly swiped up to skip the video.

The video changed.

This time, a water-type pet beast used Water Stream Jet to dodge consecutive fire attacks in mid-air before crashing into a fire-type pet beast it was battling.

The fire-type pet beast sneered, a molten glow appearing as it burrowed underground.

With its target gone, the water-type pet beast crashed into a mountain rock behind it.

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A crack sounded in the video as the rock shattered.

Water Luriana’s eyes grew even wider.

Qiao Sang paused the video, waiting a few seconds before saying, "Look at the power of this move, see how that massive rock shattered into pieces upon impact."

Water Luriana Yana looked at the shattered rock on screen, stunned, and nodded.

It did look pretty impressive...

"Right now, your only physical attack is Water Tail. But if you want to use Water Tail to get close enough to an opponent and attack, you’ll either need perfect timing or be much faster than your opponent to catch them off guard." Qiao Sang explained.

Water Luriana listened intently, showing a serious expression.

"But perfect timing is hard to achieve, and your speed isn’t there yet."

Water Luriana: ...

"But don’t worry." Qiao Sang replayed the video, stopping at the moment the water-type pet beast used Water Stream Jet to dodge fire attacks.

She continued, "See, Water Stream Jet not only increases speed but is also much stronger than Water Tail. Even if it doesn’t hit the opponent, it’s great for dodging attacks."

"Lu lu!" Water Luriana gave a cry of agreement.

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure next to them chimed in, as he often did, with a translation.

"Alright, then it’s decided! Let’s start now." Qiao Sang said with a smile.

Although the two videos had been rather lackluster, Water Luriana still seemed easy to persuade.

Qiao Sang took Water Luriana to the courtyard, finding a spot with a watermelon-sized rock.

"First, try to wrap your entire body in water, just like when you use Water Tail."

"Lu lu." Water Luriana nodded.

"Once you can break this rock like in the video, the move will be complete." Qiao Sang said, pointing at the rock.

"Lu lu!" Water Luriana looked at the rock with a determined expression and began wrapping her tail in water, moving the flow upward.

However, the water only covered half her body before she crashed head-first into the rock.

Thud.

A crack appeared on the rock.

"Lu lu!"

Water Luriana’s eyes lit up at the sight of the crack, excitedly pointing to the rock and calling to Qiao Sang.

Qiao Sang: ...

Watching Water Luriana’s excitement, despite the bump on her head, Qiao Sang sighed internally.

Not only was her aptitude poor, but she was also a bit… dense.

Perhaps finding a way for Water Luriana to evolve would be more practical.

"Not bad, you made a crack." Qiao Sang said, crouching down and pointing to the bump on Water Luriana’s head.

"But, didn’t it hurt?"

Water Luriana froze, reaching up with a short toe.

"Lu lu!"

It hurt!

"You only cracked the rock with brute force, not by using Water Stream Jet." Qiao Sang said with a laugh.

"Lu lu..."

Water Luriana pouted.

"This was only the first try; it’s normal to fail."

Qiao Sang reassured, "Even Yabao spent a lot of time practicing… Meteor Rain."

Water Luriana perked up at the mention of Yabao.

"Don’t be in a rush to hit the rock. You have to fully envelop yourself in water first."

Thinking of Yabao, Qiao Sang added, "If you don’t understand, you can ask Yabao. He knows Flame Charge, which also involves wrapping himself in energy, except it’s fire, and you’re water."

"Lu lu..."

Water Luriana cast a reluctant look toward Yabao, who was focused on practicing Fire Fang, and begrudgingly nodded.

No one noticed a little Water Snail silently turning back at the courtyard wall.

---

Night.

Lying in bed, Qiao Sang habitually opened the Beastmaster Codex before sleep.

Name: Flame Hound (Yabao)

Level: Intermediate (1407/10000)+

Points: 10776

Seeing the number 10776, despite being prepared, Qiao Sang couldn’t contain her excitement.

Today’s battle had been worthwhile!

These points were enough for Yabao to evolve into an advanced pet beast!

An advanced pet beast! That was no small feat.

While low and intermediate-level pet beasts were common for beastmasters, only one in five hundred could boast of an advanced pet beast, regardless of age.

Beyond aptitude, it’s also due to the exorbitant resources needed for many pet beasts to reach advanced evolution.

Even if the evolution requirements are simple, sustaining an advanced pet beast’s upkeep is another matter entirely.

A beastmaster with an advanced pet beast could easily rise beyond the rookie ranks.

Being qualified to join a team exploring secret realms was proof enough.

Qiao Sang kept a level head, resisting the impulse to evolve Yabao immediately.

She knew that if a pet beast evolved after surpassing its energy limit, its future growth ceiling would be far higher than others in the same rank.

When Yabao was still a Fire Fang Dog, his energy had already surpassed the primary pet beast range. She wanted Yabao to do the same as a Flame Hound.

Tomorrow, she’d take him for a check-up!

Thinking of this, Qiao Sang eagerly turned the page.