Qiao Sang ran two streets, clutching her Fire Tooth Dog, before finally coming to a stop.
The Fire Tooth Dog looked up at its Beast Master, its eyes filled with confusion.
"We're changing training sites," Qiao Sang said, panting for breath.
...
Five kilometers away, at an open training ground for companion beasts.
Qiao Sang opened her panel.
[Name: Fire Tooth Dog]
[Attribute: Fire]
[Level: Beginner (152/1000)+]
[Skills: Bite (Entry Level 74/100)+, Charge (Proficient 334/500)+, Fire Tooth (Minor Progress 539/2000)+, Spark (Minor Progress 659/2000)+, Shadow Clone (Entry Level 42/100)+, Flame Vortex (Entry Level 1/100)+]
[Points: 109]
The panel for the Fire Tooth Dog was drastically different from how it had looked in the past.
Both Fire Tooth and Spark had reached the minor progress stage through training.
It was important to note that even for low-level skills like Spark, advancing from proficiency to minor progress usually took over half a year's effort. But the Fire Tooth Dog had accomplished this in just about two weeks.
Not to mention Fire Tooth.
Advancing proficiency to a higher level was no simple task. Typically, it would take at least a year to go from proficiency to minor progress for a mid-level skill, yet the Fire Tooth Dog achieved this in less than half a month, a feat that usually required a year of training.
Qiao Sang didn’t linger on the other data, having checked the updates every night before sleep.
The improvement in proficiency for Spark and Fire Tooth was something she was already aware of.
[Flame Vortex (Entry Level 1/100)+]
Her gaze landed directly on the newly appeared data, which hadn’t been there last night.
Indeed, a new skill had emerged!
Qiao Sang felt her excitement rise; the Fire Tooth Dog was fundamentally different from other companion beasts.
While other beasts might struggle to unleash a newly learned skill before mastering it, once the Fire Tooth Dog learned a skill and released it once, it could reliably do so again.
It was just like with Fire Tooth and Shadow Clone.
It seemed her idea of feeding it those super spicy roasted wings was indeed correct!
She affirmed herself as she closed the Beastmaster Codex.
"Fire Tooth Dog, release Flame Vortex five times," Qiao Sang commanded.
"Yah?"
The Fire Tooth Dog tilted its head.
"The move you just learned from those roasted wings," Qiao Sang clarified.
The Fire Tooth Dog understood, recalling the sensation it felt when the heat surged within it.
Opening its mouth, a swirling flame instantly appeared in the open training ground.
Before long, five Flame Vortexes had been unleashed.
"Yah!"
The Fire Tooth Dog wagged its tail, its eyes shining brightly as it gazed up at its master.
"Great job," Qiao Sang praised, pretending not to understand what the Fire Tooth Dog was trying to convey. "Are you tired? Let’s go home."
Today's skill development experiment had been a success, and the success rate for Flame Vortex was exactly what she had hoped for—100%.
Now, she needed to rush home to explore ways to earn some money.
As Qiao Sang turned and was about to step forward, she felt her right foot get heavier.
Looking down, she saw the Fire Tooth Dog had bitten onto the hem of her pants.
"Yah yah!"
Seeing its master stop, the Fire Tooth Dog hurriedly released its grip and gestured with its paw.
It didn’t want to go back!
It still hadn’t learned Meteor Shower!
Qiao Sang sighed.
What to do about her overly dedicated companion beast…
She could only crouch down and explain, “You just learned a new skill. That’s already amazing! Everything takes time. We’ll practice Meteor Shower next time.”
She had to hurry and coax the Fire Tooth Dog away; even if they stayed here all night practicing Meteor Shower, it wouldn't yield any progress.
If a high-level skill could be easily mastered, it wouldn’t remain classified as high-level.
Meteor Shower was designated as a high-level skill for a reason—it indicated its power and difficulty level were equivalent.
"Yah!"
The Fire Tooth Dog retreated a step, shaking its head. It was set on practicing Meteor Shower!
Its master was too lacking in ambition; having learned a new minor skill, she was satisfied and wanted to head home.
That was unacceptable!
It was the unmatched Fire Tooth Dog that sought to challenge the world!
Seeing no other option, Qiao Sang held out a now-cold roasted wing.
What else could she do, now that the Fire Tooth Dog had made its intentions clear?
Of course, she had to go along with it.
The Fire Tooth Dog stiffened, but then mustered the courage to take a bite of the roasted wing.
The next second.
"Yah!!!"
...
Qingcheng Gardens.
At 7:30 PM.
The Fire Tooth Dog lay weakly on the sofa, looking listless.
“Dove~”
The Plump Dove approached, worry clear in its eyes as it nudged with its head.
"Is the Fire Tooth Dog okay?" Qiao Sang's mother asked.
"Just exhausted in body and mind," Qiao Sang replied.
Her mother: "..."
Doing alright, is it?!
Qiao Sang sat cross-legged, watching television.
To train Meteor Shower, the Fire Tooth Dog had consumed six super spicy roasted wings, and now, only three bottles of her rare milk remained.
Even though the Fire Tooth Dog bore the heat well, its relentless use of flames far outstripped any recovery it could manage.
Since Qiao Sang couldn't afford more rare milk, she could only buy a few bottles of regular water for it.
But after an entire afternoon of practice, the Fire Tooth Dog's throat was raw and hoarse from all the calling, yet there was no sign of it learning Meteor Shower at all.
While it hadn’t mastered Meteor Shower, the proficiency for Flame Vortex had increased by a whopping 45 points.
Thus, the Fire Tooth Dog was quite exhausted.
Qiao Sang could only watch, helpless.
The Fire Tooth Dog was stubborn, and if she tried to stop it from training, it would only get even more upset. It needed to try on its own before it would give up.
As its Beast Master, all she could do was refrain from interfering.
“The room is nicely organized, so you can now talk about taking a two-week leave,” her mother spoke up.
Qiao Sang quickly snapped back to reality, treading carefully as she said, “Didn’t I mention it? I'm training the Fire Tooth Dog so I can secure the top special spot at Holy Water Middle School. Isn’t that right, Fire Tooth Dog?”
“Yah.”
The Fire Tooth Dog replied hoarsely.
Her mother shot a glance at Qiao Sang, standing up to fetch a glass of water from the kitchen, gently placing it in front of the Fire Tooth Dog and saying, “Drink some water first.”
Qiao Sang thought to herself: “…”
Why did her mother’s eyes seem to blame her for not treating the Fire Tooth Dog well…
Luckily, her mother didn’t say anything more after that, perhaps letting it slide due to the fact that her room was tidy and she had managed to get into Holy Water Middle School…
Qiao Sang let out a sigh of relief.
An advertisement was playing on the television.
It reported on the registration time and competition location for F-level Beastmasters in Hanggang City, which was set for June 30.
Qiao Sang leaned forward as the picture showed the rewards for the top three spots.
For third place, a Moonlight brand motorcycle, the latest BD-7800 model, coupled with 50,000 Alliance Coins.
Second place would receive a Water Evolution Stone and 100,000 Alliance Coins.
For first place, a random companion beast egg and 200,000 Alliance Coins.
Qiao Sang’s breath quickened.
The reward for first place seemed custom-made for her!
Both the beast egg and the Alliance Coins were exactly what she needed right now!
Before Qiao Sang could memorize the registration website, her mother had already switched channels with the remote.
“Mom!”
Qiao Sang called out instinctively.
She stared at the television, wanting her mother to change the channel back, but the words caught in her throat.
On the screen, a woman in a professional suit was reporting the news.
“At 1:23 PM this afternoon, an incident of malicious vandalism occurred on Jiangyi Street, resulting in severe damage to the building’s walls…”
(End of Chapter)