Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

"Then how did you think of the contract cotton bug?" Qiao Sang asked.

"I want to evolve it into a Snow Butterfly; it's super beautiful." Fang Sisi said as she pulled out her phone, intending to show Qiao Sang a picture of the Snow Butterfly.

"I know, but to evolve it into a Snow Butterfly, you have to take it to the Beilun region, right?" Qiao Sang responded.

The Beilun region was far from their current location in the Yuhua region.

The Cotton bug was known to have five evolutionary forms, one of which required a specific environment to evolve into a Snow Butterfly.

The Beilun region was precisely the required environment.

"No need, I consulted a breeder. As long as it stays in an environment of -40°C for an hour, it'll evolve. I'll just hire an ice-type pet beast to create the environment." Fang Sisi explained.

Seeing that Fang Sisi had it all planned out, Qiao Sang nodded and asked the inevitable post-exam question: "How did you do on the exam?"

Fang Sisi shrugged helplessly, "304 points, I'll have to go to vocational school."

"359 points." Qiao Sang replied.

"Really?" Fang Sisi's eyes widened.

"I'll show you the report card when it arrives." Qiao Sang said with a smile.

Before Fang Sisi could say anything, a commotion erupted in the class.

It turned out Qin Shou had brought in his Laosi.

When Qiao Sang brought her Fire Fang Dog into the classroom, everyone chose to observe from a distance, knowing that fire-type pet beasts weren't exactly known for their temper.

But they were unfamiliar with Laosi's temperament. Just knowing it was a rare foreign pet beast was enough to get everyone excited.

Qiao Sang looked over and saw Qin Shou surrounded by a crowd so thick that neither he nor his Laosi could be seen.

Even Guo Lin, who had previously spoken sourly, ran over, shouting, "Brother Shou! Let me see!"

The excitement lasted for over ten minutes before the class settled down when the teacher entered.

Only then did Qiao Sang get a clear look at Laosi.

Standing around 80 centimeters tall, it had two bull-like horns on its head and light red eyes with fin-like markings around them, resembling eyeshadow.

It trembled slightly as it huddled in Qin Shou's arms, looking as though it had just been frightened by the crowd.

The teacher began handing out the report cards.

"Where's Xie Jiayi?" Qiao Sang asked.

Xie Jiayi was Fang Sisi's desk mate, and she had previously suggested they all apply to Haomu Beast Taming School together.

Fang Sisi glanced at the empty seat in front of her and whispered, "You weren't here the day of the brain domain awakening, so you don't know. Xie Jiayi failed to awaken."

Qiao Sang was stunned and didn't say anything.

Every year, only 73% of students successfully awaken their mental domain during the high school entrance exam, leaving 27% unable to awaken.

With this ratio spread across all schools, it wasn't surprising that a few students in their class didn't succeed.

Xie Jiayi's parents were both beast tamers, so she should've had a good chance of awakening. Failing to awaken must have been a big blow to her.

But reality is often unpredictable. While Dai Shushu, a regular person, successfully awakened on her own, Xie Jiayi, the daughter of beast tamers, failed to awaken.

Soon, the teacher called Qiao Sang's name.

When she went up to get her report card, she was surprised to find it wouldn't budge.

Qiao Sang looked up in confusion at the teacher.

The teacher, grinning from ear to ear, his wig shaking with his laughter, adjusted her position to face the class and loudly announced, "I have good news to share! Our classmate Qiao Sang has studied hard and lived up to expectations by getting into Shengshui High School!"

The entire class was shocked.

Studied hard?

The same Qiao Sang who slept in class, failed exams, and recently took time off from school?

They had never expected anything from Qiao Sang.

And Shengshui High School?

Who?

The one who was always third from last in class?!

Qiao Sang: ???

---

Qingcheng Garden.

Qiao Sang returned home, exhausted.

Her mother was humming a tune in her own room.

Qiao Sang pushed open her mother's door to find the bed and floor covered with all sorts of clothes, bags, and shoes.

"You're back! Just in time, help me pick an outfit." Her mother said with a smile.

"Mom, what's the occasion?" Qiao Sang asked, momentarily forgetting why she had come in.

"Oh, go on, it's nothing serious. Didn't you get into Shengshui High School? I invited some people to Yujing Hotel the day after tomorrow for a banquet. Help me choose an outfit." Her mother explained.

Qiao Sang: ...

"Mom, it's not that big of a deal."

"Of course, it is! It's a day to be proud of, so we have to celebrate properly. I'm even going to hang a banner. What do you think I should write on it?" Her mother asked as she tried on outfits in front of the mirror.

Qiao Sang was helpless. Seeing her mother so determined, she asked to confirm, "You told my teacher about me getting into Shengshui High School?"

"Of course! I had to call and thank your teacher for helping improve your grades in the final stages. I even invited him to the banquet." Her mother admitted.

What could Qiao Sang say? As long as her mother was happy.

But the efficiency was impressive—she felt like her mother had already called everyone they knew.

Qiao Sang spent the rest of the time helping her mother choose an outfit, finally settling on a dress that matched Fire Fang Dog's fur color, thanks to its decisive paw.

In the afternoon, her mother went for a beauty treatment, and Qiao Sang took the report card to Shengshui High School to confirm her enrollment.

Her admission to Shengshui High School was now official.

---

June 26.

Yujing Hotel.

"Qiao Sang, come here. This is Aunt Pingping. She held you when you were little." Her mother, dressed in a red gown with elegantly styled hair, called Qiao Sang over.

"Hello, Auntie." Qiao Sang greeted politely.

Qiao Sang was dressed as usual, but her Fire Fang Dog had been given a makeover.

Its flame-like fur was meticulously groomed, a black bow tie was stylishly fastened around its neck, and a pair of matching black triangular sunglasses completed its dashing look.

"You've grown so much, Qiao Sang." Aunt Pingping said to Qiao Sang, though her eyes couldn't help but keep glancing at Fire Fang Dog.

Before they could chat further, Qiao Sang's mother pulled her over to another table, where she recognized some familiar faces.

"Hello, Teacher." Qiao Sang greeted with a smile.

"Qiao Sang, when I first saw you, I knew you had the potential to excel in your studies. I've taught so many students, but you're the only one who awakened on your own. You didn't let me down by getting into the best high school in Hanggang." Her teacher said, standing up with a beaming smile.

Before Qiao Sang could respond, her mother chimed in, "Oh, it's all thanks to you, Teacher. Just a while ago, she even scored zero on an exam. If it weren't for your dedication, how could she have done so well on the entrance exam?"

"Not at all, it's because she worked hard and improved her grades." The teacher modestly replied.

"Don't be modest, Teacher. If you hadn't kept a close eye on her, she wouldn't have made it." Her mother insisted.

"Really, it's all her own effort. She even took almost two weeks off near the end. I couldn't supervise her studies then." The teacher added.

The room suddenly fell silent.

After a few seconds, Qiao Sang's mother looked at her and asked, "You... took two weeks off?"

Qiao Sang: ...!

Oh no, she forgot about that!