Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 1014: Baowuwu

While Zhang Taitong reached this stage in his words, a smile returned to his face:

"Your Ghost Ring King isn't a pet from our Zidia Region and holds tremendous talent. If you manage to let it absorb this positive energy too, you'll definitely reap benefits. When that occurs, I hope you'll get in touch with me."

This represented his actual aim.

To tell the truth, he'd encountered regional champions in the past, but Qiao Sang stood out uniquely. A 17-year-old B-level Tamer who had dominated the finest young Tamers in the Dragon Nation to claim the title was a sight even he, with his extensive years, witnessed for the first time.

More crucially, she owned a Ghost-type pet with matching exceptional gifts.

A talented professional Tamer paired with a talented pet—if the Ghost Ring King could genuinely take in that energy, its effects would manifest swiftly. Such an outcome would greatly advance his studies.

Without a clear evolution pathway backed by real cases, his paper would merely catch the eye of Tamers in the Zidia Region at best.

Yet, this energy proved simplest for Ghost-type pets from regions beyond Zidia to absorb. Should Qiao Sang's Ghost Ring King succeed in absorbing it and evolving, countless Tamers across the Dragon Nation with Ghost-type pets would probably attempt the same.

This phenomenon was the celebrity influence.

Qiao Sang muttered to herself inside, then responded earnestly:

"If results come up, I'll surely reach out to you."

Gangbao quietly eyed his Tamer.

"Haha, excellent."

Zhang Taitong gazed at the young girl in front of him, his face beaming with smiles, and inquired: "Do you have any other questions?"

"None." Qiao Sang shook her head, eager to avoid further delay. She rose to her feet and stated:

"Then I'll stop bothering you now."

With those words, she readied herself to depart.

Zhang Taitong paused briefly in surprise and hastily added: "Why rush off right after getting here? You've traveled so far, so allow me to show you around our research institute."

Qiao Sang’s interest piqued: "Would that impose too much on you?"

"Not at all." Zhang Taitong chuckled.

"I’m actually due for a rest soon."

Upon hearing that, Qiao Sang held her tongue and agreed right away.

Besides major pet bases, research institutes housed the greatest variety of pets. Moreover, certain pets within these institutes might never appear elsewhere. She had every reason to join the tour.

Zhang Taitong guided Qiao Sang toward the zones where Ghost-type pets gathered most often.

Right at the doorway, the inside appeared dim and spooky.

The instant her foot crossed the threshold, bright lights flared to life.

The space expanded abruptly: Pools, trees, patches of grass, and assorted fitness gear like weights scattered on the floor.

Only a handful of Ghost-type pets lingered, dotted around in different spots.

"Clap clap!"

At that moment, Zhang Taitong clapped his hands and announced clearly: "Everyone, emerge and greet our visitor."

Within the following instant, from over the pool, within the trees, among the grass, on the ground, and floating in the air, a swarm of countless Ghost-type pets materialized densely.

One such Ghost-type pet, merely ten centimeters in height, hovered on Qiao Sang's left side, merely 0.5 centimeters from her, peering at her with pure curiosity on its face.

Qiao Sang nearly yelped, but thanks to her lately strengthened mental resilience from training, she swiftly composed herself.

She eyed the Ghost-type pet nearly brushing her cheek from the left and quietly shifted a bit to the right.

"What’s your impression? Aren’t there plenty of Ghost-type pets around?"

Zhang Taitong remarked with a grin: "Along with those native to the Zidia Region, numerous Ghost-type pets from various other areas reside here."

Qiao Sang expressed genuine awe: "There are far more here than I spotted last night in You City. It seems like you could run your own pet base."

Zhang Taitong chuckled: "A good number of the Ghost-type pets I keep here won't show up in any pet base."

"Chou chou~"

No sooner had he finished than a Ghost-type pet adorned with a red bow on its head, featuring a mainly pink and dark green body, dotted with petals, small eyes, and "sausage lips," strolled by them, acting nonchalant.

Qiao Sang couldn't resist inwardly teasing it.

"This is the Ugly Night Flower I brought up before." Zhang Taitong presented.

Qiao Sang paused briefly: "It's truly far prettier than typical Ugly Night Flowers."

"Chou chou!"

The Ugly Night Flower lifted its head and strutted proudly, yet the very next moment, it spun around to shoot her a glare before fading into invisibility.

 Qiao Sang felt utterly puzzled.

Zhang Taitong pressed a hand to his forehead: "It likely detected no genuine praise in your words and realized you were faking it."

Qiao Sang: ...

Zhang Taitong recalled a detail and stated gravely:

"I nearly overlooked mentioning this. Apart from taking in that positive energy, Ghost-type pets can also detect if the feelings shown by others are authentic. If they're insincere, it appears to disrupt the energy already absorbed. That's a key factor why, after years of my efforts, no Ghost-type pet has completed an official evolution."

. Qiao Sang glanced toward Little Treasure, who had drifted amid the cluster of Ghost-type pets and was now frolicking with them.

"Huan huan?"

Abruptly, a meter-tall Ghost-type pet in shades of purple and red, resembling a floral wreath, hovered beside Yabao. It gestured toward the pet egg in his grasp and emitted a sound.

"Yap yap!"

Yabao shielded the pet egg, snarled at the wreath-shaped pet, adopted a menacing look, and let out a growl.

The wreath-like pet shuddered instantly, appeared frightened, and dissolved into invisibility.

"Yap yap..."

Yabao eased up.

Wreath-Eater Ghost. It avoids absorbing negative emotional energy and favors consuming food instead. It even enjoys non-Ghost-type foods, particularly pet eggs. Legend has it that once they produce an egg, keepers must isolate them promptly to stop them from devouring it... Qiao Sang reflected.

Zhang Taitong observed the exchange, his eyes settling on the pet egg, and questioned: "What’s this egg?"

With his vast expertise, he oddly failed to identify the creature within the egg immediately.

"It's the prize from the Central Hollow Regional Championship." Qiao Sang replied.

Zhang Taitong's face lit up with understanding.

He held little fascination for non-Ghost-type pets. Though he couldn't identify the egg's occupant, he recognized it wasn't a Ghost-type.

Then a thought struck him, and he inquired: "Do you intend to make it your following pet?"

Qiao Sang answered honestly: "I haven't settled on that yet. I'll wait until it hatches to check for any bond."

Zhang Taitong smiled and commented: "If you're considering your next contract, there's actually one pet I believe would suit you perfectly."

Qiao Sang queried: "Which one?"

Zhang Taitong's smile faded as he declared solemnly: "Spirit-Passing Cat."

Qiao Sang froze in shock.

She noticed that, despite her broad knowledge base now, she had no clue about a Spirit-Passing Cat.

Noting Qiao Sang's mild response, Zhang Taitong suddenly recalled something and remarked with a mixed expression: "I nearly forgot—you've bonded with the legendary pet of the Central Hollow Region, the Qingqing Ni."

Qiao Sang felt perplexed.

Zhang Taitong went on: "The Spirit-Passing Cat is a Ghost-type pet. Rumor says it can lead human souls and help living creatures reincarnate into desired lives. Its racial limit reaches the Sovereign-level."

"Sovereign-level?" Qiao Sang’s tone spiked sharply.

Sovereign-level, surpassing the Emperor-level, and just below the God-level.

At that point, she grasped why he'd referenced Qingbao moments ago.

She had to concede that, since bonding with Qingbao, her attitude toward these ultra-rare pets had grown far calmer.

Witnessing Qiao Sang's reaction, Zhang Taitong grinned once more: "Exactly, Sovereign-level. A Spirit-Passing Cat has surfaced lately in Xihan City. Numerous professional Tamers are heading there. You could head over and test your fortune."

Qiao Sang recalled and exclaimed in surprise:

"That Xihan City among the Ten Great Ghost Cities?"

"Yes, precisely." Zhang Taitong confirmed with a nod.

Qiao Sang couldn't help adding: "But isn't it a ghost city? Don't people fear it?"

Zhang Taitong burst into laughter immediately: "Folks from outside might dread it, but for those of us in the Zidia Region, a ghost city holds no special terror. At worst, it hosts more Ghost-type pets, and they tend to pull pranks more often."

 Qiao Sang teased inwardly, then voiced hesitantly: "I’ve heard numerous folks vanish in the Ten Great Ghost Cities annually."

Zhang Taitong’s grin disappeared, and he stated gravely: "That's accurate. I won't conceal it from you—the Ten Great Ghost Cities experience Secret Realm Cracks a tad more often than elsewhere, raising the risk level."

He regarded Qiao Sang and pressed on: "Still, danger frequently pairs with chances. With a Spirit-Passing Cat emerging in Xihan City, as a B-level Tamer with a Ghost-type pet, you ought to face no real threats there."

Qiao Sang mulled it over briefly and replied: "A Sovereign-level pet is tempting indeed, but I prefer contracting pets with diverse attributes."

Indicating the Spirit-Passing Cat's type matched Little Treasure's.

Zhang Taitong grew quiet.

Noticing this, Qiao Sang probed: "You appear to have more to share."

Zhang Taitong eyed Qiao Sang:

"In fact, I possess a pet here that emerged from a Secret Realm Crack in Xihan City. I've checked the patterns of those cracks; multiple ones are set to burst open in a few days. I figured if you headed there, you might bring that pet along to return it."

Return it? Qiao Sang ventured: "Does that pet wish to go back to the Secret Realm?"

Zhang Taitong gave a subtle nod: "It hasn't shown much hunger for ages. I've sent folks to Xihan City with it twice, but they failed to locate its original Secret Realm, so they returned it here. I believed if you went, you could escort it for another search."

After a brief halt, he appended: "Its name is Baowuwu. It detects odd energies and swiftly uncovers treasures and rare pets."

As he uttered the final words, he shot Qiao Sang a meaningful glance.

Should she desire the Spirit-Passing Cat, bringing Baowuwu would accomplish two goals at once.

Regrettably, she lacked interest.

Zhang Taitong felt no deep letdown. Qiao Sang's arrival had been unexpected anyway; his primary focus remained his research. Even without her trip to Xihan City, he could enlist another to transport Baowuwu.

Right as Zhang Taitong prepared to showcase additional Ghost-type pets, Qiao Sang interjected: "May I meet that Baowuwu?"

Zhang Taitong blinked in astonishment, then beamed: "Certainly."

He refrained from summoning it outright like the others. Rather, he escorted Qiao Sang to a nook, as if assured Baowuwu lingered there.

"There it is." Zhang Taitong declared, indicating a pet balled up in the corner.

Qiao Sang peered where he gestured.

The pet, eyes shut, measured around twenty centimeters, with slender limbs and pinkish skin. Its head was oversized, and two fangs protruded from its mouth. A hat resembling a movie witch's topped its head.

A brimming bowl of energy pills and a stack of Shade Fruits favored by Ghost-type pets sat before it, seemingly untouched.

Zhang Taitong outlined the background:

"This Baowuwu arrived with me a year back. I was short on Ghost-type pets for examining positive emotional energy absorption, so I retained it. It stayed remarkably subdued. Eventually, upon getting acquainted, I discovered it yearned to return to the Secret Realm."

"Following two unsuccessful trips to Xihan City, it turned out this way. It consumes just one meal daily now. Currently, its weight matches half of a standard Baowuwu its age."

Gazing at the closed-eyed Baowuwu, Qiao Sang recalled her past lucky pet.

She remained quiet for moments, then uttered: "Several Secret Realm Cracks will erupt in two days?"

Zhang Taitong paused, then his eyes sparkled. He affirmed: "Precisely so."

.

With that in mind, Qiao Sang smiled and declared: "I’ve known of the Ten Great Ghost Cities since my Tamer days began. Now that I’m here at last, I ought to visit one. Think of it as sightseeing a renowned spot. I'll bring Baowuwu with me."

"Wonderful! Splendid!" Zhang Taitong’s grin widened broadly, and his view of Qiao Sang soared.

"Baowuwu, won't you rise?" Zhang Taitong called.

"Wuwu!" Baowuwu snapped its eyes open and promptly levitated upward.

Qiao Sang: ???

Zhang Taitong cleared his throat and clarified: "It genuinely lacks appetite and its spirit is low, but whenever departure for Xihan City nears, it perks up remarkably."

"Wuwu!"

Baowuwu bobbed its head.

Qiao Sang: ...