Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 3: Moving Houses
Previously on Beast Taming: Starting From Zero...
“Mom, why’d you hit me on the back of the head?”
Ye Xiangting’s teeth were gritted in frustration.
“You actually succeeded in awakening, so what on earth are you sighing about?”
“The examiner mentioned that my brain domain fluctuations are quite intense and advised me to rest. But with the exams only 20 days away, isn't this going to interfere with my studies?” Qiao Sang responded with an innocent look.
Ye Xiangting: “…”
“Mom, what are you doing!”
“Mom!”
Only Cialiguo, who had followed Qiao Sang out, remained standing there, looking disheveled as the wind blew past.
“Cialiguo!”
…
Once she was back home, Qiao Sang shut herself in her bedroom and powered on her computer.
Her mother had intended for them to visit the Hanggang Pet Beast Base that afternoon to pick out a partner, but Qiao Sang had declined.
In a world where Beast Tamers represent the professional elite, selecting the right pet beast is a monumental decision, mainly because most people are only able to contract a single beast during their entire lifetime.
The hierarchy of Beast Tamers is categorized from F-rank up to SSS-rank.
Attaining F-rank is the most basic step; as long as an individual awakens their Beast Taming Manual at the age of 15 and forms a contract with a pet beast, they can receive certification at the local Beast Taming Center.
To ascend to an E-rank Beast Tamer, one’s brain domain must first be developed to 10%, allowing the Beast Taming Manual to facilitate a second contract.
Furthermore, the Tamer must successfully raise two mid-level pet beasts that have completed at least one evolution.
Following that, a 1v1 duel must be won under the observation of a notary from the Beast Tamer Alliance.
Only after these conditions are met can their status be officially upgraded to E-rank.
Some individuals opt for insects due to their rapid evolution cycles to reach the mid-level requirement quickly.
However, mid-level insect beasts tend to be underpowered; only those with remarkably high combat proficiency can manage to win duels with them.
The original Qiao Sang had been a struggling student with poor grades, and her knowledge was limited to remembering which extraordinary creatures were aesthetically pleasing.
If she couldn't secure victories, how could she hope to reach the higher tiers of Beast Taming?
Choosing a pet beast required a focus on high potential and significant combat prowess.
If she had gone to the Hanggang Pet Beast Base that afternoon, she wouldn't have known the names, attributes, or evolutionary paths of the beasts there. How could she possibly make an informed choice?
Qiao Sang believed this wasn't a matter to be rushed. She needed to do her research first.
She accessed a forum and signed into her account, “Top Student.”
The ID was a clear sign that every underachiever harbors a secret desire to change their fate.
Rather than starting a new thread, Qiao Sang spent her time lurking. In this society, the study of pet beasts was highly advanced, and thousands of newly awakened Beast Tamers shared their thoughts online every year.
As she scrolled, she encountered various discussions:
- [What should I do if my Little Fat Dove refuses to eat?]
- [Seeking advice on the best training methods for earth-type beasts!]
- [Is it normal for a Short-tailed Snake to shed its skin three times a month?]
- [Is it okay to choose a dragon-type beast as my first contract?]
She paused to look at the final post.
Imagine thinking about getting a dragon-type as a starter and asking for approval?
The sheer dominance of dragon-type pet beasts was common knowledge.
Excluding a few hyper-rare species, dragon-types were the most expensive creatures on the market. They were luxury items reserved for the incredibly wealthy.
Even if a person managed to scrape together enough money to buy one, the maintenance costs were astronomical.
Dragon-types possess lengthy evolution cycles, often requiring years of dedicated care and feeding just to reach the mid-level stage.
If Qiao Sang were to reply, her answer would be a resounding no.
Absolutely not!
However, if someone actually offered a dragon-type to Qiao Sang for a contract…
Qiao Sang shook the thought away and stopped looking at that irritating thread.
- [Which is the strongest among the five most common starter beasts?]
The comment section was a battlefield of conflicting views.
“The original poster clearly doesn't let their Sand Diggers sleep at night. Just a heads-up: they grind their teeth constantly!”
“Why didn't you mention what they actually use to grind those teeth on?”
“My White Sand Fox would like a word.”
“Deepfur Turtle is ready to throw down.”
…
The history of Beast Taming had already identified the most suitable partners for beginners.
The list included: Little Fat Dove, White Sand Fox, Short-tailed Snake, Sand Digger, and Deepfur Turtle.
These five species were reasonably priced, making them accessible to average families, and they generally possessed calm temperaments.
With consistent training, reaching the mid-level evolution was a realistic goal for all of them.
The majority of newbie posts on the forum centered around these five choices.
Qiao Sang’s mother had started her journey with a Little Fat Dove, which had eventually evolved into its current form, a Fat Dove.
As a flying-type, its hefty build made it slower than its peers.
It remained a popular pick solely because it had the potential to evolve into the formidable Great Flying Owl.
The White Sand Fox boasted high offensive stats but suffered from fragile defense; it couldn't take much punishment.
The Sand Digger was a natural at tunneling and usually preferred evasion over direct conflict.
The Deepfur Turtle, despite not being a water-type like its mundane counterparts, possessed incredible defensive strength.
Since the White Sand Fox, Sand Digger, and Deepfur Turtle were all earth-types, they were frequently compared against one another.
However, the White Sand Fox was far more visually appealing than the others, making it the top pick for many female beginners.
The Short-tailed Snake was a poison-type, equipped with toxic fangs and lethal tail spikes, offering high combat value right from the start.
Yet, contracting one was a gamble that often ended in a hospital visit.
Only those with high physical durability typically dared to choose it.
Qiao Sang spent a long time weighing her options without reaching a conclusion.
Every one of these five common beasts had flaws, but their low cost and established evolution paths were major selling points.
In the end, it all came down to finances.
Qiao Sang stood up and walked out of her room.
Her mother was on the couch, occupied with the television.
Qiao Sang spoke up, “Mom, do we have 1 million? I’m thinking about buying a Bubble Bell.”
“Get out of here.”
“Fair enough!”
Qiao Sang retreated to her room to continue her forum research.
- [Is it better to buy from a base or catch one in the wild?]
- [Exposing the scams in beast betting!]
…
Besides purchasing from an official base, beasts could be acquired via the black market, through beast betting, or by capturing them in the wild.
Black market beasts had shady origins, though they could source almost anything if you had the credits.
Beast betting was pure gambling; it was a quick way to lose everything, down to your last cent.
As for wild captures, that was a task meant for D-rank Beast Tamers or those above them.
The wilderness was fraught with peril, and extraordinary creatures weren't easily subdued. Even if a contract was forced, training them to be obedient was a nightmare.
None of those three paths were viable for her at the moment.
Qiao Sang let out a sigh. Despite having many grand ideas, her actual choices were quite narrow.
8:26 PM.
Qiao Sang shut her laptop, surprised by how late it had gotten.
Her mother hadn't even called her for dinner. Was she truly that angry?
She decided to head to the living room to investigate, but feeling a bit guilty, she grabbed a copy of “Beast Taming History II” from her shelf to look busy.
When she opened the door, the living room was shrouded in darkness.
Her mother was nowhere in sight.
After checking and realizing her mother wasn't in the bedroom either, Qiao Sang flipped on the lights, dropped the book on the sofa, and pulled a tub of matcha ice cream from the freezer.
Just as she settled in with her snack and the TV, the front door creaked open.
Qiao Sang turned around, and her eyes locked with her mother’s.
“…”
A heavy silence hung in the air for a moment.
“Time to eat,” her mother said, arching an eyebrow as she set bags of takeout on the table.
“I’m coming.” Qiao Sang looked at her fresh ice cream and, refusing to let it melt, took one more quick bite.
“Mom, why did we get takeout today?” Qiao Sang asked as she walked over.
“I had some errands to run and ran out of time to cook, so I just picked this up,” her mother explained.
Qiao Sang pressed, “What kind of errands?”
Her mother hesitated for a second before saying, “Sang Sang, I think we should move to a new house.”
Qiao Sang froze, her spoon halfway to her mouth. She asked, bewildered, “Move? Why?”
As the capital of Zhehai Province, Hanggang City had astronomical real estate prices.
Their current home had been purchased years ago before the surge, serving as a wedding gift from her father’s side.
Even though their complex, Qingcheng Jiayuan, wasn't in the most elite district, its proximity to schools and the subway meant it was valued at over 50,000 per square meter.
Her mother took a bite of her food, swallowed, and looked at Qiao Sang. “I spoke with a real estate agent while I was out. Our place is 133 square meters. At the current rate of 53,000 per meter, it should sell for more than 7 million Alliance Coins.”
“I’ve worked it out. We can downsize to a smaller place, pay the down payment, and use the remaining cash to buy you that Bubble Bell. We’ll even have a surplus.”
“I’m still working, too. Aside from living in a smaller space, our lifestyle won't change.”
Qiao Sang was left speechless.
In the span of a few hours, her mother had decided on a life-altering move without saying a word.
“Mom…” she started, her voice trailing off.
Her mother cut her off, “Your grades might not be the best, but you awakened on your own. That shows you have real talent.”
“We might not be rich, but whatever pet beast you have your heart set on, your mother will find a way to get it for you.”
“You just have to promise me that you won't slack off like you did with school. You have to nurture it properly.”
Ye Xiangting hadn't considered this earlier, but if her daughter wanted a superpower-type beast—and considering she had awakened naturally despite her academic struggles—it proved she had a gift for Beast Taming.
None of their relatives had ever awakened without assistance before.
Because of this, investing in an expensive, high-potential beast that her daughter loved felt like the right move.
It was her responsibility as a parent.
Qiao Sang was overwhelmed with emotion. She found herself eating the rest of the matcha ice cream just to process everything.
She looked at her mother and gave a small smile. “Mom, you said it yourself—I awakened on my own and I have talent. I can make any pet beast strong.”
“I was just joking earlier; I don’t actually need a Bubble Bell. Please, let’s not sell the house.”
Her mother stood up to get some water and, after a pause, said, “I know you want it. Since you awakened naturally—”
Qiao Sang cut her off with a serious expression. “I’ve been studying all day, and I’ve decided that a Fire Fang Dog is actually perfect. That’s what I want.”
While the Bubble Bell was a prestigious superpower-type, and dragons or ghosts were legendary, Qiao Sang felt those were rare status symbols that didn't necessarily fit her current needs.
It was like people who want a divine beast right at the start regardless of their circumstances.
What she truly desired was a partner that was within her means to actually possess and raise effectively.