CHAPTER 814: EXPIRATION

Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

----

The morning's competition concluded, and the audience began to leave in groups.

"Xun xun!"

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure was floating excitedly around his beast master.

He wanted to register!

He wanted to join the Coordination Tournament!

Qiao Sang didn’t take his words too seriously.

Little Treasure’s enthusiasm for anything was always short-lived.

He used to be obsessed with diamond gloves, but once he evolved and the size didn’t fit anymore, he didn’t fuss about getting a new set, almost as if he had forgotten all about it.

Not long ago, he got addicted to playing computer games and reached borderline madness, but eventually, with Aura of Intimidation training and going out at night to recruit underlings, the obsession faded.

This was probably another one of his three-minute fads.

"You need to have won five coordination-type competitions to qualify for the Coordination Tournament." Qiao Sang said casually.

"If we have time later, I’ll sign you up for a coordination-type contest and let you participate."

"Xun xun!"

As soon as Little Treasure heard that, he spun joyfully in midair several times.

Maral turned sharply at those words, her expression full of excitement.

"You’re going to join a coordination contest?"

Qiao Sang lowered her voice and said, "Not necessarily. I just said that to appease him."

As she spoke, she shot a meaningful glance in Little Treasure’s direction.

Maral: ...

Why did pet beasts need to be appeased like that? She didn’t understand...

Dean Sri had already bid farewell to the other four judges and walked over with a smile.

"So, how do you feel? Any interest in coordination contests?"

Qiao Sang answered honestly, "A bit, but only from an appreciation standpoint. Right now, I still want to focus on aiming for the Interstellar Cup."

The Interstellar Cup? What a grand goal... Maral, who hadn’t watched the interviews, was a little stunned.

"I know."

Dean Sri gradually withdrew her smile and said seriously, "I’ve watched several of your matches in the Beast Tamer Star Tournament. At your age, having such strength, across the entire interstellar domain, I can’t think of a second like you. I support you aiming for the Interstellar Cup." Ȑ𝘼ℕö𝐁Êȿ

"However."

She continued, shifting tone, "You could still try participating in coordination contests. You might see a different side of the journey as a beast master."

If she had initially invited Qiao Sang on the principal’s behalf, now it was truly out of her own belief that Qiao Sang should pursue the professional beast master path. That’s why she hadn’t said much earlier.

After all, only those who had truly worked hard to help their pet beasts learn super-tier skills knew how difficult they were.

This child in front of her, only sixteen years old, had already helped two General-level pets learn super-tier skills. It wasn’t an exaggeration to call her a prodigy.

She only hoped that by coming to the Coordination Tournament, Qiao Sang might discover the charm of coordination.

"The road of a beast master is dull yet full of joy." Dean Sri smiled again.

"If someday you feel weary walking the path of a professional beast master, try exploring another field. You might gain something unexpected."

"I look forward to the day you enter the Interstellar Cup."

Dean Sri extended her hand.

Qiao Sang was touched and reached out to shake it.

"I will."

"Then I’ll be heading off." Dean Sri said, turning to Maral.

"Take Qiao Sang around and show her a good time."

Maral immediately stood up straight.

"Yes, ma’am!"

Dean Sri turned and left for the backstage area.

Maral relaxed again and smiled.

"I thought Dean Sri wanted to recruit you and asked me to bring you here to watch the contest. Looks like she’s given up on that idea now."

Qiao Sang glanced at the time on her phone.

"Let’s go."

"Where to?" Maral asked.

"Is there somewhere you want to have fun?"

Qiao Sang looked at her.

"Home. It’s time we start training Wave of Peace resistance."

"Yap!" Yabao cried, expressing agreement.

Maral: ...

---

7:30 PM, At the Villa.

After dinner, Little Treasure went to a room piled high with luxury items, stuffed a bunch into his spatial ring, then teleported to the living room mirror.

He took off the ring and began pulling out clothes and accessories, trying them on one by one.

"Xun xun..."

This one doesn’t fit.

That one’s too big.

That one’s ugly.

Little Treasure tried on outfits while tossing rejects aside.

"Dee dee..."

Adinishi curiously walked over and began mimicking Little Treasure, putting on various accessories and clothes.

Meanwhile, Yabao and Lubao headed for the outdoor training field.

"Lu Ai..."

As they passed by Little Treasure, Lubao took one glance, then let out a sigh of relief.

Looks like Little Treasure wouldn’t be bothering her tonight...

Gangbao split into four copies.

Three of the clones went off to the outdoor training ground, while the main body began cleaning up the dishes on the dining table.

The Sky Bat's eyes glowed blue as it used telekinesis to help.

"This Steel-Slash Giant Falcon is wasted not being a housekeeper pet." Pirite laughed at the diligent scene.

"Steel-Slash Giant Falcons are flying-type pets and not suited to be housekeeper pets." Liu Yao said, his professional instincts kicking in.

"Studies show that the best housekeeper pets are bipedal with two claws and can move upright like humans."

Pirite fell silent for a moment before muttering, "I was just joking."

---

Inside the Room.

Qiao Sang sat cross-legged on the bed, meditating.

"Xun xun!"

About ten minutes later, Little Treasure’s voice suddenly rang out in the room.

Qiao Sang opened her eyes and looked at the creature in front of her, her eyelid twitched, and her eyes burned with pain.

Pink afro wig. Yellow sunglasses. Several chains hanging from his neck. A black cape from today’s shopping spree draped over his back.

Each of his stubby toes wore gemstone rings of different colors, it was an absolute visual assault.

"Xun xun!

Little Treasure called out again, since his beast master hadn’t reacted yet, asking how the look was?

Qiao Sang paused, then lied with a straight face, "Not bad."

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure beamed with joy.

Then he would use this outfit to enter the coordination contest!

"Xun xun~"

Getting more and more excited, he floated over to the desk, picked up the laptop, placed it on the bed, opened it, and looked at Qiao Sang expectantly.

Oh no, he actually took what she said this morning seriously... Qiao Sang paused for half a second and walked over to the computer to check available coordination contests.

When she saw the requirements, she put on a helpless expression and said: "The current coordination contests open for registration require at least two prior top-three finishes in coordination events. We don’t qualify."

Thunderbolt!

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure looked devastated, tears instantly welling up in his eyes.

Although Qiao Sang knew Little Treasure’s tears came and went quickly, she still felt a twinge of guilt.

Maybe she really should sign up for a coordination contest. After all, she couldn’t join the large ones anyway.

Smaller contests were quicker, even if she reached the second stage, it’d only take two days max...

With that outfit, Little Treasure would probably end up with a one-day tour anyway... thinking this, Qiao Sang comforted him: "Don’t cry yet. I’ll check again."

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure instantly stopped crying and pointed at the screen, urging her to hurry.

Qiao Sang: ...

What now? I’m starting to regret this...

She sighed and opened the official coordination center website to continue searching.

The Coordination Center had announcements for all upcoming coordination contests.

Any contest listed on the site had been officially registered, and the results obtained would be officially recognized by the Coordination Center.

Qiao Sang skimmed through them and confirmed that she couldn’t participate in any of the upcoming contests, as all of them had honor-based requirements.

Except for one coordination contest... two months from now.

Qiao Sang told the truth: "There’s not a single one we can sign up for, except for a contest happening two months later. But by then, we should be preparing to return to Blue Star."

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure floated over to the bed, flopped down, and began rolling around, acting spoiled.

Then let’s postpone the return to Blue Star by a few days!

Qiao Sang was just about to reply.

"Gang Slice."

Just then, Gangbao pushed open the door and entered, calling out, she had thought it over and wanted to try participating in a coordination contest.

"Xun xun?"

Little Treasure immediately stopped rolling and looked at Gangbao with wide eyes.

Qiao Sang’s attention instantly shifted to Gangbao. She asked, "Why?"

Beast treatment on Chaosu Star wasn’t great. The last time she encountered a group of wild Steel Falcons, they were clearly hostile toward humans. She suspected this species wasn’t fond of human contracts.

"Gang Slice."

"Gang Slice."

Gangbao understood what her beast master meant. She let out a call and patiently explained.

Humans don’t like contracting wild members of her species, but many breeding bases still carried their eggs or relatives. If she could help change humans’ views of their kind, maybe the conditions at those bases would improve.

Qiao Sang was a little stunned hearing this.

She’d been to beast breeding bases and knew the general layout.

Rare and expensive pets got the most space. Popular pets were given the best spots. Pets with few contracts were neglected. Sometimes they even missed their fixed daily meals.

And that was the situation on Blue Star.

She didn’t even want to imagine what it must be like for unpopular species on Chaosu Star.

She even thought about her kin in breeding centers... Qiao Sang was moved. She said, "There is a contest you can join, but it’s in two months."

Then she thought of something and added, "In the meantime, you can keep using your clones to train skills while your main body starts practicing for coordination."

"But coordination training takes more focus. You’ll have to get better at multitasking."

"Gang Slice."

Gangbao nodded in understanding, then walked out of the room, thoughtfully closing the door behind her.

"Xun xun?"

Little Treasure turned to his beast master with a suspicious expression.

Old Fourth wants to join too?

Qiao Sang cleared her throat and said what she hadn’t gotten the chance to before: "That contest will be held in the last week before the semester ends, so we won’t need to extend our stay. I’ll go ahead and register for it."

"But I want you to promise me, your regular training must continue. No slacking off, especially on your Aura of Intimidation drills."

"As for coordination training, just do it during your breaks.

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure nodded repeatedly, then asked again...

What about Old Fourth?

Qiao Sang said seriously, "You saw the contest today, most coordinators send two pets. When the time comes, you’ll be entering alongside Gangbao."

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure sighed.

If Old Fourth really wants to join, then... so be it.

---

One month flew by in a flash.

During that time, Yabao finally gained some resistance to the Wave of Peace. He no longer became completely dazed after getting hit, though his reaction time was still much slower than usual.

Super-tier skills consumed a massive amount of energy. Clones couldn’t use them, only the main body could.

With B-grade energy recovery potions as his daily drink, Yabao managed to bring Lava Purgatory up to the beginner level.

At midday, Little Treasure usually studied coordination contest videos. At night, he either trained or fought Lubao. At one point, he got cocky and even picked a fight with Yabao, though there was no second time after that.

He still went out late at night to gather underlings.

His Aura of Intimidation steadily increased, just over 100 points to go before reaching B-grade.

Lubao also drank B-grade energy potions like water.

Unlike Yabao, Lubao didn’t need to train against the Wave of Peace. So she trained her Ice Field Domain by day, and again at night.

Sometimes she even pulled all-nighters after Yabao went to sleep, continuing to train Ice Field Domain or her Gigantic Ice Spike.

After a month, she brought Ice Field Domain up to the beginner level.

Gangbao had nearly mastered her cloning skill, almost at ultimate.

She progressed so quickly because she asked to stay home in the mornings while Qiao Sang was at school to train.

With clones at mastery level, her other skills improved at visible speed.

Everything was going smoothly.

Only Qiao Sang felt more and more discouraged.

---

9:30 PM.

Qiao Sang, downcast for days, stepped out of her room and into the living room. Through the glass wall, she saw Yabao out on the training field, using telekinesis to pour a bottle of B-grade energy potion into his mouth and tossing the bottle aside. Her heart twinged.

"Dee dee?"

The chubby Adinishi sat on the sofa, saw her, and offered a pawful of chips while letting out a chirp.

Guessing its meaning from its actions, Qiao Sang replied weakly, "Thanks, but I’m not hungry."

Adinishi pulled the chips back and kept eating.

Qiao Sang looked at the mountain of snacks on the sofa and table and couldn’t help asking, "Still can’t use your prediction?"

"Dee dee..."

Adinishi froze, then showed a helpless expression.

No need for translation, Qiao Sang understood immediately just from that look.

She sighed, went into the kitchen, and poured herself a glass of water.

"Gang Slice?"

At the dining table, Gangbao was applying beast care oil to her feathers in preparation for the coordination contest. She called out, asking what was wrong?

Qiao Sang didn’t want to talk.

"It’s nothing."

"Gang Slice."

Gangbao didn’t press further. She held up the bottle of beast care oil and called again, she liked it and wanted to buy two more bottles.

"Sure." Qiao Sang replied absently.

"How much is it?"

Gangbao and Little Treasure had already learned to shop online. For convenience, she had set it so they could make purchases without needing a password. That bottle of oil had also been bought online.

"Gang Slice."

Gangbao thought for a moment, then replied.

It was around 20,000 alliance credits per bottle.

"Pffft!" Qiao Sang spat out her water in shock and asked in disbelief: "How much did you say?!"

"Gang Slice."

Gangbao repeated: One bottle, 20,000 alliance credits.

That expensive... Qiao Sang stared at the small bottle of beast care oil, feeling heartbroken.

"Gang Slice?"

Gangbao looked at her beast master’s expression and suddenly tilted her head thoughtfully before asking: Did you go broke?

Qiao Sang: ...

She fell silent for a moment and sighed: "Not really. It’s just... my unlimited card expired."