The entire training ground fell silent.
The Berry-Thorn stood frozen on its head, stiff as a board, not daring to move an inch.
The culprit, "Shi Gaofeng," turned around and prepared to head to the track to run, but Zheng Guoping was quick and grabbed him by the back of his collar.
"Huanhuan?"
"Shi Gaofeng" turned his head with a look of confusion.
Zheng Guoping remained silent for a long while before asking, "What does 'Huanhuan' mean?"
"Shi Gaofeng" was about to explain when he suddenly remembered something. A look of panic crossed his face; he covered his mouth with both hands, and sweat began to pour from his forehead in steady drips.
Rather than sweat, it was more like water. The water flowed more and more, as if it were raining.
Zheng Guoping fell silent again as he watched this unscientific sweating phenomenon.
He didn't immediately connect Shi Gaofeng with the Phantom Water Baby.
On one hand, there were countless pets in the world, many of which possessed strange traits and abilities; few people could instantly link a bizarre phenomenon to a specific pet.
On the other hand, he had never imagined Shi Gaofeng would have the guts to do this...
Although he had a suspicion, Zheng Guoping still felt it was unlikely. He asked once more, "I'll ask you again, what did you just say?"
"Shi Gaofeng" looked pitifully toward the Berry-Thorn, seeking help.
Being looked at like that made the Berry-Thorn's body stiffen even further.
"Ya..."
Ya Bao couldn't stand it anymore and wanted to help translate.
With lightning speed, Qiao Sang covered its mouth.
"Yan yan."
While Ya Bao was silenced, the Great Flame Sparrow began translating on the other side.
Wang Yao, who understood, wanted to laugh but didn't dare; her expression began to gradually distort.
The pets understood, but the humans didn't... The moment Zheng Guoping realized what was happening, his face darkened, and he grit his teeth as he barked Shi Gaofeng's name.
"Shi Gaofeng" and the Berry-Thorn both shuddered.
"Both of you, get out here!" After speaking, Zheng Guoping looked toward Xu Yajie, who was trying his best to lower his presence. "And you, get out here too!"
Xu Yajie: "..."
Only Qiao Sang and Wang Yao remained in the vast training ground.
From outside, Zheng Guoping's roars echoed from time to time.
Wang Yao finally couldn't hold it back and burst out laughing. "Hahahahaha! How on earth did Shi Gaofeng get into Shengshui High with a brain like that? To think he could come up with such a ghostly idea."
"But then again, Shi Gaofeng was a special recruit; he only scored 400-something on the high school entrance exam. Thinking about it that way, it's actually quite reasonable that he'd think of this. Hahahaha, I can't... I'm going to die laughing..."
Qiao Sang: "..."
She felt slightly insulted...
...
Returning home in the evening.
The Little Treasure Ghost couldn't wait to put on the virtual helmet and start it up.
She hadn't expected the Little Treasure Ghost's learning ability to be so strong that it already knew where the power switch was... Qiao Sang felt very gratified watching the Little Treasure Ghost's proficient movements in starting the virtual helmet.
After eating its energy pellets, Ya Bao went to the courtyard to practice skill release as usual. Unlike before, the sixteen Flame Listening Dogs, including the original, were split into two equal groups: one group practicing Fire Fang and the other practicing Telekinesis.
As for Qiao Sang, after several days, she picked up her books to grind again.
It had to be said that Wang Yao's words this morning had stimulated her slightly...
As someone who had scored only 359 on the entrance exam, Qiao Sang felt she still needed to work hard.
If she didn't have to rely on winning against Litan High to gain the qualification for the top academy's entrance test, but could instead get in directly via her academic scores, it wouldn't be impossible.
After all, the knowledge in a Beast Taming High School was worlds apart from middle school. With three years left until the college entrance exam, it was just a matter of memorizing books and doing problems; Qiao Sang felt it wasn't a big deal.
However, after only half an hour, Qiao Sang's mind was no longer on the books.
She remembered the National Campus Beast Taming League mentioned by Zheng the Tyrannosaurus this morning.
With her gold finger combined with the talents of Ya Bao and the Little Treasure Ghost, winning the National Campus Beast Taming League didn't seem unattainable.
After all, the participants in this competition were high schoolers of a similar age. One high-tier skill like Ya Bao's Meteor Shower could likely wipe out a huge crowd in seconds.
If she could win, why spend three years burying herself in books? Wouldn't it be better to be recommended for admission early?
In her previous life, there were super-scholars who were recruited by top academies in their first year of high school; why couldn't she be such a person in this life?
Thinking this, Qiao Sang couldn't focus on her books anymore. She walked over to the Little Treasure Ghost wearing the virtual helmet in the hall and stood there for five seconds.
"Xun?"
The Little Treasure Ghost took off the virtual helmet, looking bewildered.
Two hours hadn't passed yet...
The virtual helmet could sense the outside world; if someone was within one meter, the interface would provide a prompt.
"I think we can put the practice of Dark Shadow Control on hold for now. Let's learn Will-o'-the-Wisp first," Qiao Sang said.
Learning Dark Shadow Control via the virtual helmet was essentially a gamble, and it was fine if it wasn't learned right now. However, Will-o'-the-Wisp was a skill that absolutely had to be mastered during the primary stage.
If she weren't participating in the National Campus Beast Taming League, it would be one thing, but if she wanted to achieve good results in the competition, she had to consider the Little Treasure Ghost's strength.
After all, those who make it to the finals of the National Campus Beast Taming League are high schoolers who possess two intermediate-level pets.
If she only had Ya Bao to fight them, it would be easy for them to analyze Ya Bao thoroughly from all angles. Even if Ya Bao's strength was formidable, there was still a possibility of defeat if it encountered an opponent with an elemental advantage and tactical analysis.
To be cautious, she had to let the Little Treasure Ghost develop early...
"Xun..."
It was as if a bolt from the blue had struck the Little Treasure Ghost.
"From now on, we will absorb materials every day. We'll rest only when the ring can no longer absorb any more," Qiao Sang said.
The energy absorbed by the ring every day would reach a point of saturation; it could not absorb indefinitely.
"Xun xun."
The Little Treasure Ghost pointed at the virtual helmet.
Qiao Sang replied, "You have to absorb materials every day, and you also have to practice Hypnosis and Telekinesis. It's too tiring. Let's skip Dark Shadow Control for now; we need to balance work and rest."
"Xun!"
"Xun xun!"
Upon hearing this, the Little Treasure Ghost immediately beat its chest to show it wasn't afraid of hard work.
For a moment, Qiao Sang felt as if she saw Ya Bao's shadow in the Little Treasure Ghost, but then she thought again—the Little Treasure Ghost didn't have that kind of personality...
"You haven't become addicted to the game, have you?" Qiao Sang suspected.
"Xun xun!"
The Little Treasure Ghost quickly shook its head in denial.
How could it? It just felt that it still had plenty of free time to do other things!
Qiao Sang thought for a moment and said, "Then in the future, after the ring absorption and skill practice are done, if you still have time, teach Ya Bao how to Teleport."
No matter how well a pet's physical strength was trained or how fast its speed was, nothing was as useful as a skill.
Even if it became the fastest-running pet in school, so what?
In a battle, High-Speed Rotation, Lightning Flash, or Flame Charge—which of these skills wouldn't be faster than simply running?
In terms of pure speed, Teleportation was naturally the strongest. Whether for dodging or wearing down an opponent in battle, it was an unrivaled divine skill.
It would be best if Ya Bao could learn it.
"Xun..."
The Little Treasure Ghost was stunned.
Unwillingly, it pointed at the helmet again.
"Xun xun?"
Qiao Sang replied, "Once you've learned Will-o'-the-Wisp, you can continue learning Dark Shadow Control."
As soon as she finished speaking, without wasting a single second, the Little Treasure Ghost took off the ring and began arranging the materials required for Will-o'-the-Wisp.
Qiao Sang: "..."
It really was addicted...