Chapter 9: Red Rice Fruit

Inherited skills are moves passed down from parents that do not require postnatal learning. Fire Fang is a move that most Fire-Tooth Dogs inherit.

Although inherited skills are innate, one shouldn't expect a newborn cub to be able to unleash them; everything follows a gradual process.

Humans are born knowing how to eat, but they still have to start by teething and drinking milk.

Skill proficiency starts at the "Novice" level, and the next stage is "Proficient."

Novice-level skills are not very powerful and belong to the stage where one has just mastered the basics.

Lower-tier skills can generally be unleashed once they reach the Novice level, but higher-tier skills might not be successfully executed every time even at the Novice level; this is a matter of insufficient proficiency.

Fire Fang is a mid-tier skill. Logically, since the Fire-Tooth Dog’s Fire Fang is only at the Novice (2/100) level, it shouldn't have been released so easily.

Yet, it did.

Qiao Sang wondered if the Fire-Tooth Dog could unleash any skill as long as it appeared in her Beast Taming Codex.

Of course, this was all just her conjecture, and it would have to wait until the Fire-Tooth Dog learned higher-tier skills to be verified.

Qiao Sang withdrew her consciousness. Although she wanted to study the point system further, it clearly wasn't the time.

The brat was still sitting on the ground, and the Desert Tail Fox was covered in wounds, with blood still trickling from its neck.

Qiao Sang took out her phone and dialed 661.

"Hello, is this the Beast Taming Emergency Center? I’m at the Hanggang Beast Taming Center. There’s an injured Desert Tail Fox here; could you please come as soon as possible?"

"Someone already called? Oh, then never mind."

Qiao Sang hung up and ignored the dazed girl across from her. She picked up the Fire-Tooth Dog, ready to head home, but as she turned, she found a crowd of people standing behind her.

The essence of humanity is a love for spectacle. In the short time it took to fight, more than half the people in the arena had gathered around, with some even holding up their phones to record.

Qiao Sang felt her scalp tingle. She scooped up the Fire-Tooth Dog and left, with the Fat House Pigeon following closely behind.

"Little sister, I see you have great potential. Are you interested in becoming a streamer?" A young man with dyed red hair approached her.

"Thanks, no." Qiao Sang walked around him.

"Can I have a pet battle with you?" A boy wearing a hat chased after her.

"No." Qiao Sang refused.

"Student, which school are you from?" An auntie nearby asked with concern.

Qiao Sang: "..."

...

...

When Qiao Sang returned home, her mother wasn't there, but a bag of Red Zao Fruits—a favorite of fire-type pets—was sitting on the dining table.

These fruits, which can improve the physique of fire-type transcendent creatures, cost 700 Alliance coins each. Eating them occasionally is fine, but eating them every day is truly unaffordable.

Qiao Sang stared at the Red Zao Fruits for a moment.

She picked one up and held it to the Fire-Tooth Dog’s mouth, smiling. "Go ahead and eat."

The Fire-Tooth Dog sniffed it. At the pet base, it was only fed the standard-issue compressed cubes and had never eaten this before.

It smelled good, and it looked similar to the things on the tree next to where it used to live, just a different color. Unfortunately, it never got to eat the things on that tree.

The Fire-Tooth Dog didn't hesitate any longer and swallowed the Red Zao Fruit in one gulp.

"Ya!"

The Fire-Tooth Dog’s eyes widened in surprise.

This food was delicious!

Seeing it finish, Qiao Sang connected her consciousness to the Beast Taming Codex.

【Name: Fire-Tooth Dog】

【Attribute: Fire】

【Level: Primary (63/1000) +】

【Skills: Bite (Novice 73/100) +, Tackle (Proficient 135/500) +, Fire Fang (Novice 2/100) +】

【Points: 50】

Nothing had changed.

Qiao Sang frowned. That shouldn't be right. The values had changed after the battle today, which showed that everything the Fire-Tooth Dog experienced led to progress.

Eating a Red Zao Fruit, which could enhance the physique of a fire-type transcendent creature, shouldn't result in no reaction.

Could it be that it needed time to digest?

"Ya!"

The Fire-Tooth Dog reached out a paw and tugged at Qiao Sang’s hand.

Qiao Sang smiled, took out another Red Zao Fruit, and fed it to the dog.

The Fire-Tooth Dog swallowed it immediately.

Once it finished, Qiao Sang connected her consciousness to the Beast Taming Codex again.

【Name: Fire-Tooth Dog】

【Attribute: Fire】

【Level: Primary (64/1000) +】

【Skills: Bite (Novice 73/100) +, Tackle (Proficient 135/500) +, Fire Fang (Novice 2/100) +】

【Points: 50】

It changed!

The level column had changed from Primary (63/1000) + to Primary (64/1000) +!

Although it only added one point, it proved her guess was correct!

However...

Qiao Sang looked at the remaining four Red Zao Fruits on the table, hesitated for a moment, then picked one up and handed it to the Fire-Tooth Dog again.

The Fire-Tooth Dog held the Red Zao Fruit with both front paws and began to gnaw on it.

Having already eaten two, it couldn't swallow the third one in one go and had to eat it bite by bite.

When it finished, it patted its belly with satisfaction.

Qiao Sang connected her consciousness to the Beast Taming Codex and fell into deep thought.

The values hadn't changed.

Could it be that it takes two Red Zao Fruits to add one point?

Qiao Sang picked up another Red Zao Fruit and handed it over.

"Ya."

The Fire-Tooth Dog patted its belly to indicate it was full.

"Be good, just one last one." Qiao Sang stroked its head.

The Fire-Tooth Dog looked at Qiao Sang, wagged its red tail, and lowered its head to eat.

In the Beast Taming Codex, Qiao Sang saw that the Fire-Tooth Dog’s level had become Primary (65/1000) +.

She had guessed correctly; it indeed took two Red Zao Fruits to add one point.

Qiao Sang’s gaze moved to the points at the bottom, and with a thought, she added them all to the Primary (65/1000) + level.

【Name: Fire-Tooth Dog】

【Attribute: Fire】

【Level: Primary (115/1000) +】

【Skills: Bite (Novice 73/100) +, Tackle (Proficient 135/500) +, Fire Fang (Novice 2/100) +】

【Points: 0】

The value really did increase...

Qiao Sang’s breathing quickened.

One Red Zao Fruit was 700 Alliance coins, so two were 1400 Alliance coins.

1400 Alliance coins for just one point, and there were 885 points left, which equaled 1770 Red Zao Fruits.

That would be...

1,239,000 Alliance coins...

My god! That’s enough to buy a psychic pet!

Qiao Sang almost screamed in excitement.

If these points could directly increase strength, didn't that mean she had saved so much money? And the Fire-Tooth Dog could increase its values through both battle and eating strength-enhancing items!

Combined with the point bonus, she could train the Fire-Tooth Dog into an intermediate pet three or even four times faster than anyone else!

If this wasn't a cheat, what was?

After a few seconds, Qiao Sang took out her phone and searched for all topics related to the Beast Taming Codex. Sure enough, no one else had experienced her situation.

Even self-awakened individuals only had a brain development 3% to 6% higher than those who awakened postnatally, allowing them to awaken the Beast Taming Codex a second time faster and giving them a better chance at reaching higher realms; there was nothing else special about them.

Qiao Sang calmed down.

She had already had a hunch beforehand; now she had simply verified that her thoughts were correct. Besides, she had already transmigrated—having a cheat wasn't anything particularly strange.

Right.

Nothing particularly strange...

The Fire-Tooth Dog looked up at Qiao Sang, its eyes full of confusion.

Why was its Beast Tamer giggling at the air?