Beast Taming: I Can Add Points

”Go, Su Zhi and His Friends Team!!”

After shouting the embarrassing team name in unison, the boys marched toward the cafeteria, their spirits high.

This was the selection tournament; just by reaching the finals, they had already locked in a spot in the upcoming national team competition. The final match itself was more like an exhibition, so everyone was in a relatively relaxed mood.

Of course, you couldn’t lump all the teams together.

While Su Zhi and his group were chatting idly, on the other side of the rest area—

Wang Haokun was squatting on the ground, a look of utter shock on his face as he stared at the Flash Gold Sparrow in Su Zhi’s hand, which was still bursting with energy.

Chen Xinghao patted his shoulder. ”What’s so interesting?”

”It’s too damn weird.”

Wang Haokun’s hair, which he had been running his hands through, was already as messy as a Flash Gold Sparrow’s nest. He stared blankly at the sky.

”For the past three days, there’s been something off about Huai City First Middle School’s lineup. The others have at least rotated their Pet Beasts, but Su Zhi’s Flash Gold Sparrow has always fought two rounds straight.”

”The ridiculous part is... that Flash Gold Sparrow has never gotten tired! Even when it looked a little worn out, it would immediately be full of spirit again, like nothing ever happened!”

Chen Xinghao pursed his lips. ”Maybe it just has good stamina? That’s perfectly normal...”

”It’s not the same!”

Wang Haokun’s tone grew more serious.

”Even the Pet Beasts with the best endurance will show some decline in combat power after consecutive battles. But that Flash Gold Sparrow is more like—a refresh! It refreshes its declining stamina back to full! You could almost call that a Law Type ability!”

Watching Su Zhi petting his sparrow in the distance, Wang Haokun remained squatting on the ground, lost in a long, profound shock.

”Just what the hell is that guy Su Zhi’s Beast Taming Talent??”

”Kun, there’s no need to waste time thinking about something like that.”

Chen Xinghao patted his shoulder. ”Even if we assume the worst-case scenario—that Su Zhi’s talent gives his Pet Beasts infinite stamina—it’s not unbeatable. We just have to take them out quickly before he can establish a stalemate.”

”That’s easier said than done.”

Wang Haokun frowned. ”Huai City First Middle School has been hiding their strength these past few days. Xue Li’s pet, which is suspected to have evolved into a Turbulent Duck; Su Zhi’s Main Pet, Yu Bao; Shao Ya’s possible second pet; and the foreign aid’s other pet besides the Turbulent Duck—none of them have fought.”

”If we go with the worst-case scenario, Yu Bao’s Real-time Energy Value has probably broken four thousand, maybe even approaching forty-five hundred. At that level, almost no one on our team can match it. If Yu Bao really wants to force a stalemate, our Pet Beasts will be nearly powerless to stop it...”

”Just leave it to my Jin Lin.”

Chen Xinghao snorted lightly, interrupting Wang Haokun.

Wang Haokun’s lips moved, but he just nodded. Jin Lin’s Real-time Energy Value had already surpassed forty-five hundred and was even approaching five thousand. Chen Xinghao indeed had the right to speak so confidently.

’And then there’s his unexpected Beast Taming Talent...’

Unless someone from Huai City First Middle School was cheating, Chen Xinghao had basically locked in a win for one round already.

Chen Xinghao shrugged. ”We’ve already discussed a countermeasure for Liu Yuhang’s Turbulent Duck. Just leave it to my Storm Fish Dragon. I’ll also request an ocean battlefield to increase our advantage.”

—If it was confirmed that both competing Pet Beasts were suited for aquatic combat, the match could be moved to the water. Pearl Harbor was by the sea, so the battle would be moved to a designated nearby sea area.

And compared to freshwater amphibious Pet Beasts like the Hao Waterfowl or Turbulent Duck, the ocean provided a greater boost to a Storm Fish Dragon.

With timing, terrain, and our team on our side, and with dragons breathing down their necks—how could we possibly lose?

”As for that foreign aid, his skill is average. His other, unrevealed pet, even if it’s his Main Pet, won’t be able to turn the tide of battle. Nothing to worry about. Their eye for recruiting talent is really not that great.”

Chen Xinghao folded his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. ”So, any other concerns? Mr. Think Tank with two and a half years of practice?”

”Putting it that way, it does sound like we’re in a solid position.”

Wang Haokun scratched his head. ”But I still feel like something’s off...”

”Alright, stop being so paranoid. I think you’ve just been too wound up these last two days. It’s fine to take your opponent seriously, but there’s no need to overthink it.”

Chen Xinghao waved to the others from the Shanda University Affiliated School.

”Let’s go! Let’s get a good meal, and we’ll call it an early celebration for tomorrow’s victory!”

”Yeah!” The members of the Shanda University Affiliated School team raised their arms and cheered.

’Isn’t this what they call popping the champagne at halftime...?’

Wang Haokun followed resignedly behind them.

’It’s fine, it’s just a superstition. Most of the time, these things don’t actually come true... right?’

·

That evening, Su Zhi received a call from Huai City First Middle School.

”Su Zhi, you’ve all done so well!”

On the other end of the line was the ecstatic laughter of the current principal, Yan Shouzheng. ”I’ve watched all of your matches, and all the teachers at the school have been following closely. Seeing you win today and advance to the finals, we all breathed a huge sigh of relief.”

”Su Zhi, do you know? After Peng Kai, you’re the first team to get Huai City First Middle School into the finals of the selection tournament! Well done! All of you, well done!”

”Yes, thank you, Principal Yan! The team competition result is thanks to everyone’s combined effort. I’m just one part of it.”

Su Zhi glanced at his teammates and smiled lightly. ”As for breathing a sigh of relief, it’s not too late to do that after tomorrow’s finals are over.”

”Mm...”

Yan Shouzheng agreed, and his excitement was audible in his breathing. A moment later, that excitement slowly cooled.

”I’m sorry, Su Zhi. Huai City First Middle School owes you an apology.”

Yan Shouzheng took a breath and said, ”As the principal, on behalf of Huai City First Middle School, I want to express my deepest apologies for the various injustices you’ve suffered in the past.”

”It’s alright. It wasn’t your fault.”

Su Zhi’s lips quirked into a small smile. ”When we chose this path of Beast Taming, we were already prepared to be misunderstood. Thank you for understanding us now.”

”Mm... and thank you for your forgiveness.” On the other end of the line, Yan Shouzheng’s voice was filled with emotion.

’He kept using ”we”...’ As a dignified Master Level Beast Tamer, this was the first time Yan Shouzheng had ever felt ashamed before a junior.

He could only be called a Beast Tamer, while Su Zhi could perhaps be called a Beastmaster.

”Alright, I won’t say any more... I wish you the best of luck in your match tomorrow. I wish you success in battle!”

Yan Shouzheng chuckled. ”Do you want to talk to Teacher Zhou? He’s been wanting to call you, but he was afraid of affecting your state of mind for the competition, so he held back.”

Zhou Shengfa’s voice immediately came from the other end of the line: ”I did not! I’m already so tired every day from teaching my class, who has the time to bother with him...”

”HAHAHAHA!”

Yan Shouzheng’s and Su Zhi’s laughter mixed together from both ends of the call.

Su Zhi just waited. After a moment of silence, Old Ban, as expected, took the phone.

”Tomorrow’s match. The guys from the Shanda University Affiliated School will do everything they can to drag you into a conventional, by-the-book fight. Just remember one thing: follow your own ideas and your own rhythm! Don’t forget, unpredictability is your core strength! Another thing, there’s a difference between team and individual matches, remember...”

Su Zhi listened with a smile. Old Ban had just been acting like he didn’t want to talk, but now he was more enthusiastic than anyone.

”...That’s about it. Got it?”

”Yes, thank you, Teacher.”

Zhou Shengfa’s tone grew a little worried. ”...Can you answer one more time?”

”I got it.”

A long sigh of relief came from the other end of the phone, and both teacher and student couldn’t help but laugh at the same time.

”Alright, I’ve got nothing else to say. Hanging up!”

”Goodbye, Teacher.”

CLICK—

The night returned to its quiet state. Tomorrow was the finals. After having dinner together, the team returned to their respective rooms to rest and conserve their energy.

After returning to his bedroom, Su Zhi opened another chat window. On it was a message he had sent, and Luo Sen had already replied—

[Su Zhi]: So that’s about it. Yu Bao wasn’t affected when using Earth Element Skills in an underwater environment.

[Su Zhi]: Also, Yu Bao showed a strong interest in a Water And Earth Dual Attribute resource.

[Luo Sen]: ...

[Luo Sen]: Generally, if a Pet Beast is inclined to awaken a certain Attribute, it will be less hindered when using skills of a different attribute within an environment that matches its potential awakening.

[Luo Sen]: For example, the Evolutionary Type of the Earth Element Yu Dian Dog is the Earth and Fire Dual Element Yu Dian Farm Dog. So, even if a Yu Dian Dog hasn’t evolved yet, it might not be very affected when using its skills in a Flame environment...

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