Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Attribute suppression is common knowledge, and Chen Tongtong was certainly aware of it.
However, he had never fought a Fire Pet Beast before. In their entire school, only two people had dared to bond with a Fire Pet Beast as their first familiar.
Both of these individuals were in their second year of high school, and not a single one from their current year had done so.
Is attribute suppression really that strong? Chen Tongtong felt depressed.
He was so distracted that he didn't even notice when the other person left after he paid. It wasn't until Jiang Liu patted his shoulder that he snapped out of it.
"Why didn't you add her contact information and transfer the money that way? You could have shared her contact with me too."
Chen Tongtong: "... Get lost!"
...
After Qiao Sang's third battle at the other school, her mother called.
"Why haven't you come home yet?"
Qiao Sang checked the time: 6:17 PM.
Wencheng Junior High School dismissed at 5:00 PM. Since her home was close to the school, it only took about ten minutes by bus, and even if she dawdled, she could usually make it by 5:30 PM.
"I was training with Fangflare", Qiao Sang replied.
There was a moment of silence on the other end before her mother said, "Come home early. The food is getting cold."
"I know."
After hanging up, Qiao Sang tore off the note stuck to her backpack.
Today's results were far from satisfactory. The peak time for students leaving school was limited, and by the time she had finished her three battles, most of the students had already left.
The process was too slow.
Qiao Sang felt that waiting at another school wasn't an efficient method.
She thought for a moment and then entered her Beastmaster Codex.
Name: Fangflare
Attributes: Fire
Level: Junior (115/1000) +
Skills: Bite (Novice 74/100) +, Ram (Proficient 138/500) +, Flame Fang (Novice 5/100) +, Spark (Novice 5/100) +
Points: 55
All the skill values had increased slightly, but why wasn't the Points value a multiple of three? Could it be that defeating different familiars awarded different Points?
She had battled three times today: a Puffbird, a Cotton Worm, and a Sandfox, all Junior Companion Beasts. The only difference was that the Cotton Worm was defeated in one hit, while the other battles lasted several rounds.
Was the Cotton Worm the reason for the lower Points?
Qiao Sang looked at the data in front of her and had a sudden thought.
"Fangflare, use Flame Fang", Qiao Sang said suddenly.
"Teeth."
Although Fangflare didn't understand Qiao Sang's intention, she obediently used Flame Fang. Without a target, the skill quickly dissipated.
Qiao Sang checked her Beastmaster Codex again.
Name: Fangflare
Attributes: Fire
Level: Junior (115/1000) +
Skills: Bite (Novice 73/100) +, Ram (Proficient 135/500) +, Flame Fang (Novice 6/100) +, Spark (Novice 3/100) +
Points: 55
The value for Flame Fang had increased!
This meant that practicing skills without a target could still increase proficiency!
She had been mistaken. Skill proficiency could be improved through practice, not necessarily requiring an attack target to increase.
However, if releasing a skill once could increase proficiency, wouldn't everyone's familiars reach mastery in no time?
Qiao Sang didn't know about the proficiency levels of others' skills, but hers seemed to increase with each use.
To verify her theory, Qiao Sang had Fangflare use Flame Fang again.
After Fangflare released the skill, the value for Flame Fang indeed increased from 6 to 7.
Qiao Sang remained silent for a moment, then her consciousness exited the Beastmaster Codex. She decided to have Fangflare release Flame Fang a hundred times right there and see what would happen.
Fangflare nodded, looking confident.
However, reality was cruel. After Fangflare released Flame Fang four times in a row, it began to look ... listless.
The number of Flame Fangs released stopped at 10.
Casting skills requires both energy and stamina, and it was clear that the current Fangflare could only use Flame Fang a few times.
Fangflare had already fought three consecutive battles, depleting a significant amount of its energy and stamina.
Qiao Sang assessed the situation and concluded that if Fangflare were in peak mental condition, it should be able to cast Flame Fang ten times in a row without much issue.
If it cast Flame Fang ten times in the morning and ten times in the evening, in five days, its proficiency in Flame Fang would reach the Proficient level, right?
Could a Familiar's skill really advance from Novice to Proficient so quickly?
Qiao Sang reviewed her limited knowledge of beast mastery.
No.
Even for a low-tier skill, it would take nearly a month of daily practice to advance from Novice to Proficient. The next stage, Minor Mastery, would increase the skill's power several times over and would take at least half a year to achieve.
Flame Fang was a mid-tier skill, and it would take at least 5 to 7 months to advance from Novice to Proficient.
But Fangflare could do it in five days.
This was clearly the power of the Golden Finger!
With this Golden Finger, did she have anything to fear about not placing first in the Holy Water High School Special Recruitment? By then, all her skills would be at the Proficient level. What could they possibly use to fight her?
Thinking about it, she ...
"Ya!"
Fangflare's cry snapped Qiao Sang out of her reverie.
Qiao Sang came to her senses and noticed that some people around her were looking at her with odd expressions. She instinctively adjusted her facial expression.
Her mouth muscles stretched, and she felt a slight ache.
Qiao Sang realized she had been smiling so hard that her face was numb ...
"Cough, let's go home", Qiao Sang said, picking up Fangflare.
"Ya!"
Fangflare pointed with its small paw toward a distant barbecue stand.
Qiao Sang glanced over and realized she was also hungry. How else could she have smelled the cumin from so far away?
"No, we already have food prepared at home", Qiao Sang turned her head, resisting the temptation.
"Ya~" Fangflare looked up at Qiao Sang with its wet, pleading eyes.
This little guy was actually trying to charm her ...
"Only two skewers", Qiao Sang conceded.
Fangflare nodded happily.
They approached the barbecue stand.
"Student, you haven't gone home yet?" The Aunt running the stand recognized Qiao Sang.
"Right", Qiao Sang replied, taking in the scent of the barbecue. "Aunt, I'll have 20 lamb skewers."
In the end, Qiao Sang ate five skewers, and Fangflare ate fifteen.
On the way back, Qiao Sang said earnestly, "When we eat dinner, you have to pretend you're still hungry and finish your meal, okay?"
"Ya."
Fangflare responded and then let out a contented burp.
Qiao Sang: "..."
Qiao Sang consoled herself that the trip from the bus stop near the Thirty-Seventh Beastmaster High School would take over half an hour, and by then, it should be digested ...
Familiars could eat human food, but to develop properly, they needed energy-rich, specially prepared food.
The food for her Familiar at home was always made by her mother, which took a lot of time. If Fangflare got full from the lamb skewers and couldn't eat the specially prepared food her mother made ...
Qiao Sang shook her head, not daring to think about it.
Taking the subway from here to home would only take about ten minutes, but for Fangflare's sake, Qiao Sang chose to take the bus.
On the 66 bus, perhaps due to the combination of expended energy and a full stomach, Fangflare was unusually quiet, lying by the window and watching the scenery outside.
(End of Chapter)
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