Beast Taming: I Can Add Points

「Friday.」

Things were a little different this morning—Su Zhi had actually gotten out of bed before six, even earlier than Yu Bao.

He and Yu Bao had returned home on Monday.

After four days of Meditation, Su Zhi could already feel his Beast Taming Space was much clearer and more stable, and he even had the sense that it was about to expand.

This sense of imminent expansion was what it *should* feel like when a Beast Taming Space was about to advance a tier.

’Not dreaming about some terrifyingly huge eye... I wonder which step I got wrong that time...’

But since yesterday, that feeling had stalled, like a stuck EXP bar, making no further progress.

Su Zhi figured he must have gotten a step wrong. He had consulted his teachers and classmates, cross-referenced their advice with his own experience, and was constantly adjusting his Meditation method. He was trying again the moment he woke up this morning.

’Actually, Luo Sen could probably offer some guidance...’ But Su Zhi didn’t quite dare to seek him out. Other than the routine reports on Yu Bao’s training that he sent as agreed, their contact was minimal.

Though Luo Sen was a powerhouse, Su Zhi knew full well that all of fate’s gifts come with a hidden price tag.

When it came to latching onto such an ’abstract’ powerhouse, his principle was to avoid it if at all possible.

’It’s just a Tier Three Beast Taming Space. It’s not like I can’t break through without his help.’

The young man sat cross-legged on his bed, meditating quietly. The Divine Concealment Core rested before him, appearing translucent in the morning glow and casting a few blurry, dark shimmers on the wall.

Before long, the morning light crept up past his collar, kissing his collarbones, then his neck, and finally his cheeks.

Feeling the warmth on his face, Su Zhi opened his eyes and sighed with a hint of disappointment.

’Still no progress. My approach must be slightly off. I’ll ask Peng Kai about it later when I leave.’

Outside the window, Yu Bao was frantically practicing his Skills on the lawn, a look of pure urgency on his face.

’Damn it! My Beast Tamer is secretly trying to out-grind me while I’m asleep! This sneaky bastard!’

’I’m gonna grind too! We’ll see who out-grinds who!’

’How terrifying...’ Su Zhi silently remarked to himself.

’Oh wait, he’s my Pet Beast. Never mind, then.’

·

”Bye, Mom, Dad. We’ll be gone for a couple of days. We’ll be back Monday.”

”Goodbye, Xiaoshu,” Wang Sujuan said, her voice full of reluctance and worry. ”Be careful out there, and don’t get hurt!”

”Goodbye, Xiaoshu!” Su Mao said with a look of reluctance. ”Sigh, another two days that I won’t get to see Xiaoshu...”

’What you really mean is *you* can’t take two days off work...’ Su Zhi didn’t call his dad out on it, simply heading out the door with Yu Bao.

As he passed the apartment building across the way, Su Zhi subconsciously looked up.

A young woman in a sheer pink nightgown was leaning against the window. Seeing him look up as expected, she smiled in satisfaction and tossed something down.

PLAP.

Su Zhi caught it steadily, looking incredibly suave.

”An AD Calcium drink...” Su Zhi’s smile stiffened.

He looked up again, but the young woman just stuck her tongue out at him and ducked away.

”Remember to drink it, Su Baby! Or you won’t grow big and strong~!”

”Hey! Stop treating me like a kid!!”

·

”Well, well. Haven’t seen you in a few days, and you’ve gotten taller, Su Zhi.”

At the entrance of the Huai City Branch Alliance, Sister Ai, Yang Jingyue, stood on her tiptoes to size up Su Zhi for a moment before making her pronouncement.

”...” A dark shadow fell over Su Zhi’s face.

With the straw of the AD Calcium drink dangling from his mouth and a fierce look in his eyes, he looked surprisingly cute.

Peng Kai also nodded thoughtfully. ”True. He must be getting good care from his family.”

Su Zhi: ”...”

’Is he talking about my parents? Why do I get the feeling he’s hinting at something else... Ah, whatever. If anyone asks, I’ll just go with it. ”Yup, yup, you’re right.”’

’Anyway, that ear-cleaning with the white silk was pretty nice.’

”SNIFF, SNIFF.”

Yu Bao wagged his tail, greeting Diya. The two buddies hadn’t seen each other in a long time.

”Sah,” Diya said, scratching his head and looking up at Yu Bao.

’It’s only been a few days, and he’s already gotten this big?’

’And I can sense a familiar aura on him—the Fire Attribute! What’s more, his Real-time Energy Value is now far higher than mine!’

Diya’s brow furrowed slightly.

’His progress is terrifying. I can’t let him stay ahead.’

’It seems I’ll have to start training harder, starting today. I’ll strive to beat him the next time we fight...’

”Woof~” Yu Bao suddenly whipped out a pack of spicy strips.

”Sah~” Diya took the spicy strips, and the two of them started eating, arms slung around each other’s shoulders.

True bros!

’Oh right, the training thing...’

’That’s a problem for tomorrow!’

There was a good reason Peng Kai had said not to worry about being on time.

Su Zhi had arrived at the Huai City Branch Alliance at 8:30, but it was past 9:00 by the time the other Alliance Members had finally straggled in.

Su Zhi took the opportunity to ask Peng Kai about his Beast Taming Space.

”That’s completely normal. That’s what it feels like when you’re about to break through. Your Space is actually already at a Tier Three level; you’re just missing the final ’unlocking’ step. You just need to unlock the new Space.

”The unlocking step requires repeated adjustments and probing. For some people, it can take a month or two. For others, it might just be a few hours.”

After finishing his explanation, Peng Kai raised his eyebrows in disbelief. ”I remember you only hit Tier Two a little over a month ago, right? And you’re already at Tier Three?”

”Uh, well, I’m not quite Tier Three yet.”

”Close enough...”

Peng Kai sighed. ”You’re just too much of a prodigy. At this rate, you could reach a Tier Five... no, a Tier Six Beast Taming Space before you even graduate high school!”

”You can’t calculate it like that...” Su Zhi was a little speechless.

It was just like when struggling authors tried to hype each other up: one subscription in the first minute it goes paid means thirty-six hundred subscriptions in an hour, which means over a hundred thousand first-day subscriptions in twenty-four hours! An instant ascension to godhood!

Then you check the next day: 20 first-day subscriptions. Oh well, we all have bright futures ahead of us.

”Time to go.”

Sister Ai, Yang Jingyue, did a head count. After confirming everyone was present, she addressed the group.

”Kid goes first!”

The other Alliance Members joked.

Su Zhi, who still had the straw for the AD Calcium drink in his mouth, bit down on it and, with a long face, led Yu Bao onto the vehicle first.