Beast Taming: I Can Add Points

”Woof!”

Yu Bao, who had been constantly dodging, suddenly stopped and unleashed Furious Sand Blade with all his might.

After evolving into a Yu Dian Farm Dog, Yu Bao’s control over Furious Sand Blade had become much more refined. He could now simultaneously release five blades, although he could only release three of the Flame-infused Burning Sand Blades at once.

At this moment, faced with Yu Bao going all out, the two Shadows of Ancient Jing were somewhat caught off guard.

Without the flames, the burning effect of the Furious Sand Blades on the vines was indeed diminished, but the higher density of fire from the increased number of blades clearly compensated for this lack of power.

In an instant, all the vines were severed!

POOF! POOF!

The two Shadows of Ancient Jing activated their Racial Skill, Deep Forest Barrier. Two large Tree Shields appeared, barely managing to block the assault of the Furious Sand Blades.

They discovered with surprise that only four Furious Sand Blades had come at them.

The last one flew toward Xiaoyue, who had been ignored off to the side!

WHOOSH...

The Furious Sand Blade grazed Xiaoyue’s cheek as it flew past, leaving a small cut.

A bead of blood was gently coaxed out by the airflow, dripping onto the severed vines below.

SHHH-SHHH-SHHH—

The countless vine fragments that had accumulated were all covered by a faint red glow. They began to slowly writhe, as if imbued with new life.

Behind Xiaoyue, the white-haired girl with half-closed eyes opened them again. Her irises had turned a blood-like crimson.

Forest Quartet: First Movement - Crimson Prayer!

The moment the girl opened her eyes, all the vines enveloped in red light turned blood-red and began to regrow.

The two Shadows of Ancient Jing sensed something was wrong. They lunged at Xiaoyue with maximum speed, using every Racial Skill at their disposal in an attempt to interrupt him.

However, the thick vines summoned by Deep Forest Grip were ensnared and immobilized by the Blood Vines, then suddenly dissolved into pools of blood.

Every time a Deep Forest Grip vine dissolved, the Blood Vines grew even stronger than before!

Crimson Prayer random effect: Blood Devouring.

Effect: Dissolves other plants and Pet Beasts into bloody water, converting them into nutrients to multiply itself. (Both dissolving and converting consume Energy.)

In reality, the dissolving process was slow. Moreover, the Blood Vines originated from the remnants of the previously severed vines, so even at their greatest number, they couldn’t outmatch the new vines summoned by Deep Forest Grip.

However, Xiaoyue never fought alone.

While he launched his counterattack with Crimson Prayer, Yu Bao was constantly using Furious Sand Blade and Sandstorm to clear out any vines that slipped through.

The battle reached a fever pitch. Blood Vines and green vines intertwined in a deadly struggle, while crimson Flowing Flames danced through the chaos.

But the Shadows of Ancient Jing were High Level Elite Pet Beasts, after all. Relying on their extremely high base stats, they still managed to close in on Xiaoyue.

Once engaged in close quarters, a Huajing Cat was generally at a disadvantage.

In the nick of time, Yu Bao activated Desert Concealment, placing himself between Xiaoyue and the two Shadows of Ancient Jing.

The two Shadows of Ancient Jing prepared to break through and circle around him, but found their centers of gravity uncontrollably rising, flying into mid-air along with Yu Bao.

Sand Manipulation Skill: Wind-Fire Wheel activated!

Seeing Yu Bao use the Sand Manipulation Skill so proficiently, the two big cats were stunned.

’Aren’t you a dog?!’

SWISH

In a flash, the battle was decided.

As Yu Bao carried the two Shadows of Ancient Jing into the sky, Xiaoyue quickly mobilized the Blood Vines, binding all three Pet Beasts tightly.

Then, the Blood Vines wrapped around Yu Bao gently loosened, setting him down.

[Assignable Attribute Points... 0.12]

”...Xiaoyue and Yu Bao are the winners!”

After his brain rebooted from its crash, Hua Renshan announced the result of the spar.

Jiuyou was silent for a moment before finally nodding in acceptance.

...

On a treetop somewhere, glowing fruit illuminated a platform of leaves where Yu Bao was putting on a show.

The cats formed a circle, with the kittens, accompanied by the adult cats, joining the audience, their eyes sparkling.

”Woof woof!”

Sand and dust gathered beside Yu Bao, forming another him. The two Yu Baos took turns spinning twice before simultaneously unleashing Burning Sand Blades upward. They looked like fireworks rising into the sky, exceptionally beautiful.

Afterward, the two Yu Baos bowed to the audience and dissolved into dust together.

”Mrow??”

The onlooking cats’ eyes went wide.

They looked up to see the real Yu Bao descending slowly on a cushion of Suspended Sand and Flowing Flame, smiling at his audience.

”Meeeeow~!!”

The big and small cats cheered together.

Yu Bao grinned, basking in his fans’ enthusiasm, while also motioning for Su Zhi to hurry up and film a short video of him.

Xiaoyue lay nearby, watching with a look of utter despair as his clan members were gradually assimilated by the dumb little dog.

’Whatever,’ he thought. ’I’m already used to it.’

Meanwhile, Hua Renshan was also sitting nearby, holding his phone.

The group chat, named ”Common Defense Alliance Wo-r-k Team,” fell silent for a few minutes after he uploaded the video of Su Zhi and Shao Ya’s battle.

[Divine Strategy Alliance - Anonymous]: ...So it was that bastard Su Zhi!

[Huichun Alliance - Qiuqiu Kills Me]: Huh? Who’s that?

[Divine Strategy Alliance - Anonymous]: An outstanding camper from the Flying Shadow Alliance summer camp, famous for his Pet Beast’s abstract skills...

[Divine Strategy Alliance - Anonymous]: And the owner of that Huajing Cat! That’s Shao Yun’s daughter!

[Divine Strategy Alliance - Anonymous]: Vice Alliance Leader Sai and Alliance Leader Qiao probably guessed it was them long ago! That’s why they bet on them!

[Dark Alliance - Master Cui Que’s Dog]: ...

[Flying Shadow Alliance - Ah Ba Ah Ba]: No no, it was really a misclick

[Flying Shadow Alliance-Selena]: No no, it was really a misclick

[Purity Abyss Alliance - Huahua]: No no, it was really a misclick

[Cui Feng Alliance - Ke Yan]: Hua Renshan, you thick-eyebrowed, big-eyed traitor! You betrayed us too, huh?!

[Purity Abyss Alliance - Huahua]: behaving-cutely.jpg

Hua Renshan stuck his tongue out at his phone.

He didn’t know if Selena and Chopper had any ulterior motives, but he really had just misclicked... Who would’ve thought Su Zhi and Shao Ya would actually win? Ehe.

Next, of course, was the much-anticipated splitting of the loot... uh, no, the fifth distribution round.

Seeing the amount he received, Hua Renshan was completely dumbfounded.

[Purity Abyss Alliance - Huahua]: Transaction received: 5,983 yuan

[Flying Shadow Alliance-Selena]: Transaction received: 5,983 yuan

[Flying Shadow Alliance - Ah Ba Ah Ba]: Transaction received: 5,983 yuan

[Hua Renshan-Huahua]: ! So much?!

[Flying Shadow Alliance - Ah Ba Ah Ba]: Holy crap... How much did you guys bet?

[Huichun Alliance - Qiuqiu Kills Me]: Uh, just the usual 50... It’s Thursday today, after all.

[Divine Strategy Alliance - Anonymous]: v50+1

[Cui Feng Alliance - Ke Yan]: v50+1

[Flying Shadow Alliance-Selena]: If everyone only bet fifty, then someone must have bet ten thousand.

[Flying Shadow Alliance - Ah Ba Ah Ba]: Uh, which genius threw away a fortune?

[Dark Alliance - Master Cui Que’s Dog]: .....

[Flying Shadow Alliance - Ah Ba Ah Ba]: ...It couldn’t be you, could it, Vice Alliance Leader Gou?

[Dark Alliance - Master Cui Que’s Dog]: I thought if I bet more, I’d get more back. I didn’t expect that...

[Dark Alliance - Master Cui Que’s Dog]: Now I’m just full of regret... so much regret...

[Flying Shadow Alliance - Ah Ba Ah Ba]: Vice Alliance Leader Gou, how could you be so foolish!

[Cui Feng Alliance - Ke Yan]: Vice Alliance Leader Gou, how could you be so foolish!

[Purity Abyss Alliance - Huahua]: Vice Alliance Leader Gou, how could you be so foolish!

+1 +1...

·

「Nightfall.」

Led by Jiuyou, the group arrived at an altar located in the crown of the ancient tree—

Massive stone blocks were arranged neatly in a circle. In the very center of the ring was a pit so deep it was impossible to see the bottom. A faint green light emanated from below, illuminating the wood-grained inner walls, making it seem like a passage to the heart of the ancient tree.

A few branches extended out along the inner walls. They seemed to grow randomly, yet also followed some mysterious pattern. From a distance, they looked harmonious and self-consistent, not at all messy.

Hua Renshan explained to the two people and two Pet Beasts behind him, ”This is the evolution altar of the Huajing Cat clan. Presided over by the Clan Leader, clan members who need to evolve consume the ’evolution’ seed from the ancient tree here. They then complete their ’hatching’ and ’growth’ within the Ancient Jing Forest...”

”Junior, come to the other side.”

Jiuyou glanced at Xiaoyue.

So Xiaoyue walked to the other side of the altar, facing Jiuyou across the deep pit.

”Go, Xiaoyue!” Shao Ya encouraged in a low voice.

”Woof!” Yu Bao also wagged his tail at him.

Jiuyou looked up at Xiaoyue on the other side.

”My kinsman, in my name as the Clan Leader of the Huajing Cats, I ask you one last time: Are you prepared to evolve and face all the risks that come with it?”

Xiaoyue nodded without hesitation.

’I am willing.’

”May the forest protect you.”

Jiuyou then closed her eyes, and a green light began to float around her body.

The green light then transformed into a slender thread of light that delved into the pit. At the same time, a thread of light also extended from the green glow within the pit, connecting to Xiaoyue.

A moment later, all the green light dissipated.

The pit also fell silent for an instant, becoming pitch-black.

Slowly, the green light reappeared in the pit, growing brighter and brighter. A tender green seed slowly rose and flew toward Xiaoyue.

Xiaoyue instinctively opened his mouth and swallowed the seed.

”It is done.”

Jiuyou slowly left the altar.

”That’s it?” Su Zhi asked curiously. ”So what do we do next?”

”Next, you just need to take a walk in the Ancient Jing Forest... Yes, that’s right, a walk.”

Hua Renshan chuckled lightly. ”Xiaoyue has already consumed the ’Seed of the Deep Forest.’ When he reaches his destined spot, the forest will sense him, and the seed will awaken, putting him into a ’cocoon-like’ state.”

”After that, Xiaoyue will fall into a long slumber. The moment he breaks out of the cocoon, he will complete his evolution and transform into a Shadow of Ancient Jing.”

”Sounds pretty ceremonial...” Su Zhi murmured.

’Compared to this, Yu Bao’s evolution ceremony was a lot less impressive. We just had a fight, then he stood on a machine, and that was it...’

”What are your plans? Would you like to stay the night and leave tomorrow morning, or set off now?”

Hua Renshan looked at the two of them with a slight smile. ”I’d recommend staying the night to experience our ancient tree’s bed-and-breakfast! After all, opportunities to come here are few and far between.”

”Then we’ll stay until tomorrow morning. Thank you, Elder Hua~!”

Shao Ya bowed in thanks, gently cradled Xiaoyue in her arms, and then patted Su Zhi on the head.

”Su Baby, you worked hard today. What do you want for dinner?”

”Don’t call me Su Baby in front of other people...”

”Oh, okay, I’ll be quieter then: Su Baby~ what do you want for dinner~?”

”Whatever you want...”

”Really? I don’t know what to eat either. How about you eat me?”

”Don’t be such a pervert!”

The boy and girl continued their chitchat as they followed Hua Renshan away from the altar.

Xiaoyue followed behind, his steps steady, chest out and head held high, his posture noble and elegant.

’Now, I’m going to evolve too.’

’The era of having my seniority messed up by that stupid little dog is about to end!’

”Sniff sniff!” Yu Bao came over and nuzzled against him.

Xiaoyue could only bear the humiliation for a while longer, silently permitting the dumb little dog’s cuddly behavior.

’If he still tries to cuddle up to me after I evolve, then I’m the idiot!’

The noisy chatter of the two humans and two Pet Beasts gradually faded.

With a complicated expression, Jiuyou watched them leave the altar and disappear into the distance.

·

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