Chapter 36: Who Wouldn't Pass?
Breeder.
A mysterious profession where it's said that one can tell how long a pet beast hasn't defecated just by the frequency of its cries.
As long as you become a certified Breeder, even at the lowest F-level, if you register with a local Breeder Association, a generous amount of training funds will be deposited into your personal account every year.
It's the ultimate way to earn money while lying down.
If among a hundred Beast Tamers, there might be one Breeder, then among ten thousand Trainers, there might not even be one A-level Breeder.
Qiao Sang's eyes lit up. This was her first time encountering an A-level Breeder.
"Hello, Vice Principal." After greeting him, Qiao Sang turned the Fire fang Dog's head towards Liu Yao.
"Fire fang Dog, come, greet the Vice Principal."
"Yap."
The Fire fang Dog barked politely.
Liu Yao's eyes twinkled with amusement, but before he could speak, Qiao Sang curiously asked, "Vice Principal, do you know how long it's been since my Fire fang Dog last pooped?"
Liu Yao: ...
"Hahahahaha..."
Zheng Guoping, standing to the side, couldn't hold back his laughter, only stopping when he met Liu Yao's stern gaze.
The idea that Breeders could tell how long a pet beast hadn't defecated by the frequency of its cries was a recent online joke.
In a certain dating show, the third male contestant was a Breeder.
Due to his dull personality and unremarkable appearance, as well as his ghost-type pet beast that wasn't very popular, he had been sidelined for eight days without a single female contestant choosing him.
However, on the ninth day, the second female contestant's Speedhorn Deer suffered from severe abdominal pain after eating the first male contestant's nutritional meal and kept crying out.
While everyone was blaming the first male contestant, the low-profile third male contestant spoke up.
"It's because it hasn't had a bowel movement for over 20 days, it's blocked. Give it a Tongtong Fruit, and it will be fine."
The second female contestant was stunned because her Speedhorn Deer indeed hadn't relieved itself for 23 days.
Sure enough, after the Speedhorn Deer ate the Tongtong Fruit, it was back to its lively self.
When the second female contestant asked him how he knew the exact time, the third male contestant replied that he could tell by the frequency of its cries.
This answer shocked everyone—could you really tell from that?
The third male contestant instantly became the most sought-after guy, with female contestants surrounding him every day, asking him to listen to their pet beasts' cries.
As a typical researcher, Liu Yao had never watched any dating shows.
He looked at the Fire fang Dog and helplessly said, "I don't know."
While Liu Yao, the old scholar, didn't get the joke, Zheng Guoping, who had watched that dating show with his wife, did.
It wasn't about listening to the frequency of the cries at all. The third male contestant had his ghost-type pet beast sneak into the women's rooms to eavesdrop on their conversations.
Qiao Sang had only heard the joke and hadn't watched the show, so she didn't know the full story. She thought it was real and was a bit disappointed, though she didn't show it.
Instead, she asked another question, "If the Fire fang Dog takes those herbal baths for half a month, what would the effect be?"
Liu Yao explained, "If I'm not mistaken, the Fire fang Dog is currently close to a critical point, somewhat like the precursor to a skill awakening, probably related to speed. The herbs like Vitality Grass and Heat Soothing Powder are all materials that can stimulate fire-type energy. Soaking for half a month could possibly help it break through this critical point early."
Qiao Sang was stunned. In just a few days, the Fire fang Dog had already learned two skills: Ember and Shadow Clone.
And now another one?
Is this a genius Fire fang Dog or what?
Excited, Qiao Sang looked at the Fire fang Dog and said, "Come on, Fire fang Dog, quickly thank the Vice Principal."
Getting guidance from an A-level Trainer is not something just anyone can experience.
"Yap!"
The Fire fang Dog barked decisively.
Though it didn't understand anything about critical points, Vitality Grass, or precursors, it knew that when its Beast Tamer told it to be grateful, it should be.
"Reee!!!"
Liu Yao was about to say something else when suddenly, a heart-wrenching wail echoed from the Long-eared Cat nearby.
Qiao Sang was startled.
She turned around and saw the Long-eared Cat curled up, covering its face with its front paws, tears streaming down its cheeks, looking utterly devastated.
The Fire fang Dog noticed the Long-eared Cat's condition too.
Did it make the cat cry?!
At that moment, Qiao Sang and the Fire fang Dog had the same thought.
Feeling a bit guilty, Qiao Sang approached Zheng Yining and timidly asked, "What's wrong with the Long-eared Cat?"
Zheng Yining turned to her and smiled bitterly, "It's a bit of a clean freak. It woke up and realized it had been licked all over by Tonguetip Drip, and now it's like this."
Qiao Sang: ...She could understand!
The Firefang Dog breathed a sigh of relief; at least it wasn't its fault.
"Teacher, with the Long-eared Cat in this condition, it might not be able to continue the battle." Zheng Yining said to Sun Boyi.
"Are you forfeiting?" Sun Boyi asked.
"Yes, I'm forfeiting," Zheng Yining replied.
She was already one of the five special admissions, so there was no need to continue competing, especially since she knew she couldn't beat Qiao Sang.
"Alright." Sun Boyi nodded in agreement. "Then the final match will be between Qiao Sang and Li Yang."
Originally, after Qiao Sang and Zheng Yining's match, the loser—Zheng Yining—was supposed to face Li Yang.
But with Zheng Yining forfeiting, it was now Qiao Sang versus Li Yang.
Li Yang: ...
He wanted to forfeit too. His goal of placing in the top three for special admissions had already been achieved.
This girl Qiao Sang and her Fire fang Dog were too fierce, even Lu Liangye wasn't her match.
He didn't think he could win, but forfeiting without even trying would look too cowardly...
Li Yang's pet beast was a Short-tailed Snake, with venomous fangs, a poisonous tail, and even poisonous blood.
Qiao Sang assessed the situation and came up with a strategy.
As the battle began...
The Fire fang Dog split into two, circling the Short-tailed Snake at a distance of about five meters, quickly creating the illusion of only one shadow.
As the shadow formed, sparks were constantly being fired.
The Short-tailed Snake, its vision following the movement of the two Fire fang Dogs, grew dizzy.
In that brief moment of disorientation, it was struck by several flames, taken down cleanly without even moving.
Li Yang was filled with regret. If he'd known the outcome would be so disastrous, he would have found an excuse to forfeit!
This was no rookie Beast Tamer—her level was comparable to high school students at a Beast Taming Academy!
Lu Liangye, watching from the side, was quite satisfied. Comparing himself to Li Yang, he didn't seem as bad off.
"Qiao Sang wins."
After announcing the result, Sun Boyi gathered the top five together.
"The results of this exam will be posted on Shengshui Middle School's official website in a few days. When your high school entrance exam scores are released, bring your score report to our school to register. If your exam scores don't meet the requirements, your spot will be filled by another special admission candidate."
Those who were eliminated in the first round and hadn't left yet were excited—did this mean they still had a chance?
But the next moment, they were deflated. As long as the special admissions passed the test, not to mention the first place, the other four only needed to score 50 points above the minimum to qualify.
With such a low score requirement, who wouldn't pass?
Sigh...