Beast Taming: Starting From Zero
Chapter 493: The Pseudo Beast Master

Chaosu Star, the first planet developed and colonized by humanity.

Finding planets was easy, but finding ones suitable for human habitation was rare.

Even if a suitable planet was found, it often had alien lifeforms.

Establishing communication and building connections with them was never simple. Even if communication methods were discovered, there was no guarantee that the alien civilization would be truly civilized.

Thus, when Chaosu Star was confirmed as a habitable planet, all nations on Blue Star united like never before, forming the Galactic Beast Taming Alliance to represent humanity's collective interests.

With a unified decision, the first batch of immigrants to Chaosu Star were carefully selected from various nations worldwide.

Due to interactions with different civilizations, humanity gradually moved beyond racial distinctions. Nations became more closely linked than ever.

Over time, descendants of the first settlers intermarried across nationalities, leading to an increasing number of people of mixed heritage living together.

The people of Chaosu Star cared the least about racial differences; instead, they identified first and foremost as human.

Correspondingly, their attitudes toward beast companions were polarized.

The majority on Chaosu Star believed that beast companions were a different species that needed to be absolutely suppressed. A single moment of carelessness could lead to disaster.

Hence, they treated beast companions with extreme strictness.

"Whether a beast companion is tired or not doesn’t matter, only strength does." This phrase summed up the prevailing attitude on Chaosu Star.

Because of this mindset, concepts like bond evolution were almost mythical to them.

For Qiao Sang, it didn’t really matter which planet she was sent to. However…

She stared at one particular line on the form for a long time.

"I have to go next semester?"

Wang Weidou assumed his precious student was worried about the short notice and reassured her, "The government will handle all the paperwork for you. You just need to wait for instructions and pack when the time comes."

"You’ll receive the official notification in a few days. Since you have to start school next semester, you need to leave early. Traveling to another planet isn’t like going to another country, it takes more than just a day or two."

Qiao Sang’s expression turned blank.

"Then what about my college entrance exams? Will I come back in time for them?"

Wang Weidou stared at her in shock and blurted out, "You’re planning to take the exam?"

"Of course." Qiao Sang replied.

Wang Weidou was momentarily stunned. As the principal, he knew Qiao Sang was eligible to take the exam early, but he found it completely unnecessary.

Skipping grades for an exam was impressive, but Qiao Sang had won the national campus Beast Mastering League championship for the senior level. With such an achievement, many top universities would offer her direct admission.

For someone in her first year to achieve this, skipping the best universities would be a massive loss.

However, the top-ranked universities still required a minimum academic score. They wouldn’t admit someone solely based on combat prowess, otherwise, everyone would just train their beast companions instead of studying.

The best universities sought students who were both strong in battle and academically capable.

Wang Weidou had reviewed Qiao Sang’s grades. She had barely passed the entrance exam and had spent months in competitions after joining the school team. She hadn’t had time to study.

She was still a first-year student. Forget about three years of high school knowledge, she probably hadn’t even grasped the key points from the first semester. Expecting her to pass the college entrance exam this year with top scores was pure fantasy.

Studying for another year or two would be the sensible choice.

After a brief silence, Wang Weidou gently advised, "I think if you study for another year, your chances of getting into your ideal university would be much higher."

Qiao Sang replied, "The vice principal told me I have three chances to take the exam. If I don’t make it this year, I can try again next year. I want to give it a shot now."

That guy, Liu Yao… Wang Weidou sighed.

"If you insist on taking the exam early, that’s fine. The exchange university you’re going to follows the same exam schedule as here. As for the special admission tests, due to the interstellar exchange program, the top universities you apply to will send people to test you directly."

That works then. Otherwise, if she had to return just for the special tests and exams, it would waste too much time, time better spent studying.

Qiao Sang let out a relieved sigh and continued filling out the form.

But soon, she paused again.

"The exchange program lasts for a year. If I get into university next semester, what happens to the remaining six months?"

You think you’ll pass on your first try? You may be a beast taming prodigy, but not an academic one…

Wang Weidou inwardly sighed but kept a composed smile.

"That depends on which university you get into. The government will arrange for you to continue your exchange at a top university on Chaosu Star that matches the ranking of your admission."

Oh well, let her do whatever she wants. She already won the national championship for high school seniors. Even if she doesn’t get into the very best universities, plenty of top-tier schools will offer her guaranteed admission.

"I see…" Qiao Sang nodded and resumed filling out the form.

First-Year Class 1.

"Chaosu Star, the first planet in human history to be developed and colonized."

"It has water, oxygen, and a constant temperature of 25°C. Its gravity is three times that of Blue Star. Unlike Blue Star, there are no secret realms, but there are still beast companions."

"On Chaosu Star, humans coexist with wild beast companions. Without brain domain development, life there is difficult."

"Since humans frequently need to drive away wild beast companions, beast tamers hold a much higher status on Chaosu Star than on Blue Star."

"Ordinary people also interact with wild beast companions. Not all of them are dangerous. Some are naturally docile, and over time, cases of peaceful coexistence have emerged."

"People who aren’t beast tamers but can get beast companions to help them with tasks are called ‘pseudo beast tamers.’"

As Qiao Sang was about to leave for Chaosu Star as an interstellar exchange student, the astronomy teacher skipped the usual review session before finals and lectured on Chaosu Star instead.

She took diligent notes.

When class ended, a crowd gathered around her.

"Qiao Sang, are you really going to Chaosu Star as an exchange student?"

"I heard some beast companions there are super aggressive, you could get attacked just walking around!"

"Isn’t it awesome that you can see wild beast companions every day?"

"If you stay there long enough, your reflexes will improve even without training!"

"I wonder if their courses are the same as ours."

"If only you had an empty contract page, you could bring back a Chaosu Star beast companion for us to see!"

More and more students joined the conversation.

At fifteen or sixteen years old, they saw things more openly and equally than adults.

Grown-ups might distance themselves due to widening gaps or try to curry favor with influential people. But teenagers, as long as the other person didn’t act arrogant, couldn’t suppress their urge to get closer to someone impressive.

Now, with an exciting interstellar topic, almost the entire class surrounded Qiao Sang.

Even the usually aloof Lu You was among them.

Qiao Sang patiently chatted with her classmates, showing no signs of impatience.

These are all top students, borrowing just a couple of their notes would save me tons of study time…

With that thought, she became even more engaged in the conversation.

By the time the last class ended, she looked at the thick stack of notes on her desk and smiled in satisfaction.

Winter nights arrived early. It wasn’t even six o’clock, but darkness had already fallen.

Reporters and paparazzi still lingered outside Shengshui High School.

Standing in the hallway, Qiao Sang could clearly see everything outside.

"Little Treasure." She called.

"Let’s go home."

"Xun~" Little Treasure appeared.

The next second, both of them vanished.

At 6:23 PM, under multiple space jumps by Little Treasure, Qiao Sang arrived at the entrance of Building 16 in Qinglu Courtyard.

During the national competition, she had spoken with her mother over the phone and learned that she had moved here.

Qiao Sang opened the door and found that all the furnishings had been arranged.

Although the interior design was quite luxurious, the appropriate placement of greenery and the uniform beige-toned decor made the overall atmosphere feel much warmer.

Where’s Mom… Qiao Sang looked at the empty living room and took out her phone to make a call.

Bang!

Suddenly, a loud noise rang out.

Colorful confetti fluttered down from above.

"Coo!" Fat Dove walked out, holding a cake in its wings.

"Welcome home, Champion!" At the same time, her mother’s voice came from above.

Qiao Sang looked up and saw her mother sitting on Faith Owl’s back, holding the confetti cannon she had just fired.

Didn’t expect Mom to pull this kind of stunt… A genuine smile spread across Qiao Sang’s face. "I’m home!"

Meanwhile, outside Shengshui Academy, reporters and paparazzi, unable to catch sight of Qiao Sang, gradually packed up their equipment and left.

Once everyone was gone, a man in a formal suit, looking rather handsome, stepped out of a black car worth over 500,000 credits. He walked straight to the security booth at the school gate.

"Can you contact Qiao Sang and tell her that her father is here?" Qiao Wangyang asked.

The security guard, who had been silent with reporters all day, suddenly looked up and swiftly opened the communication window. But then, a look of doubt crossed his face.

"You're Qiao Sang’s father?"

Qiao Wangyang nodded.

"I am."

The security guard scrutinized him carefully and asked, "Which class is Qiao Sang in?"

Qiao Wangyang hesitated for a second.

"Class One."

Even though he hadn't contacted his daughter in a long time, he had learned this from the news covering Qiao Sang’s performance in the National Campus Beast Mastering League.

The security guard continued, "What’s the name of Qiao Sang’s homeroom teacher?"

How would I know that? Qiao Wangyang opened his mouth but didn’t respond immediately.

Before he could speak, the security guard fired another question: "If you’re her father, why don’t you contact her directly?"

You think I don’t want to? She blocked me. And then she moved away...

Thinking about how he had been blacklisted and how he had come to her old home only to be told by the neighbors that Ye Xiangting had moved, Qiao Wangyang’s expression darkened.

He wasn’t about to admit that out loud.

Seeing the man hesitate, the security guard confirmed his suspicions and pressed further:

"Even if she didn’t have her phone, why wouldn’t you contact her teacher?"

Qiao Wangyang paused.

"I don’t have her homeroom teacher’s contact information."

"Oh, really?" The security guard sneered.

"Then do you have proof that Qiao Sang is your daughter?"

"Proof?" Qiao Wangyang was dumbfounded.

"Do I need proof to say that Qiao Sang is my daughter?"

The security guard nodded.

"Otherwise, how am I supposed to know you’re not lying?"

Qiao Wangyang laughed in disbelief.

"Just call her out, and you’ll see."

Hearing this, the security guard dropped all pretense. With a look of disdain, he said:

"Finally showing your true intentions, huh? Just want to see Qiao Sang. Nowadays, some reporters will go to any lengths, pretending to be someone’s father?

"If you were really her dad, would you have no way to contact her and have to come to the school?

"If you were really her dad, would you not know her homeroom teacher’s name?

"If you were really her dad, wouldn’t you know that Qiao Sang doesn’t even live in the dorms?

"She’s probably already home by now. Look at you, do you resemble her in the slightest? And you say you're her father?"

The security guard, feeling utterly triumphant, slammed the communication window shut with a loud clap.

Qiao Wangyang: !!!

His face turned from black to white, then from white to black again. His entire body shook with rage, unable to find words to respond.

Qinglu Courtyard, Building 16.

A blinding white light flashed, and Fat Dove evolved into a Sleek Owl.

"Sleek!"

The newly evolved Sleek Owl happily rubbed its big head against her mother.

"Faith!" Faith Owl spread its massive wings and let out a joyful cry.

Ye Xiangting smiled.

"Fat Dove actually wanted to evolve the day we moved in, but it wanted to do it in front of you, so it waited until now."

"Sleek." Sleek Owl nodded.

"Yap Yap!"

Before Qiao Sang could feel touched, Yabao, looking at the newly evolved Sleek Owl, let out an excited cry and issued a challenge for battle.

"Sleek!"

Having watched all of Qiao Sang’s competition livestreams, Sleek Owl shook its head furiously.

Qiao Sang coughed.

"Yabao, show some respect to your elders."

"Yap?"

Yabao tilted his head in confusion.

So, you can’t fight elders? But back at the base, the elders always battled with me…

Back then, your combat ability was weak, how is that the same now? Qiao Sang quickly changed the subject.

"The backyard is pretty big. You haven’t trained today. Want to go try it out?"

"Yap!"

Yabao’s eyes lit up. He immediately forgot his previous thoughts and ran toward the backyard.

"Sleek…"

Sleek Owl sighed in relief.

Ye Xiangting watched Yabao disappear into the yard, her smile never fading.

"Back when you wanted to contract a Fire Fang Dog, I was worried that fire-type beasts would have too violent a temperament. But you’ve raised him so well. And Little Treasure, when he was still a Treasure-Seeking Ghost, he scared me half to death! Who would’ve thought he would turn out to be such a good child?"

"Xun~" Little Treasure called out sweetly upon hearing the praise.

"When New Year's comes, during the family banquet-"

Qiao Sang interrupted, "Mom, I might have to go to Chaosu Star soon."