Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories./?m=1

-----

The Next Morning.

The Sea Salt Lizard skimmed across the tranquil waters.

Professor Jiang seemed unfamiliar with the location of the Water Luriana Species Research and Conservation Center. He relied entirely on the GPS to reach their destination.

At the entrance, adorned with a statue of an Water Luriana, Dr. Jiang and his assistant had been waiting for some time.

Upon seeing the two approaching figures, Dr. Jiang's eyes lit up when he spotted the shorter figure among them. He quickly walked over and greeted her enthusiastically:

"Qiao Sang, finally, I get to meet you!"

"Dr. Jiang?" Qiao Sang asked hesitantly, eyeing the man in the white lab coat.

In this world, one couldn’t easily judge someone’s age or identity by their appearance, especially when someone like Professor Jiang, standing beside her, was living proof of this ambiguity.

"It's me." Dr. Jiang smiled warmly.

Professor Jiang, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, extended his hand with a polite smile.

"Dr. Jiang, I’m Professor Jiang Xiu."

Although he was a professor, he wasn’t anywhere near Dr. Jiang's level of prestige. If not for personally escorting Qiao Sang and handling Ice Xilu's diet plan, he likely wouldn’t have had the chance to interact with someone of Dr. Jiang's status.

Frankly, when he received Dr. Jiang’s call yesterday, he nearly hung up, thinking it was a scam.

"Nice to meet you!" Dr. Jiang briefly shook hands before turning to Qiao Sang.

"Shall we chat while we walk?"

The four of them entered the Water Luriana Research and Conservaion Center, arriving at an elegant and expansive water garden.

"This is where the Water Lurianas usually play and live." Dr. Jiang explained.

Qiao Sang gazed at the artificial waterfalls and shimmering pools where over a dozen Water Lurianas frolicked.

Beside her, Professor Jiang wore an almost dreamlike expression, as if he’d stumbled into paradise.

At that moment, Qiao Sang remembered something. She formed a hand seal, summoning her Lubao.

“Lu…” Lubao froze momentarily upon seeing her kind for the first time, clearly taken aback.

“Lu lu!”

One of the playing Water Lurianas looked up, its eyes sparkling with excitement as it let out a cheerful cry.

The rest of the Water Luriana immediately turned their attention to Lubao. Some even poked their heads out of the water.

Moments later, they all dashed over to surround Lubao in a lively huddle.

“Lu…”

Lubao looked utterly at a loss, her gaze seeking help from her trainer.

“Go play with them.” Qiao Sang encouraged with a smile.

After all, Lubao was still under a year old, an age meant for play.

“Lu…”

Hearing her trainer’s reassurance, Lubao hesitated before looking down at the smaller creatures gathered around her. Gradually, her eyes softened, her tail swayed slightly, and she moved toward the water's edge.

“Lu lu!”

“Lulu!”

The Water Lurianas eagerly followed, trailing closely behind.

Watching Ice Xilu interacting so peacefully with the Water Lurianas, Dr. Jiang remarked with admiration, “You’ve raised a very gentle Ice Xilu. The ones here at the center rarely play with the Water Lurianas.”

Gentle? Clearly, you’ve never seen her behavior back when she was still an Water Luriana… Qiao Sang thought, though she only said, “Not at all. The Water Lurianas here are the truly gentle ones.”

Dr. Jiang chuckled.

“Water Lurianas are inherently mild-mannered, symbolizing beauty and peace.”

Huh? Qiao Sang was taken aback for a moment.

To be honest, after spending so much time with Lubao, she had nearly forgotten about the descriptions of Water Lurianas she’d read online.

Dr. Jiang continued, “However, their temperament changes gradually as they evolve.”

That much is true, Qiao Sang agreed silently.

“Do you know what Ice Xilu evolves into next?” Dr. Jiang asked.

“Yes.” Qiao Sang nodded. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Its next form is Frost Aipalu.”

The vice principal had already included information about the Water Luriana species in the data he’d provided her.

Dr. Jiang explained, “Statistically speaking, Frost Aipalu is the most temperamentally sensitive stage in its evolutionary chain. You’ll need to be especially mindful during this time; any misstep could undo all the trust you’ve painstakingly built.”

Qiao Sang pondered this before asking, “Does this have to do with Ice Xilu’s evolution requirements?”

“Exactly.” Dr. Jiang nodded.

“For Ice Xilu to evolve, it must experience extreme despair during a sandstorm. This emotional turmoil inevitably affects its temperament.”

Even though she had already read about these conditions in the data, hearing it again made Qiao Sang sigh inwardly.

What a miserable species…

---

For the rest of their visit, the group toured areas designated for Ice Xilu and its relatives, including the exclusive Frost Aipalu habitat.

Professor Jiang wore a starry-eyed expression the entire time.

When they reached the Ice Xilu zone, Qiao Sang suddenly remembered something.

“Dr. Jiang, yesterday you asked Professor Jiang to relay that I shouldn’t rush to use the Awakening Pearl Orb on my Ice Xilu. Why is that?”

Dr. Jiang smiled as he explained, “Awakening Pearls awaken dormant talents within a beast’s bloodline. However, the chances of successful awakening aren’t guaranteed. Studies have shown that during evolution, a beast’s bloodline surges. Using an Awakening Pearl at that time increases the likelihood of success by 30% or more.”

“I see!” Qiao Sang felt enlightened.

Awakening Pearls were rare items that she’d never encountered before. They weren’t even covered in high school curricula; she’d likely have had to wait until university to learn about them.

Despite the significant age gap between Qiao Sang and Dr. Jiang, their shared enthusiasm for the Water Luriana species made their conversation lively and engaging.

In just over an hour, Qiao Sang gained a comprehensive understanding of the Water Luriana species.

As the center approached closing time, Dr. Jiang’s young assistant cleared his throat, subtly reminding him of something.

“Oh, right!” Dr. Jiang chuckled at his forgetfulness.

He turned to Qiao Sang, his demeanor suddenly serious.

“Would you be interested in becoming a researcher?”

Qiao Sang blinked.

“A researcher?”

The vice principal had also mentioned this path before. Now Dr. Jiang was bringing it up again. Did she really have a knack for this?

“Yes, a researcher.” Dr. Jiang confirmed.

“The moment I met you, I could see your potential.”

Oh, come on… Even though I guessed it, hearing it outright feels so awkward… Qiao Sang scratched her head, a bit flustered.

“Actually, I’m already an apprentice researcher.”

“I know.” Dr. Jiang smiled.

“My assistant, Xiao Qian, is acquainted with your vice principal. The information you received on the Water Luriana species was shared with my permission.”

“Xiao Qian told me you’re an apprentice researcher.”

Xiao Qian… Qiao Sang glanced at the man who looked a few years older than Professor Jiang.

Xiao Qian smiled politely.

“But I’m talking about becoming a junior researcher.” Dr. Jiang added.

-----

-----