Beast taming, starting from zero point

Chapter 180: Chapter 171 Shadow Control

Shadow Control, a high-level skill.

It’s a skill that enables the user to manipulate a target’s shadow through shadows to control their actions.

With increased proficiency, the shadows can even break through surface limitations and transform into tangible attacks, shifting from two-dimensional to three-dimensional, making it a powerful skill that provides both control and attack capabilities.

Qiao Sang fell silent.

The feeling was like: I knew this was a tempting game and I managed to restrain myself with my willpower, but the next second someone tells her that playing this game could potentially win her a million-dollar jackpot.

Yes, Shadow Control was that million-dollar jackpot.

This was a high-level skill!

If you were to learn it from a professional Pet Beast Training Organization in reality, it would cost a seven-figure sum at least.

Moreover, Yaobao had only managed to exceed the energy value norms at the Beginner Stage by mastering Mars Rain.

By the same token, if Xiao Xunbao could learn Shadow Control, could its energy value also exceed the norm?

With this thought, Qiao Sang was instantly tempted.

What’s this about a one in ten thousand chance? Aren’t there Pet Beasts that can learn skills through a Virtual Helmet? Since that’s the case, why can’t this Pet Beast be Xiao Xunbao!

“Xun?”

Xiao Xunbao tilted its head, sensing something unusual about its Beast Tamer.

“It’s nothing, I’m just thinking about the skill you’re going to learn next,” said Qiao Sang.

“Xun?”

Xiao Xunbao tilted its head again.

What skill?

“Shadow Control. Master it and you’ll basically be unbeatable against peers,” answered Qiao Sang.

However, before Xiao Xunbao could react, Yaobao, upon hearing this, was immediately excited and scooted up to its Beast Tamer to make its presence felt.

“Ya!”

“Ya Ya!”

It wanted to learn too!

Qiao Sang said mercilessly, “This skill can only be learned by Spectral-type Pet Beasts, you can’t learn it.”

“Ya…”

The ears of Yaobao immediately drooped.

Qiao Sang consoled it, “Haven’t you realized you’re already an invincible existence among Pet Beasts of the same level? The Mars Rain skill you have is an exclusive high-level skill of the Fire Element. Xiao Xunbao can’t learn it.”

“Ya!”

After thinking it over, Yaobao felt there was reason in its Beast Tamer’s words. Its ears perked back up and it even reached out a paw to pat Xiao Xunbao’s head as a sign for it to study hard.

“Xun…”

Xiao Xunbao nodded reluctantly.

Actually, it was only interested in evolving; being unbeatable among peers didn’t mean much if it couldn’t evolve.

Qiao Sang, unaware of its inner turmoil, took Xiao Xunbao’s nod as agreement and, still worried, added, “You should study for no more than two hours a day, don’t go over that.”

“Xun…”

Xiao Xunbao pouted.

Two hours might be too much…

Qiao Sang was startled, then said with a smile, “You can try it. If two hours feels like too much, it’s okay to rest earlier.”

“Xun!”

Xiao Xunbao looked energized at this suggestion.

Yaobao shook its head as it watched Xiao Xunbao’s reaction.

The little brother is not up to par; it seems it will have to count on itself when it comes to fighting in the future.

Qiao Sang inserted the disc in Xiao Xunbao’s claws into the disc drive slot of the Virtual Helmet.

The Virtual Helmet doesn’t need to be connected to a power source to be activated; as long as it’s charged, it can be used like a cellphone. The flashing green light upon startup indicated that the Virtual Helmet was indeed charged.

Qiao Sang placed the Virtual Helmet on Xiao Xunbao’s head and instructed, “Don’t panic when you go in, just watch. The system will prompt you if you need to do anything.”

Xiao Xunbao looked confused, still not understanding why it needed to wear a helmet to learn a skill. However, it instantly felt a tingling sensation as the metal touched its head, and its consciousness rapidly sank into darkness.

Boom!

“Respected player, welcome to the educational world of Shadow Control.”

…

“Ya?”

Yaobao, curious, circled around Xiao Xunbao, who was wearing the Virtual Helmet, occasionally tapping the helmet on its head with its paw.

“Aren’t you supposed to learn skills? How can you learn anything if you don’t move while wearing this thing?”

Qiao Sang squatted down to examine the remaining four discs and explained, “Once it wears this helmet, there will be someone inside to teach it.”

Yaobao paused, then wagged its tail, eyes sparkling, looking at its own Beast Tamer.

“Ya!”

“Ya Ya!”

It wanted to wear it and learn skills too!

Qiao Sang: “…”

Do you see if your head even matches the size of this virtual helmet… Naturally, Qiao Sang wouldn’t say that out loud.

She looked up at Yaobao and said earnestly, “Nine out of ten pet beasts wearing this helmet fail to learn skills, and virtual helmets are for lazier pet beasts. You’re so smart and hardworking, you don’t need this at all.”

Yaobao was startled for a moment, remembering the scene of Xiao Xunbao the Treasure-seeking Ghost often lying motionless on top of its Beast Tamer’s head.

Indeed, the little brother was too lazy.

“Ya!”

Yaobao nodded, thoroughly agreeing with its Beast Tamer’s words.

Having bamboozled Yaobao, Qiao Sang lowered her head and continued to examine the remaining discs.

Hypnotism, Shadow Ball, Doppelganger, Provocation.

All skills suited for Spectral-type pets.

This task was worth it… Qiao Sang couldn’t help but feel moved.

Apart from hypnotism, the other three were skills that Xiao Xunbao the Treasure-seeking Ghost currently didn’t possess and could learn.

Shadow Ball, an offensive skill, was a preferred attack method among Spectral-type pets.

Doppelganger required a quarter of the user’s maximum energy to create, which could block part of the damage and effects from certain moves.

In a sense, Doppelganger had similarities to Shadow Clone, but compared to Shadow Clone, Doppelganger was more deceptive.

A Shadow Clone might dissipate when tripped or injured.

But not a Doppelganger.

After all, this skill was created using a quarter of the body’s energy, which made it more durable.

As for Provocation…

Looking at the disc for the Provocation skill in her hands, Qiao Sang fell silent.

Her mind immediately went to the scene in the sewer’s secret chamber where Xiao Xunbao the Treasure-seeking Ghost was flipping off the Doppelganger Puppet.

If the Beast Taming Codex page for Xiao Xunbao the Treasure-seeking Ghost hadn’t come without the Provocation skill, she would have suspected that it had already learned it on its own.

Qiao Sang silently placed the disc for Provocation at the very bottom.

Such skills that caused zero damage and drew aggro weren’t worth learning…

…

Two hours later, Xiao Xunbao the Treasure-seeking Ghost took off the virtual helmet, a look of reluctance on its face.

“How do you feel?” Qiao Sang asked immediately.

“Xun!”

Xiao Xunbao the Treasure-seeking Ghost gave its Beast Tamer a thumbs up, expressing its approval.

The feeling was incredible!

“It’s good as long as you feel fine,” Qiao Sang said, not fully reassured. “Remember, no more than two hours a day.”

“Xun~”

Xiao Xunbao the Treasure-seeking Ghost patted its chest with its claw, making a promise.

That night.

Qiao Sang and Yaobao went to bed at the usual time.

Xiao Xunbao the Treasure-seeking Ghost first floated in front of Qiao Sang and stared for five seconds, still uneasy, it extended a short claw to lift her eyelid to check, only relaxing when it saw no reaction.

Then, it floated around Yaobao for a round.

After confirming that both its Beast Tamer and Yaobao were asleep, Xiao Xunbao the Treasure-seeking Ghost floated over to the virtual helmet. It carefully put it on its own head and then mimicked the actions of its Beast Tamer by pressing the virtual helmet twice.

Boom!

“Dear player, welcome to the world of dark Shadow Control teaching.”

Xiao Xunbao the Treasure-seeking Ghost was excited by the illusionary space before its eyes.

In its excitement, it didn’t forget to console itself.

This wasn’t just for fun; it was all for learning skills to become invincible among its peers!