C3 – Achievement
“What an incredible effect!”
Xie Yang was a bit taken aback by the surprise.
His Soul Strength had more than doubled after the increase.
The average Soul Strength for this year’s college entrance exam candidates was a mere 0.9, while his had soared to 1.8.
“At Lakeshell High, it seems the highest Soul Strength among the students is only 1.8.”
A Beastmaster’s prowess is intimately tied to their Soul Strength.
The greater the Soul Strength, the more formidable and numerous the pets a Beastmaster can contract.
Soul Power grows as Soul Strength increases.
Summoning pets for combat or executing Soul Techniques depletes Soul Power.
In a way, a Beastmaster’s talent is essentially their Soul Strength.
“180 points of Soul Power should be enough to keep a second-rank pet active in the outside world for eight hours.”
Xie Yang nodded contentedly and turned his attention to the achievement points.
As indicated by the system, achievement points could be used to enhance a pet’s Growth Point.
Xie Yang concentrated on the pet panel. Instantly, a plus sign materialized next to the Growth Point.
He decided to give it a click.
The Growth Point shot up from 23.48% to 24.48% in a flash.
Simultaneously, his achievement points dropped by one.
“Does one achievement point correspond to a 1% increase in Growth Point?”
Without hesitation, Xie Yang boosted the Growth Point to 100%.
Name: Little Snowball
Element: Ice
Rank: First rank, second layer
Growth Point: 100%
Skill: Frost Breathing
The next evolutionary form on the Queen’s Route was the Ice Crystal Soul. Requirements: 100% Growth Point, 20 lower-level Ice Element Essences, and one Soul Jade.
As a pet’s Growth Point rises, so does its power level.
The extent of power increase varies from pet to pet.
“It only advanced a minor rank. That’s disappointing.”
“Classifying Little Snowball as a Level F pet isn’t a mistake.”
Xie Yang shook his head, but his spirits quickly lifted.
“Now, all I need are the lower-level Ice Element Essences and the Soul Jade.”
“I’ll head home to get some money, then hit the pet store tonight.”
Xie Yang glanced at Little Snowball.
Sensing his thrill, Little Snowball chirped softly, glided over to Xie Yang’s shoulder, and affectionately nuzzled him.
“I never realized your true potential was so immense,” Xie Yang said, patting Little Snowball on the head.
Little Snowball chirped joyfully in response.
Xie Yang chuckled, then after a brief pause, he stowed Little Snowball away and resumed his journey.
Before long, he arrived back at his residential complex.
The house, purchased by his parents before their passing, was somewhat dated, yet its location and surroundings were quite decent.
Approaching the building, he fished a card out of his pocket.
The rusty iron gate creaked open as he unlocked it.
Xie Yang’s apartment was on the third floor.
Just as he reached the third floor, he spotted Bai Tian waiting by his door.
At the sound of footsteps, Bai Tian turned her head.
Seeing Xie Yang, her face lit up with a smile.
“You’re back. I was just about to come looking for you.”
“What’s up?” Xie Yang asked, returning the smile.
Bai Tian and he had grown up together and shared a close bond.
They were both juniors at Lakeshell High.
Bai Tian was actually a year younger than Xie Yang, so she had always affectionately called him ‘brother.’
It’s notable that their families were very close.
After Xie Yang’s parents died, the Bai family took care of the funeral arrangements.
Without their support, Xie Yang’s life would have been much harder.
He was deeply appreciative of the Bai family and held Bai Tian in high regard.
With a grin, Bai Tian said, “My parents wanted me to ask if you’d like to come over for dinner tonight?”
“I’ll be there in a bit,” Xie Yang replied as he took out his keys to unlock the door.
Then, something occurred to him. He turned to Bai Tian and asked, “Tian, isn’t the Beastmaster Association holding an Apprentice Qualification Assessment tomorrow? Are you planning to take the test?”
Bai Tian’s talents eclipsed Xie Yang’s more modest abilities; she was renowned as a beastmaster prodigy.
Her Soul Strength was an impressive 1.7.
Her first contracted pet was the Demon Flame Bird, a Level C creature.
It had two stages of evolution.
Its potential reached the sixth rank.
Thanks to Bai Tian’s diligent nurturing, the Demon Flame Bird had already achieved the strength of the ninth layer of the first rank.
Bai Tian was indisputably among the top five powerhouses at Lakeshell High.
She was the undisputed ace of the school.
Bai Tian nodded in response, “Yes, I’ll head there tomorrow morning.”
Xie Yang gave a slight nod, “Then I’ll join you.”
Bai Tian was taken aback and quickly gestured with her hands.
“No, I’ve got a classmate coming with me.”
She assumed Xie Yang was concerned for her safety, which is why he offered.
She was aware of Xie Yang’s lifelong dream to become a Beastmaster, but his abilities fell short. He had always been deeply disheartened.
She deliberately avoided discussing anything related to Beastmasters in Xie Yang’s presence.
There was no way she could have Xie Yang accompany her to the Apprentice Qualification Assessment.
“That settles it.”
Xie Yang didn’t elaborate. He offered a reassuring smile, patted Bai Tian on the head, and walked through the door.
Bai Tian bit back the words she wanted to say.
Come dinner time, Xie Yang accompanied Bai Tian to her home.
“Yang, good to see you.”
Bai Nanxian, seated on the sofa with his newspaper, glanced up and warmly nodded.
“Uncle Bai.”
Xie Yang offered his greeting.
“Yang’s here!”
Bai Tian’s mother emerged from the kitchen with a dish, beaming. “We can eat now.”
Bai Tian’s parents were as warm and welcoming as ever, treating Xie Yang like their own son.
For a moment, Xie Yang felt as if he truly belonged to their family.
In his past life, he had been an orphan and it had been ages since he’d felt this sense of belonging.
Leaving the Bai residence around seven, Xie Yang headed home to grab his bank card before hurrying to the nearest pet store.
“Tonight, I’ll gather all the materials needed for Little Snowball’s evolution!”
Xie Yang researched the necessary items online.
Both the lower-level Ice Element Essence and Soul Jade were standard materials for lower-tier pets.
He could find them at the pet store.
Roughly ten minutes later, Xie Yang stood before the expansive storefront.