Free Web NovelChapter 145: Chapter 131: Pinky Swear
Among the Nine Great Alliances of the Common Defense Alliance, the Divine Strategy Alliance served as the research department, gathering the most brilliant scientific minds on Blue Star.
They used technology to raise the upper and lower limits of Beast Taming and created numerous technologies to benefit the world... while also researching a ton of strange and bizarre things.
So, when Xiaosa said she recognized the Little Black Ball, Su Zhi wasn’t the least bit surprised.
What the Little Black Ball actually was didn’t matter.
What mattered was—this was a golden opportunity!
Hearing Samika’s offer, Su Zhi’s eyes lit up as he quickly confirmed, "A Tier Three resource of any attribute? Are you serious?"
"Of course." Samika snapped her fingers. "As long as it doesn’t exceed five composite attributes, you can choose any single-attribute or multi-attribute Tier Three resource to take with you."
Su Zhi turned his gaze to Shao Ya.
"It’s fine. Xiaoyue already has enough resources."
Shao Ya gave him a wink. "Just focus on yourselves!"
So Su Zhi turned back to Samika. "Can I get a Tier Four?"
The air fell silent for a moment. Shao Ya tried her best not to laugh.
"...Do you think this is a flea market?"
Samika’s lip twitched. "No. Only Tier Three and below.
"This Black Egg isn’t as precious or rare as you think. Its value just can’t be realized outside of the Divine Strategy Alliance. I’m just acquiring it per protocol, that’s all.
"If you really don’t want to hand it over, you’re free to keep it. We’re not going to strong-arm you and then hand you a ’Good Citizen’ award."
"I’ll hand it over. As an Alliance Youth Team Member, I must prioritize the greater good." Su Zhi’s expression instantly turned solemn.
"And, to encourage others to learn from my example, I must accept the corresponding reward!"
Jeez, he could change his tune on a dime... Samika rolled her eyes and led Su Zhi and his pet to the warehouse.
Two minutes later, Su Zhi and Yu Bao came bouncing out. In Su Zhi’s hand was a new cube, formed by interwoven lines of silver, yellow, and red—
The Tier Three, triple-element Earth, Fire, and Gold resource, Burning Sand Forging!
Staring at the exquisite little resource in his hand, Su Zhi couldn’t suppress the smile in his eyes.
That’s right. He had been looking for a Tier Two, Earth and Fire Dual Attribute resource.
But in reality, this triple-attribute resource called Burning Sand Forging was widely acknowledged as the most suitable for a Yu Dian Dog to absorb before its evolution.
The creation of Burning Sand Forging requires two conditions: sand with a very high gold content and extremely high-temperature flames. As the flames scorch the sand, the three elements tend to fuse, creating an extremely low probability of producing Burning Sand Forging.
The very first piece of Burning Sand Forging was accidentally created during an ancient Beastmaster’s alchemy process.
Because Gold Element Energy has the property of providing a foundation for other energies, the Earth and Fire Element Energy it contained was actually richer than any Same Tier dual-attribute Earth and Fire resource.
Furthermore, even though it was a triple-attribute resource, the Gold Attribute’s incredible stability meant that Pet Beasts without the Gold Attribute couldn’t absorb it.
In other words, Yu Bao would absorb the rich Earth and Fire energy. And unless Yu Bao wasn’t a proper dog, the remaining Gold Element Energy wouldn’t have any negative side effects.
Trading a useless black thingamajig for such a treasure was an absolute steal.
Su Zhi was so delighted he felt like he was floating on air.
Yu Bao copied him, floating as he walked, and with four feet, his rhythm was even better. He even put on a pair of sunglasses, adding to his big-shot persona.
"You two are killing me... Like master, like pet!"
Shao Ya filmed them, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. With that aura, Yu Bao looked like a mob boss, while Su Zhi seemed more like his underling.
Meanwhile, Xiaoyue watched the three of them with a look of resignation.
’Can’t you guys be a little more mature, like me?’
Just then, sunlight pierced through the layers of clouds and shone down on the ground.
The rain, which had fallen for a day and a night, finally stopped at noon. The sky was a dreamy, watercolor blue.
Shao Ya tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "The bus leaves in half an hour. Want to get on and wait?"
"Save me a seat, I’ve got something to take care of!"
Su Zhi handed the Burning Sand Forging to Shao Ya with a faint smile, then he and Yu Bao jogged off toward the activity area.
Students who had finished their trial were trickling out. Su Zhi moved against the crowd, running along the wire fence until he stopped at the ninety-ninth iron post.
"Nnngh!" A horn poked out from the bushes. Having waited for a long time, Wu Bao came bouncing over and poked the tip of its horn through a gap in the fence.
"Wu Bao, we have to go now. I have final exams the week after next, so we probably won’t see each other again for a good while."
Su Zhi stroked Wu Bao’s horn and blinked. "Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?"
Su Zhi’s original plan was to take Wu Bao back with him to live and train with Yu Bao. Then, once his Beast Taming Space reached Tier Three, he could form a contract directly.
Many Beast Tamers do this to reduce the effort needed to bond after forming a contract. Shao Ya and Xiaoyue were a case in point. They may have only been contracted for a little over a month, but they had actually lived together for three years prior.
Even ordinary people could raise uncontracted Pet Beasts after completing the necessary paperwork.
But when Su Zhi had suggested this, Wu Bao had refused.
"Nnngh."
Wu Bao closed its eyes slightly and waved its insect-like legs.
’Su Zhi and Yu Bao’s trial was over, but its own was far from finished.’
’Its defense wasn’t perfect enough.’
’Its offense wasn’t focused enough.’
’And its courage...’
"Woof-aroo," Yu Bao supplied. ’Room for improvement.’
"Nnngh-nnngh." Wu Bao’s eyes lit up, and it gave its good buddy a thumbs-up.
’What a great phrase. It makes "cowardly" sound so much better.’
Wu Bao looked at Su Zhi again.
’In short, it hoped that the version of itself that would one day form a contract with Su Zhi would be much stronger than it was today.’
