But that competition was held after the High School Entrance Exam, and registration had not even begun yet. There was no way she could participate now.
The other battle training venues, large and small, all had restrictions as well.
The Underground Pet Beast Black Competition, which existed specifically for gambling and entertainment, did not require Pet Tamers to reach any particular rank.
The threshold for this kind of competition was low. Even E-Class Beast Tamers could participate, but those who entered such underground matches came from all walks of life.
They had to sign an agreement before the match. During Pet Beast battles, life and death were left to fate.
In official competitions, once one side's Pet Beast lost its ability to fight, the referee would promptly stop the match. There would also be a dedicated medical team standing by to treat the Pet Beasts.
The Underground Pet Beast Black Competition was different. Such matches only ended when one Pet Tamer voluntarily admitted defeat.
The people who came here were either ruthless sorts or gamblers.
Some no longer cared whether their Pet Beasts lived or died because they had no potential left. Some came to make quick money, while others simply chased the thrill of violence and excitement.
In any case, it was not somewhere a middle school student like Qiao Sang should be.
Fire Fang Dog was still too young. Qiao Sang did not intend to expose it to such brutal competitions all at once.
According to Qiao Sang's original plan, once the High School Entrance Exam was over, she would first train Fire Fang Dog's speed and stamina. After its foundations were solid, she would work on its control over its moves.
The Golden Finger could let Fire Fang Dog gain points through battle in a short amount of time, but if its physical conditioning could not keep up and it could not control its own energy, then it would not be able to display the combat strength an equivalent-level Pet Beast should have.
But if she wanted to improve quickly now, she could not take things so slowly.
Only battles could rapidly increase Fire Fang Dog's combat strength.
What Qiao Sang wanted was a sparring match that stopped at the right point, not a fight to the death.
Besides official Pet Beast competitions and the Underground Pet Beast Black Competition, there were also venues such as training centers, clubs, and exchange meets in various areas where Pet Beast battles could be held.
Training centers recruited only once every six months and specialized in helping Pet Tamers train their Pet Beasts in specific moves. Since it was not registration season, she could not get in.
Clubs simply wanted money, and Qiao Sang had none.
The people who attended exchange meets had all made a name for themselves in official competitions and received invitations.
Most people usually sparred with friends around them, but the people Qiao Sang knew had not even awakened their brain domains yet, much less begun Pet Beast battles.
After summing it all up, there was actually nowhere in all of Hanggang City where Fire Fang Dog could have a proper battle.
Could she just grab someone off the street and say, "I want to have a Pet Beast battle with you"?
What if she picked a Pet Tamer above D-rank? She would not even know how she died.
Qiao Sang paced back and forth along the street, thinking seriously.
Five minutes later, she carried Fire Fang Dog and headed home.
After returning home, Qiao Sang took off her school uniform and changed into casual clothes. Then she went to her room, wrote a few words on a piece of paper and tore it off, then grabbed a roll of tape and put it in her pocket.
Then she slung on her backpack and headed out.
Nanhe Park, beside Hanggang No. 37 Pet Beast High School.
"Student, want some barbecue?" The Auntie running a stall called out at the entrance to the park.
Qiao Sang checked the time. It was 4:27 p.m., and there was still about an hour until No. 37 Pet Beast High School let out.
"I'll take ten lamb skewers." Qiao Sang walked over to the barbecue stall.
"Want them spicy?" The Auntie grinned at the sight of business and asked.
"No." Qiao Sang shook her head.
"Are you from this school? How come I don't think I've ever seen you before?" The Auntie busied herself with her work while continuing the conversation.
"No, I'm here waiting for someone," Qiao Sang answered.
"That's what I thought. If I'd seen such a pretty girl before, I definitely wouldn't have forgotten." The Auntie smiled.
Qiao Sang gave a polite smile.
She had been praised often since childhood. When she was little, she would feel embarrassed, but as she grew older, she became numb to it.
Five minutes later, Qiao Sang took the lamb skewers and handed one to Fire Fang Dog, which was practically drooling.
"Fang!"
Fire Fang Dog gave a happy cry, took it with both paws, and lowered its head to eat.
"What kind of Pet Beast is this? I've never seen one around here." The Auntie could not help asking as she stared at Fire Fang Dog.
There was a natural barrier between Pet Tamers and ordinary people, separating them into two different worlds.
The paths they faced after nine years of compulsory education were completely different.
Although Pet Tamers held a higher status than ordinary people in this society, ordinary people themselves were divided into classes.
Those with power, those without power, those with money, those without money, those who ran small businesses, those who worked for others...
That power and money were all determined at birth.
If they had not been born with those things, it was difficult for ordinary people to encounter information about Extraordinary Creatures after completing nine years of compulsory education.
Even though information spread widely and every channel broadcast such things, ordinary people had neither the time nor energy to learn about them.
Just supporting their families was difficult enough.
This Auntie was clearly at the bottom even among ordinary people.
"It's called Fire Fang Dog," Qiao Sang answered.
"Fang." Fire Fang Dog gave a timely cry when it heard its own Pet Tamer introduce it.
The Auntie smiled. "It looks so well-behaved. My son is in middle school too. When he graduates, I'll buy him one of these as well."
Qiao Sang hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping herself.
Actually, that was not wrong. Other than being a little mischievous, her Fire Fang Dog was quite well-behaved...
"Fang."
Fire Fang Dog raised its head and looked at Qiao Sang.
Qiao Sang handed it another lamb skewer.
Fire Fang Dog happily accepted it.
Of the ten lamb skewers, Qiao Sang ate three and Fire Fang Dog ate seven.
Qiao Sang went over to a nearby bench and sat down.
From here, she had a clear view of the entrance to No. 37 Pet Beast High School. The location was perfect too—any students passing through Nanhe Park after school would be able to see her.
Qiao Sang set down her backpack and used the tape in her pocket to stick the paper onto it.
Pet Beast battles. All I ask for is one defeat.
There was another small line in the bottom-right corner.
50 Alliance Coins per match.
This was the method Qiao Sang had come up with after thinking for a long time.
If one were to ask where there were the most F-rank Pet Tamers, it would definitely be Pet Beast high schools.
Breeding an Intermediate Pet Beast took at least one or two years. The Pet Beasts of first- and second-year high school students were basically still at the beginner Pet Beast stage.
The fifty Alliance Coins were written there purely for fun. Qiao Sang did not expect anyone to battle her over such a small amount of money.
She merely hoped to draw their attention. To high school students who had only just become Pet Tamers, this would count as entertainment. There would always be someone willing to give her a match.
As for why she had chosen No. 37 Pet Beast High School, it was because it was the closest school outside her residential district.
She had changed out of her uniform before leaving the district because she hoped not to run into anyone she knew.
After all, going outside someone else's school with a sign saying all she wanted was one defeat was rather embarrassing...
Qiao Sang sat quietly on the bench with Fire Fang Dog in her arms.
Although No. 37 Pet Beast High School had not let out yet, there were still other people in Nanhe Park.
Whenever they passed Qiao Sang, they could not help turning to look.
The words on that backpack somehow did not seem to match this girl's image.
"Fang!"
When Fire Fang Dog saw everyone looking over, it bared its teeth and cried out.
Well then.
With Fire Fang Dog added to the picture, it matched perfectly...
Before you continue