Skill Training

Next, Old Huang chose to keep practicing skills with Little Black by the lake, while Chen Wei and Color Spirit walked over to the pure-white snowfield to begin training.

In just one short hour, Little Color Spirit's progress in practicing Cold Breath far surpassed Chen Wei's expectations.

At this rate, it probably wouldn't be long before Little Color Spirit mastered Cold Breath.

He drew the panting Little Color Spirit, exhausted from practicing Cold Breath, into his arms and stroked its head, his heart brimming with satisfaction.

Chen Wei suddenly thought of Bonded Combat, which had recently become a hot topic online in the Donghua Kingdom.

It was said that when Beast Tamers respected and understood their pet beasts, and gave them love, they would receive their love in return, forming a bond between Beast Tamer and pet beast.

Through the coordination of their bond with the Source Star, a pet beast's combat power could soar. This was Bonded Coordination Combat. But mastering Bonded Coordination was no simple matter.

Although using this kind of combat required no particular level of strength, those in the Donghua Kingdom who could use Bonded Coordination Combat proficiently were almost all King-level Beast Tamers or above. Only a handful of Beast Tamers below Master level had mastered it.

Chen Wei shook his head again, feeling that his thoughts had gotten way ahead of him. A meal had to be eaten one bite at a time. Bonded Coordination Combat wasn't something he could force. It would be enough if he could gradually build a bond with Little Color Spirit through their everyday life and training.

His top priority right now was to help Little Color Spirit leave its juvenile stage and advance to Tier One. Only then could he use the Dragon Crystal he had spent so long preparing to help it evolve.

After all, every night once Chen Wei finished cultivating, he devoted a great deal of time to strengthening the Dragon Crystal, rain or shine.

He had high hopes for the intermediate Dragon Crystal made with his talent, and he was eager to see what brilliant sparks might fly between it and the exceptionally gifted Little Color Spirit.

Coming back to himself, Chen Wei crouched down and set Little Color Spirit, whose Source Power had recovered while resting in his arms, on the snow. In high spirits, he said, "You've had enough of a rest, right? Next, let's practice Ice Spikes."

"Yi!" (Piece of cake!)

Ice Spikes was an offensive skill that nearly all Ice-type pet beasts knew. It was a common skill, and Chen Wei wanted to check Color Spirit's proficiency with it.

"Shoo, shoo, shoo." One gleaming blue ice spike after another sprang up around Color Spirit, then shot forward in streaks of blue light. Snow flew across the open ground ahead, leaving it pocked with little holes.

Watching the damage Color Spirit had caused with the Tier One skill Ice Spikes, Chen Wei nodded in satisfaction. "Your Psychic Power and Ice Armor were both very well practiced in this morning's battle, so there's no need to test those. Color Spirit, use Ice Concealment this time."

At Chen Wei's command, a pale blue glow immediately lit up Color Spirit's crystalline body. Its form then gradually blended into the pure-white snowfield, disappearing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Chen Wei walked over and carefully searched the snowfield, but couldn't find Color Spirit anywhere. Ice Concealment truly lived up to its status as a Tier Two skill: it could use snow or ice as cover to hide one's tracks.

If Chen Wei hadn't still been able to faintly sense Color Spirit's presence through their contract, he wouldn't have been able to tell even roughly where it was.

"Come out, Color Spirit." At his voice, Color Spirit's form appeared nearby.

Chen Wei sighed, his expression gradually turning serious. With such an outstanding pet beast, there was no need to train it at all—it could already use its innate skills with ease.

It was a little boastful of him to say so, but this unexpected situation had left Chen Wei at a loss as to what skill he should train Color Spirit in.

By rights, most Tier One pet beasts only mastered Tier One skills at the proficient level. Only a very small number could reach the mastery level, and Color Spirit was still only in its juvenile stage.

Seeing Chen Wei sigh, Little Color Spirit looked at him in displeasure and let out a crisp cry.

"Yi yi?" (▼ヘ▼#) (Didn't I meet your expectations?)

"No, no. You were amazing." Seeing that Color Spirit seemed unhappy, Chen Wei's face softened into a smile. He walked over and lifted it high in his arms.

"Yi ya." (/ω＼) (Of course!)

Suspended in the air, Color Spirit proudly turned its head away, its eyes naturally avoiding Chen Wei's fervent gaze.

"You're already amazing, but you still have to keep it up!" Chen Wei rubbed his cheek against Color Spirit's warm, supple body. Its cotton-soft touch carried a hint of warmth.

"Let's keep practicing Cold Breath. Over the next week, try to master it."

"Yi." (*^▽^*) Color Spirit replied softly.

Standing in the open ground, Color Spirit began exhaling its cold, blue breath again, and several large blocks of solid ice formed across the broad snowfield.

"Your release speed is already very fast. Don't focus on making it faster for now. Color Spirit, try extending the time you spend casting so you can gather your strength and breathe out a more concentrated Cold Breath!"

At Chen Wei's command, Color Spirit began working hard to charge up Cold Breath. A brilliant, icy blue light started to shine in its mouth, and Ice-type Source Energy from the surroundings streamed into it without end.

"Rumble!" Color Spirit unleashed the Cold Breath it had charged for so long, now infused with a massive amount of Ice-type Source Energy. A terrifying blast of icy current erupted across the entire snowy area ahead, scattering countless dazzling shards of ice over the snowfield.

Chen Wei hurriedly raised a hand to shield himself from the shards flying toward him. The recoil from exhaling Cold Breath had dragged Color Spirit across the snow, leaving a clear trail behind it.

When the current died away, Chen Wei's gaze met Color Spirit's through the falling snow. Its body was firmly braced against the snowfield.

"What incredible destructive power!" Chen Wei exclaimed, ready to praise Color Spirit some more.

"Ring, ring, ring..." Chen Wei suddenly felt his pocket vibrate. His phone was ringing.

He praised Color Spirit through their mental link and told it to pause training, then took out his phone. Seeing an unfamiliar number, he answered and immediately asked, "Hello, may I ask who this is?"

"Hello, is this Mr. Chen Wei? I'm the person in charge of the Stuffed Doll Mall Pet Beast Store." A capable woman's voice came from the other end of the line.

"Yes, that's me," Chen Wei replied crisply.

"I received your résumé and think you'd be a good fit. Do you have time to come in for an interview sometime in the next couple of days?"

Chen Wei crouched and lightly touched the curious Color Spirit with his finger. "Would you be able to accept the conditions I proposed?"

"Of course, but I'll need to conduct an in-person assessment. Are you free this afternoon?"

"I am."

"..."

After talking things over on the phone, Chen Wei ended the call and slipped his phone back into his pocket.

Chen Wei had arranged an interview for three o'clock that afternoon. Whether he could ease his recent financial strain would depend on how he performed!