Beast Taming: Starting From Zero-Chapter 698: Zero Lingling

What did he see? Qiao Sang looked up and froze on the spot.

She stared blankly at the sky, eyes wide with astonishment at the special effects-like scene unfolding.

Flames filled the sky as if someone had pressed the pause button, frozen midair like a vivid, dazzling painting.

At the same time, the surrounding temperature plummeted.

Frost descended, and currents of bitter cold surged upward from below, like a frigid force from the arctic. Wherever it passed, the fiery rain turned white with frost, encased in ice.

Then, the frozen flames shattered into fragments and scattered downward as glowing particles, eerily beautiful.

Everyone who had been fleeing stopped in their tracks, looking up in stunned silence.

This… Their minds went blank.

Including Qiao Sang.

The Meteor Rain, an ultimate-level move from a general-level pet, was just neutralized like that?

Ama… amazing…

Just then, a deep elderly voice echoed through the area, amplified like through a speaker:

“Beast Taming Department, assessment concluded.”

At the same time, virtual panels appeared in front of all the freshmen in the Beast Taming Department: [End Countdown: 0:00:00]

Qiao Sang suddenly snapped out of it and looked toward the source of the voice.

She saw an elderly man with half-white hair and a deeply wrinkled face, but a surprisingly healthy complexion.

Floating beside him was a beast about 80cm tall, entirely encased in icy blocks, glowing faintly blue, with white markings on its head and a lower body shaped like an icy pillar.

Gilbert Heron, Headmaster of the Beast Taming Academy… Qiao Sang instantly recognized the man as the legendary figure who had lived to 483 years old.

“Yap!”

In the sky, Yabao glared fiercely at the pet with the icy pillar legs, baring his teeth and growling furiously.

The sound immediately drew Qiao Sang’s attention. She looked up, startled to see Yabao about to attack, and shouted: “Yabao!”

Yabao froze when he heard the familiar voice, then looked down to see his Beast Master.

His eyes lit up, and in the next second, he vanished from the sky.

“Yap Yap!”

Yabao reappeared beside Qiao Sang, lowered his head, and rubbed hard against her affectionately.

“Yap…”

As he rubbed, he suddenly paused, then stepped back with a wronged look.

That had scared him so much just now…

You scared me more… Qiao Sang comforted it, “I’m fine.”

---

On the ground, Gilbert glanced toward the rooftop where the black-haired girl stood, then looked away and turned to leave.

“Lingling.” The pet with icy pillar legs quickly followed him.

Only then did everyone seem to wake up and begin buzzing with excitement.

“I seriously thought I was a goner just now!”

“OMG, Headmaster Gilbert Heron is so cool!”

“That must be Zero Lingling, right?”

“It’s my first time seeing an emperor-level pet up close!”

“Honestly, when their size shrinks, even emperor-level pets don’t seem so terrifying.”

“Yeah…” The speaker unconsciously looked at the red, elegant-furred pet on the rooftop.

Fire Qilu had returned to its original form, no longer exuding the terrifying pressure from earlier.

Most people’s gazes shifted toward the silhouette on the rooftop, but no one mentioned anything about wanting to teach her a lesson anymore, pretending as if nothing had happened.

---

Qiao Sang recalled Gangbao and Lubao back into the Beast master Codex.

Now she clearly knew Gangbao's next evolution stage and method, just needed the energy.

She could allocate points directly for Gangbao to evolve, but her Iron Defense hadn’t yet reached the ultimate level, so there was no rush.

Lubao had earned quite a few points through her Ice Flower Seal and earlier attacks, saving several months of work.

This assessment had been immensely rewarding.

Qiao Sang, holding Yabao, returned to Beast Taming Class One.

Many students were already seated inside.

She casually found an empty seat and sat down.

The girl beside her stiffened, then silently got up and moved to another seat.

Seriously? Isn’t the assessment over already… Qiao Sang glanced at her leaving back.

“No way, I’m actually in the same class as her…”

“That Fire Qilu looks so obedient now…”

“She looked at me just now, does she know I’m the one who had Sand King?”

Which one was Sand King again… Qiao Sang perked up her ears, listening to their conversation without changing expression.

At that moment, a woman who looked to be in her 40's, with a round, fair face, appeared out of thin air at the podium.

“Quiet.” Her gaze swept across the students calmly.

No one was surprised at the sudden appearance of a teacher. Everyone obediently fell silent.

“I’m Claudia, and I’ll be your homeroom teacher for Class One of the Beast Taming Department.”

She continued, her calm gaze suddenly sharpening: “During this assessment, we instructors watched your performance through surveillance. I’m not pleased.”

Upon hearing this, all students instinctively looked toward the black-haired girl in the back row.

It was reflexive, after all, she was the one responsible for everyone scoring poorly.

“Yap!”

Yabao sensed the stares and immediately remembered the earlier group attack. He bared his teeth again with a fierce expression.

Everyone shuddered as they recalled Fire Qilu’s earlier power and quickly looked away.

Qiao Sang quickly stroked Yabao’s fur.

“Yap…”

Yabao gradually calmed down, showing a pleased expression.

Claudia’s gaze rested on Qiao Sang, eyes showing a hint of admiration. She then said: “But one student’s performance far exceeded my expectations, and that is Qiao Sang.”

Getting praised on the first day of school, feels like it’s been forever since that happened… Qiao Sang quietly straightened her back.

The others immediately started whispering again: “So her name is Qiao Sang.”

“Why does that name sound familiar?”

Then someone suddenly exclaimed, “She’s the one who moved into the Special Zone on the first day!”

Qiao Sang: ???