Inherited skills are techniques passed down from one's parents and do not require postnatal learning. Fire Fang is precisely such a signature move that most Fire Fang Dogs inherit.
That said, just because an inherited skill is innate doesn't mean a newborn cub can use it right away. Everything follows a gradual process.
Humans are born knowing how to eat, yet they still have to start with growing teeth and drinking milk.
A skill's proficiency begins at Beginner, with the next stage being Proficient.
Beginner-level skills generally have low power and indicate that they've only just been grasped.
Low-tier skills can usually be used once they reach the Beginner stage, but for higher-tier skills, even reaching Beginner doesn't guarantee they'll work every time. That simply means the user isn't proficient enough yet.
Fire Fang is a mid-tier skill. Logically speaking, with Fire Fang Dog's Fire Fang only at Beginner level (2/100), it shouldn't have been able to use it so easily.
Yet it did.
Qiao Sang guessed that as long as a skill appeared in the Beast Taming Codex, Fire Fang Dog would be able to use it.
Of course, this was all just speculation. She'd have to wait until Fire Fang Dog learned higher-tier skills to confirm it.
Qiao Sang withdrew her consciousness. Although she still wanted to study the points system a bit more, now clearly wasn't the time.
The bear-like brat was still sitting on the ground, stunned. The Desert-tail Fox was covered in wounds, with blood still seeping from its neck.
Qiao Sang took out her phone and dialed 661.
"Hello, is this the Beast Emergency Center? This is the Hangang Beast Taming Center. There's an injured Desert-tail Fox here—please come as soon as possible."
"Someone already called? Oh, then that's fine."
Qiao Sang hung up. She didn't spare another glance at the dazed girl across from her. Picking up Fire Fang Dog, she prepared to head home—only to turn around and find a crowd standing behind her.
Human nature loved watching a spectacle. In just the short time it took for the fight, most of the field had gathered around, with a few even holding up their phones to record.
Qiao Sang's scalp tingled. Hugging Fire Fang Dog, she hurried off, with the Plump Pigeon following closely behind.
"Little sister, I think you've got great potential. Interested in becoming a streamer?" A red-haired youth came up beside her.
"Thanks, no," Qiao Sang said, sidestepping him.
"Can I have a pet beast battle with you?" A cap-wearing boy chased after her.
"No," Qiao Sang refused.
"Which school are you from, dear?" an auntie asked with concern.
Qiao Sang: "..."
…
…
When Qiao Sang got home, her mother wasn't there, but a bag of Red Fu Fruit—a favorite food specially meant for fire-type pet beasts—sat on the dining table.
This kind of fruit, which could enhance the physique of fire-type extraordinary creatures, cost 700 Alliance Credits apiece. Eating it occasionally was fine, but having it every day would really be too expensive.
Qiao Sang stared at the Red Fu Fruit for a while, lost in thought.
She picked one up and handed it to Fire Fang Dog, smiling. "Go on, eat."
Fire Fang Dog sniffed it. At the pet beast base, it had only eaten uniformly distributed compressed cubes and had never tasted this before.
It smelled nice and even looked similar to something that grew on a tree near where it used to live—just a different color. Unfortunately, it had never gotten to eat that thing back then.
Fire Fang Dog hesitated no longer and swallowed the Red Fu Fruit in one bite.
"Ya!"
Its eyes widened in delight.
This food was really delicious!
After watching it finish, Qiao Sang's consciousness entered the Beast Taming Codex.
[Name: Fire Fang Dog]
[Attribute: Fire]
[Level: Beginner (63/1000)+]
[Skills: Bite (Beginner 73/100)+, Tackle (Proficient 135/500)+, Fire Fang (Beginner 2/100)+]
[Points: 50]
Nothing had changed.
Qiao Sang frowned. That didn't make sense. After today's battle, all the values had changed, proving that everything Fire Fang Dog experienced counted as progress.
A fruit like the Red Fu Fruit, which enhanced the physique of fire-type extraordinary creatures, shouldn't have had no effect at all.
Could it be that digestion took time?
"Ya!"
Fire Fang Dog stretched out a paw and tugged at Qiao Sang's hand.
Qiao Sang smiled, took out another Red Fu Fruit, and fed it to the dog. Fire Fang Dog immediately swallowed it.
Once it finished, Qiao Sang connected her consciousness to the Beast Taming Codex again.
[Name: Fire Fang Dog]
[Attribute: Fire]
[Level: Beginner (64/1000)+]
[Skills: Bite (Beginner 73/100)+, Tackle (Proficient 135/500)+, Fire Fang (Beginner 2/100)+]
[Points: 50]
It changed!
The level had gone from Beginner (63/1000)+ to Beginner (64/1000)+!
Even though it was just one point, it proved her guess was correct!
However…
Qiao Sang hesitated as she looked at the four remaining Red Fu Fruits on the table. She picked up another and handed it to Fire Fang Dog again.
Fire Fang Dog hugged the Red Fu Fruit with its front paws and started gnawing on it.
After eating two already, it couldn't swallow the third in one go and had to take bite after bite.
When it was done, it patted its belly contentedly.
Qiao Sang connected to the Beast Taming Codex again and fell into thought.
The values hadn't changed.
Did that mean it took two Red Fu Fruits to increase one point?
Qiao Sang picked up another Red Fu Fruit and handed it over.
"Ya."
Fire Fang Dog patted its belly, indicating it was full.
"Be good, just one more," Qiao Sang said, patting its head.
Fire Fang Dog looked at her, wagged its red tail, then lowered its head and ate.
In the Beast Taming Codex, Qiao Sang saw that Fire Fang Dog's level had become Beginner (65/1000)+.
Her guess was right—two Red Fu Fruits increased one point.
Qiao Sang's gaze fell to the points at the very bottom. With a thought, she added all of them to the Beginner (65/1000)+ entry.
[Name: Fire Fang Dog]
[Attribute: Fire]
[Level: Beginner (115/1000)+]
[Skills: Bite (Beginner 73/100)+, Tackle (Proficient 135/500)+, Fire Fang (Beginner 2/100)+]
[Points: 0]
The numbers really went up…
Qiao Sang's breathing grew rapid.
One Red Fu Fruit cost 700 Alliance Credits. Two cost 1,400.
Spending 1,400 credits for just one point meant that the remaining 885 points would require 1,770 Red Fu Fruits.
That came to—
1,239,000 Alliance Credits…
Good heavens! That was enough to buy a psychic-type pet beast!
Qiao Sang nearly cried out in excitement.
These points could directly increase strength—didn't that mean she'd saved that much money?! And no matter whether Fire Fang Dog fought or consumed items that enhanced strength, it would increase the corresponding values!
On top of the bonus from points, she could easily raise Fire Fang Dog to an intermediate pet beast in three or even four times less time than others!
If this wasn't a cheat, what was?!
A few seconds later, Qiao Sang took out her phone and searched up every topic related to the Beast Taming Codex. Sure enough, not a single case like hers showed up.
As for self-awakeners, they were only said to have brain development 3% to 6% higher than post-awakeners, allowing them to achieve a second awakening of the Beast Taming Codex faster and giving them a better chance to reach higher realms. Other than that, there was nothing particularly special.
Qiao Sang calmed herself down.
She'd already had her suspicions beforehand. Now she'd merely confirmed that her thinking was correct. Besides, she'd already transmigrated—having a cheat wasn't that unusual.
Right.
Nothing special at all…
Fire Fang Dog looked up at Qiao Sang, its eyes filled with confusion.
Why was its beast tamer grinning foolishly at thin air?