Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

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"Although this wick might help sustain a person for a short while, once the energy inside is depleted or the wick is removed, the person will immediately die."

"However, the wick can't be removed recklessly. Once it's taken out, it essentially dooms the Ghost Lamp's evolution. The damage caused by removing the wick is permanent."

Qiao Sang paused for a moment.

"Didn't you say earlier that without the wick, the Ghost Lamp is like a person without a heart and would die immediately? And you also said the human body couldn't handle it."

Liu Yao: ...

"It would die, and the body can't handle it, but it's just a matter of time." Liu Yao hastily tried to save face.

Qiao Sang didn’t doubt him and continued asking, "So, how long can the wick stay in a human body?"

"Probably around three days."

Three days…Something didn't add up.

Based on the time the Ghost Lamp had been missing, it had been more than half a month…

"What if the wick stayed in a human body for about half a month?" Qiao Sang asked after thinking for a moment.

Liu Yao hesitated for a second before answering, "That’s impossible. After three days, without replenishing the energy, the wick's power would be depleted, and the person would die instantly."

"Also, without the wick, the Ghost Lamp wouldn't be able to sustain itself for long without a source of energy."

Qiao Sang couldn't deny that having someone knowledgeable nearby was a blessing. This phone call gave her a direct clue about the Ghost Lamp's whereabouts.

After hanging up, Qiao Sang ordered takeout.

Since the wick’s energy depletes and can’t stay long in a human body, to ensure the old lady’s safety, the Ghost Lamp must return every few days to recharge the wick.

Without the wick, the Ghost Lamp would not only need to gather enough energy to replenish it but also maintain its own movement.

It must be hiding in some ghost-type beast's favorite energy gathering spot.

The Ghost Lamp thrives on vital energy, and naturally, it's drawn to places filled with young people, where hormones are high.

Bars, schools, clubs, or places hosting competitions were likely spots.

Searching all of Hanggang City would be too troublesome. Since the Ghost Lamp would return every few days to recharge the wick, it probably came back late at night when everyone was asleep.

If her guess was right, then all she had to do was wait.

If not, well, the wick's energy would run out in three days, and the school team wouldn't gather for another five days.

That left her with a two day window to come up with another plan.

With that in mind, Qiao Sang looked up and smiled.

"Yabao, do you want to rest?"

"Yap."

Yabao obediently shook his head.

Rest? No! He had boundless energy!

"No, you want to rest." Qiao Sang said, smiling at Yabao.

"Yap..."

Yabao stared back blankly. He didn’t want to...

A minute later.

Xiying Residential Complex.

In the shadows by the entrance of Building 5.

A magnificent red-and-white pet beast lay on the ground, with a slender girl resting on its back.

Qiao Sang lay on Yabao, holding her phone and waiting for her takeout.

Yabao didn’t want to rest, but she sure did.

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9 PM.

Hanggang City.

Under the Tianqiao Bridge by the Linhu Reservoir.

Many people approached from all directions but never came out.

A closer look revealed a hidden door under the bridge.

The door automatically opened, revealing a bustling, lively interior, completely different from the quiet world outside.

This was an underground black market beast battle arena.

The air was thick with the smell of sweat, tobacco, and testosterone.

"Poisonous Scorpion!"

"Ghost Lamp!"

"Ghost Lamp!"

The crowd roared the names of two beasts, with most of the cheers for the Ghost Lamp.

In the middle of the arena.

A purple Poisonous Scorpion lay motionless on the ground.

The referee approached it and began the countdown.

"1."

"2..."

Just then, the Poisonous Scorpion, without moving its head, flicked its long tail, releasing a barrage of venomous needles. The silver tips gleamed ominously.

The audience supporting the Ghost Lamp turned pale, no one had expected a sneak attack at this stage!

The venomous needles moved too fast for the Ghost Lamp to dodge, and several pierced its body.

"Ghost Lamp! Finish it off!" A scarred man in the command area roared.

The Ghost Lamp's vision blurred, and the voices around it felt distant.

It gasped for breath, trying to activate its wick, only to realize it no longer had one.

"Ghost Lamp, what are you waiting for? Finish it!" The scarred man shouted again.

"Lamp..."

The Ghost Lamp, enduring the intense pain, slowly raised its claw, gathering a Shadow Ball, and hurled it toward the blurry figure on the ground.

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"What was up with you at the end, so slow to react?" The scarred man complained backstage after the match.

The Ghost Lamp stared at him expressionlessly.

The man shivered, changing his tone.

"At least we won in the end, or all our effort would've been for nothing."

The Ghost Lamp remained silent.

"Here’s your reward." The man, used to the Ghost Lamp's cold demeanor, tossed a box towards it.

The box hit the ground in front of the Ghost Lamp .

The man jumped in surprise.

"Hey, I didn’t mean it! You didn’t catch it!"

The Ghost Lamp's ears buzzed. It couldn't hear what the man was saying, only knowing it couldn’t collapse right now.

"We’ve been working together for days. Without me, you wouldn’t even be in the arena." The man grumbled as he picked up the box and handed it to the Ghost Lamp.

The Ghost Lamp's vision cleared for a brief moment as it focused on the box.

It sighed in relief, the fight hadn’t been for nothing.

It tried to reach for the box but realized it had no strength left.

"Lamp."

The Ghost Lamp coldly called out.

The man hesitated, then turned to the Longtail Snake beside him.

"What did it say?"

"Tail-tail."

Longtail Snake translated.

The man grimaced, opened the box, and shoved its contents into the Ghost Lamp's mouth.

"You really are a pain." He muttered as he fed it.

After swallowing the item, the Ghost Lamp finally regained some strength, its senses beginning to return.

It carefully wrapped its remaining energy around the object inside its body, preventing it from merging with its essence.

"Are you coming tomorrow?" The man asked.

The Ghost Lamp nodded.

Seeing that it acknowledged him, the man grinned.

"You know, we've known each other for a while now, but you’ve never told me where you’re from. Wild beasts like you are in real danger here. If it weren’t for me, you’d have been caught ages ago."

"I think we get along pretty well. Why not wait until I get the next page of my Beast Master Codex and form a contract with me?"

The Ghost Lamp ignored him and floated toward the door.

It wasn’t a wild beast, it had a Beastmaster.

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