Chapter 30: Click, Click, Click

Currently, human research has revealed that skills are a collective term for the extraordinary phenomena triggered by extraordinary creatures using hidden energy in unique ways. Even among different species of extraordinary beings, the methods for invoking similar phenomena using hidden energy remain consistent. This is the essence of skills.

For extraordinary beings, the talent core is the most vital skill, representing their mastery over their inhEllent energy attributes. Typically, the evolution of a talent core skill directly propels the evolution of the extraordinary creature itself, allowing it to break through its racial limits and ascend to higher forms of life.

In addition to talent core skills, extraordinary beings possess innate skills and can also awaken acquired skills independently. Research has shown that the potential of these self-awakening skills can be influenced and guided by external forces, leading to the emergence of teaching skills.

Every skill requires a distinct teaching approach tailored to each type of extraordinary species, making every undisclosed method of stable skill teaching a treasure trove of knowledge. Some beast masters who master multiple skill teaching methods establish specialized training institutions, akin to gyms, which are extremely popular among beast-related facilities.

Among the teaching opportunities offered by the school, the dark skills include the B-level skill Moon Blast and the C-level skill Shadow Step. Both are highly practical skills with broad teaching scopes, with Moon Blast being an advanced skill derived from the C-level skill Shadow Ball.

Since White Fang has already mastered Shadow Ball, there’s a significant chance that it could learn the powerful B-level skill during its small cloud dog stage through the skill training. However, learning a higher-level skill before mastering the lower-level one is quite challenging; it requires comprehensive understanding and mastery of the skill itself, as well as the creature’s constitution and energy attributes to be sufficient for releasing the skill.

As for the B-level skill book Moonlight drawn from the pool, it remains in a state that cannot be taught, indicating the difficulty involved. The only requirement for the extraordinary beings eligible for skill training is to possess a dark attribute, which both of Mu Huiyue’s pets perfectly fit. Thus, upon seeing the resource list, she immediately applied to the school for teaching opportunities for these two skills.

The day after the written exam concluded, Mu Huiyue received a reply from the school. The school committee issued a recommendation letter, instructing her to take it to a place called Yuanluo Study.

The study’s owner, Mr. Luo, is a master-level beast master and an accredited skill instructor, where she could find the teaching methods for both Moon Blast and Shadow Step. The recommendation letter was accompanied by…

The address was located on the outskirts of Changning City, not far from East Bay Park, where the mystical realm had descended.

Mu Huiyue had heard of Yuanluo Study before. Despite its name suggesting a simple study, it was essentially a specialized skill training institution.

The owner, Mr. Luo, was bonded to a unique mind-type beast called Yuanluo Book Page, making Yuanluo Study one of the few places in Changning City capable of teaching B-level skills. Skills of B-level and above corresponded to the combat strength of monarch species, and opportunities for teaching them were rare and sought after. Typically, the teaching fees at such skill training institutions were exorbitant, and it was even rarer to find beasts that matched the necessary teaching conditions.

While researching skills, Mu Huiyue had previously searched online for appointments at this study, but unfortunately, she could never secure a spot.

It seemed the study’s owner had a connection to the school, which is why she was granted a direct meeting through the recommendation letter.

After receiving the recommendation letter from the school, Mu Huiyue prepared a small gift for her meeting and brought along her two pets as well.

The driver dropped her off in the suburban area, and she quickly found the street where the study was located.

However, the street was eerily empty, with not a single pedestrian in sight. The door to Yuanluo Study was tightly shut, contrasting sharply with the bustling scene she had encountered months ago when she had attempted to make an appointment.

Today was not a weekday, so there should have been plenty of beast masters willing to come by for skill training.

What could have happened?

Saying goodbye to the driver, Mu Huiyue approached the study and knocked gently on the closed door.

To her surprise, the door wasn’t locked. Hearing some rustling sounds from inside, she stood patiently at the entrance, waiting for a response.

Before long, the door opened to reveal a young woman in her twenties. She wore loose, casual clothing adorned with a cartoonish book character with little hands. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, and despite wearing glasses, dark circles under her eyes were evident, indicating her exhaustion.

Unlike the typical fatigue of overworked individuals like Xiang Xun, this woman seemed to be suffering from emotional distress. Even as a stranger, Mu Huiyue could sense her melancholy.

“Are you here for skill training? I should have canceled all the appointments…” she sighed softly, glanced at Mu Huiyue, and then allowed her to enter the study.

After settling her only guest in, she turned to pour a glass of warm water for her.

Mu Huiyue took the opportunity to present her recommendation letter along with…

Mu Huiyue handed over her gift, saying, “I’m a student from Changning First Beast Master High School, and here’s a recommendation letter from the school. I’d like to meet Mr. Luo.”

The bespectacled woman accepted the gift and placed it aside before unfolding the recommendation letter and reading it slowly.

She sighed again, a sound tinged with weariness.

“My grandmother was an old friend of your principal. If possible, I would like to fulfill this wish for her, but right now…”

She glanced around the study, where only a single light flickered dimly, casting shadows on the walls that accentuated the place’s desolation.

“As you can see, Yuanluo Study can no longer continue its operations. I can’t teach your pets any skills here, and I’m powerless to change that.”

Mu Huiyue was taken aback. “…Can I ask what happened?”

The woman, whose hair was styled in a messy bun, studied her for a moment. Given that she was the only visitor in days and was here with a recommendation from her grandmother, perhaps Mu Huiyue had the right to know what had transpired at Yuanluo Study.

“Have I not introduced myself yet? My name is Luo Yin, and I’m currently in charge of the study. My grandmother… the original owner, passed away six months ago.”

Luo Yin’s gaze fell to the ground as she continued, “She left this study and her contracted beast to me, but I…”

As if recalling something deeply saddening, Luo Yin closed her eyes briefly, tears shimmering at the corners. “I can’t keep this place running, nor can I earn the approval of Little Book…”

“Is Little Book Mr. Luo’s contracted Yuanluo Book Page?” Mu Huiyue observed the fleeting shadows around her and inquired thoughtfully.

Luo Yin hesitated before responding, “Yes, the operation of this study relied heavily on my beast-taming talent and Little Book’s core skills.”

“Though my grandmother had intended for Little Book to be passed down to me… it seems it still refuses, because I just… I don’t measure up as a beast master compared to her.”

The bond between a beast master and their pet is a lifelong commitment; it can only be broken under dire circumstances, such as death.

Most extraordinary beings live longer than humans, and through the reciprocal nourishment from their contracts and beast space, humans who awaken as beast masters can also enjoy extended lifespans. Generally, it’s rare for a beast master and their pet to face separation due to age.

However, there are a few exceptional cases, like the Yuanluo Book Page, which has a lifespan that far exceeds typical biological limits. Even with the benefits of their contract, beast masters often pass away before their extraordinary companions.

In such cases, most beast masters would find a suitable path for their pets to ensure they wouldn’t be left behind once their time came, reluctant to see their beloved companions suffer the pain of separation.

the afterlife together.

It’s not uncommon for someone like Mr. Luo to entrust their legacy to family members or successors.

Since the dissolution of a contract typically occurs when one party dies and the other is not coerced, the backlash following the breakup is often milder. For extraordinary beings with physical capabilities far beyond those of humans, recovery comes quickly.

Afterward, they can either contract with a new beast master or revert to a wild state.

Once again, the shadows around Mu Huiyue flickered. She tilted her head slightly, as if listening intently, and then turned her gaze to the despondent Luo Yin.

“Why do you think Little Book doesn’t want to inherit the contract?” she asked gently.

“Because… for the past few months, Little Book has been avoiding me,” Luo Yin replied, her voice heavy with emotion.

She looked at Mu Huiyue, adding, “I’ve lived with Little Book since I was young, and it has never avoided me like this. Even at my grandmother’s funeral, it stayed by my side. It was only when I proposed the contract that it ran away…”

A bitter smile crossed her face. “I graduated in nurturing, and I can’t become a master beast master like my grandmother. Little Book must be disappointed…”

“If I can’t contract with Little Book, there’s no point in keeping this study open. For months, I’ve tried every possible way to prove myself to it, but I’ve received no response.”

Luo Yin lowered her head, her gaze misty. “…If this is Little Book’s decision, I won’t harbor any resentment. I just hope I can see it one more time. Little Book is my last remaining family in this world.”

After she spoke, she hastily wiped her red-rimmed eyes with her sleeve, trying to regain her composure.

Showing such weakness in front of a stranger could further convince Little Book that she wasn’t worthy.

“Can I meet Little Book?” Mu Huiyue asked after a moment of contemplation.

“Sure, but I have no idea where it is right now,” Luo Yin replied, momentarily taken aback. Suddenly, she remembered that the girl before her was here to learn the skills of Moon Explosion and Shadow Step.

Her eyes lit up. “Do you have contracts with dark and undead beasts, Mu, Mu Huiyue?”

That was the name on the recommendation letter. If she possessed a dark beast sensitive to emotions and an undead beast capable of perceiving the realm of the deceased, there might indeed be a chance to locate Little Book.

Mu Huiyue nodded, her shadow rippling, and soon a small, pristine white skull emerged from it.

Ellen stood up gracefully from the shadow, performing a polite greeting towards Luo Yin.

“This is Ellen, my contracted beast. In fact, ever since it started following me from the shadows…”

as I entered this study, it has been reminding me about Little Book’s situation.

Mu Huiyue smiled as she introduced the little skull, continuing, “I don’t believe Little Book is disappointed or avoiding you because it doesn’t want to contract with you. After all, you truly consider it family, right?

“Even Luo Yin’s grandmother didn’t hold any grievances about your nurturing degree and chose to leave this study to you. How could Little Book possibly feel disappointed?”

“I…” Luo Yin paused, momentarily taken aback, and then lowered her head.

At first, she was reluctant to believe that Little Book would treat her this way. Yet, she couldn’t find any other reason for its avoidance.

She could feel Little Book still lingering in the study, but it remained cloaked in its invisibility skill.

Little Book didn’t want to meet her, let alone form a contract.

“Little Book has its reasons for not showing itself, so I’d like to meet it alone,” Mu Huiyue suggested. “Perhaps Ellen can uncover the true reason behind its avoidance.”

“Please, Mu, I’m counting on you,” Luo Yin said, urgency evident in her voice as she grasped Mu Huiyue’s hand, as if holding onto a final lifeline.

She had considered asking someone with dark and undead beasts to find Little Book, but if Little Book didn’t want to see her, it wouldn’t matter even if it was found. Having Mu Huiyue search for the reason on her behalf was the best option.

“It’s fine if it doesn’t want to contract with me, as long as I can see it again… just to be able to…”

“I understand,” Mu Huiyue nodded, calming the somewhat frantic Luo Yin and assuring her to stay here while she awaited further news.

She glanced up at the second floor of the study, then stood and walked in that direction. The little skull seamlessly melted back into the beast master’s shadow, following her upstairs.