Chapter 13: Lian Xing’s Stockings
Advanced Theory Course. Less than three minutes after the exam began, Lian Xing handed in a blank paper and left the classroom with a swagger. Watching the golden-haired girl’s elegant retreating figure and pristine white stockings, the lecturer adjusted her glasses with a deadpan expression. Did you even come here to take the test?
…
…
Leaving the classroom, Lian Xing walked towards the trading area, deep in thought. Because her predecessor had been so lazy, she couldn’t extract any useful information from her memories and didn’t know if the area Youlan Academy was located in was considered a beginner’s zone.
However, if the system was identical to Pet Beast Evolution Battle, then the concepts of Shining and Fallen Species couldn’t be nonexistent. It was just that the newbies here were likely unaware of them.
A few minutes later, Lian Xing arrived at the academy’s combat skill card vending area. To gain training experience quickly, she had to defeat enemies stronger than herself. Constantly beating weaker opponents wouldn’t lead to much improvement.
So, it was time to choose a combat skill for the Moonlight Rabbit…
The combat skill card store, usually bustling with students, was now deserted. After all, today was the final exam day, and most students were busy trying to earn those precious credits. Only the 36 Supernovas could wander around freely.
Incidentally, the two-month holiday would begin tomorrow.
And the highly anticipated Academy League would commence in a month.
A super league gathering hundreds of academies, broadcast live, with only the 50 teams that emerged from the qualifiers able to participate in the on-site battles.
Of course, Lian Xing wouldn’t be participating. She couldn’t even make it to the reserve team.
Quickly, Lian Xing arrived at the White Quality combat skill section for Biological Species. A dazzling array of…holy white legends.
She currently had only 13 credits, so Blue Quality combat skills were out of the question.
[Regeneration (White): Based on the pet beast’s Spirit attribute, slowly increases health regeneration, cannot regenerate severed limbs, 8 credits]
[Weightlifting (White): Increases the pet beast’s Strength attribute by 3 points, 8 credits]
[War Cry (White): Intimidates nearby targets with lower Spirit attribute than self, 12 credits]
[Swordsmanship (White): Based on the pet beast’s Speed attribute, slightly increases the power when using sword-type Weapon Species, 14 credits]
[Heavy Blow (White): Based on the pet beast’s Strength attribute, slightly increases the power when using hammer-type Weapon Species, 14 credits]
[…]
[…]
[Sweep Kick (White): Based on the pet beast’s Strength and Speed attributes, performs a sweep kick, with a chance to knock down the target, 30 credits]
[Training Bonus (White): Pet beast gains training points faster, 80 credits]
After looking around the counter, Lian Xing had a general idea. However, the prices of the last two combat skills were outrageous.
Sweep Kick, a valuable control skill, also benefited from two attributes, and its price was close to that of a Blue Quality combat skill.
Training Bonus was even more expensive than most Blue Quality combat skills, rivaling some unpopular Purple Quality ones. In the game, it was like a ridiculously expensive experience boosting set that remained useful even in the late game.
However…
Lian Xing was disdainful. After all, the higher the level, the harder it was to gain training points, mainly through fighting higher-level opponents. Fighting above one’s level wasn’t easy to achieve. Wasting a skill slot on this combat skill would only make it useful for bullying weaker opponents.
Weaklings who leveled up by constantly bullying weaker opponents were just…fodder for the protagonist in novels…
Lian Xing didn’t want to be one of those brainless, busty female side characters.
So, Training Bonus? No thanks.
“I’ll just choose one as a placeholder for now and replace it after evolving to High-Tier~~~”
“Weightlifting, War Cry, Regeneration…they’re all decent…”
“It’s just that the White Quality combat skill boost is too small, not satisfying enough. It seems I’ll have to go outside the city later…” Looking at her meager 13 credits, Lian Xing sighed helplessly, her excitement for buying a new combat skill gone.
At this stage, besides…certain activities, there weren’t many good ways to earn money. Hunting wild pet beasts outside the city required joining a group. Students were forbidden from leaving the city alone without special permission.
After a few minutes of deliberation, Lian Xing finally chose the White Quality combat skill, Weightlifting.
An extra 3 points in Strength. Better than nothing, and it would help the Moonlight Rabbit’s throwing power and speed with the Golden Wheels.
More importantly, as her core main battle pet beast, the Moonlight Rabbit couldn’t focus solely on agility in the long run. It needed to allocate some points to Strength and Speed. All-around development was the key.
“…”
“…”
“Hey, Lian Xing, are you here to buy a new combat skill?” Just as Lian Xing walked to the counter, listlessly, a familiar voice called out from the entrance.
Turning her head, she saw a beautiful woman with peach-colored curly hair and black stockings. It was Tao Wan, the seventh-ranked Supernova.
Tao Wan was Lian Xing’s classmate in the Mechanical Species advanced course. Although they hadn’t attended classes together for a long time, they occasionally played virtual battles online.
Tao Wan’s face was youthful, but her heart-shaped pupils held a charm that didn’t match her age. And her curvaceous figure…provided Lian Xing with ample material for…daydreaming during boring classes.
“Mm…” Lian Xing nodded listlessly.
Seeing Lian Xing’s lifeless attitude, Tao Wan followed her gaze down to the White Quality combat skill card in her hand.
A Biological Species White Quality combat skill, Weightlifting…?
Seeing this, Tao Wan immediately understood the reason for her dejection.
“You’re one of the Supernovas, yet you’re this broke? Well, everyone struggles when they first start raising their second pet beast. Just grit your teeth and get through it. Don’t resort to any…unconventional methods…” Tao Wan said gently, offering kind advice.
However, Lian Xing rolled her eyes.
“Heh, unless someone gives me a shiny card for free, I’ll never stoop to that ~~”
“You’re actually considering it!?”
“Wait, shiny card? What’s that…?”
“Uh, a shiny card is just…above Black…never mind, I misspoke. Forget what I said~~~” Lian Xing stopped mid-sentence, realizing her mistake.
Perhaps this place had never even seen a Black Quality combat skill, let alone a Shining level one.
Tao Wan nodded, not thinking too much about it. The “shiny card” Lian Xing mentioned must be a Gold Quality combat skill, right? After all, Gold Quality combat skill cards had gorgeous designs, sparkling like her hair and eyes. Calling them “shiny cards” wasn’t wrong…
But…could she really…acquire Lian Xing with just one Gold Quality combat skill?
Tao Wan subtly glanced at Lian Xing’s slender legs in white silk stockings, then quickly shook her head, dismissing the thought. She didn’t dare dwell on it any longer. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she took out a dozen Blue Quality cards from her backpack and placed them on the counter, preparing to trade with the clerk.
Meanwhile, Lian Xing’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
“Tao Wan, what’s going on? Did you rob the academy’s inventory!?”
“…”
“Of course not. This is the result of our team hunting all night in the wilderness. It’s not all mine. I have to hurry back after the trade.”
“And let me be clear, I’m not giving you anything for free!!”
Despite saying that, Tao Wan, out of their friendship, showed Lian Xing her inventory.
Lian Xing ignored the other categories and went straight to the Biological Species combat skills.
[Rapid Regeneration (Blue): Based on the pet beast’s Spirit attribute, rapidly increases health regeneration, cannot regenerate severed limbs]
[Stun (Blue): Based on the pet beast’s Strength attribute, attacks have a chance to stun]
[Roar (Blue): Based on the pet beast’s Spirit attribute, releases a shockwave through a roar, dealing damage to all hostile targets within 100 meters based on the difference in Spirit attributes]
[Sand Toss (Blue): Based on the pet beast’s Agility and Strength attributes, moderately increases the power of thrown Weapon Species; doubles the bonus when throwing items or other objects]
The moment she saw Sand Toss, Lian Xing’s heart almost stopped.
A perfect match for the Giant Moonlight Rabbit!!!
With this combat skill, even without the Golden Wheels, as long as she increased the Moonlight Rabbit’s Agility and Strength attributes, it could deal terrifying damage on its own.
Even after evolving to High-Tier, this combat skill would still be very powerful.
“I plan to auction Stun and Roar. As for Rapid Regeneration and Sand Toss, I can sell them to you at market price.”
“But, you probably don’t have the money…” Tao Wan asked tentatively, watching the stars in Lian Xing’s eyes twinkle. Having spent some time with Lian Xing, she knew very well how…persuasive she could be.
However, it turned out she had still overestimated Lian Xing’s bottom line.
In the next second, under the incredulous gazes of Tao Wan and the clerk, Lian Xing bent down and slowly rolled down one of her pristine white stockings, revealing her creamy, smooth, and fair leg. Then, with a look of indignant resignation, she handed the fragrant stocking to Tao Wan.
“Hold this as collateral for ten days. Within ten days, I’ll compensate you with two Blue Quality combat skills of the same value…”
“…”
“…”
After finishing her statement, as if she were the one suffering a great loss, Lian Xing, without waiting for Tao Wan’s reply, grabbed Sand Toss and quickly left the store. As for the White Quality combat skill Weightlifting she had chosen earlier, she casually left it on the counter.
White Quality combat skill? No thanks!
Standing at the counter, holding the soft, stocking in her hands, Tao Wan stared blankly as the golden-haired girl’s figure disappeared.
After several minutes of stunned silence, she finally managed to utter the word: “Bandit…”
As Tao Wan’s slightly aggrieved voice faded, she carefully and preciously stored the stocking in her backpack, attracting an even more bewildered and shocked look from the clerk.
What the…you actually accepted it!?
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