Beast Taming: The Beginning of Hatching an Ancient Dragon - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Initial Analysis of Talent

Li Chang’an nodded noncommittally; he had already awakened twice.

Mu Qingqing’s face showed a trace of sorrow as she pulled Li Chang’an into her arms.

Choking back tears, she said, “I’m sorry, Xiao An. Your father and I have been too busy, leaving you to face this alone.”

Li Chang’an was initially bewildered by his mother’s sudden emotional shift.

But a memory from little Chang’an reminded him of a class about talent awakening.

The class had mentioned that spontaneous talent awakening was not uncommon in the current Donghuang Kingdom.

However, the unbearable pain during the awakening process led most children to choose to end their lives.

Therefore, surviving a spontaneous awakening and maintaining an optimistic disposition was rarer than winning the lottery.

Usually, such individuals awakened with powerful talents, a kind of compensation for their suffering.

He understood Mu Qingqing’s feelings now—a mother’s heartache upon learning that her child had faced life and death without her knowledge.

“I’m sorry.”

Mu Qingqing was sobbing uncontrollably, and Li Chang’an had no choice but to wrap his arms around her waist and pat her back.

The child who most wanted to hear these words was no longer here, and his memories were those of an adult.

Although spontaneous talent awakening was painful, it wasn’t enough to break him. After all, he had experienced death before, so he was somewhat accustomed to it.

Once Mu Qingqing’s emotions stabilized, Li Chang’an asked, “Mom, how did you know I had awakened my talent?”

Mu Qingqing clung tightly to Li Chang’an, unwilling to let go, and after a while, she said, “You used to cut potatoes so slowly, but today you sliced meat so quickly and thinly, even more skillfully than a restaurant chef.”

“What else could it be but your talent?”

Li Chang’an raised an eyebrow. So that’s where he had slipped up. He really shouldn’t underestimate others.

Seeing the subtle details, Li Chang’an’s remaining pride as a reincarnator completely vanished.

Mu Qingqing asked, “Xiao An, what is your talent?”

“Manual dexterity—it improves the agility of my hands.”

Mu Qingqing’s emotions had fully stabilized, and she began to draw on her experience and knowledge as a King-level Beastmaster.

“What do you understand about the operational mechanism of your talent? For example, when you were cutting vegetables, did you feel confident before holding the knife, or did your hands become more agile after holding it for a while?”

Li Chang’an grasped the key point. His mother wanted to know whether his dexterity led to mental clarity or if mental clarity enhanced his dexterity.

The sequence was important. The former was just an ordinary strengthening talent, while the latter involved the mysterious realm of the mind.

Li Chang’an recalled the feeling he had while cooking.

Although he had prior experience from his past life, it was only after he picked up the kitchen knife that he felt a sense of mastery.

It was as if cutting vegetables was completely within his control, and his proficiency increased as he continued.

It was like practicing a skill.

Hmm? Practicing a skill?

Skill proficiency!

Li Chang’an suddenly realized that this seemingly ordinary talent could bring him such a significant surprise.

Seeing the look of surprise in Li Chang’an’s eyes, Mu Qingqing knew her child had grasped the key point.

“It seems you’ve understood what I mean. This is the initial development and expansion of your talent, a required course at Beastmaster University.”

“Even the simplest physical enhancement has thousands of research papers dedicated to understanding it at the university level, let alone a talent like yours that awakened spontaneously.”

Li Chang’an sighed inwardly. He really couldn’t measure the professional expertise that Beastmasters had accumulated over centuries with his past life’s experience of reading novels.

With this in mind, Li Chang’an became even more humble.

He explained to Mu Qingqing the details of his talent, Manual Dexterity.

“Xiao An, your talent is much more powerful than I imagined. It’s not about sequence or causation, but symbiosis.”

“Because your hand holds the knife, it stimulates your mental power, and the presence of mental power allows your hand to hold the knife better. The two reinforce each other, achieving an effect similar to accelerated thinking.”

As Mu Qingqing spoke, her tone grew more excited. She could already imagine the glorious achievements her child would attain in the future.

Li Chang’an listened carefully, memorizing every word. These were the insights of a King-level Beastmaster, invaluable knowledge that couldn’t be bought.

Then Mu Qingqing asked, “I can think of two paths that would suit you well. One is the Harmonizer path, and the other is the Hunter path. Which one do you want to choose?”

Harmonizer? Hunter?

Li Chang’an recalled the descriptions of these two professions.

Harmonizers were professionals who blended supernatural materials. Some focused on potions, others on weapons and ammunition, and some on cooking spiritual food.

It was a profession aimed at harmonizing all things.

Hunters were the most glorious profession of the previous era, equivalent to today’s Beastmasters.

They concentrated immense power within themselves, their skills bordering on the divine.

A significant portion of the Donghuang Kingdom’s territory had been claimed by Hunters.

It could be said that without Hunters, the stable lives of the Donghuang people today would not exist.

Since Mu Qingqing was also a master of cooking spiritual food, Li Chang’an was quite familiar with the Harmonizer path.

As for the famous Hunters, aside from the descriptions in books, he knew nothing else.

“Mom, can you tell me more about the Hunter path?”

Seeing Li Chang’an’s cautious yet expectant expression, Mu Qingqing’s low spirits lifted slightly.

“The Hunter profession has evolved significantly from what it was a hundred years ago, so the things you’re worried about have likely been phased out by Hunters long ago.”

“Modern Hunters are allowed to have beast companions, not just allowed—they’ve developed many techniques for coordinated attacks with their beasts.”

“It can be said that the new generation of Hunters is more open and powerful than you might imagine.”

“What you should worry about isn’t outdated customs, but the Hunter Guild’s assessments.”

Mu Qingqing’s slender willow-leaf eyebrows rose slightly. “The Hunter Guild isn’t as lenient as the Beastmaster Association. Their assessments are very strict.”

“Not only does your beast companion’s strength need to pass, but your own skills must also be proficient.”

Li Chang’an realized that this was essentially the Beastmaster version of a special forces soldier!

A one-man army—special edition for Canglan Star!

If what Mu Qingqing said was true, then joining the Hunter Guild was indeed no simple task.

Li Chang’an said seriously to Mu Qingqing, “Mom, I want both!”

Only children make choices; adults take everything.

Mu Qingqing: …

Of course, real-life decisions aren’t as simple as Li Chang’an saying “I want both.”

Mu Qingqing gave an on-the-spot lesson, teaching Li Chang’an a new low-tier fire-attribute spiritual dish—[Flame Bud Milk Soup].

Although this dish was low-tier, its preparation process wasn’t much simpler than some mid-tier spiritual dishes.

The main purpose was to see just how far Li Chang’an’s talent could go.

Then, within two hours, Mu Qingqing’s expression went through a rapid series of changes—frowning, seriousness, surprise, disbelief, and finally numbness.

Li Chang’an wiped the sweat from his forehead. On the dining table, Mao Mao was lying there, completely stuffed.

Mao Mao: Help me up, I can still eat!

In those two hours, he had made eight servings of Flame Bud Milk Soup. From stumbling at the beginning to becoming proficient later, he even managed to operate two pots simultaneously, producing two high-quality servings at once.

Mu Qingqing truly recognized her son’s extraordinary talent.

This wasn’t just accelerated thinking anymore; it was enlightenment, a state of unity between heaven and man.

The first attempt was still within the realm of accelerated thinking, but by the second attempt, Mu Qingqing saw sparks of enlightenment in a 16-year-old.

By the third and fourth attempts, the harmonious unity with the pots and pans reminded her that this was the state of unity between heaven and man that Harmonizers dreamed of.

It seemed necessary to discuss the child’s future with Old Li.

Mu Qingqing covered her darkened eyes and told Li Chang’an to go rest well, preparing for tomorrow’s exam.