Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Reputation Skyrockets
The brief headache passed, and Jiang Zuo quickly composed himself.
’Might as well accept it.’
It had already happened, so there was no point in overthinking it.
But Jiang Zuo’s composure didn’t last long.
[Beast Taming Reputation +1]
[Beast Taming Reputation +1]
[Beast Taming Reputation +1]
...
Before his very eyes, lines of text announcing he had gained Beast Taming Reputation kept popping up.
In just a few moments, his Beast Taming Reputation had already increased by over ten points.
Jiang Zuo quickly looked at the Beast Taming Reputation entry on his status panel.
’Beast Taming Reputation, 68?’
Jiang Zuo couldn’t help but be shocked.
His Beast Taming Reputation had silently climbed to 68.
’It only went up by a dozen points just now. How could it be this high?’
After a moment’s thought, Jiang Zuo figured it out.
The extra Beast Taming Reputation most likely came from Chief Lu and his men.
After observing the Beast Pattern that morning, Jiang Zuo had fallen into a deep sleep. Chief Lu and his men must have caught the thief during that time.
His Beast Taming Reputation must have jumped by more than thirty points back then, but since he was asleep, he didn’t see the notifications.
’But the news had already spread by noon. Why didn’t I gain a large amount of Beast Taming Reputation then?’
’Why did it only start increasing after I arrived at the blacksmith shop?’
’Is one of the conditions for gaining Beast Taming Reputation that people have to come into contact with the Pet Beast I’ve trained?’
A theory immediately formed in Jiang Zuo’s mind.
’The possibility is very high.’
Due to a lack of data points, Jiang Zuo hadn’t been entirely clear on the specific conditions for gaining Beast Taming Reputation.
Now it seemed that in addition to people genuinely acknowledging the Pet Beast, they also had to have been in contact with it.
’No, they might even need to have seen and known me personally!’
The more Jiang Zuo thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
’In any case, this is a golden opportunity to rake in Beast Taming Reputation.’
It wasn’t that Jiang Zuo hadn’t considered a similar strategy before.
After all, if he could gain a massive amount of Beast Taming Reputation, it would be worth being a little conspicuous and taking a few risks.
In practice, however, it was completely unfeasible.
The "genuine acknowledgment" condition was simply too strict.
’Think about it: if someone in a village got rich raising chickens or fish, would most of the other villagers genuinely think that person was skilled?’
’Not a chance.’
’Most people would just think...’
’That guy just got lucky!’
’If I had the same opportunity, I could do it too!’
’He’s just a chicken farmer!’
And those were the nicer thoughts.
It wouldn’t even be surprising if someone, green with envy, secretly poisoned all his chickens or fish.
If Jiang Zuo had tried to publicize his skills, it wouldn’t have mattered how obedient Great Black appeared; he wouldn’t have earned much Beast Taming Reputation.
Instead, it would likely just make a lot of people jealous and resentful.
This time was different. The thief had been so audacious that everyone in town was terrified, convinced they could be the next victim if he wasn’t caught.
Then, Jiang Zuo’s dog, Great Black, caught the thief on his own merits, dispelling their fears.
The contrast with the Government Office’s hounds only served to highlight Great Black’s skill, which is why he finally earned so many people’s genuine acknowledgment.
’I have to seize this chance! I need to get as much Beast Taming Reputation as I can!’
But Jiang Zuo knew this sudden wave of recognition wouldn’t last.
He had to seize the moment and farm as much Beast Taming Reputation as possible while he could.
At this thought, Jiang Zuo lost all interest in blacksmithing.
He decided to take Great Black for a walk around town.
If his theory was correct, he would be able to harvest a huge amount of Beast Taming Reputation.
Sure enough, the moment Jiang Zuo appeared at the shop’s entrance with Great Black by his side...
...the text prompts began to pop up frantically.
In just a few minutes, his Beast Taming Reputation broke one hundred.
Even Jiang Zuo couldn’t help but feel a thrill of excitement.
’This wasn’t easy. My Beast Taming Reputation finally broke a hundred.’
’In the past ten years, I’d only managed to scrape together a pitiful twenty-odd points.’
People on the street began to gather, all talking at once as they peppered Jiang Zuo with questions.
Jiang Zuo was very patient, answering every question he was asked.
Before long, his Beast Taming Reputation surpassed 150!
After it passed 150, however, the rate of increase slowed considerably.
’Looks like I’ve gotten about all the reputation I can from the people here. It’s not efficient to stay any longer.’
Jiang Zuo decided it was time to make an appearance elsewhere.
’But just parading Great Black around might come off as showing off.’
’That would be counterproductive to gaining Beast Taming Reputation.’
Coincidentally, his vegetable patch outside town hadn’t been watered in nearly two days. He could go home, grab a hoe and a bucket, and head out of town.
’My dog performs a great deed, yet I still have to go tend the fields outside of town.’
’The perfect persona!’
After saying goodbye to Blacksmith Li, Jiang Zuo headed home with Great Black.
With a hoe and a bucket, Jiang Zuo headed out of town, training Great Black along the way as he usually did.
Normally, people on the street would, at most, shoot him a passing glance when they saw him doing this.
But today, many who saw him crowded around.
They curiously asked to pet Great Black’s head and then asked Jiang Zuo a few questions.
Some even asked him to have Great Black show off a little.
This was exactly what Jiang Zuo wanted, so he gladly obliged.
A walk that normally took a little over ten minutes, he was now an hour in and not even halfway done.
And as Jiang Zuo walked along, his Beast Taming Reputation soared.
In just over an hour, his Beast Taming Reputation shot past three hundred!
The rate of gain was much lower than on Blacksmith Li’s street, but with more people, there was strength in numbers, and his Beast Taming Reputation continued to multiply.
Once outside the town, gazing at the rolling mountains in the distance, Jiang Zuo’s excitement gradually subsided.
’Beast Taming Reputation: 325!’
’Beast Taming Reputation can reduce my age, give EXP to my talent and Beast Taming Skills, and let me add points to my three attributes. For now, there’s no rush to level up my Learning talent or my Beast Pattern Engraving and Beast Pattern Drawing skills.’
’Aside from keeping some in reserve for emergencies, I can use the rest on my attributes!’
Jiang Zuo looked at his accumulated Beast Taming Reputation and pondered.
Jiang Zuo had always lacked a sense of security in this world.
He was just too weak.
Never mind Cultivators; he even had to steer clear of any reasonably strong Martial Artist.
He figured he could still farm a large amount of Beast Taming Reputation when he returned tonight, and would likely continue to gain more over the next few days.
Jiang Zuo decisively spent 100 Beast Taming Reputation on each of his three attributes—strength, Physique, and agility—raising each by 10 points!
The instant he allocated the points, Jiang Zuo felt an immense power surge through his body!
His breathing deepened, and his body felt lighter!
His limbs grew more nimble, and for a split second, the world itself seemed to slow down.
Even without moving to test it, Jiang Zuo could already feel he was much stronger than before.
He called up his status panel and looked at it.
Name: Jiang Zuo
Class: Novice Beast Tamer (56/100)
Race: Human Mortal (Holds one chance to change Race)
Lifespan: 16/104
Beast Taming Reputation: 25
Attributes: Strength 25.7; Physique 24.9; agility 25.1
Beast Taming Talent: Learning LV1 (52/100)
Skills: Beast Pattern Engraving LV1 (0/100), Beast Pattern Drawing LV1 (0/100)
Cultivation Beast Cage (1/1): Great Black
Obsession Relic: None
Beast Soul Power: 120
Held Beast Patterns: Porcupine Roar
Ongoing Quests: 1. Successfully cause one Pet Beast to undergo Mutation.
...
Other than the increase in his three attributes, there were no other changes to the status panel.
’It seems just allocating points to attributes doesn’t affect the Beast Taming System itself, it only makes me stronger.’
Jiang Zuo started to stretch his limbs, carefully sensing the changes in his body after the massive stat boost.
’My body is more resilient. If I slap my arm, the skin turns red but recovers almost instantly.’
’My endurance is greater, and my recovery speed after intense exertion is noticeably faster.’
’My reaction time, running speed, and bodily control have all clearly improved.’
’The biggest improvement is my strength! It’s almost double what it was before I added the points!’
’My previous guess was right. It seems attribute gains are linear.’
’Right now, I’m 2.5 times stronger than an ordinary person!’
’If I want to get strong fast, putting points into strength is the most direct way!’
After boosting his stats so much at once and comparing it to his previous observations, Jiang Zuo reached a firm conclusion.
Perhaps due to the limitations of the Human race, attributes like reaction time, speed, and control had a ceiling that couldn’t be broken as long as he remained human.
It would be difficult to see a massive improvement in them without investing a huge number of points.
But strength was different.
The existence of Martial Artists proved that even mortals of the Human race could unleash astonishing power.
As long as Jiang Zuo was willing to spend points on strength, his power could grow without limit.
He wondered if, by continuously adding points to his attributes, he could one day break through the limits of the Human Mortal race.
But even if he couldn’t break through that limit, Jiang Zuo wasn’t worried.
He still had one chance to change his Race!
’If things get desperate, I’ll just stop being human!’
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