Chapter 199: Upgraded Version

"Releasing a clone takes time, and the opponent's attack window might only be a few short seconds. By then you'd have to first condense the clone, then simultaneously release the Flame Vortex and use Telekinesis. Setting aside whether it's even doable, objectively speaking, you probably won't have time to use this aerial version of the Counter Shield before the opponent's attack lands." Zheng Baolong wore a goofy grin, yet spoke in all seriousness.

Qiao Sang fell into thought. When she first came up with the aerial version, she had only considered the defense and protecting Yaobao's fur, and hadn't thought about anything else at all.

Still, Zheng Baolong's words did serve as a reminder to her.

If she simply used the aerial version of the Counter Shield on its own, there wouldn't be much of a problem, but when it came to practicality in competitive battles, the problems were huge.

First, as Zheng Baolong said, the timing gap between offense and defense.

The opponent's attack only requires condensing energy and releasing it, while on her side, she has to make sure Yaobao is in the air at the time, and that a clone is nearby, before there's any chance of defending within the opponent's attack window.

Second, the energy consumption is too high.

The opponent might just throw out a Water Jet, but Yaobao has to use a clone, Flame Vortex, and Telekinesis all at once, consuming several times more energy than the opponent — it's completely lopsided.

And then there's the clone, which is definitely a massive weak point.

If during a competitive battle the clone isn't beside the main body, and isn't protected by the Counter Shield, the first time she uses this move the opponent might not have experience with it and won't be able to come up with a counter on the spot.

But from then on, any opponent who has seen her use the aerial Counter Shield in battle should know that as long as they attack the clone, the move is done for.

In short, flashy but impractical, full of flaws, and weak in real combat.

It had to be said, Zheng Baolong's advice came at just the right time.

If Yaobao had finally mastered the move after great difficulty, only to discover all these problems during a match, she'd probably be depressed for a whole day.

Thinking of this, Qiao Sang said with a serious expression: "Teacher, I know what to do now."

"I was only offering a small suggestion." Zheng Guoping chuckled. "Actually, your idea is great, it's just way too hard to practice. Practicing this move on the ground is perfectly fine. At your age, you don't need to think about moves that complicated."

The above reasoning was just his way of trying to get Qiao Sang to give up practicing the aerial version of the Counter Shield.

If the person who'd come up with this idea hadn't been Qiao Sang, he would have long since pointed at her nose and started cursing.

Combo techniques that successfully combine two skills together all require long periods of training.

You first have to consider whether the beast has the ability to use both skills at the same time, and whether the energy within its body will conflict when performing them.

The aerial version of the Counter Shield that Qiao Sang came up with was far more than just two skills used simultaneously.

Clone, Flame Vortex, Telekinesis.

Three whole skills!

Even some professional beast tamers wouldn't be able to pull it off!

But since the one who came up with this idea was Qiao Sang, the first thought in Zheng Guoping's mind was: The brain circuits of geniuses really are walled off from ordinary people like them. At such a young age she's already thinking about combo techniques — her future is limitless…

"I understand, but I still think this move is better used in the air." Qiao Sang said, looking in Yaobao's direction.

Zheng Guoping was stunned. "Didn't you just say you knew what to do?"

Qiao Sang nodded and said: "Good thing you reminded me just now, Teacher. The drawbacks of having the clone control the main body's spinning are too big. I've decided to have Yaobao spin on its own in the air."

Zheng Guoping: "???"

What the heck? Qiao Sang's words completely stupefied Zheng Guoping on the spot!

When had he ever said the drawbacks of having the clone control the main body's spinning were too big! He hadn't said anything of the sort!

"I just feel that if the opponent launches an attack, by the time you use the aerial Counter Shield it might be too late." Zheng Guoping had no choice but to repeat his earlier dissuasion.

Of course, that was just an excuse to get Qiao Sang to give up. The real reason was that he felt this move simply couldn't be mastered.

"I know." Qiao Sang said seriously. "That's why I've cut out the clone step. As long as the clone isn't involved, and Yaobao spins on its own in the air using Flame Vortex, there's plenty of time to defend."

Zheng Guoping was taken aback. Now that she mentioned it, that did seem to make sense…

But that was just his excuse!

Was he supposed to come right out and say: Don't practice this move, you'll waste all your time and energy on it and still never master it, damn it!

Even without the clone, it's still a combo technique of Telekinesis and Flame Vortex combined!

"If you want to use two skills at the same time, the proficiency probably can't be too low." Zheng Guoping said tactfully.

To coordinate and combine two skills for use together, proficiency is undoubtedly the heaviest among them.

Only with sufficient proficiency can the completion rate of a combo technique be high enough.

This is also the headache for most professional beast tamers.

Improving proficiency doesn't happen overnight. No matter how many ideas you have, they only exist in theory — the moment it comes to proficiency, you're done for.

"I understand, Teacher." Qiao Sang nodded. "From now on, I'll work hard on improving Yaobao's proficiency with Telekinesis and Flame Vortex."

Zheng Guoping: "……"

He really did have a wall between his brain circuits and a genius's…

……

8:01 PM.

Yaobao and Little Xunbao Ghost sat side by side, watching Qiao Sang, who was sitting cross-legged on the sofa munching on an apple.

"I tweaked the Counter Shield a bit. The final effect is that we don't need the clone to spin the main body — instead, Yaobao, you spin yourself." Qiao Sang took a bite of her apple and said: "Let's start by practicing about one centimeter off the ground, so it won't hurt if you fall."

"Once you can spin without getting dizzy, we'll set aside some time to practice releasing Telekinesis and Flame Vortex."

"Yaya!"

Yaobao wagged its tail, indicating it was no problem.

"Xun…"

Little Xunbao Ghost pouted. It didn't need to help with the spinning anymore? It had thought it was pretty fun.

Qiao Sang looked at Little Xunbao Ghost and smiled: "You can spin yourself around for fun too."

"Xun."

Little Xunbao Ghost quickly shook its head. Spinning itself was nowhere near as fun as spinning someone else.

"Ya?"

Yaobao was taken aback and turned to look at its little underling.

So you were just spinning it for fun when you helped turn it?

Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost: "……"

Before bed, Qiao Sang came to the pool's edge and picked up the milk she had set down that morning to look at it.

Full.

She twisted the cap with her hand.

It had been opened.

Qiao Sang couldn't help but laugh.

Tsk, someone drank it again…

……

In the dead of night, all was quiet.

Under a palm tree outside Room 1705 where Qiao Sang lived, a person was crouching.

"I guarantee you, what you saw this morning was either an illusion or an accident." The fat security guard stared at the ground, unwilling to look at the Water Sniffing Worm, and said: "You very likely ran into the Water Luoyana we're looking for. Maybe it knows the Mirage skill, and everything you saw was an illusion it created."

"Sniff sniff?"

The Water Sniffing Worm turned its head, a pair of innocent eyes staring intently at its own beast master.

Really?

"Really, I guarantee you." The fat security guard pressed his index, middle, and ring fingers together and raised them as he swore: "At this hour, if you go over there, the people and pets inside are all asleep. You absolutely won't run into anyone. If I'm lying, let me stay a bachelor for the rest of my life."